Griggs courier. (Cooperstown, Griggs Co., Dak. [N.D.]) 1885-1902, 1900-03-08
Verdavin's Candidacy
BY Pierre veron.

CHOULD you ever happen to visit the
: y department of Trois-Et oiles, and
mention the name of NJ. Nerdavin, it is
safe betting that your intcrlocutor, no
matter who he may be, will eXclaim:
"Verdayin. Well, of all the ambitious,
intriguing men l ever met Verdavin
was the worst!"
However, now that the vox populi
has pronounced upon my old friend,
permit me to have the honor of intro
ducing to you the real Ner!avin, that
you may compare him with Verdavin
the legendary.
Born of honest, but not poor parents,
Amedee-such was his nume-had, from
his childhood up, one single sare-to
live quietly and cozily on the 10000
francs a year bequeathed to him by
his pa and ma. He had a CHEEKY little
town residence, love OF country
house. In spring he made a little trip
TO Paris; in summer he tished; in au-
tumn nc shot; in winter there was the
club. Nothing could have beer pleas
anter.
Nevertheless, Amedce perceived that
something still was lacking in his life.
lie wasted some one to keep his ac-
counts and oversee his expenditures.
How was he to get rid of this business
which threatened his idleness and
placiGity? He made up his mind to
take wife.
She whom he had chosen was a young
girl of candid brow, but full of reso-
lution-a fact which had guided Yer
DAWN in his selection. He had said to
himself: "She will have enough to see
after all my business affairs, and l
shall be saved any trouble in such mat
ters."
yon moon that shone above-round as
the crown of his hat--had not yet filled
her horn six times after this mar
riage. when. one fine morning, my lady
summoned her husband. who fastened
10 her apartments, bearing in his hand
q package of hooks. to which he was
attaching new lengths of line and gut.
"What is it. daring?"
"Amedee. be so good as to listen to
me. During the six months of our
married life I have been studying your
character and scrutinizing your apti-
tudes, for you know well that man of
your age and position can not rust in
inglorious idleness."
why. bless me. Emmie, I thought
my time was sufficiently occupied. For
instance. just at this very moment,
was setting Off for the brook. where l
expected to get you mess of fish for
dinner that"
"Alnedee. be serious, beg of you, if
you can. have been canvassing the
whole subject thoroughly in my mind,
and have found the one pursuit."
But, my dear, when say that"
'That ORG pursuit in which. nova
days, man can rise to power and hon
or, is politics.
"Po.itics! Heaven be praised, never
have gone in for politics; and, heaven
helping me. madame. never will"
In three weeks there will be an
election in this department. will, that
is to say. you will, come forward as a
candidate"
But, dearest, you have not
thought"
''Yes. dear. haze thought it over in
its every aspect. Indeed, have pre-
pared your address to the electors"
1.-The deuce you have!"
Don't swear, Amedee; swearing Of
' tends the sc:upulous voters. Do you
think it is very agreeable for a wom-
an to spend all her lifetime shut up in
this poky old hole, absolutely Tn
known? The provinces do not make
regulations. but they elect deputies.
What would I not give to hear people
say, as l passed: You see that pretty
little woman in brown? She's the wife
Of our representative
''Emmie. you are only jesting!"
''This. then. is the address you are to
issue to the electors" and she read as
follows:
yellow Citizens: At time when the
wcl!-beins-nay. the very existence-de.
MAIDS The harm onious union OF all patriot.
ic men. feel it my duty to desire an op-
po-,urity of combating On the par,ia.
r?entarE field Of battle for the regeneration
OF our beloved cohntry. What desire
Gha, you mus, all desire-is order in liberty
with liberty in order"
There We're nearly three columns OF
this.
The next morning there began fol-
the unhappy Nerdavn a life the horrors
ct which it would be difficult to re.