The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1900-06-09
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WHEN THE SERPENT ENTERED.

Time
WHEN THE SERPENT ENTERED.
my DEAR" said Mrs. Thomas
Brown, this is the twelfth anniver-
sary of our wedding day. I believe
you had forgotten it..
"Well, I haven't" replied the
Hon. Thomas Brown, with fine
show OF indignation. ''I'm not like
ly to forget the day when / got you.
l remember every detail with perfect
clearness.
"What kind of dresses did the
bridesmaids wear :"
and" continued Mr.. Brown, art
fully evading the question, IN sure
that we have plenty of cause to be
thankful and happy. Certainly no
man ever had better wife,
"Thank you, my dear, and come
home early tonight, SO that we may
have little celebration.
After this pleasing episode the
Hon. Thomas Brown started down
town to his office. On his way to the
train he made up his mind that he
would send home a basket of fruit
and some roses, and later in the day
he would stop at the jewelers. to
look at the bracelet his wife had adj
mired.
1t was strange, he reflected, how
little happiness some people get out
of life. Here he was, still On the
sunny side of forty, with suffi-
cient income. a devoted wife, two
beautiful children and not worry in
the world. His place in his profess
sion was assured. His neighbors re-
spected him. He could see no cloud
on the horizon of his hopes. He was
as near contentment as. men get.
In the reception room of his Office
half dozen men were waiting. He
what eH h5d IS hg essa fe ss aodf
of his private room. A clerk, however,
followed him and ushered in the del
egation.
We've come" said the spokes-
man, ''to ask you to be our candidate
for the State Senate"
The Hon. Thomas Brown thanked
them, and said he had neither the time
nor money to spare.
''But it will take hardly any time
and less money" was the answer.
"You can be elected without bit of
trouble. You know the situation.
Now think it over and let us know to-
morrow
As a result of the succeeding ex-
citement, which Mr.. Brown could not
conceal, at least from himself, he for
got the fruit, the roses and the dia-
mond. Senator Thomas Brown"
did have an ear-flling sound, as he
repeated it under his breath.
At FIVE O'Clock he started TO go
home. Four professional friends met
him at the door. They called him
Senator" and escorted him out to
drink his health. 1t was seven
O'Clock before he got to the South
Side.
His wife met him at the door.
Her usual placidity was somewhat
shaken.
"Why, Tom, what's the matter?"
she said. II asked you TO get home
early, and here it is after seven o clock
and dinner half spoiled"
Give been asked to run for the
Senate, my DEAR" said the Hon.
Thomas Brown, impressively.
"And what did you say 7"
II told them I'd give them an ans
wer after I had consulted my wife, "
said Mr.. Brown, who had already be-
gun to use the wiles of a politician.
II hate to think of you going into
politics, Tom, but"
But the Senate isn't exactly poll
tics. I am assured that I can be
elected without an effort on my part.
If it was going to make any change in
our life, wouldn' think of it. And,
besides, it's my duty, you know. It's
my duty to the State. That will
probably decide me-"
II thought you were going to con-
suit your wife?"
That's what I'm doing now. If
you-"
Lets go in and see if any of the
dinner is fit to eat. We can talk it
over afterward."
The soup was served, when there
came ring at the bell. The maid
announced company Of gentlemen
to see Mr.. Brown.
"Tell them Mr.. Brown is at din
ner," said his wife, and ask them to
sit down."
Don't you think had better go
out for a second and see who it is?
interrupted the prospective Senator.
"It might be somebody from the Of
fee on important business, you see.
So quickly had the virus of political
ambition begun to do its deadly work.
An hour later the Hon. Thomas
Brown found the dining room deser-
ted. His indignant wife was upstairs
in her sitting-room.
"Well, if this is the way you are
going to the Senate, you will never
go with my consent, she broke out.
II heard you telling those men you
were always glad and proud to wei
come them to your humble home, ard
then / looked out the window and
saw that old Pitzmacker, the saloon
keeper, was at the head of them. If
that's politics, I'd rather have the
numps.'