Red River prospector. (Red River, Taos County, N.M.) 1900-190?, 1907-03-28

AnnNGl LAAiAM6n0AA 4 eA'AA AhAAH 49,
perfectly hateful if you DON'T
But / don't understand canvass
ing" / protested.
"Oh! it's quite easy" shs replied,
lightly; there are only n of two
simple rules for you to follow"
"As, for instance"
Well she said, you must suit
yourself to your constituents, espe-
cially up at a place like Bennington,
where our people are mostly mechan-
les and working people. OF course,
in dealing with the working classes
you have to be a little careful" she
continued, because they are dread
fully full of common sense, and they
ask you such leading and searching
questions"
such as"
ooh, about the raising of wages,
and the air-tightness of their houses,
and all sorts of uncomfortable things
like that
q see," I said; land then you prom
ise--" l waited.
"Oh, l promise anything" she as
serted, gaily; but the great thing is"
she paused to emphasize her words
the great thing is to promise
things the other side haven't thought
o."
"G see," I said, dryly; and then I
suppose you break your word?'
She stared at me in genuine aston
ishment. But my good child" she
explained, cts not my word, it's Mr..
Ephraim Montagu's word"
"Mr. Ephraim Montagu!' I echoed,
in an amazement that greatly exceed
ed hers; but l thought you were
helping your brother, Lord Robert"
'Oh, no." said Lady Isabel; what
ever put such an idea into your
head? Dear old Bob isn't cut II for
parliament-at any rate, not for any
where he is known. You see, l know
quite a lot about politics, Marjorie"
you do, indeed" l answered, hum
bly,.
you see," she continued, there
are two conservative candidates
mine, and a little man who doesn't
count-and a liberal, who is certain
he is going to get in
Eyes, l know the liberal to whom
you refer" 1 said, che is Mr.. George
Banks. l heard Father say he is an
excellent man-not only a first.rate
speaker, but thoroughly honest, too,
and an altogether worthy candidate.
In fact, I have heard father say that
he should certainly vote for"
my dear Marjorie" interrupted
Lady Isabel, yawning slightly, and
with a faint touch of her impertinent
languor, don't bore me, there's a
darling, by making a speech. Your
father may be an excellent Judge of
honesty, but luckily he does not vote
in our constituency"
1 absolutely declined to do any can
wasting on behalf of Mr.. Ephraim
Montagu. In the first place, l had no
gift that way; and in the second, I
took a violent dislike to Lady Isa-
bells parliamentary protege.
He was a short, fat man of unmis-
taxable origin, with an eloquent eye
and a persuasive tongue; but he was
so aggressively rich M so aggress-
lively self-satisfied, and, in fact, so ag-
gressive altogether, that it was all 1
could do to be civil to him.
Isabel threw herself, as she said,
heart and soul into the cause that
is to say, she drove about in the most
delightful clothes, and showered her
prettiest words on mothers, and
kissed little children or ~cleverly
made the mothers think she had
and shook hands with people, whom
she addressed as honest workers"
l told her l greatly disliked Mr..
Ephraim Montagu, at which she seem
ed both astonished and a bit impa-
tient, too.
But he is not a man, my dear Mar
jorie, he is a cause. OF course, 1
cannot say he is very attractive, but
Vernon says it il better to vote for
the devil himself than for the other
side; and, you see, we have been CON
%servatives for such ages and ages, l
can't help doing my utmost to keep a
liberal out"
IF / had a vote" / said doggedly,
Il should certainly give it to Mr..
George Banks; he is a much better
man in every way, and l would much
rather vote for him"
Would you. dear" rejoined Lady
Isabel sweetly; then it only shows
what a good thing it is that you
haven't a vote. You should not be in
fuenced by the man but by the bene.
fit he may render to his country"
she added, in the one in which she
delivers her lOftiest sentiments.
but you are promising all sorts of
things you must know Mr.. Montague
will never perform" / began holly,
whereas Mr.. Banks"
But Lady Isabel softly interposed,
Have some tea, dear, and try one Of
these darling little coffee cakes. 1
have been talking all day; and it is
50 silly TO argue with anyone. espe-
cially when you know you're in the
right"
Lady Isabel worked exceedingly
hard on Mr.. Ephraim Montagu's ac-
count Che fuforvfauvad mfnarc n,a