The Washington weekly post., 1900-03-27

and seldom saw the tall. clear voiced
young fellow whose lighting qualities
We're stirring old-time political leaders out
! OF their slothful confidence.
Il can't tell how thankful am 10 you."
sald Mr.. Sirothers. as he secured feT
words with Eugenia at the last party OF
the season. "The heavy registration frCm
The Hill and our evident gains in the
downtown wards have appalled, Henes
men"
Don't attempt to thank me. as / am
doing all my work for the sake of the lit
lie children Of the poor" said Eugenla.
All ask is that you give them all the
privileges you can when you are mayor"
II have hand organs on every corner
and continuous performance circuses in
the city park" laughed the young candi-
Gate as he assisted his Volunteer into her
carriage
But the first draught from the cup of
bitterness came in the following editorial
IN the Evening Journal on the day of elec-
ton:
The desperate straits to which the al
ieged reform ticket has been reduced Is
evidenced by the fact that not only every
llVefy rig In the city has been hired by the
| Strothers boodlers. but a miscellaneous
assortment OF tally-hos, traps. and drags
! from capitol Hill assisted in the work OF
dragging unwilling voters TO cast their
ballots for corruption. A certain society
| leader led this brigade in her automobile,
and IL is said that her interest in the cam
! paign Is due to the fact that she is en-
gagged to marry Strothers. Cupid. how
ever. will cut little figure in the fight Of
| the people against greed" &c, &c
Eugenia kept brave face at the dinner
/ table, but remained miserably indoors in
Z the evening. and did not even telephone
headquarters 10 hear how the battle was
/ being decided. From the curtained folds
| of parlor window she could see the sud-
/ den glare of red light in the city. and then
| came the strains of music that told Of the
/ release" of the bands which had been
/ holding themselves in readiness to play
4 for either side. Soon a newsboy was cry
/ ing the extra papers announcing the elec-
| tion of Strothers, but the news OF the tri-
! umph of the Free Ice Charity did rot stir
| her as it would have done few hours be-
| fore. She Gid not even start from the win
| dow when the maid announced Mr. Stroth-
] ers.
! - stole out of side door and left three
/ bands. drum corps. and yelling crowd
in front Of my house" he said, as he faced
! her in the flickering glare that came from
/ the conner are light. II wanted 10 see you
! and assure you that I'd rather have lost
: The election many times over than TO have
! rad this thing appear" He held out a
cTumplCd copy of the Journal as he spoke.
Il know what it must mean for wo-
man TO enter politics from the highest
motives and then have those motives i'm
pUgCed,' he went on. - man can stand
! that sort of thing, but with woman, and
! especially some women, it is different.
Now. I'm going 10 force an apology from
/ the cowa-dly hound that wrote this iier'
/ Eugenia had forgotten that the enfran-
! Chised woman must show no sign of
! weakness, and big lump of self-syHpa-
| thy had gathered in her throat She
stepped swiftly from the window and laid
| her hand on his arm.
| "Oh, don't-dOn't do anything rash," she
said, when she had conquered the lump.
Il really don't mind-that is-it doesn't
! matter
She faltered in confusion and her hand
! fell from his arm.
/ There is only one thing, then, that |
can do" he said. stepping close to her side
| and imprisOning the hand in his own;
that is to make the engagement a fact,
isn't it?'
And, because of the noise of the two
bands and the drum corps, he had TO bend
| quite low TO hear the answer.