The San Juan County index. (Aztec, N.M.) 1890-19??, 1902-02-21
AT ELECTION TIME


n wasn't a very ~pretentious build
ing-iust a neat, white cottage that
stood on q small elevation at the bend
Of the 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 rustling IN the even
Ing breeze. and on the north, a strip
Of green pasture land met a wider
strip Of yellow stubble.
The door behind him stood open,
and the light from within fell softly
upon the mans silver locks.
A girl anne and stood In the door
way, her trim figure. like a 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.
mo. pa" she answered, softly.
"Id kinder like to know how the
election come out" he resumed after
q pause. "They ought to have the
returns in by this time. Don't you
think 50, Gene?'
The girl did moi reply, but stood
gazing silently down the road that
stretched away through the dusk
towards the town.
"Pa," said the girl, timidly, wilbur
asked me to marry him, last night,
and-and-Can /, pa?"
moi" he growled. mo, he can't
marry no daughter Of minel Why.
he's a Republican, Genoa id, ras-
cally Republican,
why, pal" cried the girl, staring
at him with wide open eyes, why,
pal"
And more than that" resumed the
man, angrily, he's a candidate for
township trustee-a candidate on the
Republican ticket"
The girl walked softly to his side
and placed her arms around his neck.
but I love him, pa" she said; Il
love him with all my heart, and-and
II want to marry him, pa; l want to
marry him."
There, there, Gene" he said ten
derby, "In think It over, my child;
III think It over"
Both lapsed into silence and listened
to the chirping Of the crickets in the
grass and the baying Of a hound down
by the creek. And after awhile the
Did nan said:
Il wish I knew how the election
came out; I wish I knew"
The girl arose. "Tn walk over to
Chadmore's, pa" she said. Perhaps
they have heard something"
She went into the house and came
out, presently, with a shawl over her
head.
"I1l be right back, pa" she said.
The man made no reply until she
had reached the gate. Then he shouted
after her:
eft Chadmore's hasn't heard nothin'
you might 80 over to D~ickenson's
Gene. I'd kinder like to know how
badly We licked 'em.
Then he relit his pipe and sat quite
still gazing after the girl until she
was lost to view In the darkness. Fol
a long time he smoked in silence, gaz-
ing at the stars that shown above the
trees across the road. And after q
while he leaned forward and, resting
his arms on his knees, looked abseptly
down at his feet.
"Gadi" he murmured, "the daughter
Of old Jim Billings in love with a Re
publican-with a Republican candi-
datel Gadl"
He rose and paced the porch i'm
patiently, stopping frequently to gaze
a~nxiously Up the road. But the cir.
did not return. He filled his pipe anC
hobbled out into the road, watching
listening. The dampness made his
bones ache and he pulled vigorously
at his pipe as though to gather
warmth therefrom.
I'D kinder like to know how th'
election went" he murmured. "TC
like to know"
Then be retraeed his steps and sa'
down again on the porch.
She loves a Republican," he sale
70 himself. "Old Jim Billings daugh
ter loves n rascaIly Republican,"
He paused To listen. The sound o