The morning news., 1899-05-12
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was at work in the field to-day when a
correspondent of the Tribune drove to the
farm with the news of his sons promo
ton.
Il suppose there is no mistake that this
is true" he said as If he doubted the
good news. When he was assured that
the dispatches had been received from
Washington confirming a report that had
been received in che morning, he started
for the house to give the news to Mrs
Funston.
Il must tell Fred's mother" said he
She has right to receive the news first"
quiet retiring woman. came into the
room that serves as study for the far
mer-lawmaker. She was smiling ana Il
seemed as if tear had been brushed from
her big, brown eyes only moment be-
fore. She is a little woman, Weighing less
than 100 pounds, and seems fragile beside
the giant figure of her husband. He
weighs more than 200 pounds and is 6 feet
and inches in hight 1t was plain TO
see he was proud of his soldier son and
that she was not a bit less flied with gen
uine pride in the fame which was being
heaped on her boy. Her silence was as
eloquent of praise as the restrained ex-
pressons that fell from the lips of the
herculean husband and father.
This is the young man who brought the
news of Freds promotion" said Mr.. Fun
ston, and Mrs. Funston bowed and smil-
ed.
He came all of the way from Chicago
to tell us that Fred was brigadier gen.
eraL" She only smiled incredulously al
the pleasantly.
But he does tell me, however" he add
ed by way of apology for the lest. that
Fred is talked great deal about in
| Chicago"
81 hone ,1o,- , -,
| she sad, half tremulously. "If they knew
him as we'll as we do they would know
| he deserves it.
Ihey know he is a great soldier"
Yes Fred is good boy. But 1 wish
| he were back home again"
IF Fred comes back TO us alive"
said the father, turning from the window
where he had been looking in the distance
| abstractedly He had evidently been
| thinking along the same line as Mrs
| Funston.
There IS talk of making him Goyernor
! OF Kansas" ii was suggested
mo. Fred does not want that That
/ is not worth his effort. The people OF
| Kansas are proud of Fred ! know that
I | do not know what the people of other
states think, but in his own state they are
proud OF him. If he should run for any
thing ii should the United States Senate.
lie should seek am office worthy of him. ="
| We had better wait until he returns
before We talk of these, things y said Mrs
Funston. He will come back to US too
| I'm sure he Will" f
He seems to lead a charmed life" it
was suggested.
'Yes, you know" said Mrs. Funston
that the Greeks fought under The shield
of their favorite god. Wen. I'm nos a
pasan' bur l nave belief in the Christian
lied version of that doctrine Of the an
! clients, and | hope to see the boy back. [
wish he were here now.
The tinge of sadness rever once was lift
! cd from the atmosphere. While ia thcr and
mother evidenced their eia1on the shad-
| ow Of apprehension was always present.
| Inc father of the young hero has been
too long in politics not 60 see the possibii-
tiles in that field Of endeavor for his son
when he comes back 70 the land OF sun
! fowers. And, Out Of his fears for his
| sons safety. he stia drew consolation IN
| picturng in his mlnd the young soldier
sweeping like cyclone across the praf-
ries of Kansas politics, with no man
strong enough to divert him In his course.
! Whenever Funston the elder has run for
! office his political manager has been r. b.
/ Stevenson of lola, who is wealthy retir-
ed, and politician for the t'fun of it.p He
was one of the first to hear Of the sug-
gestion of Gen. Funston for the United
! States Senate. He said:
There isn't anything in Kansas that
Fred can't have if he wants it,"
"Can he be SENATOR"
why, this state will give that boy any
thing. Politics would not count against
him for any office in the gift of the state.
This is Republican state and he is a
Republican, but even if 1t was not Re
publican state-if il were Democratic or
! if it was Populist-he is still the idol OF
| Kansas and of Kansans There is not a
man in the state who is big enough to
| stand in his way"
The politicians Of all factions here take
| the same view of it.
When the regiment returns to Kansas
every fatted calf had better take TO the
woods.