Middletown transcript., 1902-10-11

vote ON my side" said Mrs. skene coax
ingly.
"what do you call your sidel" asked
the old lady.
"Well, at heart I'm Prohibition, but
was born Democrat, SO stand by my
colors, and Thomas 7. Tucker, who's an
out and out Democrat, is the right man in
the right place, and we women are going
to make him School Commissioner or
know the reason why"
"Ah, Mrs. Potter, this is quite day;
good afternoon, Mrs. Skene."
A vivid flush mounted the temples OF
the latter as Luther Weaver with this sal
utation mounted Mrs. Potter's piazza
steps, and with cheerful nod, began to
question the old lady about some premed-
itated alterations in her "lean-to."
81 was just going, Mr.. Weaver" and
she made her adieus and was out OF the
gate with an expedition which caused
Mrs. Potter to exclaim, 'Wal, that was
news to me; we'd only jest begun to ar
gify and get interested"
Hurriedly the fair widow walked down
Main Street in sort OF daze, passing un-
consciously by the Elliott, Boardman and
Smith houses, where half dozen or
more votes awaited her canvass.
"Oh, dear!' she calculated, suddenly
coming to a standstill, 81 forgot! I'll
have to go back-but do hope he will be
gone!'
Very slowly she retraced her steps, but
Luther was still there.
"Aunt Polly, forgot-no, didn't
cave my umbrella, buhI forgot that you
would have to register, and tomorrow is
the last day."
"'Tain't no use, Mary Lizzie; told
you before ye can't get me to them polls"
"Now, Aunt Polly, you just give your
mind to it. I'll be here early in the morn
ing, and we'll stop at Muslin 4 Co.'S on
our way back from registering and get
that black bombazine you've been want
in so long"
"Do you mean it?" and the impecunious
old lady's eyes frightened, while quiz
zical look and almost smile came on
Luther's face as he elevated his eye
brows.
"Well, I'll think it over and sleep ont
1 never do nary thing without sleepin'
ont; had to even sletp on the lean-to,
Luth, before 1 could bring my mind to it. /"
"Mary Lizl" she shouted as the gate
shut, "who's runnin' agen your man
Tucker?"
"I don't know. Samuel James was
put up, but you know he died, and 1
never heard who they took instead. But
whoever he is he's Republican, and Pm
right against him.
"Mrs. Skene, was that bombazine dress
arrangement quite straightforward, poll.
tically?' Luther had overtaken the
widow Just below the schoolhouse, and
again pink flush suffused her face as
she turned at hearing.
"Why not? Anyhow, it was polite
She wanted something badly, SO did /
and fair exchange is no robbery.
mo, but possibly bribery"
II never offered her money" the widow
answered aggressively, while she thought
''I do wish lie wouldn't raise his eye
| brows that Way: he had that trick wheI
he was boy"
"Perlaps not, but money value, and
doesn't that amount to the same thingp
"That's matter of opinion, Mr.. Wea
ver," she said stoically, though in sac
inward futter, meanwhile cropping fran
tically among the voluminous bacl
breadths of her dress-skirt for a pocket
handkerchief, ''still, on the whole, / gues
I'n buy that dress and send it as presen
to Mrs. Potter tonight" T"
"Wouldn't that be distinction with
out difference? But, apropos of woman
rights, why don't you begin by equaliz
ing things in the way of pockets?'-fo
she was still hunting Intellectually. ~
man with fifth part of plain clothing
surface has an average of sixteen pocke is
while woman has none, or one only
and that never get-at-able."
Similarity does not always imply
equality, Mr.. Weaver. Our platform il
equality in the ballot, and every sphere
Of intellectual endeavor; we women g
deeper than pockets" Another dive
this time deep enough to attain the de
sired handkerchief. Butch, DEAR" sht
added to herself, there's that Pheb'
Jones coming out of Mrs. Wickum's
She'll have it all over town that We wert
walking together goodbye, Mr.. Weaver
I'm going to the jackson Place to set
little Tommy"
$50 am ~ and Luther turned the cor
ner as quickly and sharply as she, quit
aware that little Tommy was sudder
inspiration, but determined that this elu
sive wiIl-o'.the-wisp should not escape
him this time.
A stolid silence for five minutes till they
entered Jackson's Lane, locally and an
GENTLY known as the Dark Entry, proba
bly, becauseof the deep shade formed b.
tall overarching trees, which on stormy
/ lowery days of midsummer had per
spective dismal and cayernous look. But
to-day was bright; the sun glinted anC
danced through bare branches, and rec
roofs of the Jackson farm buildings coul,
be readily seen shining down the road.
MAY l ask why you consider Thoms
Tucker the right man in the right place
Mrs. Skene?'
Because-because-
| THAT is a woman's reason, implying
neither equality nor similarity" inter
rupted Weaver.
because he's Democrat"
"Ah, that certainly is a reason. Thel
judge you believe in voting the straigh
Democratic ticket. But may / ask wha
you consider his peculiar fitness for th
officer"
'Party-principles-are all-that ar
necessary" came with spasmodic Jerks.