The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-12-26
ss's
 THE ADVERTISERS DAILY SHORT STORY

It wasn't a very pretentious building | just neat, white cottage that stood on small elevation at the bend of ths road. In the rear. an orchard stretched down to the creek, the trees fragrant with the apples waiting to be gathered To the south a corn field reached as far as the crossroads, the yellow leaves rustIing in the evening breeze. and on the north, a strip of green pasture Iano met a wider strip of yellow stubble. I< On the front porch an old man sat, ms back against a post, his feet upon the step a pipe in his mouth. The door behind him stood open, and the light from within fell softly upon the mans silver locks.
 A girl came and stood in the doorway. her trim figure, like silhouette. against the glare of the lamp. The man turned his head and saw her; Slowly he took his pipe from his mouth.
 You haven't heard from town, have you, Gene?" he asked.
 NO, pa" she answered, softly. 'Pd kinder like to know how the cleo ton come out" he resumed after pause. They ought to have the returns GeneT'
 The girl did not reply. but stood gag ing silently down the road that stretch ed away through the dusk towards the town.
 The man struck a match and lit his
 pipe. For a moment he held the blazing piece of wood in his hand, the light H. l iuminating his sallow face, then, sudden | ly he threw 1t away.
 Pa" said the girl timidly. Wilbur asked me to marry him, last night, ana --and--can l. par
 The pipe dropped from the mans mouth and he turned and glared at his daugh- | ter.
 ry no daughter of mine! Why. he's a Republican Gene--a d-d, rascally Re- publican"
 Why, pa, cried the girl. staring at him with wide open eyes. why, pa! And more than that" resumed the man, angrily, he's a candidate for town ship trustee-a candidate on the Repub- lican >ticket."
 placed her arms around his neck.
 But I love him, pa," she said; '1 love | him with an my heart, and-and-l want l to marry him, pa; l want to marry him. She sank on the step beside him and covered her face with her hands. He gazed at her in silence few moments and heard her sob. Then he ceughed suspiciously and rested his hand upon
 There, there, Gene" he said tenderlyy.
 m think it over, my child; I'll think ! it over" ,.,
 Both lapsed into silence and listened ned | to the chirping of the crickets in the grass and the baying of hound down | by the creek. And after awhile the old
 T wish knew how the election came
 The girl arose. "I'll walk over to Chad | more's. pa." she said. "Perhaps they have heard something" She went into the nouse and came out presently, with shawl over her head. "ru be right back, pa, she said. The man made no reply until she had reached the gate. Then he shouted a1-
 If Chadmore's hasn't heard nothin' | vou might go over to Dickenson's Gene. i'd kinder like to know how badly we | licked 'em. ,. still gazing after the girl until she was l lost 10 view in the darkness. For lonS l time he smoked in silence, gazing at the stars that shown above the trees across the road And after a while ne leaned forward and, resting his arms on ms knees looked absently down at his rect: .Cadi' he murmured. the daughter or
 old Jim Billings in love with 1isdt FePa6SH,!, gPa6,!, His nine went out, but he sat immoya-, hIe chewing the end of the stem. me stars grew brighter in the heavens, ttts
 air grew damp and chilly; the ,,Slnss GpicKeos os ceased their chirping ana the sthl"eSs oi night settled over the fields ,a He rose and paced the porch lnlpa tiently, stopping frequ ently to gaze ahA- st
 iously up the road. 6uI Ine and Ed bnbhled o,,t into the road, watching, listenins'
 The dampness made his bones ache and
 he nuffed vigorously at his pipe as
 though to gather warmth therefrom;
 "Td kinder like to know how the elee1
 tion went" he murmured' "a hNe 'o
 NTT@l Tben he retraced his steps and sat down again on the porch. ,., -,, 4.
 She loves a Republican: ne damrbter sa1b ep ioves rascally Republican"
 voices came to him through the dark
 ness. The voices were lo% an ana oers pless"hhe he
 nouid nu,i not understand a word. Presently
 tHe," tHeV ceased altogether and moment ,,.,,.,.a s,orv "IovEs SECOND DEGF