The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1904-09-08


"How much-do you think-it would
cost you-Jamie?" she asked, very slow
ly, trying to think.
"Oh, could pull through on a hun
dred dollars" he replied. Yes, hun
dred dollars would be plenty. But ii
might Just as we'll be a thousand, for
I amt got no show of gettin' it, that !
| can see."
Nan gasped. A hundred dollars
| should she let him have it? Should she
stake it all upon the turn of a political
wheel?
| "Jamie!" She spoke suddenly, almost
| sharply. "Are you sure-real sure-you
could get the nomination Tiff you had q
hundred dollars.
CAS- sure as anything on earth" he re-
piled. why, see here, Nan. I'd only need
about 800 votes and I'm sure of almost
600 at the start-dead sure. Then if one
out of every three of these 600 men got
| one other vote for me, I'd be nominated,
don't you see?"
"You know best, jamie" she said, Il
don't. just wanted to be sure. lwould
be so glad if you could winch, I'd be SO
proud of YOU"
She threw her arms around his neck,
| then tripped into the room where the
! bureau was and laid her hand upon the
knob of the drawer that contained her
precious letter.
A moment she hesitated. She did SO
want a parlor carpet-and few dishes
and besides, il this money was used
and Jim should lose-if he should
there was no telling
Her glance wandered to the kitchen
and she saw Jim leaning against the
table, his chin resting in his hand.
Jamie knows" she said to her heart;
dear old jamie, he is so anxious and so
sure. He cannot be mistaken. And II
he should win, how nicely we can get
along"
A moment later she stood before him,
smiling into his face, her hands behind
her back.
Kiss me, sir" she said, ''and I'll give
you something"
He lifted her chin with big, rough
hand and kissed her, awkwardly, and she
named MIN the leCter.
AS he read it, his eyes frightened and
renewed courage crept into his face. But
when he had finished he smiled and
handed it back to her.
But you are to keep the money" she
said. Keep It, Jamie and fight-fght-
and win"
He shook his head. 81 can't take your
money, sweetheart" he said. 1T amt
mine, and IL wouldn't feel just right
about it." =,
She locked her arms about his neck.
But I want you to-" she cried; "oh,
buy little home and it will be ours,
Jamie, ours!"
A light, not unlike that on warriors
face in the heat of battle, crept into his
eyes,
II Wilt" he cried. God bless you,
Mamie girl, will
The last of the returns had been re-
ceived and those who had been success
full at the primaries, surrounded by their
admiring friends, left the hall, until the
big room was all but deserted.
But over in one corner, where the light
shone dim and indistinct a man fingered,
as though loath to leave. His eyes, like
those Of one who looks, Sut sees not,
stared straight ahead, anG upon his face
was a hard, resentful CLEAN.
The janitor, coming in to turn off the
lights, saw him.
Hello, Paxton" he said, heres
where you lose. amt it?"
Here's where l lose," Jim replied,
grimly, "but l can't believe it, Bascom,
l can't believe I'm defeated. The boys
all promised to stick by me, and-and
I was so sure"
They are always sure" Bascom re-
piled. Cant tell nothin' about poll
tics, Paxton; can't tell who your friends
are either until after the votes are
counted"
But l came so near, Bascom; why,
lacked only 20 votes-and it meant so
much to me. You see it was Mans"
He paused. Boscom had moved off in
different and was putting out the lights
at the further end of the room.
When Jim turned in at his door yard,
he saw a shadow on the porch, which
came lightly down the steps to meet him.
1t was Nan.
AS the light from the window illu-
mined his face, Nan paused. There was
no need for him to tell her the news She
read it in the dull CLEAN of his eyes, and
her heart sank within her. He tried to
speak, but his lips refused to move. T.
Never mind, Jamie DEAR" she said,
bravely, seeing the misery, greater than
her own, in his face.
But your money, Nannie," he cried,
cts"
Il know it, DEAR" she said, and her
words nearly choked her, but you did
the best you could, jamie"
Eyes, did, Mamie, / did," he said,
"and Gregory only beat me by 20 votes.
Oh, was so sure, Mamie, so sure"
Nan put her arm through his and pet
ted his hand as she would child's, as
they entered the house. 81
why is it," he asked, bitterly, ''that a
man like Gregory, who doesn't need it is
always elected, while fellows like me-
who have hunted everywhere for some
thing to do and have spent every cent we
had, are beaten?"
Nan clasped her hands behind his neck.
But we have each other, Jamie, boy"
she said.
"Yes," he replied, with an effort at
cheerfulness. I'VE have each other, Nan