Morris tribune., 1901-01-26
.Uerdayin' S Candidacy
How the Representative Of His
VIE Was Elected.

| aSnOulQ you ever happen to Visit TIT
department of Trois- Etoiles and men
ton the name of M. Verdavin it is safe
betting that your interlocutor, no mat
ter who he may be, will exclaim:
''Verdavin! Well, of all the ambi
tious, intriguing men ever met Yer
DAWN was the Worstw
| However, now that the vox popul
has pronounced upon my old friend
permit me to have the honor of intro
ducing to you the real Verdavin, thai
you may compare him with Verdavin
the legendary.
Born of honest but not poor parents,
Amedee-such was his name-had from
| his childhood up one single care-to
| live quietly and cozily on the 10000
francs year bequeathed to him by
| his pa and ma. He had a CHEEKY little
town residence, love Of country
house. In spring he made little trip
to Paris; in summer he fshed; in au-
tumn he shot; in winter there was the
club, Nothing could nave Leen pleas
anter.
/ Nevertheless .Amedee perceived that
something still was lacking in his life
He wanted 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 pla-
cidity? He made up his mind to take
q wife.
She whom he had chosen was a
young girl Of candid brow, but full of
resolution, a fact which had guided
Verdavin in his selection. He had said
to himself. "She will have will enough
to see after all my business affairs,
and shall be saved any trouble in
such matters"
Yon moon that shone above, round as
the crown of his hat. had not yet filed
her horn six times after their mar
riage when one fine morning my lady
summoned her husband, who FASTENED
to her apartments, bearing in his hand
q package of hooks, to which he was
attaching new lengths of line and gut.
"What is it, my darling?'
"Amedee, be so good as to listen to
me. During the six months of our
married life l have been studying your
character and scrutinizing your apti-
tudes, for you know well that man of
your age and position cannot rust in
inglorious idleness."
"Why. bless me, Emmie, thought
my time was sufficiently occupied. For
instance, just at this very moment
was setting off for the brook, where
expected to get you mess Of fish for
dinner that
'Amedee. 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 one pursuit in which nova
days man can rise to power and hon
or is politics."
politics! Heaven be praised, !
never have gone in for politics. and, |
heaven helping me, madame, never
will.
SIN three weeks there will be an elec-
ton in this department | will-that is
to say, you will-come forward as a
candidate"
''But, dearest, you have not thought
eyes, dear, have thought it over in
Its every aspect. Indeed | have pre-
pared your address to the electors"
"The deuce you have!"
"Don't swear, Amedee. Swearing of
tends the scrupulous voters. Do you
think it is very agreeable for woman
% spend all her lifetime shut up in this
1oky old hole, absolutely unknown?
The provinces do not make reputa-
IONS but they elect deputies. What
would not give to hear people say
Is passed: You see that pretty
title woman in brown? She's the wife
If our representative
"Emmie, you are only jestingw
''This, then. is the address you are
% issue to the electors and she read
Is follows;
"Fellow Citizens-At time when the well be.
the very existence-demands the har-
nonious union of all patriotic men ! feel it my |
luty to desire an opportunity Of combating on
he parliamentary field of battle for the regenera-
ion of our beloved country. What I desire-what
ou must all desire-is order in liberty, with lib
rty in order 7
There were nearly three columns Of
his.
The next morning there began for
he unhappy Verdavin a life the hor.
ors of which it would be difficult to
etrace, He. the friend of repose, the
nemy of emotion!
For instance. one day madame said:
Amedee. have drawn up list Of the
eading residents of each parish in the
constituency. We viii call on the most
Prominent You will write to the 9TH
rs'
Seventeen hundred letters! never
ould."
'You can easily hire secretaries. In
alf an hour we will set off on this in
ispensable journey"
For Is days the only man one seemed
} meet on the roads, the steamboats,,
ne ears, was the unhappy verdavfn, {
ne candidate in spite Of himself. IN i
lie pel1lng rain. in the broiling sun
went he Every morning q
is wife drew up the programme for
=.