Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1899-09-19
Spoiled by Office.
He Kept Upthe DignitYof Sheriff,
but Cot In.o Debt.

"aIy wife, she don't think I'd orter
be sheriff"
Hearing the unfamiliar, high pitch
ed, piping voice, Mrs. Charles peered
through the panels OF the Japanese
screen that concealed her desk and
clair III the Lay window alcove of her
husbands office and saw a tall lean,
sunburned voting man, with one
brawny shoulder braced awkwardly
against the casing of the outer door as
he looked down in awestruck admiT;I-
ton at the lawyer whose pen was rap
idly filling in Tie various counts of
complaint i'll Il writ.
"Ah! How is that?"
"She says I'd better stick to farm
in. She says l shall lose more in the
long run than shall make, but-any-
body hadn't always o'ter be on the
make he'd they? And there has to be
sheriffs."
Certainly, and Tie citizens of
county should cheerfully serve their
turn in filling the Offices prescribed by
law. There should be no vulgar scram-
BILE for Office nor Sinking of RESPONSE
btlity.''
"Jes' SC. l must remember that to
tell Mari. 1t may reconcile her to hav
in me gone some er the time"
"Your legitimate duties will not OF
ten take you from the farm, and fam
cy you are too wcl settled to be led
astray by bad company or to go idling
about to magnify your office"
''NNaal, l guess not. I've alias stuck
ter hum pretty close, and don't know
as l shall like sherftiin at all. You'll
hev ter tell me what ter do. don't
know no more how to sarve n writ
than that lettle stump tail dog over
there do"
The little animal, recognizing the
word dog, wagged his short tail, and
the young farmer, laughing little,
gave his attention as the man of law
unfolded the document, explained it
and gave explicit directions to the new
ly made officer.
"Who is he?" came from a voice in
the alcove as soon as the door was
closed.
stephen Staples" was the reply
You know his farm, over in Staples
hollow"
Where we called for drink of milk
once when we were driving? His wife
is one of the old fashioned homespun
kind, staple of the community, you
told her that day. ana her voice sounds
like distant thunder
"Jes' So laughed Squire Charles in
comical imitation of Ills client, and the
matter was dropped for that time.
At intervals tie sheriff came TO the
Office or the lawyer mentioned seeing
him here and there.
steve Staples can't be doing much
farming" he would say. II am afraid
a poor sheriff is spelling n good farm
err
Staples has new suit. hardly
knew him when I met him in the city
today. He evidently enjoys his little
Journeys in the world"
Next it was, Staples is wearing tan
colored shoes" and later at court time:
STAPLES is sporting high hat and n
cane. He strikes an attitude like
| Judge Coleman, and the uninitiated
might take him for a member of the
| legal profession"
Il wonder what his wife thinks of
it?" remarked Mrs. Charles
The question was answered by that
| good woman in person several months
later. She came into the office with
her husband early one midsummer
morning. They both looked neat and
businesslIke in gingham and denim,
| but it was Staples who piped excusing-
| ly; Come in a hurry; didn't fix up"
1.-The clothes he wore before he took
up sherifIin are good enough to wear
when he rides with me-" said his wife
! in low. heavy ground tones. ''They
are as good as he can afford, and, best
of all. they are paid for. The things
/ he had to mortgage the farm to buy l
don't take no stock in myself don't"
HAS it come 10 thatl" asked Squire
Charles in surprise.
"Jes' so.' piped Staples. III tell
| you how twas We've come to get the
papers rnade''
WHO are you going to mortgage it
to!' asked tie lawyer to gain time, for
he would net for the world have had
his wife miss hearing the story.
"oh, Mrs. Staples here-she's got
money!
| Yes, I've got money, but he won't
git it to sheriff around on unless have
security"
''That is all proper said the man Of
law. "oh, here's my wife. You'd he
pleased to meet Mrs. Staples again, my
dear. Now let us hear about these per-
plexities."
.sWaal. twas this way" said the
farmer. who had left his chair and
braccd his shoulder against the door
f,... r,,n in tl. Old rrar .z.I,n,,a he ..nrlId