Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1908-03-04
'ASimp|eMan
By MADELINE LEWIS.
copyrighted. 1908. by Jessie Morgan.
By MADELINE LEWIS.


tbe reputation OF being sharp, keen
and shrewd Many said he was up
m snuff" Others said that he would
soc that the interests of the district
were not overlooked. Some thought
he ought to have the nomination be-
cause he was just beginning his career,
and this would give him boost. The
Young man had been In Watervaie
onlv a year, and as he was only TWEEN
ty-seven, good looking and bound to
succeed he had made place for him
Golf in society He could fatter him
self that he had made progress in ev-
cry family but one. the Thompson
family.
They called John Thompson Honest
John" That had been his appelIation
for years. He was part farmer and
mart citizen and not well OF In this
worlds goods. and yet he had a repu-
ta;ion that plenty Of men might envy.
His daughter Minnie, an only child.
was neither belle nor q leader of so
ciety, but she was fair looking and
nosscssed of strong character and not
at all the young lady to be captivated
by the personal advantages OF the
Young Mr.. Trask.
They had met socially, and she had
not at all been taken with him. On
the other hand. he had been greatly
IMPRESSED. Intuition told him that
he was not In favor, but the opposi-
ton only stimulated him. He had cas-
ly made friends with the father. but
be found that to win the girls interest
would be a far different thing.
For weeks 1t had been a foregone
conclusion that Mr.. Trask would be
nominated and elected. but when the
convention was finally called 1t de-
veloped that the ring politicians had
not counted on the farming communi-
ty. The men OF the plow had become
tired of the politicians and their tricks
of the promises so freely made and
so often broken-and when the mo-
ment came they broke away and made
a surprising nomination.
Honest John was the nominee. He
had never held political office in his
life. He was home and at work in
stead OF being at the convention, but
his friends pledged him TO stand. and
he accepted it. Only one influence de-
clded him In this matter. and that was
the advice of his daughter.
Father" she said to him when the
news came, you are not n politician.
and you are not schemer. You can't
make a speech. and you won't he heard
of In that body. You are simply
plain, honest man, and you will go
there to represent others of the same
ilk. II Is time when plain. honest
men are wanted at the front. Go there
and do your duty as best you can"
II wish Lawyer Trask had got II"
he sighed. He can make speeches
and mix in with the best OF 'em and
come home to be talked of in the pa
pers. shall be only a toadstool on n
stump. By the way. haln't he coming
here pretty often?'
"Yes; he calls occasionally
a thought it was little oftener
than occasionally"
IF IL Is. he is wasting his time.
Father, | don't like Mr.. Trask. He Is
too ambitious to get ahead. He Is so
ambitious that he loses sight of the
scruples that should guide all honest
men. He wanted to go to the legisla-
ture simply as means to advance his
own interests"
But took him to be young man
OF good principles"
Politics has no principles, and he
seeks to be politician. There is but
one watchword with them, and that is
10 win. You will be elected as an hon
est man and not as politician"
oh, | shan't do any stealing"
smiled the father, "but Pm thinking
that I'll feel like cat in strange
garnet up there. I'd heap rather
they had sent some one else, but III
Try 1t for term If you say so. Per
maps there'll be three or four other old
dodgers like me to get in with"
There was no question about the
enagrin and disappointment OF the
young lawyer over his defeat, but he
WCii DcAOiC lhc Siii
when he made his next call. He ac-
khowledged that 1t was something Of
setback, but rejoiced that it was her
rather who had secured the nomina-
ton.
Before departing he grew sentimental
ana might have made a declaration of
MS love II he had not been checked.
ne must have plainly understood that
ne mad as yet created no interest. but
IN MS perversity he determined to con-
tinue.
The farmer had hardly been settled
u mis- seat at. the state capitol when
Irask appeared. He was more than
usually deferential and friendly. He
eould and he did give the honest man
many helpful pointers. and 1t was a
.orthight before the errand that brought
slm there was stated. He was lob
osist Tor q certain corporation which