Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1908-02-13
Not a Candidate.
BY lnex G. Cushing.
A STORY

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Dick had almost reached the sta
tion. A glad light came into his eyes
there was Janet in the cart, with her
face turned toward the train, now be-
ginning to slow up. Dick alighted,
and thought, as he hurried toward
her, that it was wonderful thing to
have a wife, young, fair and so prec-
ious. The world did seem full of
beauty as they logged along through
the autumn woods. Too glorious to
last" he said.
What, Dick, the gorgeous trees?
No, they can't last long now in their
wonderfulness, but they will come
again in the same beauty. That's the
way, dear"-and here her hand
slipped under the robe and rested on
his knee-"every bit Of happiness or
beauty we have ever had will be re-
flected in after days"
Perhaps, If l only knew that our
happiness could go on forever. or
even come back again-what did DR..
Marks say to-day?" His tone
changed to harshness.
"He said-oh. Dick, must I tell
you?-he said that must 60 away
Immediately, before the winter starts
in, or-or-" She did not go on,
but the little hand in his trembled,
and the little cluck that she gave to
urge on the horse had a very pa
thetic sound.
"Then l am going with you! 1t
is not and it can never be right for
us to live apart"
"No!" she cried in alarm "You
must not-you can't. Everything
that you have worked for all these
years is now coming your way. In
few days you will be elected judge.
It's a sure thing, everybody says. Oh.
I'm so proud of you! Why, Dick,
you could not earn living out there
on the plains, and could not spoil
your life like that; and then, anyway.
It might be only a few years longer
perhaps not year-and oh, my
boy, don't insist upon my going!
want to spend these few years where
you are!"
Two weeks later Janet again sat
waiting for the city train. Dick
waved his hand from the platform,
and made a great show of good
spirits as he climbed into the high
dog cart.
ooh, Dick, have been reading the
papers. 1t Is perfectly outrageous
the way they speak of your refusing
to run on a ticket which supported
such principles-said you should have
found 1t out sooner, and all that"
eyes, dear, but did you see the
News and the Herald? They speak
of me as too good for the ticket-a
young fellow who had it easy and
wouldn't be counted in with the
grafters,- ct cetera."
II know 1t, boy, and am so proud
of you, for know you withdrew for
principals sake; only I'm so sorry to
have you disappointed in what you
have worked for all your life. Tom
Stevens was over to-day, and he said:
What does Dick mean by cultivating
such reform ideas in politics all of a
sudden?N OF course, he's all right
fair, and all that-but he doesn't
usually hesitate to take what he
wants without asking any Sunday
school questions. Ha, ha! 1t seems
funny to think of Dick with such a
conscience
"Ahem! Tom used to knew me
in college. What did you say to
that, Janet?"
II said that he did not know you
as I did, and that, although I knew
you wanted the election very much
you had given 1t up because you be-
lieved 1t was the only right thing to
do"
"Thank you! A fellow doesn't
mind being beaten when his wife
talks like that-but say, dear, 1t is
rather hard to stay here when one
has lost so much. A client of mine
wants me to go down to Arizona to
look after some mining interests of
his. We will go next month. and
perhaps stay, If we like it."
That night he slept with her head
upon HIS shoulder, and when he was
awakened during the night by a
slight cough, he gently smoothed
back her fair hair and mpttered to
himself:
II hate to pose as such saint! I'll
never be anything down In that mis-
cradle country. but. thank God, I'll
have my sweet wife for years to
come.''--The Home Magazine.