The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1900-09-07
CHAPTER I.
The Sign on the House.

1T ClSn On tuc IlOusts
1t was an everyday occurrence to see
Simon Grey standing on the street cor
ners of Boonsville, making wild GEES
lures with his hands. If the one he
was conversing with was on the oppo-
site side in politics, Simon was always
in a state of excited earnestness. "Po-
litical" Simon, he was often called. If
any one wished to be posted on any
political question of the day, he was
ever ready to explain the subject, and
you could see, by the all-wise and self
confident expression of his face, that he
enjoyed himself in so doing.
In his household politics was still his
topic. He was ever talking to the fam
lily of the free and unlimited coinage
of silver at the ratio of 16 to l." till his
children began to think that anythir Y
so grand and good must come fro /
God.
PAS gettin' happy again." shouted
his little son Jimmie, as he passed out
of the door one day with paint brush
We shall learn later what he did will
the brush. Simon Grey die not notice
him, so absorbed were his thoughts in
the man who was to be the next Presi-
dent of the United States" Cynthia,
Simons wife, was so busy peelin'
apples and listening to her better half
that she also failed to notice Jimmie
and the brush.
Cynthia was proud of her husband.
She knew he had an uncomfortable
temper: yet his wisdom o'erbalanced
that defect. Her daughter Winnie was
highly educated, and most everyone
said she was naturally smart" and
then it was invariably added, "she
takes after her father"
1t was the talk in Boonsville that
Winnie Grey would be nominated fol
County Superintendent of Public
Schools in Marble County. Simon said
If she was nominated he would lection
Ger for her from morning till night
every day till election; that no Repub'
lican humbug would ever defeat her
Simon had already been trying to prove
to the people Of Boonsville that his
daughter Winnie was the one Marble
County needed for Superintendent. She
had been away to college; had taught
school in MARBLE County for three sue
cessive years, and the citizens of
Boonsville knew her by experimental
knowledge" to be a good teacher She
was now instructor of the grammar de-
partment of the Boonsville city schools,
and many claimed she should have the
high school, though the young profess
sor, Glen Harrington, was 'well liked"
1t seemed evident that Winnie would
receive the nomination; but as Cynthia
said, "You can never tell; don't count
your chickens before they're hatched."
"You always look on the dark side,
Cynthia said Simon. wish l had a
wife with more cheerful disposition,
and better knowledge of the questions
that so concern our welfare"
"Well, l guess as long as bake your
bread, mend your socks, and make your
apple pies, and as long as you have
enough wisdom for two, we can get
along all right"
Their conversation was here inter-
rupted by Winnie entering the room.
She had just returned from school.
Winnie Grey was indeed pretty
Whenever she came home her smile
seemed to make the old home brighter.
This evening disgust was depicted on
her usually bright countenance.
Father" she said, Il was ashamed
of my home tonight. For the first time
in my life 1 felt Inundated when 1
came in sight Of the house"
"Vinnie," said her father. ''is 1t posi-
BILE that because the young professor,
Glen Harrington. has been paying at
tentions to you for some time, and be-
cause he is sort of well-off, that you
cherish hopes Of a so much better resi-
dence that you are ashamed of your
homer
81 am astonishedr' said Winnie.
whoever thought Of such a ridiculous
ideal What made me ashamed of my
nome WIS lut NOIu bryan, III Dle
black letters, over the front door. How
did it happen to be there?"
II knew nothing about it, Winnie.
You must be mistaken"
Indeed, l am not. II you know
nothing about It, then Jimmie must be
the perpetrator Of the crime"
"Crimer' repeated Simon. would
you consider that a crime? II he had
have painted Mckinley there you
might so consider il, but such a noble
name as Bryan looks well any place.
II will sho,. to the world that we are
on the side OF right"
at Is a disgrace" said Winnie what
will the Republicans think Of us, and
even the Democrats ard Po7ulists win
know that Is not the place for his name.
As far as showing that we are on the
side Of right. time may prove that We