The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-12-16
BY VI. !. PHILLIPS,
tCopyright 1919. by Associated



Literary Press
'.pshaw. This is no night for eicc'
pioneering
On the back scat Of the car the
chairman and secretary vi the conu-
IT, ccmmittee were arguing as IL tht
best sort III speech Tar Goombs t.
make at the iirisfow sehoalhcuSe, f0i
which they we're headed. ON the
front seat the chauffeur steereu III,
car 81. aight into the harvest moon
which was rising iikt great shield
NJ the end OF the vhite read Beside
him f,aanahs candidate fer Congress
Was secretly indulgine himself IN one
o: the ict-downS IS hich come even e.
the best regulated candidates. lac was
heartily sick Of tao campaign: OF the
datiy association with email poiiti-
clans who treated him with more ut
less Familiarity; of repeating the
same things ayer and over to audi
snees friendly, hostile and ind.ror-
snt
He was tired 81 the whole bust
ness. fer the moment he sincerely
wished hs were back at Dcmottville
pagginK away at hls Law practice, and
letting som. one else work and fret
for political honors, Aud II he were.
he would be ENJOYING this perfect
- '
Gown In late October. Buggy riding
With a pretty girl On moonlight
night naturally appealed T. the
bachelor Combs Aud there were
prettv giris in ~ mottFtlle
The car came upon II group wend-
ing itx way 10 the schoolhouse. There
we're FIVE OF them-~tvo heYs twelve
y fourteen Years old. and three
Young women. "Oh. you candidate
allied one Of the boys, as the car was
rolling by.
Stop" commanded Caembs, brtet-
iy He had been taught never to
overlook any bets" In the parle nee
II the politician. Every person bad
possibilities. no matter how humble
Every one welded some influence
possibly commanded 4 vote. and a
vote was a vote. wherever Earnercd
All aboard" he invited cheerily.
as the car stopped.
They came promptly. inc boys with
hoops OF delight. They dragged one
u the Young women. laughing and
protesting. between them. They tug
ged at her like young bears, and be-
ere coombs realized what wa+ hap
aening the girl vas deposited in his
Jap. the other had bestowed them
seivas on the running board, and the
ear was on Its WAY.
Il hope you'll pardon this en-
thusiastie response to your invitation"
said the girl. striving t. rise. Il hal
30 option. You zee. II was come, or
get torn to pieces,
And II seems 10 be stay for the
same reason" replied Goombs, for
he boys stood guard. shouting.
You've got 10 stay right there,
Cousin Beth
BESIDES" continued the candidate
Z weleonp the opportunity to MAKE
\ convert In return for this ride /
shall expect your vote election day"
Indeed" questioned his paesen-
ger. restraining herself unwillingly to
the situation, And what special
Qualifications can YOU urge for con-
aress Are you competent or ex-
perteneede DO you WELD influence
IL Washington Are xett mn orator ?
an you do better than the man VINO
las represented this district for ten
years ~"
raombs considered. Then he re,
piled. with II laugh. .Te NIL youi
questions | fear ] must answer no.
They had reached the schooinouse
The girl smiled at him as she stepped
,lt %! the car. Al least you have
ha virtue of modeety, She said
The chairman and secretary had
arrived at Il conclusion. and the for
Hssr now took the candidate aside 10
say III tho hoarse whisper peculiar to
politicians This part Or the counts
IN strong for yoa, and they Ike T.
see the animals stirred up. Go after
Frank Scots record. g. after him
personally, You cant make ii mis-.
take by putting his hide on the fence
olt here"
Their late Passengers had front
seats In the sehoolhvukss Coombs dis.
eopered when h. made his way T.
the Fostrum and waited for tho chair.
man 10 call the gathering 10 order
The Two boys winged and giglet
when they caught his eye. aud Their
leaned over to whisper something I,
the girl who bad sat on his lap
Gttomhs fnncied thai she hlnshed
Now that he could get a good look
~ her. coon1bs realized that she wa,