Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1902-11-13

Archibald was poor ana latterly SUNK
into debt, but he accepted the idea OF
coach and four as though he had
been born to it And this is not say
ing that it was thrust upon him. 1t
was merely part Of the divinity that
hedged about a handsome girl who
spoke Of ordinary politicians and their
wives AS those people"
WhMe the money was to come from
he had not the least idea, and he
found it more tolerable on the whole
not to dwell upon ways and means.
He simply marked time and his hair
grew whittier and something came up
every day to remind him that he was
not young any longer.
Ordinarily the coarse Establishments
of the lobby had no terrors for Archi-
bald. But when you come to the love
of a woman, nice sentiment about
marriage settlements, a mountain Of
debt and dizzy sum of money in
plain brown envelope, and the bill is a
good one perhaps anyway, and no one
cares copper whether you so up or
down, why, that is another thing.
Only that morning Archibald had
taken the girl for drive in fancy
cutter behind pair of thin fanked
bays. 1t might have been chance, but
it looked like fate. that as they dashed
past the steps of the capitol the lobby
king on the topmost step, had lifted
his hat to them.
ooh, by the way" said the girl, ''I'm
coming over at to hear the contest
on that horrid canal bill. 1t will be
exciting"
Don't, dear" said Archibald.
"Why?" pouted the girl, whose face
shone temptingly pink and white over
a gray fur boa.
Because" stammered Archibald
very intent upon the FESTIVE bays, "the
struggle is all over. There is nothing
left but voting"
When the girl with a bevy of other
ladies, took her seat in the gallery that
afternoon, Archibald did not look up at
once, but he knew that she was there
as we'll as if he had had eyes in the
top Of his head.
buzzing senate chamber as the clerk
shrill voice took up the first syllable Of
his reading. Debate had been exhaust
| ed in weeks of turmoil, and nothing
now remained but the formal ballot
which had been made a special order
Of the day. In the nervous tension Of
the minutes some Of the men most in
| fOd cob 60 III, n
spite strong efforts at self control,
some grinned foolishly and others tore
up strips of blank paper and folded
them with care. Many eyes turned to-
ward Archibald, for by an unaccounta-
BILE but not unusual telepathy the
knowledge had spread that his might
be the casting vote, and Archibald's
name was the third on the list.
1.-THE clerk will now please call the
roll" said the lieutenant governor, rap
ping smartly on the desk. There was
the audible rustling Of a leaf, and then
the clerks shrill call:
'John T. Aldridgev'
Aldridge voted AYE" as it had been
conceded that he would
'Thomas S. Allenv'
''Now shouted Allen, with the full
strength of his lungs. There was lit
tie handclapping, which the chairman
suppressed immediately
George d. Archibaldv' called the
clerk.
The king of the lobby caught his
breath for the fraction of minute,
and patriarchal senators stroking their
white boards leaned over anXiously to
hear the voice of the hale, quiet man
from Cook
aye" said Archibald clearly, and
there was a slight uproar of mingled
Kisses and applause
The king of the lobby folded his arms
and smiled little. After that, silk hat
in hand, he stood to hear the vote
through with the born expression of a
man who anticipated every move of the
game.
He turned when the vote was an
nounced and bumped into page who
had been waiting at his elbow to hand
him q stuffy brown envelope. 1t had
been ripped open and banknotes were
sticking out of the end audaciously.
Returned with the compliments Of
George d. Archibald'' ran the indOrse-
ment on the back. The king of the
lobby, with a muttered oath, whipped
the bills into the inside pocket of his
coat.
Meantime the girl in the gallery was
saying to a friend how horrid it was
of Mr.. Archibald to vote on the side
that people Kissed; which, of course, it
was
Only Wanted Part.
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