Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1909-02-18

"Yew women know good DEAL be re,
piled, "but yew don't know II eli. Kin
der wish myself I want in fur this ono.
neow-can sea where it's goin' T. cut nv
corners some--but Pm in Il meow an il
ter tn finish, win er lose. Guess I'd
better call up Miles am see III en- Iii
him to help me kefch up my work here.
Don't like t'do IL fur Il costs good money
to hire him, but don't see no other way
neow.n
Il was really necessary for Jed to have
more help at home, and Edna made no
further comment at the time, though far
from pleased with the outlook. Miles.
engaged at 80 much per day, came, nrst
for an occasional day, than quite often,
and later almost steadily, until Jed found
Il better to hire him outright BY the
month for the season. Jed himself gave
only the meresi attention to the farm. as
time wore on, and his ambition grew, as
well IS his lear that something might de-
veiop to spoil It after all. Few days
there were now that did not see him Al
either village OF in different parta Of the
town, improving every chance to promote
bis canvass, which was BY this time
known to every resident OF Kingston. old
or young. He spent hours in visiting
with the "0ld Guard" at "Scupper's
Parliament" He showed the greatest
concern in the private affairs Of each and
every member Of that august body, sym
pathizing with them in-their infirmfties.
laughing at their coarse jokes and coarser
stories, and joining discreetly in their
idle, but sometimes malevolent, gossip.
One day. after the body had mercilesaly
scored every body mentioned for an hour
or more. relating all the mean things
that fertile memory for such rubbish
could assemble, as the dinner hour ap-
preached, the Ioafers. one after another.
drew themselves up slowly from their
seats and crawled on to enjoy q meal With
the same zest AZ though they had fairly
earned it. As each departed. those re-
naming behind joined in firing a volley
OF criticism and scandal at the retreatinQ
back. Finally, only Jed, Eph Mug
gins, who had led in the vituperation,
and Scupper, the proprietor Of the jnint
where they assembled, were left.
Poorly late home fer yew, amt itT'
asked Eph. why don't yew hitch up
an startY''
'sDon't dare to-" replied Jed. snFraid
I'd git same IS t'others hev quick'a my
back was turned. Yew 60 first
Eph broke into a roar so long and
loud that Jed finally joined and they de-
parted together. Such q testimonial to
the prowess Of ssScupper's Parliament"
did not 60 unrewarded. The loafers, as
sembled that same night, agreed that Jed
Alden was after an q pretty good fellow,
'tif clossr'n the bark to tree" and
most of them announced their preference
for him to anybody likely to "come up
for town representative in September.
Jed attended all the public gatherings
Of v hatever sort that threw him into con-
tact with the townspeople. He had in
sisted on ''riggin' out" Mrs. Alden In
some new and rather fetching habili-
mentss overriding her protest by pointing
out the advantages Of the step.
"Yew see, Edna, yew are runnin' fur
representatives. vile Jest as much e am
fur representative. Oeur folks want her
to be trim an smart when she goes M
with her man next fall. A slopsided
woman's big drawback, tell re" be
said.
So Jed and Edna bIossomed out this
spring rs never before. People smiled.
yet Il did The couple no harm in their
sight. GOOD thing for EN-" they said.
"Got money enough to do It. Allus been
pretty scrimpiny. Glad to see iem she'll
ont and ak up 'cordin' to their means"
But sometimes. when Jed was driving
home from town, be cast mp mentally the
cash account and found that bis dip into
politics had already, one way or another,
cost him considerable. And he bad only
started.
Mr.. Alden was OF an independent ma
ture. He had squars-set jaw that de-
noted much discrimination. The more
he thought about his trip to see "Bossi
Il = a -. \ =
the more chagrined and crestfalIen be
felt. He didn't analyze his mind SUM-
GENTLY to determine whether this condi-
ton resulted from his ratker unsuccessful
quest for their support, or whether Il was
distastsful in itself from his standpoint.
Jed had always managed TO get on 10 the
world without bending the knee to 9TH
ers, and while he perceived that he was
on new and untried ground now he hsd
no more liking for the sycophant or boot
ticker. He made up bis mind that, come
what might, even wreck 10 all his hopes,
be would not approach either Squire Ed
wards or Wilkie Reynolds again. II
there was any approaching done, II would
be BY them, not him. So. though he 90
caaionaIly met them while in town and
passed pleasant word, he did not men,
ton the subject Of his political ambition
to either. After several weeks had gone
By in this way, the Squire began to look
annoyed whenever jed would glide past
him without more than passing the time
Of day. II was plain, even to Jed, that
the Squire was piqued because the candi
date did not come to him and confer
get his advice and, in fact, his permits
sion, to 20 ahead. He didn't enjoy be-
! ing ignored in this way, especially as h
} began to fear that Wilkie Reynolds wal
pushing Jed. or would do 80. He OBJ
/ served that Alden had taken hold Of thu
7 canvass with surprising zeal and goot
: Judgment, and from what he noted il ap
' peared at this stage that Jed stood goos
chance to win. To have this harper
+ without holding Jed under any sort o
! obligation to him would be fatal to hi
political pFowess, as well as to csrtaiI
plans involving his own future. He has
waited, hoping that Jed would Jet com
Q Ito him, but as be gave no sign OF doinl
6 50, the Squire decided that be would TAX
0 the first favorable opening to breach th
h. So a