Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1909-02-11

4ouuu 1Aneo Up against oacn oIner on
every public OF even local question that
arises. Generally there il little references
to the matter at issue. What one party
espoUses, the other naturally opposes-be-
cause the first party espoused II. The
to revenge past defeats; to push the other
crowd under-that Is issue enough. Let
political worker attached to the canvass
of any candidate for state Office visit
certain town and confer with one faction,
and the other faction takes its cue at
once. It Is often unnecessary for the
emissary Of the other candidate to even
visit the town. Under these conditions,
the attempt to bring about harmony and
united support Of any one candidate gem
orally fails. II it promises well at the
start, II Is not long before q cog slips
somewhere and the row Is on. The rival
leaders and factions, close imitators Of
the Kentucky feudists, find it so much
more pleasant to disagree and fight than
to harmonic that it almost inevitably
ends in about the old lineup, with anoth-
er chapter added.
Jed Alden had but the faintest concep-
ton Of this condition as it cropped out
In Kingston. Having sought to pave the
way to an understanding with Squire
Edwards, recognized IS the leader Of one
local faction, he straightway betook him
self to the headman Of the other clan
one Wilkie Reynolds.
Now Wilkie Reynolds was a character
in kingston By occupation q drover.
he knew everybody and everybody's
record and pedigree, age, circumstances,
pecuniary condition, peculiarities OF
temperament and disposition-in fact,
Wilkie was a walking local cyclopedia.
In shrewdness he matched the best OF
tham-a drover must. He had little real
substance or principle, but possessed an
activity and force, as well as q directness
Of speech and manner, that made him q
born leader Of men weaker than himself.
He enjoyed such leadership and nothing
delighted him more than to checkmate
the Squire and his "Silk-stockings, as
wilkie called them, by rounding up his
"Zulus" and outvoting them unexpected
" at the last, much to their chagrin and
the CONSERVATION OF q perhaps carefully
cut-and-dried program. WiIkie and the
Squire spoke when they met, but II was
always about the weather, and they had
even been known to quarrel over whether
the moons eclipse Of the night before
was total or partial.
Jed Alden had sufficient acumen tc
know that if Reynolds should learn that
he had first approached the Squire fol
support he would have no standing in
Wilkes court. So, when the latter
having been acquainted with Jed's de
sires. after due casual preliminaries about
certain veal calves about ready for market
] pumped at Jed,
"What does my friend, the Squire, say
to it1's
Jed fdgeted uneasiIy. He was toe
honest to lie, and yet would have liked to
sidestep this crucial question.
Ger, didn't say much to him about
J II. Was in his Office on mother mattel
an we got tc talkin' politics-the gov.
norship and senatorship. He didnt
, spress no views bout me-" said Jed
> rather pleased now that be could say THU
! without more than shading the truth.
, Sum, course be didn't. Wanted &
: wait an see. didn't hef He's q sly ole
cuss-sometimes. But the Squire he-hs
j -wabblea-wabbles an blabs," AMI
wilkes mouth distended in grin.
"What'd e say bout the state sittywa
tions'' queried Wilkie, seeing an oppor
/ tunity to pump information from tn,
crude aspirant for town honors.
D Jed didn't repeat all the Squire has
: said, but Wilkie soon drew forth all tn
, information be really wanted.
$50 he's promised Kingston to tn,
E Granger-Jenkins gang, has he2 Coin
: to hand It over, boss, foot an dragons
' eh9 All settled in advance, is't3 s.
! nice. Nobuddy else'll hev T. bottle
, meow. Rest on us en- tend q eour owl
I bizness. Squire's fixed hull thing
I Heow nicel' And the grin grew until !
mII -
tobacco juice from his mouth to furthe
decorate, al fresco, his already not i'm
e maculate shlrt-front.
0 "Well, Jest & see tn Squire carries it al
b through as per programmy, yeours trewi,
9 III be there with his Zulus to help III
p Squire. ye know, I be sh'd happen {
e strike a snag. Haw. hawl" And VIII
o kie's grin exploded into q guffaw tina
! shook the hay scales in front OF Walter
I feed store on which they were standing
d while they conversed.
Poor Jed saw at once that be had mad
e q faux pas in what little be had reveales
e of the Squirrels conversation to his riva
e for local bosship. He hastened 70 repai
y his own fences.
IA "But didn't emit myself to him
/. didn't jine his crowd r promise to-jes
heard what be had Z say. Do yew advis
q me to go in for teown representative, an
r y do will yew help me7"
3 Wilkie Reynolds slowly raised hi
y right hand to the corner Of his right eye
r drew down the optic, pushed his fac
, right into Jed's and remarked
9 "See ennythin' green thar"
: And before Jed had quite recovered hi
e speech Wilkie had turned about as quick
a ly IS bis stubby corpulence would admi
. and was treading it down the street.
z Despite the ordeals already encoun
Il tered, Jed Alden still had to face another
+ And he dreaded it worst Of all. He mus
9 confide his ambition to his wife. An
d that at once. He unused over just hos
r he would bring it about as he Joyce
e home from town the same day that he in
terviewed the village politicians. Tn
rain battered over the boot and glistene
on the flank of his horse as it trottei
, along at will, Jed being too immersed 1
+ thought to urge the animal. he wa
!. rather downcast in spirit. He had to I'D
It NIT that not much encouragement ha
e come to him from his trim to town Tn