Meade County news. [volume] (Meade, Kan.) 1900-1918, 1902-01-16

ing-just a neat, white cottage that
stood on a 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, corn
field reached as far as the crossroads,
the yellow leaves ru5tling in the even
ing breeze, and on the north, strip
Of green pasture land met 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 came and stood in the door
way, her trim figure, like 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.
"Pd kinder like to know how the
election come out" he resumed after
a pause. They ought to have the
returns in by this time. Don't you
think so, Gene?"
The girl did not 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-Can 1, pa?"
"NOio he orOulad SsNO he can't
marry no daughter of mine! 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
Republican ticket
The girl walked softly to his side,
and placed her arms around his neck.
But 7 love him, pa" she said; 81
love him with all my heart, and-and
I want to marry him, pa; 1 want to
marry him.
There, there, Gene" he said ten
derby, I'll think it over, my child;
I'll 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
old man said:
81 wish 1 knew how the election
came out; I wish 1 knew"
The girl arose. iii 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.
I'll be right back, pa" she said.
The man made no reply until she
had reached the gate. Then he shouted
after her:
IF Chadmore's hasn't heard nothin'
you might go over to Dickenson's,
Gene. I'd kinder like to know how
badly we licked EN-"
Then he relit his pipe and sat quite
still gazing after the girl until she
was lost to view in the darkness. For
a long time he smoked in silence, gaz-
ing at the stars that shown above the
trees across the road. And after
while he leaned forward and, resting
his arms on his knees, looked absently
down at his feet.
"Gad!" he murmured, "the daughter
of old Jim Billings in love with a Re
publican-with a Republican candi-
date! Gad!"
He rose and paced the porch i'm
patiently, stopping frequently to gaze
anxiously up the road. But the girl
did no: return. He filled his pipe and
hohbled 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.
'Pd kinder like to know how the
election went" he murmured. I'D
like to know"
Then lie retraced his steps and sat
down again on the porch.
"She loves a Republican," he said
to himself. "Old Jim Billings daugh-
ter loves rascally Republican,"
He paused to listen. The sound of
voices caEle to him through the dark
ness. The voices were low and pleas
ant but. although he strained his ears,
he could not understand a word. Pres
emily they ceased altogether and a mo-
ment later he saw Gene coming
through the darkness alone.
She turned in at the gate and came
slowly up the walk and stood silently
before him as though reluctant to
speak.
We'll, Gene" he said finally, chow
bad dill we beat emp