Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1906-05-04

that Lord Edmund at length rose 70 take
his departure.
May call again?" he asked as he
shook his hostess hand.
yes, the day after the poll" she an
swered
mot until then7 It's a whole week of"
mo, not till tnen," and again she
laughed as she waved him an adieu.
by the way" he said to his agent
the day before the poll, II understand
Miss Sydney Forests name has got on
the register"
Yes; we must object to her vote IL
she appears. Her father was one OF our
opponents chief supporters at the last
election"
And for that reason 1 wish no OBJ
lection whatever to be taken to her re-
cording her vote. 1t is easy to strike
her name of at the next registration"
His agent was about to demonstrate.
but Lord Edmund cut him short
II know It will be a close shave either
way, but see that no objection is taken
to Miss Forests vote"
For a moment their eyes met
very well, my lord" the agent re-
piled.
SO II happened that when Miss For
rests smart dogcart drew up at the poll
Ing booth with the Mortified Manly sitting
primly beside the fair driver Mr.. Ray
ner's agent came CALAMITY forward and
her a few silly little compliments which
she smillngly endured as he described TO
her the procedure in recording vote.
Lord Edmund's representative smiled
calamity at SO fair voter, and the little
boys wearing Mr.. Rayner's colors cheered
| Justify as she remounted the dogcart and
drove away.
At last II was over. Canvassing, meet
ings. posters, coiors, had done work, and
the last ballot box had been carried into
the town hall, where the counting was
busily proceeding
Outside in the market square stood
a crowd OF expectant men and women
waiting for the declaration Of the poll.
and inside in one Of the rooms the candi-
dates and their friends anxiously await
| ed the result.
Rumors OF how the numbers were add
ing up on both sides fioated in and out as
the different ballot boxes surrendered
their secrets, and it was clear to all that
that the contest was about as close as II
could be, and that only the final result
would reveal the elected member.
After what seemed an unreasonable
time to the waiting crowd the mayor.
the candidates and their friends appeared
on the balcony of the hall A breathless
! silence ensued as some one held lamp
in the still air for the mayor to read the
figures:
Lord Edmund Quinton. ......3462
Mr.. Charles Rayner. ........ 3461
majority .........s.........
For a moment the result seemed Ia
stun those collected, and then yells OF
triumph, mingled With shouts Of RE
| COUNT Recount" echoed through the
square. Colored lights hared here and
there and a flash Of yellow fell for a
moment on a woman's smiling face as
the hood which covered It slipped back
-. knI
waiting TO speak saw It like an angels
face shining a moment in a golden radi-
ance while next the face and figure had
vanished in the night, but It seemed to
inspire the words he spoke Sanford
shouted itself hoarse in approval Of Its
new member. and Mr. Rayner gracefully
acknowledged that the fight had beer
fairly fought
Lord Edmund called next day at Acacia
Lodge and Miss Forrest received him
under the tree in the garden which gave
the house its name.
She looked delightfully."- cool in her greer
linen frock, and this time Lord Edmund
not only wished for the house but its
owner as well.
1T met Mr.. Rayner this morning." she
said. smiling. "and he thanked me fol
saving him from the disgrace Of ma
jority OF two"
1T have more to thank you for thar
|
have to thank you for my whole political
career"
II thought It was only wives who made
or marTed such things" she answered
mischievously.
IF a woman can make a mans career
as a spinster, how much more can she
help him as a wife?" he said boldly.
Really" she murmured. looking way
from him. Il don't think II quite un.
derstand."
well, when see what post my cousiT
allots to me in his new government I will
come down and try to make my mean
ing a little more clear"
At this juncture tea and Miss Manly
arrived together, and when the latter
discovered that Lord Edmund only ap-
proved Of woman's suffrage in rare In.
stances she consented to take him int
favor.
Some three months later. when the en-.
gagement of Miss Sydney Forrest will
the member for Sanford was announced
Mr.. Rayner's agent began to have some
misgivings about the majority OF one
which had lost his party the election
-[Peers Hervey in the Taller.