Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1905-11-30

He sighed. How he hated this polit
ical fight He loved the law, his pro
fession, and he almost regretted hav
ing entered the contest for the mayor
ship. He would drop out now but fol
one thing.
Lawton had loved Alice Lawrence
for two years, but he had not yet ask
ed her to marry him. He could not &c
to the old judge and demand the hand
OF his only daughter until he had an
assured income. His practice was In
creasing, but that alone would not en-
able him to keep a wife. However,
with the addition Of the mayors sal.
airy 1t would be ample. II lie did not
get the Office he could not perhaps mar
ry for two years, and two years to a
man in love sometimes seem an etcr-
nifty.
So he determined to fight It out and
win the mayors Office II possible by
any means that were not dishonorable
For Alice's sake he would wade
through political mire, II 1t were only
mire that would wash off.
Even Lawton's enemies admitted his
political gift, but his friends declared
he was too direct, too honest, to enter
| the lists with q shrewd old schemer
| like Jackson. Some of his advisers
wished Lawton to outbid Jackson for
Lucullus Williams influence, but at
this suggestion Lawton's honor revolt
ed. His counselors laughed and replied
that he had not been in politics long
enough.
But every political boss" has his RI
val, black as well as white. Lucullus
Williams had his.
There was n negro carpenter in Oak
vile who was longing for Lucullus' pc,
lltical brogans. AS yet, however, Jim
Lawrence-he was former slave of
the judge'shad not acquired enough
influence with his race to render him
an object Of bribery.
Yet Jim was learning. He knew that
to keep ones name before the public
was the first principle of politics. TO
do SO he had offered his services to
Lawton free Of charge, and the young
lawyer had been glad to accept them.
~ amt much Of i speechifyer, Marse
Charley" said Jim. but I'm power
full han at still huntln', and I'll jes' cir
kilate roup' 'mong de colored folks an
git yer all de votes kin, for jes bodo
ciously 'spises dat blggity Niger, Lu-
cullus Williams. wursuren pisen."
So II happened the morning after his
conversation with Judge Lawrence that
Lawton on his way to his Office stopped
to see Jim at his shop.
Jlms place of business was on side
street and had been stable in ante
bellum days. In front of the wide door,
on each side, two immense oaks, sur
vlvors of the primeval forest, shaded |
the moss grown roof In summer and |
pelted It with acorns In autumn.
The interior of Jim's shop would have |
delighted the eyes Of the old Dutch |
painters. To his original trade of car
penter Jim had added the avocation of |
upholsterer and cabinetmaker. Besides
planned and unplaned wood of all kinds,
the room seemed hospital for decrepit
furniture. The cobwebby walls were
lined with chairs, sofas and beds In va
rious stages of dissolution or GONZALES
cence, Jim was repairing broken leg
ged chair when Lawton entered.
"Mornin', Marse Charlie! Take dis
chair, Marse Charlie; dat un's missln' a
leg" said Jim, bustllng forward with
a newly mended chair on his big black
arm and blowing the dust from 1t with
his great thick lips.
"Never mind, jim. What's the news?"
Don't AK me. Marse CHARLIE"
Haven't you gained me any more
votes?"
"Marse Charlie, I'm feared l los
some" said Jim, dolefully gluing the
chair leg. "You know old jerusalem
1.-THE old lame darky?"
Eyes that lives next door to me. |
worked hard on ole Jerusalem, Marse
an he swore to me he's gwlne
vote for you eff he's Twin kase he
knowed yer gran'father, the old gen
eral. Well las night, after all my
talkin' to Jerusalem, dat blgglty mig
ger, Lucullus Williams, he tolled Jeru-
salem into the back door Of Riggs bar
room wild n drink O. whisky, an II
o'clock las night Jerusalem come n
home bumpin de fence every
step an hoorawin' for jackson. Hits
mighty desscouragin' Marse Charlie,
hit sholy Is" said Jim sorrowfully.
1T Is, Jim," agreed Lawton, waxing
grave,
Eyes, Marse Charlie, an I'm feared
all my votes is gwine de way o. Jeru-
salem's. De onlles' way to keep EN-
Is to ketch EN- an pen EN- up like pigs"
said jim, hanging up the chair to dry.
II suppose Lucullus has command OF
NIL the liquor he wantsT'
ITO be shot, Amt you hyerd what
Cunnel Jackson done to Lucullusp
NO"
"De cunnel, he's done writ order on
all de barrooms In de town for to give
Lucullus all de whisky he AK for, an
Luculus is tellin' de niggers de cunnel
wants EN- to drink to his success. De
cunnel says he can't drink wild EN- all
"A ~ n,.N IL