Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1909-04-15

freshman in politics like Raymond Gray.
or be BUNDLED by the triumph of his BIT
terest fee, Rollin Spencer.
After Ladies' week, the legislature set
tied down to business and handled many
important measures, but Thanksgiving
came long before it hal completed its
task, and recess had to be taken. The
interim allowed Jed to catch up his fall's
work that had been dragging and to ar
range for longer stay at the capital.
The House took up House Bill II soon
after reconyening. Raymond Gray spoke
/ Tor it with power and an earnestness
new even to him. Other members fol-
loved in its behalf and the House, by a
majority. of over forty votes, Went on record
in favor Of committing Wilkie Reynolds
sentence to life imprisonment.
"Wil the Senate concur7'' was nov
the question. That body had shown a
disposition to treat with disfavor many of
the bills passed by the House, which
body had retorted in kind, so that the
two houses were at Ioggerheads and con-
siderable acrimony had resulted The
/ friends Of Reynolds feared that this con-
dition might operate to his disadvantage
now. They found individual members
]
selves in advance, and trembled for the
result.
Early in the session, Jed Alden had
been 'took'' by the photographer for the
\ legislative souvenir, in behalf OF which
/ Mr.. Jeffries II. Williams had industrious
~ haunted the halls of legislation, and
Jed finally acquired the promised number
of copies Of that important work, upon
payment OF the promised fee. 1t graft
fed him immensely to find himself hand
ed on to posterity in this enduring way,
though the reproduction OF his physical
likeness, he was fRin to admit, would
scarcely justify all the gorgeous things
said Of him in the accompanying sketch
"Seems tew me look a little under
fed an smaller fer such q statesman" he
remarked, shut come tew think, / stood
fer tibet picter TIL next day after my fust
tussle with tibet hard bed. They ought
tew be a note under it to tibet effect"
At about this time the member from
Kingston met with a notifying and
shameful experience, due almost wholly
to his lack Of familiarity with things,
which, in his station, he could not well
know. Jed enjoyed friendship and con-
VITALITY, and his absence from home and
stay among strangers sharpened his appe-
title so that be occasionally avaiIed him
self OF associations and frequented places
where be would not have liked all Kings
ton to find him. It was a touch of Bohe-
misnism that Jed felt, but couldn't have
called by name.
One evening, with everything dull, and
time hanging heavily on his hands, be was
invited upstairs at one of the hotels by
two or three Of his newly-made acquaint-
ances, rather more sophisticated than he.
Jed accepted without hesitation. He
found them agreeable companions, and
while they smoked be listened to their
comments and stories with real enjoy
ment.
"Here are four of us, " said one Of them
named White, "why not have a game Of
pitch?''
Jed had no prejudice against an iDnc-
cent game with cards, and though pitch
was new to him he caught on easily and
laughed heartily when he scored more
points than some of his skilled ADVERSE
ries.
ssCards is luck an SCIENCE he re-
marked. between tn two, give me the
luck an III let t'other TELLER hev all tn
science. No way to deown tn ace tibet /
know Of. if yew've got it,"
One of the players named Hovt here
arose, saying that il he must face as good
a man as Jed he needed a bracer. He
opened a closet and returned with bot
tie and several glasses.
"Here's some Scotch good enough for
Bobby Burns himself" and he poured
the liquid into three of the glasses and
started for the fourth.
"None fer me-" said Jed, decidedly.
"If it's hard liquor"
s'Sho, Alden. Don't know what you're
missing. But have your own way. SUr-
~ haven't got any ginger ale or lemon
ade up here, !" with little touch Of sar-
casm.
~ hain't fussy abeout what other folks
does" replied Jed, shut my notion is tibet
Jed Alden II be better of tew let tn stuff
alone"
"Don't you ever take anything?'' asked
White, after be had drained his allow
ance without so much as blinking.
"Why, nothin' more'n cider. Oeur
folks sllus put deown a barrel or so fer
vinegar in tn fall, an sometimes take
a glass till it gifts hard an begins tew
kick. Then 1 shet off,
They resumed the game aud Jed's COM
panions were brighter than ever. They
talked faster and louder and played with
such abandon that Jed had them quite at
his mercy.
81 say, Jed, il you had some ALFRED
good cider offered you right now
wouldn't you join as in the next drink ~
asked Hoyt.
"Why, p'rhsps, il it want too sour
Jed replied, "but don't trouble yourself
abeout it..
"Pn have it here in five Minutes and
be left the room, returning shortly with
couple of bottles covered with labels.
Jed took one up and examined it rather
carelessly.
"'Mumm's Extry Dry'7 Thet's q
queer way tew put up cider. Seems
though thu bottled be worth more n
tn iewce. But / s'pose they can't
very well roll it in here by tn barrel, as
we dew in Kingston"
His companions laughed as though Jed
had sprung a good joke, though he
couldn't see the point. One of them
- N1xroo "