Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1905-08-29
Mandy's
Declaration
By EPES w. SARGENT
Copyright, 1905, by Epes w. Sargent

Copyright, 1905. by Epes w. Sargent
f~ lHE men Of Jepson Center said
that David Grimes was Il
f@7:sSl shrewd politician, with clean
tSESSJ record, and he deserved to 60
to congress. The women pronounced
him hard taskmaster and husband, a
skinhint, unworthy Of the wife who
had helped to make him what he was,
the political autocrat Of Niobrara coun-
ty. But Grimes cared little enough for
the latter opinion. Women could not
vote. The greed for votes, for political
advancement and power was upon him,
and the morrow would mark the first
great crisis Of his life.
From justice of the peace to congress
man in eight years! His first election
had been walkover. The office Of
sheriff had fairly fallen into his lap,
ana he had gone to the state legislature
backed by the solid vote Of his party.
But the office of congressman was the
gift not only Of his own county, but Of
Rock Creek also, and then there was
young Jameson of ChadrOn to be con-
sidercd. Well, tomorrow's conference
would settle the question. Smythe, man.
agcr of the great land syndicate and
irrigation company which controlled
mile after mile of redeemable property
and hundreds of votes. was coming
from Omaha to attend the county cele
bration at Chadron Oh Independence
day, to inspect the company's broad
farms and to take hand in the polit-
ical game.
And David Grimes was to be orator
of the day. Flags would ilutter; bands
would play; cheers would follow his
great speech. \ strange thrill passed
over this usually cold, calculating and
self contained man. Then his momen-
tary enthusiasm died. A light touch
rested on his arm.
David, if you don't mind, I'd like
to go over to the celebration with you
three years, and l amt never heard
you speak in public. p
Grimes glanced superciliously ut the
slender figure beside him, then down
the alkali sprinkled street to Morgan's
store. where row of ranch teams an
nounced the presence Of voters.
"Chadron won't be any place for
women folks tomorrow. There'll be
more politics than skyrOckets in the
air, and III be too busy to bother
with you. I've promised Brooks, su-
perintendent of the North farm, the
extra place in my buggy. Besides, one
woman from the family will be
enough, I'm thinking, and I've written
Etfie to stay over for the celebration,
being as her teaching there this win
ter has given her something of stand
ing with the board. l need all the
help can get just now, and Ellie ii
make better appearance than you
would. You nin't much on style, Man
dy, nor on making up to folks" He
said this with the brutal frankneSs of
the self centered, absorbed individual,
and, without waiting for her reply, he
strobe Off toward Morgan's store.
But there would have been no reply.
Patient, docile Mandy had long since
learned the futility Of arguing against
fate in the form of her masterful hus-
band. Her first lesson had come twen.
ty years before, when, after u brief
wedding journey to see "David's
folks" they had stopped off at Chad
ron to buy the simple furnishings for
their new home Mandy, stepped in
the fairyland of new furniture, had
been brought back suddenly to reali'
ties by the brusque tones of her hus-
band:
"That red plush sofa amt going in.
to my parlor. You might as well un
derstand now and for good ,liat
long us | pay the bills expect to run
my own house."
Even in the midst Of her pain and
disappointment Mandy had noted with
sense of relief that the clerk was
out of hearing. Later there had come
brief mutinies when woman's faithful
weapon, tears, had missed the mark;
then days of depression and nights OF
wide eyed staring into inky blackness
or silvery moonlight. and ut last
broken pride, hopeless yielding to
the inevitable. The idea that her
bonds might be loosed had never EN-
tered Mandy's head. nor had she con.
sidered it within her province to lay
the burden of her disappointment AMI
grief ut the feet Of her gentle mother
or her impetuous, generous old fatEe,
And so in time the man of decided
opinions had developed into the do
nestle tyrant, and the pretty girl he
had wooed and won "down in Knep-
per county" became silent shadow III
her own household, mere bearer Of
homely. unremitting burdens.
Mandy closed the door and dropped
dciectedly into the nearest chair. She
glanced ut the mirror opposite, and
mist swan before her eyes. Yes, she
was getting old ana haggard. II Da-
vid went to Washington. Etile must ac-
company him. Yet 1t was her own ef-
forts to save. her daily drudgery, that
would provide the means. In vague
way Mandy realized that to the hon
est man politics Is not always a prof
table vocation.
Her reverie was interrupted by voices
in the front yard, a glrlish treble ask
ing eager questions, then n boyish fal-
sett0 exclaiming eXcitedly:
Say. Eaie. won't you give me a
quarter? There's going to be a circus
in town tomorrow. and dad says l
can't go, and he won't take me to
Chadron nor
The door few open, and Mrs. Grimes,
all a-tremble with mingled delight and
apprehension, drew her daughter in
side.
"Oh. Effie. dear. it's so good to see
you. An you're lookin' just fine. not a
bit as II you'd been worryln' with
them children through this hot spell.
But what will your father say? He's
expectin' you to wait over in Chadron
for the celebration an hear him speak.