Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1899-04-29
| The Candidates Daughter !


years ago and that the ability for con-
ducting them II going back instead OF
advancing. This commentary II sug-
gcSted by the experience that the old
political eampaigner was relating 80
some OF the legislative friends when
they met az the hotel.
II don't suppose" said the veteran.
''that the ike ever happened In Mich
I igan. before OF since. There wNa
romance involved. some OF the greatest
men the nation ever produced took a
/ hand. a whole community was divided
/ by the bittercst factional war. the
career Of an ambitious congressman
/ was suddenly terminated, and yet tho i
I little federal position Involved was not i
worth over Sto0 a month. II that much I
II was sort OF a bioodiess political F
duel. and I know of az least one par f.
ticipant tha; would rather have stood I
up aud been shot at than % have lost.
1T was ri yht out here In the coun-
/ try where was raised and brought up.
There were only two prominent aspir-
ants for the little Office. but their
rivalry had stirred the town into a
nutter Of excitement from center 20
circumference. think political inter
est is more general In the country than
iu the city. and in those days the in
dividual was more assertivc. more ap-
D preciative OF the supreme rights % cit
| ifenship. because ne had not been sup
pressed by machines. combines. rings
p and bosses as he ia now. The churches
: were internally divided on This issue.
social bees were turned into debating
societies where feeling ran high. the
y war was carried into the local paper
by heated correspondents. the store and
. the post office were largely mouopolized
by the disputants. and some very old
friendships were strained 10 the utter
most.
"I was very much infatuated W, IN
the pretty daughter OF my candidate.
Na,v that 1 can view the situation more
calmly I realize that he was my can
lidate because she was his daughter
but wild horses couldn't have dfawu
such confession from me an the time
- His opponent also had pretty daugh
ter, and she, too. had an admirer. whs
was stanch supporter OF her fathei
~ in his time OF political need. These tW,
girls were rival bellies. and Tom Harte
aud were regarded as among tn
most effective political herdsmen 4
- ihat locality. You can understand hos
,., much feeling could be stirred up wit
ply such elements of discord. Farmer
-ir- neglected things az home 20 wrangie q
ION 10 listen 90 others wrangle. Some q
Co. the women quit speaking and said yer
the unkind things OF each other. N
young people were as distinctly q
- vided as though lined up In oppositio
in NJ spelling school, and there was MOI
.rai genuine temper displayed than ira an
ton presidential campaign we had ever goi
de- through.
ira Vow. I was not alone In my admir-
'u' tion for the daughter of my candidai
There were others, and several Of theI
30. had never felt secure enough 90 ve
men ture q proposal, and was passii
tson through a very trying pertod ot u
certainty. One afternoon as was wal
ing rapidly by her house found h
leaning over the gate and looking d
de- consolate enough 20 cry. Tom Harte
going To Washington tomorrow $
-. said abruptly. You know what n
80 meansT
ness Lovers think quickly, when eapa'
the Of thinking at all 4 should think
nion would 90. under the circumstances
toast his duty
than Then suppose father might
mix well draw out. and there were &c
- -. in her lovely eyes %. If were oni
a,. mani
ex- I'm thankful yoe'rc not laugh
piles and there were two OF Us leaning
ID at the gate. I'm going to tell you so
thing that have never confded TO
other person.. This was strictly q
Co, for had never thought Of it till Z
toad minute. Please don't mention IL
,tates living person. not even TO your fat
al he for IL might defeat all our plans.
again 20 Washington tonight. Hattie. II
egha- everything ready. III take the q
vote from the side opposite the platfC
sou !. and no one win be the wiser until =
time tomorrow. Did it ever enter
wise little head OF yours that I'd a
Tom 70 get the start Of me or give
anything 20 cry overT
,oney' "Her eyes sparkled. roses came tc
= IRE pale cheeks as il by magic. she turn
- glad face toward me and-weil.
a,sars wouldn't7 In my eagerness bad
since petrated regular schoolboy smack
trav- q frightened robin darted out OF
OWNS cherry tree over our heads Kes
cOgni- raind that we were leaning over
same gate. IL was the first time,
well. I went through to Waship
rav as fast as steam would carry me
l.~ue -, sine l., h.tusfrsr a, =, n ha sono