Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1904-03-17

the other extremity 10 the railing OF
the steps by Meredith The two com
papions of this pair performed the
same operation with another strip or
the other side of the car. They ran
similar lines OF bunting near the roof
from end to end. 30 that except for the
windows the sides of the car were
completely covered by the national col
ors. Then they draped the vestibnlcs
with flags. 1t was all done in a trice.
Merediths heart was beating fast
"Whats 1t all about?' ne asked.
"Picnic down the line" answered the
man in charge. removing tack from
his mouth. He motioncd to the con
ductor, eco ahcadw
The whccls began to move: the doc
orators remained on the station plat
form, letting the train pass them, but
Meredith, craning his neck from the
steps, saw that they jumped on the
last car.
whats the celebration?" asked
Harkless when Meredith returned.
"Picuic down the line" said Mere
dith.
"Nippfng weather for picnic. A biz
cool, don't you think? one Of those fel
lows looked like a friend uf mine
Homer Tibbs or as Homer might look
| If he were in disgrace. He had his hat
hung on bis eyes. and he slouched like
thief in melodrama as he tackled ul
| the bunting on this side of the car
He continued TO point out various
familiar places finally breaking out
| enthusiastically as they drew nearer
the town: Hello, Look there--boyond
the grove yonder, See that houseW
Eyes, John"
CHATS the Powders. You've got to
know the powders"
I'D like TO-"
"Thc kndest people in the world
The BrisCoc house we can't see because
it's so shut in by trees. and. besides, its
a mile or so ahead of us. Well 30 out
there for supper tonight. Don't you
like Briscoe? He's the best they make
Wen go uptown with Judd Bennett il
the omnibus, and you'll know how Il
rapid fire machine gun sounds. ] want
to go straight to the I1era ID Office" he
finished with suddenly darkenine
brow
"After all. there may be some ex
plantations" Meredith suggested with u
little hesitancy. III. EiSbee might
turn ont more honest than you think"
Harklcss threw his head back and
laughed. Honest. A man in the pay
of Rodney McCune! Wen. we can let
It wait till we get there. Listen
There's the whistle that means were
oil we'll"
so il is"
"And another-three. five. seven
seven in sight at once. They tried il
three miles south and failed, but you
can't fool Eph Watts, bless him, |
want you to know Watts"
They ran by the outlying houses Oh
the town amid Il thousand descriptive
cxclamations from llarklesS, who wish
ed Meredith TO meet every one in Car
low. But he came 10 a pause in the
middle of q word. do you hear mu
Sic he asked abruptly, cor is IT only
the rhythm Of the ties?'
at seems to me there's music in the
air" answered his companion. I've
been fancying L heard it for minute
or So There Moves. It's = band
isn't to-
80. What would a band yes, II
is"
The train slowed M and stopped at a
water tank POO yards east Of the sta
ton. ana ties uncertainty was ut an
end. From somewhere down the track
came the decorating boom Of Il cannon
There was clash of brass, and the
travellers became sure of q band play
ing Marching Through Georgia
Meredith laid his hand on his com
panion's shoulder. John" he Il;
"Johnw
The cannon fred again. and there
came cheer from 5000 threats, the
Gboutcrs all unseen. The engine cough
ed and painted, the train rolled on. anc
in another moment it had stopped
alongside the station in the midst Of 4
riotous Jam Of happy people who were
waving flags and banners and handker
chiefs and tossing their hats high il
the air and shouting themselves hoarse
The band played in dumb show. II
could not bear itself play. The people
came at the smoker like q long wave
and Warren Smith, BrisCoe, Heating
end Mr.. Renee of Gaines were swept
ahead OF IT, Before the train stopped
they had rushed eagerly up the steps
and entered the car IlArkless was on
his feet and started TO meet them. He
stopped
What does il mean" he said and be
gan 10 grow pale. is Holloway did
McCune-have you'-
Warren Smith seized one Of his
hands and Briscoe the other, what
does it mean" cried Warren. Ii
means that you were nominated fo-
congress ut five minutes after o'clocl;
this afternoon"
ION the second ballot" shouted The
judge Gust as young F'iSbee planned
It weeks ago"
1t was one OF the great crowds of
Carlow's history, Since noon an al
most unintermittent procession Of pc.
destrians and vehicles had been making
Ats way to the station, and every way
on, blackboard, buggy and "cut undei'
had its flags or bunting or streamer Of
ribbons tied to the whip. The excite
ment increa sed - the time grew short
!g, 9 fnr u