The Washington herald., 1907-02-24

full
we won't take your wager because
we'd win, sure, said Hobart 1t will be
/ a precinct in New York city, uptown
They get through quick there; they never
/ fail 10 be first"
Whatever the vote there is, I am going
/ to look upon it as al omen, said Mr
He3thcote. III our majority is reduced
/ it viii mean a bad start, good ending; ii
our majority is increased. IL viii mean
that a good beginning is half the battle.
! Dexter. the chairman Of the State cam
paigu committee. entered. his thin fast
still Swallowed by gloomy thoughts,
We've had a few bulletins al head
quarters. but nothing definite he said
An the reports so far are from the East.
/ of course. owing to the difference in time,
| but I'd like mighty well 20 know what
they are doing out there on the Slope and
| in the Rockies
Wen know IN good time Charlie; just
YOU wait" said Jimmy Grayson, who was
the calmest man in the room.
I've done enough waiting already TO
! last me the rest of my life" said Dexter,
moodily.
The door was opened softly. and four or
FIVE pairs Of young eyes peeped shyly INTO
the room. The candidate, with assurances
that there was nothing to be told, gently
pushed the youthful figures away and
closed the door again.
Ct would put them to bed he said,
apologetically. but they can't sleep. and
il is not any use for them TO try; so
they are supposed TO be shepherded in
another part of the house by a nurse.
but they seem 20 break the bounds now
and then.
Il claim the privilege Of carrying them
the good news when we get st, IL they are
still awake said Harley.
a messenger boy entered with a dis
patch. but it contained no Information,
merely an assurance from a devoted New
England adhcrent that he believed Jimmy
GravsOn was elected, as he felt it in his
bones.
why does Il man waste time and
money i'm telegraphing us a thing like
that?' said Dexter. 1T isn't worth any
thing
But Harley was not so sure. lie be-
lieved with Jimmy GraySon that good
wishes had more than Il sentimental val
ne lie went to the window and sazed
into the street The number of people
singing campaign songs as they waited
for the news was increasing. and the
echoes Of much laughter and talk foated
toward the house Farther down the
street they were throwing flashlights on
white canvas in front of a. great crowd.
but 50 far the bulletins were only hum
orous quotations OF patent-medicine ad-
vertisements, each 10 be saluted at the
beginning with cheer and at the end
with a groan. He turned back 10 the
table just as another boy bearing "a dis
patch entered the room.
Mr.. Dexter had constituted himself the
clerk Of the evcning-that is. he was 10
sit at the center table and read the dis
patches as they came. He took the vel
low envelope from the boy. tore it Spen.
and paused moment. Then all knew
by the change upon his face that the
first news had come Dexter turned TO
Hobart
You were right" he said. 1T is from
New York city. uptown. The Tiirty-first
Assembly district in the city Of New
York gives a majority of sci fer Gray
son. This is official"
At another table sat a man with a
book containing the complete vote of all
the election districts IN every State of
the Union at the preceding Presidential
election. All looked inquiringly at him,
and he instantly made the comparison.
we carried the Thirty-hrst Assembly
district of the city Of New York by 1.077
four years ago ne said. Our ma
iority suffers net loss of %"
Did I not tell your exclaimed Heath
cote a bad start makes a good ending. &c
It's a happy sign" said Sylvia. with
her usual resOlute hopefulness.
But, despite themselves. a gloom set
tied upon all: the first report from the
battle was ominous-such a loss con-
tinued would throw the election heavily
in favor of the other man-and after her
remark they We're silent.
Mrs. Grayson looked into the room.
but they told her there was nothing. and.
whether she believed them or not. she
closed the door again without further
question.
Here comes another boy said Hobart
who was at the window. watching the
crowd before the transparency.
Now this is good news, sure" said
King" Plummcr.
II was from another assembly district
in New York city. and the party major
ity was cut down again, but this time
the reduction was only sixty-two votes.
That's better" said Mr. Heathcote.
1T viii have to he great deal better
to elect our man. whispered Hobart 10
Harley.
Harley went TO the window again. and
looked down the street toward the trans
pdrency. where the opposition voters
were cheering wildly at the first news
50 favorable 10 their side. Despite him
self. Harley felt an urreaS0Hing anger
toward them. You cheer about moth
ms nc said to himself. This is only d
few thousand votes among millions. g"
Then he was ashamed Of his feeling. and
left the window
The Hub speaks" exclaimed Mr.. Dox-
ter. rs he tore open another envelope
Then he announced a vote from one of
the wards Of Boston.
And it speaks right" said the man
with the book. Mr. Grayson cuts down
the majority polled against as there four
years ago by fS3 votes"
a little cheer was raised in the room.
and down the street at the TRANSPARENCY
there was "a cheer, too but the voices
were not the same as those that checred
"a few moments ago.
Good old Boston" said Hobart. and
NE made that gain right where the enemy
thought he was strongest"
The first gain OF the evening had y
hopeful effect upon ali, and they spoke
cheerfulIy
But vote from Providence. p minute
later, went the other way. and it was fol-
lowed by one OF similar nature from
New Haven. The gloom returned. Their
minds fiuctuated with the bulletins.
1t was too good to last, whispered
Hobart, downcast
The children again appeared at the door
and wanted TO know il their father was
elected. Sylvia took upon herself the
task of assuring them that he WIS not
set elected. but he certainly would be be-
fore many hours. Then they went away
slnguine and satisfied and trying TO keep
sleepy cyelids from CLOSING. IN the street
the noise WAS increasing as the crowd
received facts, and the cheers were loud
and various But those of the enemy
predominated. and Harley thrilled more