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

hands Of chump, and il he hasn't apv
more Judgment than that he isn't at to be
railroad commissioner, and 1t doesn't
take an awful load of common sense Ia
bold that job, either.p
dovernor Granger was angry. His
quick and peevish temper had asserted n.
seil, ana be had degraded himself even
10 the eyes OF the humble Kingston mem.
Der.
Jed Alden looked the surprise he fs,,
| When the governor had finished. he slcSv.
| ly gathered himself, and then looked his
exceliency squarely in the eye.
''I'll tell tn Squire Jest what vev,vs
said-every word. | didn't come here
tew hev no reow with yew over Squire
Edwards. l Jest did his errand. | don,t
owe him nothin'-that is, periiticaIly-
an between US don't care hoorab
whether yew pint him err not know
pootty well what's upset We. II I'd voted
fer jenkins yew'd assent a difi'rent word
ten tn Squire, but 1t might not a-meant
any more. Fact Is, l never promised ner
agreed tew vote fer Jenkins, more'n yew
promised tew pint tn Squire. We both
Of US tried tew fool the other, an git
sumpthin' We both wanted a-doiu' II.
Thet's politics, as l size it up. Good
day.
Jed kept his promise and repeated the
conversation exactly to the Squire, with
the feeling that it would Justify him in
the Squire's sight. But it didn't. The
Squire was angry at the governor and ac-
cused him Of ingratitude, as all disap-
pointed Office seekers do, but he plainly
told Jed that he had botched toe lob. and
that 1t was on his account that he, the
Squire, had failed in his ambition.
eft you'd had my interest at heart you
could have managed it we'll enough A
single vote for Jenkins would have done
it. You could have had anything asked
for" scolded the Squire.
"Don't know abeout tibet. MY 'pinion
is tn guv'nor'd promised tibet place tew
several an half promised it tew a good
many more, at different times. If he
could a-got my vote fer jenkins by trad
in on il some more he'd probably done
it, but l want tradin' tibet way. Tell
yew what, Squire, / wouldn't a-voted fer
jenkins, after what I've seen Of this here
ring business, il I'd a known 'twould a.
brought yew this Office. An Granger
never said square it would"
Edwards found be hadn't the old
docile Jed Alden to deal with now, but
[
pened fast in the school OF experience.
"Well, it's done and over. ] need the
place and the salary. As there is no
prospect Of its coming, rll have to in
form you that 1 can't renew that note
with you, and you'll have to hunt up a
new endorser."
eff 1 can't" replied Jed, warming
up, "yew'I hev tew pay it. Yew was
awful anxious tew help me then, an /
done my part tew return tn favor, fairs 1
could. Meow yew won't sign agin,
cause yew lost this job. Well, thet's
some more politics. I'm learnin' fast. ~
"Don't you intend to fix up that
note2" asked the Squire, now somewhat
alarmed.
"ru see what / en- do. Meantime
'yew're on, as tn boys say"
Jed was really teasing the Squire. A
note for 5000 didn't trouble him any and,
not being able to cancel it at maturity, he
reduced it somewhat by a partial pay
ment, using his last months creamery
check, and secured Ransom Felch's en-
dorsement on its renewal for the balance.
SO he owed the Squire nothing.
4 House Bill II, to commute the sentence
OF Wilkie Reynolds, divided public inter
est with the senatorship contest. In
deed, in the main, it seemed to reflect the
latter Senators and representatives, who
are only mere mortals, quite like those
without the sacred pale, took sides on the
I question Of life or death for Wilkie Rey-
nolds much according to their attitude on
/ the general theme of the hour. Those
who stood with the machine, in most in
stances, held that the death sentence had
been fairly earned that the court had
heard the cause fully, and that II was not
a proper province Of the legislative body
to interfere with the judgment and SEN
tence. Most OF the reform element, and
some from the opposition, contended that
the crime was not murder and that the
court had erred in its judgment. There
we're those who opposed the infection OF
the death penalty under all circum'
stances, and others who had been touched
with pity by the sad presence OF this
stricken wife, and were ready to respond
with their votes In her behalf. She came
and sat the day out, still silent, still i'm
passive. Not the keenest joke nor this
most hearty laugh on the floor OF the
House banished this woman's gloom fol
a moment. Thinking, thinking, OF tbs
fatal drop soon to remove in death snc
disgrace her husband and life companion
So II came home to each member, as h'
watched her, day after day, in way that
was new and impressive, and while
many, out OF belief, or principle, or Judg
ment. or prejudice, would still vote
against communication, it came to be real
lied that in the House, at least, HOUSE
Bill II stood good chance to pass.