Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1900-09-20
III.
Simon's Fight for His Honor.

early ulleu WIFI NOteIs, pdSSihS vi
down the streets. '~lectioneering for
their ~favorite candidates, the center OF
attraction being the place where they
were to vote.
Political Simon seemed everywhere
at once. with a smile of satisfaction on
his face. Ii seemed TO him that he had
a great deal to be thankful for. Ezra
had visited at his place for over d
month. and yet no one In Boonsvllie
had ever learned his politics, which
Simon considered a blessing 10 the
Grey family. Now the time or danger
had passed, for Ezra had gone back
to his home in Pennsylvania.
Simon fitted from person TO person.
informing everybody of the way they
should vote. Everyone that was ru-
mored to be doubtful" Simon Grey
would corner, and address as follows.
| n a familiar way: My good fellow,
| hope you are on the right side.
trust that you will cast your ballot in
such a way that you may claim a share
of the honor of Bryan's victory. Here
is a cigar, my good fellow. Smoke |, in
remembrance of my daughter Winnie.
who is running for County Supertnten-
dent. You know her educational quail
tiles; not Dragging at all, but really
she Is as smart a gal as there Is In
Marble County. Glen Harrington,
though Professor of the High School
here in Boonsville, hasn't near the tai
ent Winnie has for school teaching or
the managing of the schools In the
cou lty. Then he's Republican and
that's agin his character. He's a soft
head or he'd know better than that. IL
he does know better. and still votes that
knfernal ticket, he's a scoundrel. and
for such hypocritical men, | have great
contempt"
Then somebody remarked: 'You'd
better be careful, Simon, how you rid
icule your future son-in-law."
"Son-in-lawr' Simon drawled out
Hell never be a son-in-law of mine
till he leaves that d. party and joins
the Farmers Alliance. | have this
much to say, though, in Glen Harring-
toms favor. He's young yet, and he
may reform. But n thing Is sure: ]
shall lever allow a daughter of mine
to marry a Republican"
One of the men, to whom Simon was
giving advice, asked him what his
brothers politics were.
80, Ezra's gone home" replied 81
mon. rather uneasily. II told him tC
go home, where he could vote, for we
didn't want to miss a single Free Sill
yer vote"
Hes a Populist, then, is heT"
Simon hesitated. Should he tell a liz
to protect the honor of the Grey fam
lily? Certainly, II Ii were necessary.
"Well, l guess So" he said, earnestly
sid be ashamed IL there was a Grey
outside of the Populist party"
Your brother isn't as much Of a poll
tician as you are, Is he? No one seem.
to have heard him talk politics"
"No, he Is not. / wanted him TO Civ,
a series Of lectures In favor of Ere,
Silver while he was In B~oonsville. bu
he wouldn't exert himself thai much.
Wonder, Simon" the fellow said
chuckling, why he had a McKinle,
button IN the lapel OF his coat I'll,
morning he went away"
Great heavens, mani" exclaime,
Simon. with a Mortified expression OF
his face. "He wouldn't be caught dea,
with a Mckinley button on! Are 70,
crazyT'
mo, sir, Pm not crazy. II is an &C
tual fact, for / saw Ii myself when b.
was standing In the depot awaiting
the train. What's more, l wasn't til
only one that noticed 1t. Uncle Jo
Harrington and Bill White remarke,
to me concerning It,"
Hold your tongue. young fellow!
interrupted Simon. 1T can't be possi
BILE. shall never allow such an out
landish lie to circulate! I am here 1
protect my rights. and l swear to pre-
tect the honor Of the Grey family a
long as there Is breath In my body an,
mind In my cranlumw And Simoi
Grey, Of political fame. straightene,
up to his full six feet. and threw hi
shoulders back. He looked POVERTY
indeed, compared with the small ma
he was addressing. AS the small ma
walked away. smiling to himself a
irascible Simon, our hero clencbed hi
teeth In rage.
"Tye got you spotted" he muttere
/ to himself. 'If that fellow, or Joe HaI
rington, or Bill White tells In Boon,
vile to-day that Ezra wore a McKinle
button, I'll down EN-. No doubt br
what it's true. though II Is strange
failed to notice It, but supposin' II
the truthT' Simon argued to himsel
TITS none Of their business II he wo,
a dozen Mckinley buttons. Darn Ezr,
} IL he did do such a thing as that. aft,
promising me that he wouldn't tell m
e neighbors that he was Republican i
: has disgraced my family; that Is. IL II
! people of Boonsville hear ii. but they,
shail-not-know-itg he slowly mu
tered.
I Il will keep my eyes open and 9,
1 that no report as that c~ircuIates. I In,
to tight. but my honor must be d
I tended" y
IA Whfla Simcr -. . W INA