Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1901-03-23

Tue Fl-af piece 81 paper. lie must
have doubted the constant attendance
of that Invisible presence. for on sec
ord thought he abandoned the whole
scheme 81 settling the troublesome
question and attemp;ed to put the
matter aside fer new Inspiration.
That Inspiration came sooner than
was expected. The congressman. who
was general ia she great civil war
brushed aside the papers with an i'm.
patient hand and went cut for q stroll
in the bracing air which came IN the
form % q gentle breeze down over the
Bull Run battlefield, Withholding the
soothing odor Of fields and farms as IL
rolled mp Pennsylvania avenue. The
general shifted the refreshing 0tmos-
phere as he invoiuntarily quickened
his pace. II viii probably never be
known what turned his thoughts 90
other days when shot and shell rained
about him and he advanced rapidly
from the ranks 20 the position OF cap
tain, then major aud colonel, coming
home wearing the straps OF general.
all his a6vancemcnts being achieved by
bravery. Il may have been those MEM
ories were refreshed in his mind by
tly down from far-famed Alexandria
and the undulating domains of the la
mented Lady Fairfax. = any rate he
paused ia his walk and remarked half
aloud: II have half mind TO give
81 TO q soldier" \ passerby hearing
that remark would not have been able
TO interpret its meaning. but the read
er OF this story viii know that he
stiu had his mind on the pamunkey
pest Office. "But there is the rub"
he went on (Which one? There is
McMurry-he is a veteran OF the civil
war, and no better soldier ever shoul-
dered musket. Then there is Ran
dali a soldier OF the Spanish-Ameri-
can war, and he must not be sighted.
and last comes Murphy who now has
son at the front. Well. I have no
! choice in the three. now which shall
IL be2"
The troubled man walked on in deep
thought for few moments. then pull
ing out his watch 20 ascertain the time
he exclaimed: II have it, viii leave
s. TO chance. and may the disappointed
candidates and their friends have
mercy on me. I can make no mistake
, IN the three. Either OF them would fill
| the bill. Tonight / viii not wind my
watch. II win stop In the morning at
I about the time / awake. II 10 stops on
/ an even number Of minutes. McMurry
/ gets the post office; II il stops on an odd
numhsF RanS4ll is the winner. and IL it
stops five seconds either way from the
minute mark Murphy viii be open for
| congratulations"
With that the Old warrior and states
man thrust the watch into his pocket
| and went back 10 his work Of framing
a caustic speech against measure pre-
/ pared by the other side Of the house.
! The matter OF the post office vacancy
at Pamunkey was out OF his head 50
far as he was concerned. He had left
I il 70 mechanical agency which would
soon settle the fate Of the multitude OF
aspirants.
In the meantime great anxiety pre-
vailed at Pamunkey. The newspapers
/ had caught the spirit OF the eontes,
and published all sorts Of predictions
as TO the result. One started q guess
! ing contest and sold coupons on ths
I result The acting post master sQuan-
! dered the proceeds of the sale Of fine
Jersey cow in purchasing coupons FOR
his FRIENDS 10 vote for him. 4 large
| instalIment Of his votes came into the
office OF publication on the very night
7 the cORgressman's bejeweied watch
was counting of the minutes 20 decide
! whether il would stop az odd or even
or for the man with the son at the
! front
I When the general awOke The mex
morning he lay still for several mo-
ments and looked at bis. watch, which
reposed on his dresser. he wondered
whether or not il had stopped. and i
IL had who had won. Finally he arose
placed the watch 10 his ear and lis
tened. IL was as dead as the chances oi
host OF candidates At Pamunkey. He
heSitated 10 look at the face OF the
watch, and finally dropped Il into hii
Z pocket with the thought that be coulC
just as wen look at il after break
fast.
( On coming out OF the breakfast-roou
the general was about 10 draw hi
watch from his pocket and decide tb,
momentous question, when he noticed
Z young second lieutenant coming uI
the steps. a moment later the gen
erai advanced toward the young volun
teer infantryman, extending his hand
and exelaiming: Hello Ferguson
where did you drop from?"
Just in from the Philippines" re
! ffa.I .1~I- -