The Washington times., 1904-04-10

well, I may as well tell We now, Mis-
Raynor," she said. with more the air
of an independent American citizen than
she had ever befSre displayed You'd
find it out some time, most like. I did
think I'd vote for Mss Davenport. jest
because you was so set on lt-not that 1
cared, for II don't make no difference to
me who's mayor But you didn't Of
fer nothin'-and then you always said
folks must vote as they thought
best. anyhow-and so yestid2y. when
a man cam round an said il
we'd vote for Turner he'd give us any
thing we wanted. up air- saI0 lace cur
tings; but 1 didn't mean TO do it till I
see the cuttings. Wal. this mornin'
bright an early, up come the cuttings.
sure enough An AIviny, she's ticlsled
half To- death. Mis- Johnson, In the next
house. she got new stove-her ole ones
just about tumbIin' down. o. course,
now, Mis- Raynor. knew you'd say it
was all right for US to do what we could
for ourselves; so we all went and done
it."
Margaret drew a long breath. This
was indeed a staggering blow Did all
these fifteen womsn vote for Mr.. Turn
err"
''Yes'm. every one"
so. instead OF helping elect a good
mayor, you have done your best to get
bad one! Ann, I am surprised
'Oh, but Mis- Raynor, it wasn't that.
We didn't none Of US care nothin' bout
who was mayor. If you want that wom-
an. so bad, 1 hope she'll git it. You've
always been awful good to me. But you
know folks Ike US always has to take
what they can git. I might never a got
them cuttings. and you know you've
been a tellin me to make home pleasant
for the family"
Margaret interrupted with a protesting
wave of the hand 7 have told you
many things she said, in tragic tones
walking toward the door. Many things.
But I find have been wasting time and
breath I shall know better hereafter
Ann followed her humbly. Her mo-
mentary independence had vanished. and
she was again her customary cringlng
self.
Shall I come for the washing any
more?" she asked meekly.
Margaret hesitated only a moment
Her impulse was to say. No. never
come near me againr' but. conquering
L
ply. Yes and swept from the house.
That night at the White Palace Hotel
a throng of anxious citizens waited for
returns. The floor of the wide lobby was
crowded, and the balconies above were
gray with the light gowns and hats Of
women. who pressed close to the rail-
ing, watching the figures thrown upon
the screen below Among those in the
front balcony were Harrison and Mar
garet RaynOr. the latter growing con
stantly more excited as the situation be-
came intense. For the contest was close.
No sooner did one precinct show a gain
for Mrs. Davenport than the cheers Of
her followers were cut short 10y. figures
from another precinct revealing a small
majoity for Turner: and the wild HUI
rahs of the Turner men were in turn
smothered by the announcement Of a
corresponding rise on the Davenport
side.
This would make lively betting. Ray
nor" said an acquaintance Of sporting
proclivities at Harrison's elbow. Beats
the stock pit for surprises"
Close affair thus far. Il is true" an
swereC Harrison. However. wait till
they give US the Forty-saventh. Wen
see some astonishing gains out there for
Mrs Davenport. The ladies have been
working hard in that vicinity. Mrs. Ray
nor has had a special class in political
evolution" He turned. smiling. toward
Margaret. but at that moment wild
yells. whistles cat calls. made pandemo-
MUM below. and. bending forward. they
read in large letters upon the screen:
a Davenport .........-.-.........1S5
Turner ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 10
Margaret clasped her hands. in dis
may. Fifteen majority for Turner, FIT
teen! Fatal number! Again she saw
that struggling group Of slipshod women
crossing the FIats-her special class
Could it really be that the fate Of cities
was dependent on the vacnIating minds
of such as these?
Let US go home, Harrison" she said.
touching his arm "I am M" and. look
ing into her pale face. he believed her.
But before they left the hotel the vic
tory WIS decisive. The fifteen in the
Forty-seventh had turned the scale. and
the Turner men. with bands playing and
banners flying, were making night hid
eous with mad rejoicing.
In the quiet of their home Margaret.
between laughter and tear. described to
Harrison her interview with Ann.
After all I have done" The lamented.
Isn't IL hopelessly 1iscouraging2"
But YOU have awakened her dormant
powers" nc responded with a twinkle
In his eye She has learned the first
lesson in practical politics, which is.
deliver the goods"
Margaret did not reply to this soothing
comment She took up a book OF Chopin
Nocturnes lying on the closed piano and
absently turned the pages
4 must be shOcklngly rusty in nv
music" she said. after a moment II
believe / shall begin practice again to
morrow. After all ~
She paused. and Harrison completed
the sentence.
After all there are other things in
life worth while besides the political
evolution of Rapid Ann