The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1900-10-25
CHAPTER VIII.
The Ideas of the Irishman.

The sensational episode at the con
vention was now almost forgotten, for
another year had come and gone. 1t
was near the end of 1900. Simon's fam
lily seemed to be prospecting financially,
but it was not the happy family that it
was in the days when Winnie occasion
ally came home. She had now been
married over a year; she no longer bore
the honorable" name of "Grey."
PA" said Anna, II can't stay away
any longer. I simply must see Vim
ME. It's a downright shame the way
we treat her."
Its no more than she deserves" said
her father, land what's more, you
won't go to see her either, unless you
wish me to treat you as I treat ner.
AS long as her name is Harrington, and
she's on the side Of Republicanism,
none who belong to this family circle
shall ever go to the town she lives in!'
Simon had been SO rigid in his orders
that " Cynthia, to keep peace in
the family, had never e Winnie since
that memorable convention day. But
you could plainly see that trouble was
rooted deep in her soul. She was really
heart-broken, and prayed for the day to
come when Simon would repent.
One evening as they were seated to-
gether in the parlor, listening to ST.
mons explanation of the new political
question, called "expanison," there
came a knock at the door.
"Who could it be-" they all whis-
pered, as Jimmie ran to open the door.
us this where Mr.. Simon Grey
lives? said a familiar voice.
"Well, I'll be gol darned," said jim
mic, "if it isn't Uncle Ezra"
Hearty were the hand-shakes, and
when Ezra took Simon's hand in his he
held it for a moment, glanced round
the room, and asked in a bewildered
way: where's Vinniey"
ooh, she's married." said Simon
bravely, but the other eyes in the room
filed with tears.
ooh, yes," he said, II remember now
Of you writing about it. I came very
near never finding you, Simon," he said
laughing. "The old weather-beaten
house, having been painted and en-
larged, made the place look different.
I wasn't sure that you lived here; but
I concluded to call and find out wheth-
er you did or not. I couldn't find you
at the poor house,"
""Great heavens, Ezra, you didn't call
at the poor house to find mel" Simon
said, excitedly. you must have a very
poor opinion of me if you did"
Don't be surprised, Simon,' said
Cynthia, Eat Ezra expecting to find us
in the poor house. You know we told
him, if Mckinley was elected, we'd
probably go there. I have been ashamed
many times of what we said. and the
prophecies we made; but really, we
didn't know any better them"
Ezra Grey laughed. "That's all right,
Cynthia. I'm glad you were mistaken,
forI should much rather find you living
in your W comfortable home. You
alllook we'll; guess you have had plenty
to eat"
"Of course we have, Uncle Ezra
said Jimmie. PA used to tell us we'd
starye to death if Mckinley was elect
ed, but gee whiz! we never had so much
pie and cake to eat before. We've got
some money hid around here, too, some
place, bein' that pas afraid to put it in
the bank. Mad skin me alive if I'd tell
you where we kept it."
Jimmie" said his father. .if you say
any 1 shall make you leave the
room; do you heag?"
"Reckon l do. I hain't deaf"
II tell you, Ezra" continued Simon,
sit has been rough diggin' to make a
livelihood these years. 1 have had to
use keen management"
your mortgage is paid, 1 presume?''
"Oh, yes. I paid that the spring after
you were out here with my wheat
crop"
"And your new house is paid fort"
"Yes, by the skin of my teeth, you
might say. Suppose / hadn't ought to
have been so extrayagant, for lumber Is
dreadful high these gold-bug times"
Now, Simon" said Cynthia, don't