The Press. (Stafford Springs, Conn.) 1883-1935, 1907-09-11

His first election night In New York
found him drifting and lonely, in the
midst of the bowling mob that surged
around Herald square.
The horns, the tickling busters, the
showers of confetti, the merry inter
mingling of class and mass, were all
too new to be quite pleasing expert
ences. He felt interested enough, how
ever, to move with the throng and to
take good naturedly the many famili-
arities of the people near him.
At Thgrty-seventh street and Broad
way he saw a slim young girl trying
to escape the attentions of two over
Jealous buster holders. He pushed his
way to her side and the boys fed,
leaving him alone with the lady. no
longer in distress.
She was young and of an alluring
limpld prettiness that made him feel
big and awkward and anxious about
the set Of his coat. So absorbed was
he in her general charm that her sud-
denly thrusting of a duster under his
nose was a distinct shock. He had
Just sense enough to snatch II and ask,
''Who are your when she ran away.
Over her shoulder she called, ''Tll tell
you when you give me back my dust
err" Then she was gone.
He moved with the capering merry
makers up to Longacre square, where he
learned of the defeat of his candidate
for governor, then went home. The
buster he carried with him and, han
ar1fk
means to dispel the crushing loneli-
ness which he had felt ever since he
had left his native town. He often
wondered what the letters NJ. NJ. on
the handle stood for
His days went about as usual. He
paid his lost election bet to the other
young lawyer at the Office. The win
ner's not treating seemed strange. At
home they always did-but in New
York everything was so different. He
began to get on at the Office, and once
Judge Metcalf, his chief, mentioned
taking him home to dine, but the mat.
ter never went any further.
The night of the presidential election
found him once more mingling In the
swarming pandemonium that ragged
around Herald square He had the
buster inside his coat and was no lon
ger either lonely or listiess, for he was
hunting for NJ NJ. to give her back the
duster
He wandered up and down, reading
the conflicting bulletins, but always
looking for a slender fairy of a girl
who had sat like queen in his heart
fn txx.n oh ~
at the Times building swung due north
to indicate Republican landslide,
while the Journals bulletin announced
an overwhelming victory for the DEM
ocrats. Farther downtown the Herald !
proclaimed a small but safe majority
for the Republicans, while according
to a white sheet at Thirty-first street |
the same thing had befallen the other
party.
He wrenched n yard long horn from
an impertinent Italian boy, was tickled |
by lady in an ermine coat and re-
ceIved a shower OF confetti from q
German housewife-all In the space OF |
about ten minutes. He no longer look
ed askance at the mixed merrymakers.
1t was New York, and 1t all went"
In front OF the New Grand his atten- |
ton was attracted by a gorgeous mo-
tor car. On the front seat sat his lady |
Of the feather duster. There could BE-
no doubt 1t was she.
He felt cold and scared, but he pulled
himself together and, stepping to her
side. gave her the buster, handle first,
and said. "Now. will you tell me who
you areT'
She opened her eyes very wide, rec
ognized him and the buster and started
to speak when n smashing blow from
the man beside her sent him spinning
to fall with his head against an iron
grating His next sensation was Of
flying through space. Then thousand
bells rang. lights danced. voices buzz
zed, and he opened his eyes on a
strange room. 1t was handsomer than
his own, and beside him sat nurse
looking out of the window.
There was a calendar on the table,
giving the date as Nov. 16. 1t must be
a mistake. he thought-this was Nov.
7, election night, and yet there was
the calendar He put out his hand to
draw 1t to him when the nurse turned,
and he recognized the girl In the auto
mobile His head ached and his hands
shook, but he was good grit, and when
ne met her bright gaze he said, You
never did tell me who you are" She
laughed squarely at him, saying:
my brother seemed to think his an
'wer quite sufficient. He knocked you
over before had n chance to say any
20 Y |
anyway. My picture has been on IA
hers desk ever since the day after I
net you in Thirty-seventh street, and
he boys told me who you were. 1t oc-
,urred to me then that he ought to
lave one, but you never saw 1t. am
darjory Metcalf, your chiefs only
laughter.
'aTom didn't know you when you
brought me my buster. and before I
,ould speak he knocked you down. We
brought you home and have had n ter
ible time Saving your life The nurse
$ asleep. and I stole into her uniform.
g'lesS I'll have to go now or she
night not like It,"
He caught her dimpled hand and per-
uaded her that the nurse really
leeded rest, which she must perfOrce
axe so long as she was without any
inform.
They had lovely afternoon. gig
ling over the imprisoned nurse. eat
ne konhons. fn getting his medicine
md being as happy as one can be
n the springtime of life.
At Mrs. Metcalf came in and told
hem that the nurse had departed in
Ugh dudgeon. They did not get any
ne in her place. Mdrjory AMI Tom
nd Mrs. Metcalf taking care of him
The night before he was to, leave
larjory came up with the maid who
rought his dinner She was so per- !
ectly lovely hi clinging white dress, !
pen at the neck. that he had no eyes
nnEfhinsr ,l.,f. l