The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-06-21
THE ADVERTISERS x .x ,
 us # DAILY SHORT STORY. S
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 aer Of the conference. Miss Raymon, remarked upon the coldness with q, amused smile.
 We'll" remarked Be5s, decisiyely
 IT you must have 1t l am free to sa that l do not think ii an ideal wal to cnocse Eusband--to leave 1t to Z lclitic2l contest"
 four opinion Is exceedingly valua. oie replied the other with a sligh, sheer. Of course the decision is no so dlfncult in your ca~e. A brief1es: parr!ster being the lone suitor the problem Is not complicated"
 l would not marry a man I did no, love if he were the President" re. piled Bess with spirit, and I would marry the man I did love if he were s teamster."
 Well, of course you have not any particular position to maintain" re. sponded Miss Raymond, but did nope you would display ambition enough to avail yourself of the ad. vantages your position in our house made possible for you. You may have your love in cottage. I propose ta be the wife of a Congressman and have position in the society of the cap ital.'
 At the reference to her dependency on the bounty of the house, Bessie who was the orphaned daughter of an unfortunate brother of its head flushed to her forehead and turned from the room.
 The campaign waged fast and furi- ouS. But the contestants were men or recognized ability and standing. In the course of a few weeks 1t became ha nfe ming neck and neck. A careful diag- nosis of the situation showed that both were sure of about the same number of delegates and that the contest turn ed upon control of the third ward. This was the home of Dick Hamilton, and It was recognized that the young law yer could bring in delegates to favor either side whose side he espoused. It was recognized that he was under the most peculiar obligations to both con- testants. He had studied law in the ofiice of one and now coupled desk room in his office, and much of his private practice consisted of cases thrown to him by Ramsay. On the other hand. Holiday had caused him to be appointed trustee of the Belton estate, which yielded him income suf- hcient to live on while he was build ing Up his practice. Both contestants recognized the position Hamilton was in. One day Ramsay went to Holi- days office ard said:
 Look here, Holiday, there's no use beating about the bush. Neither you nor I have the right to ask Hamilton to take sides in this matter. Let's go to Miss Raymond and suggest to her that the contest turns on the Third Ward, and she is the only person who can reach Hamilton-through her cou- sin--that little blonde girl to whom Dick is engaged. Then she can abso- lutely choose the man she wants
 Agreed" replied Holiday.
 Here was a situation, indeed. It nearly took Miss Raymond off her feet Of course there had been no spoken promise on her part to marry the man who won the nomination. but the un- derstanding was tacit. She had not foreseen that there would be a con- test between the two men. Both had been ardent admirers, and she had told both that she desired to marry a man who was member of Congress-, and who could give her position at Washington.
 She declined the suggestion to de- eide the issue.
 Hamilton and Bess were discussing the episode one evening and laughing et the importance which Dick fiad so suddenly assumed. All at once Bess stopped laughing and looked grave Then she leaned over and whispered to Dick. Dick looked grave in turn and then both laughed.
 By love, I'll try it!" he exclaimAd The he kissed her, seiezd his hat. and was gone.
 This was four days before the con- vention. The convention was the most exciting ever held in the county. Ram say had tifty-nine votes; Holiday had sixty-one, exclusive of the Third Dis trict, which had sixteen. Dick Hamil- ton headed the delegation from the third. On the first ballot the vote from this delegation was cast-six for Ram sey. six for Holiday. and four for Judge Shuler. man who stood high in the community, but who was not a candidate. Another ballot was or dered. This one resulted in exactly the same vote. And so 1t remained for twenty four ballots, when the con- vention adjourned until the next day, and so it. remained for three long and dreary days until the delegates were
  fair. The most strenuous efforts failed to sway a single delegate.
 On the fourth day Hamilton was ab- sent, and when the third was called the acting chairman announced:
 Sixteen votes for Richard Hamil- ton."
 There was an uproar in an instant. In some parts of the hall there were cheers. Before the end of the roll call eight other votes had been cast for Hamilton. Hamilton was exceedingly popular with the politicians through out the country, and 1t had long been predicted that he had a political fu- ture. But he was very young and mo- body had even thought of him in con- nection with so important a place. But 1t was a surprise and political con- ventions like surprises. The delegates were tired to distraction with the pro- tracted voting and did not believe either Ramsey or Holiday could win. So on the next ballot Hamilton re- ceiveA fifty-two votes. Ramsay forty four, and Holiday forty. That settled it. Everybody saw landslide com ing and prepared to get in line. Holiday seized the moment to have his name withdrawn in favor of Hamilton and INd IIhsdy nGSlcIiSu lO AOlluN SuIl. I1dIii- ilton was declared to be the unani- nous choice of the county for the Con gressional nomination.
 Come and spend a few weeks with me next winter at Washington" re- marked Bess to her cousin as she rose from the dinner table. Miss Ray mond's usually ready tongue failed her for the first time, and a red spot fv,p piAhar rhaeE