The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-09-02
CHAPTER LII

| The general election was on. I had to
make four. speeches every night. besides
canVasstng during the day. I should
! nave preferred not to. But I had an
| agent He said he was my agent. other
wise should have thought our positions
| We're reversed.
Among other things he made me go to
church on Sundays 1t was necessary.
ne said, to conciliate the church peonIe
we also went to the Methodist chanel To
conciliate the Dissenters. The result was
we annoyed both.
At the church I recognized a LADY with
Allce's back hair. She also had AHcess
profile. In fact, turned out to be Alice
herself She was visiting her uncle. Col.
western, with whom she had lived in
her younger days
told my agent that our great defact
was want of lady canvassers. He nrof-
IeIeo ms wife I accepted her, but said
L would call on Col. Western and see ~
couldn't pick up "a few more.
But Col Western is opposed to u.s."
&c, ne Is most good-natured, I replied.
am sure he will lend us few
My agent sighed. He was a consoier-
dous man. and had scruples as to whethar
i was fit person for the house of COM
mons IF he were only as sensible as
some or his speeches." he said to nv
mother once '
Nevertheless I sent my mother over To
Col. Westerns. and she returned in tri
uInph with Alice. who, as 1t happens. was
ciples. ~ liz
we used to canvass together. Tho
agents wife came. too. Alice thought
Qls pest The agent expostulate1 at fha
apsHrdlty and waste of time involved !,
three people doing the work of one We
R ~ out now much more thoroughly
the work was done. When we had all
iiao turn at the fortunate elector he
was-hot In a condition to refuse his
vote But the agent would not ha
silenced till Alice got his wife to stoa
him with a glance ftoH
The polling day came. Alice ana NJ,
illotner' the agent and drove from noIi-
ing booth to polling booth. Toward Q
clock the agent came to me doIef,IIlv
anu salo ne feared my return was I'M
p r,o, l was very sorry for the poor
iHSn- lie had worked so hard Whom 7
toId my mother she burst into tears. .9ho
must li also have heen sorry for him
Allce cemforted her like the dear, kind
girl she is. '1A''i'
1T IS his own fault" said my mother
wen :, she was conforted; he is SO flip.
minded. ious
| :'"Who?' -.
"The agent" -
She became sorrowful. Again Alice had
| TO comfort her To do SO she said LIS
Things about me, but my mother Womb
rot agree with her
| lie has disappointed me- He will NOT
opey me i nave begged and begged him
20 pay attention to Miss Western of the
Castle We should then have had their IN
| nuence. She wept again. Alice comfort.
cd her. -
My mother went on. '.He will NOT he
serious If he would only marry some
sohd, strong-mlnded girl! But no. he IN.
sists on going his own way Yet I'm his
mother - AiA
Alice turned her reproachful gaze on
me. 7e "lA
Il think it is very unkird of you not
to marry when your mother tells ynu
But the ladies won't have me-.
IL cont believe you ever ask them"
10 do so would he preposterous."
why would it be preposterous
Take your case. for instance
My case" She hlUshed violently.
My mother was startled Gerald
forbid You to talk any more nonsense
she said, rising hastily and leaving the
Ioom
We were left alone. There was
silence, broken by Alice
Liu your mother really and truly ask
you to propose TO me?"
Really and truly"
She Redeemed charniingly
why didn't your"
II do! dol" responded eagerly. rising
and going toward her
Your mother Is SO sorry about yc,i.'.
she said. ''She is so unfortunate in her
son. / should like to make her happy"--
She was silent. bordering
II you are not returned to parlian,crt
it will break her heart" She brtghteneI
up. I'VE will compromise the matter. Il
you are not returned, accept you"
She ran and told my mother. who Ell,
tered the room between tears and smiles.
at seems a ridiculous arrangement; but
Gerald is always absurd. 1 don't know
what I want. feel as If 1 were standing
en- my head"
Later on we went to the declaration %
the poll was returned by a a5oritv
of twenty. Ny mother imclediateiy be
gan to weep bitterly.
I looked at Alice. They were shouting
for me to address the crowd.
ST am an unfortunate man. l said.
She was looking on the ground 81 al
ways wanted 10 be an M. P.'s wife," she
whispered.
For the second time I kissed her in
public.