The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1908-10-01

satisfaction, the sole owner of the
Steenth congressional district went
back 10 the capital and his deals.
while his daughter sat down in the
library to overhaul the papers, and
things ran on peacefully. Not that
there were no more meetings, but the
spinster aunt did not know of them
not that romance and fate fell down.
but Jennie did not do any talking In
her sleep and played the artfu dodger
when leading questions were asked.
The honora BILE Tom had packed up the
papers in hurry and had put In what
ever came to hand first, and some Of
them made very interesting reading.
The day after the last one had been
read and classified under the head Of
Danger! Look out for the locomo-
tiver' the young lady and the young
man went for a ride In the vehicle that
had played fate with him.
At proper moment he asked a
question that greatly concerned the
future of both, and at another proper
moment she blushed and said yes"
Then she proceeded to tell him that her
father would see her In her grave be-
fore consenting to the match, and she
held up such a vision of paternal
wrath and obduracy that he dropped
back from the seventh heaven to the
first. Then he was taken into partner
ship as conspirator and lifted back
again. and there was much rejoicing
during the remainder of the ride.
few days later the honorable Tom
arrived home to tinker up his political
fences and lay his ear to the ground.
He had about concluded to bestow the
hand OF his daughter on a member of
the house who was serving his first
term and stealing government lands in
the west at the rate OF 5000 acres a
week. He was no monopolist and was
willing to help the honorable Tom to
go and do likewise.
"Oh. daddy. but you'll be Surprised
to learn how much know about pOH
ticsr' announced the demure daughter
after receiving the fatherly kiss. II
haven't been studying three months
yet, and still | know almost as much
as you do about them"
The father grunted his appreciation
and said he would see her in the libra
ry that evening. When the hour ar
rived he suddenly remembered the
event of three months previous, and in
a benevolent and jocular manner he
asked what had became of the milksop
Of a lawyer that had been hanging
around after her when he was home
last.
you mean Mr. Clayton" she replied.
ut was about him that wanted to
speak to you. He will be here tomOr-
row night to ask your consent to our.
marriage
THE devil he willr'
We dearly love each other and I'm
sure you will consent He comes of q
fine family and Is going to work hard
and do his best to get to the top"
Drop itr said the honorable. with
wave Of his hand.
"But you won't be so cruel. daddy.
have been engaged to him for almost
three weeks now. and it will break my
heart If you oppose me"
"Cut 1t out thought you wanted to
talk politics with me-"
80 | did daddy, dear. have looked
over and classified all those papers and
learned all about politics. think
could run campaign now with Mr.,
Clayton's assistance. You must know
he is quite an orator You have proba-
bly, heard that Mr.. Ellington Is going
to be- your opponent this time, and Mr.
Clayton may take the stump for him."
The honorable Tom grunted Mr.,
Ellington was strong man.
You know. daddy" continued the
daughter, those letters from the two
railroads asking You to use your intln-
ence to kill certain bills would be am
munitlon II they fell into the hands OF
the enemy And You seem to have
done something for a certain trust for
which they write you that you will
find stock ncIosed, and you appear to
have acquired $1,000 acres OF govern
ment land in a rather mysterious man
ner There's letter about it calling
it the land 'whack.' Is 'whack' some
thing like addition. division and al
lenee?"
The honorable Tom hitched uneaslly
on his chair and grunted some more
Then found shares in three or
four corporations an agreement about
mine. a copy OF a letter from you
stating that a certain bill would he
killed in committee and various other
interesting things couldn't sleep
nights if | thought t5at Mr. Ellington
might get hold OF this evidence OF your
loyalty 70 your party and country"
"Humph'' grunted the honorable
Tom as several dies that had been
buzzing around the room suddenly lit
on him.
And one thing more, daddy. This
is in strict confidence. The editor OF
the Argus Is on the snoop. He says