The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1908-12-16

the minister
Well, | come to know Cateswell pref
ty intimate after little. guess folks
had told him was a chap that could
keep things under my hat, and so he
made quite free in telling me things.
He had to quit living at the hotel after
a week or two. Bill Twichell, that runs
it, swore so the parson couldn't stand
it. Bills got voice that you can hear
over in the next township when he's
speaking as usual, and when he swears
he raises it a little So it didn't do
Cateswell any good to shut himself up
in his room He could hear it up there
just the same. He gave Bill talking
to about it. Bill got mad. He doesn't
know half the time when he swears.
It's as natural to him as eating and al
most as natural as drinking.
Something's got to be allowed for
the infrrnity of human nature, sir"
says the minister, ''but such profanity
as yours is inexcusable. 1t is not mere
ly that it violates the precepts of reli-
gion. It's against common decency."
IF you don't like it, says Bill, you
can move"
So Cateswell moved.
He done something like the governor
did when the county attorney resign
ed. There was about fourteen candi-
dates planning to get the nomination
The governor didn't want to take
sides, and so not to give any of them
an advantage over the others he said
he'd appoint Judge Wilson, it being
understood and agreed that the judge
wouldn't be a candidate for the nomi-
nation. When the convention come to
meet, the judge said he'd found there
was such a widespread desire to have
him continue in the Office that he felt
he'd be Sinking his duty to the public
if he didn't accept the nomination and
that the convention would be Sinking
theirs II they aidn't give it to him.
So he's county attorney yet. and that's
more than fourteen years ago.
CateSWell went on the same princi-
pie as the governor. He figured that
because the Widow Mcleod was most
forty, with a son going on nineteen,
she wouldn't be candidate.
"She's just like a mother to me-"
Cateswell says to me after he'd been
rooming at her house a little while,
always cautioning me about going
out in wet weather without my over
shoes and worrying if 1 have a little
headache"
1 didn't say anything, just smiled.
But he caught on.
"You don't think she's got designs
on me, too, do your says he.
"Well, amt blind" says I.
! But of course the widow didn't real
ly count, and it want long before the
race narrowed down to Susie Remick
and Ida Sargent. Susie was a dark
| ish completed girl, with large, sort of
sorrowful eyes. She was pretty strong
on book learning, though; could write
poetry even. A real deep girl she was,
| but not much at putting herself for
ward. The Sargent girl was different.
She was one of the light, fluffy haired
rosy checked blue eyed kind that can
talk you deaf, dumb and blind in ten
minutes. Of course in a way she had
an advantage, not being bashful, like
Susie. But experience counts for a
whole lot in game like that That's
where a girls mother comes in handy.
Mrs. Sargent was an invalid, and,
while she could post Ida at home,
that want like being right on the
spot and whispering instructions in
the girls ear at just the proper mo-
ment. Mrs. Remick was a pretty slick
campaigner too. She'd married off
three daughters, and she knew how
the trick was done if anybody did.
The fellows at the store used to lay
wagers on who was going to win.
Most Of 'em gambled on the Sargent
girl, but I'd just shut my left eye and
say, ''You wait and see." Then they'd
get stuffy and say l was always put
ting on airs and pretending to know
more'n other folks and they guessed
1 hadn't got no second sight and want
no prophet either, all of which l took
good natured, not being given to wor-
rying.
Cateswell used to talk the situation
over with me quite frank.
II believe could be happy with Ell
Their Of 'em," he'd say. ''In fact, I'm
quite sure of it. But can't make up
my mind which to choose. Miss Re.
mick appeals to the intellectual side of
me; but, on the other hand, 1 like Miss
Sargent's vivacity and her unfailing
good nature"
1 thought to myself, eff you'd heard
Ida go jawing around the house like
some of the neighbors have you'd
change your notion about her unfail-
ing good nature" But / didn't con-
slider 1t any part of my business to
butt in and spoil Ida's game, so kept
my mouth shut about it.
Flip up cent" l says. 'That's the
easiest way to settle it."
II couldn't think Of treating such a
matter in fiippant way" says he.
So things ran along that fashion fill