The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1900-08-29


said, plucking at the sleeve of Allan
McNeal, president Of the Clay County
Fair association. The president scowl-
ed and tried to shoulder him away.
Nan Ware was waiting for him out in
the amphitheater Naturally he was
in a fever to get done with the abso-
lutely necessary routine affairs
"Come on! You mustw the marshal
repeated. Allan made feint of clinch-
Ing his fists. GO away, you nuisancew
he said. Taylor you are a nuisance,
the very worst sortw
II appeal to the president 1t is my
right Under the constitution and by
laws a womans voice said outside
the door Taylor grlnned. Il knew
it was comm. Don't say | didn't tell
you" he said in a stage aside as two
stout and very angry danes bulged ST.
simultaneously through the door. The
presidents room was a mere cuddy,
ravaged from the end of Horticultural
hall. One rickety chair a goods box
and an apologize desk made up its
Furnishings. Even then there was
scant room for the pair who had plant
ed themselves at Allan's elbows and
glared at each other across him.
Taylor, you scoundrel why didn't
you tell me was wanted? Allan said
mendaciously; then to his VISITORS:
''Airs. Pease, Mrs. Sawyer, what can
do for you? You know you have only
to name it,"
Il want justice" Mrs. Sawyer began,
"and I'm a-goin to have it!'
Mrs. Pease broke in: tits a perfect
shame, Allan-yes, 1 will call you Al
Ian; l used to know your mother so
well-the way things are run at this
fair. Everything is in ring, and you
never get the least bit Of justice unless
you are in a ring yourself
'You ought to know about that Ev-
erybody has said for the longest time
you were the head ringster" Mrs. Saw
yer Interrupted pointedly. Mrs. Pease
gave her a whitening glance, but went
on as though she had not heard. Il do
hope the gentlemen are honester in
their part But here in this hall
Well, l don't want to name names,
but truly / don't see how some people
ever have the conscience to go to
preachin after the way they act"
ooh, you know, mistakes viii be
made" Allan said soothingly Pm
sure, though, if they are made, they
are honest ones. People see things so
differently, you know
Eyes, and always their own way or
their friends" Mrs. Pease said acrid-
ly. That's the sole and only reason
you see me here. The association did
me the honor to appoint me a judge
of PATCHWORK
"And me,' Mrs. Sawyer added.
Mrs Pease went on. q ought to
know somethin about it. I have got
just 40 patch quilts, five of 'em silk,
that I've made myself. I've made
every pattern I ever saw, In fact, so
it stands to reason when 1 say the star
and feather is more trouble than the
basket of tulips nobody ought to dis
pute it."
Il don't dispute It. All I say is that
the tulip baskets the prettiest and the
newest and the incest made" Mrs.
Sawyer Interrupted IF quiltmakin
counts, do reckon / could have as
many as anybody, only lack the face
to beg the whole country for pieces"
II could buy my pieces, too, if my
husbands store sold whisky" Mrs.
Pease began, her face an apoplectic
scarlet. Allan interposed. 'If you two
can't decide, we all know nobody cam
he said automatically. ''The thing to
do is to give two premiums instead of
one"
mo, mop both women cried in the
same breath. "You must come out and
Judge yourself That's partly what a
president is for"
Correct, ladiesg' Taylor the mar
shall, said, his eyes twinkling. 'Tbe by
laws is explicit on jest that very pint
Make Allan go and pick the winner.
I'm too much his friend to see him ruin
hisself right out"
''Oh, let me tell you somethln. Mr..
McNeal," Mrs. Pease said. Then in a
raucous whisper, my choice, the star
and feather, belongs to Miss Elvy
Ware, and she told me yesterday she
had willed it to Nan because the child
did think 1t was so pretty"
"Oh, say, l wish you'd settle it With
out me. Double the premiums" Allan
said, beads Of sweat breaking out on
his face. Taylor chuckled at sight Of !
them. Mrs. Sawyer pursed her mouth
and said loftily Il might try to inhu
ence you, Allan, only have some
about me. The tulip basket
was made by Mrs. John Groome. She's
Nan Wares aunt, too and has no
daughter Of her own"
And neither would have a premium
unless she got it over t'other," Taylor
said, rubbing his hands and chuckling
hgain. THAT'S what l meant Allan. / |
nan't see you. set all Miss Mans family |
against you. You're bound to make
Dne-half Of 1t mad. But do your duty
like white man, and maybe the good |
Aord'l have mercy on your courtin."