The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1898-10-05

honors and office, he was anxious his
marriage should bring him wealth and
high social position. 1t was with this
feeling that he sought every opportu-
nifty to meet beautiful Jennie Living
ston, the daughter of the wealthy
Judge, who had declined foreign
mission, and who was spoken of for
the Supreme Bench.
The Livingstons were very aristo-
cratic. and this branch of the Crofutt
family had never been named for their
position. Miss Jennie, it is to be
feared, was coquet, for she delighted
in being the recipient of attentions,
and more popular man than Mr.. Van
Buren, Crofutt might have been fiat
tered by the encouragement she gave
him; an encouragement so marked
that Mr.. Crofutt's brothers and fell
low-members began to joke him about
his approaching marriage, and the
gossips, who flourish so vigorously,
discussed the alliance with character
istic freedom and sense of certainty.
About this time there was to be a
Congressional election in the district
where Mr.. Crofutt lived. He had
looked forward to this particular cleo
tion for years, and so expressed no
modest surprise when many of his
brothers and fellow-members assured
him he would get the nomination; and
nomination meant an election, for
the district was overwhelmingly on
the side of the party to which Mr..
Crofutt nominally belonged.
| Not to extend the matter, Mr..
Crofutt was nominated, but only after
the most bitter opposition, and talk
OF "bolting" that surprised the popu-
lar man, who had even been fattering
himself that the other party would
make no nomination.
At this time, and for many years
before, there was young man in
Judge Livingston's Office of about Mr..
Crofutt's age. His name was John
Wilson, and outside of his profession.
where he was successful and honored,
he was but little known.
He was tall, student-like man; a
member of no society, and the only
support of a widowed mother. Mr..
Wilson was dignified and reserved in
his manners; but those who knew him
well said he was the soul of generosity
and honor, and those who did not
know him we'll, had an idea that he
was very learned, as all reserved pro-
fessional men are generally supposed
to be.
Though John Wilson was brother
lawyer, Mr.. Van Buren, Crofutt did
not like him. John was the one man
about whom Mr.. Crofutt did not hesi-
tate to give positive opinion, and al
ways an unfavorable one; and this
dislike grew very much stronger
when the rumor that the discontents
agreed to support Mr.. Wilson, and
the opposition would make no NOM
nation, ripened into certainty.
Mr.. Crofutt was annoyed and
alarmed; for, following the above in
formation, came an invitation from
Mr.. Wilson to meet him before the
people and discuss their respective
claims to the position of Representa-
tive.
Mr.. Crofutt was popular speaker,
but not an orator; Mr.. Wilson was an
orator, but his popularity was not
tried. Mr.. Crofutt had great faith in
people: Mr.. Wilson had great faith in
himself.
The canvass went on with increas-
ing heat, and the popular man found
himself assailed by the press, and, to
his amazement, all his motives, and
many motives he never had, were held
up to the gaze and ridicule of the peo-
pie.
The election came off and the re-
turns came in. MIR. Van Buren Gro
futt was-beaten! 1t was an awful
blow-a blow that changed as if by
magic the whole nature of the popu-
lar man. He sought the society of
the jolly Larks, and was seen, one
day, in court, under the influence of
liquor. He openly denounced broth
ers and members who had voted
against him, till, at last, brothers and
members began to wonder how they
could ever have endured him.
A defeated man needs great deal
of self-respect and great deal of self
reliance. Mr.. Crofutt knew himself,
and had neither.
The admiration he had entertained
for Miss Livingston before his candi-
dacy increased into most demonstra-
tive love after his defeat; and when
he learned that Wilson was before him
even in the affections of the proud
young beauty, his pronounced dislike
was supplanted by the most .vindio-
tive hate, which he did not disguise.
About a month before Mr.. Wilson
was to go to Washington, the day of
his departure being the one selected
for his marriage, he was found, one
morning, in a piece of woods, between
the town and his mothers house, with
a bullet in his breast.
The news spread far and wide, with
the proverbial quickness of bad news,
that Mr.. Wilson was murdered, and
the people focked into the town, even
those who had voted against him ex-
pressing their sorrow at his death and
respect for his character.
"Who could have done the deed?"
everybody asked, in open-mouthed
wonder, and nobody attempted to
solve the mystery.
But young Wilson was not dead,
though all the doctors vowed he ought