The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-02-15
ELECTING COUSIN FRED
NY STACEY e. BAKER.

Times almost without number. be-
ginning at the age of fourteen, Bes-
sic Winwood's mother had warned her
that she was too gushing. One of the
things her mother meant by that was
her readiness to confide in Others
even on the slightest acquaintance.
On this occasion, however. even IL
she had resolved beforehand to be
prim and silent and discreet and
study the toes of her shoes instead
OF the faces of her fellow-passengers.
all the way out to Bellville, 1t would
have been hard to keep her resolu-
tion.
When she drove up to the depot
from her home the cabman tried to
collect an exorbitant fare. and a gem
tleman came forward and read him
lecture. Then, as she was buying
her railroad ticket. she left her purse
on the shelf of the ticket window, and
the same gentleman brought Ii to her.
Again. she was about to take the
train for Albany instead OF Bellviile.
had chair seats side by side. both
bound for the same place. and the
gentleman had presented his card,
as gentleman should, and the con-
ductor had smiled and nodded at him,
and thus vouched for his character.
When all these things had been taken
into consideration. Miss Bessie felt IT
almost duty to gush
The good-Iooking stranger had pre-
scented card bearing the name Of
Mr. Charles Burden Miss Bessie
was a bit near-sighted. and after she
had made Baden OF Burden" she
tucked the card away In her reticule
to be forgotten for days and weeks.
She gave her own name In return,
and then gushingly added
I'm sure you can never guess why
I'm going TO Bellvilie. and so I'll tell
you at once. It's on account OF poll
tics"
so you are sufsragette," smiled
Mr., Burden.
"Oh. no. no. no! I'll tell you how
1t Is. II you have heard Of papa, you
know that ne Is a politician"
Yes. State Senator Winwood."
I'm glad you've heard. for ! think
papa great man. Well, I get my
politics from him. ! have made him
tell me lots and lots OF the tricks
they resort to. and think I am most
as sharp as he is. My cousin Fred.
at Bellville, is running for county
supervisor on the Democratic ticket.
You know what a supervisor Is. don't
you"
II have a dim idea, Miss Winwood."
'one of the bosses of the county.
you know. Aunt Jane Grattan, who
Is widow and Fred's mother. owns
a nice country place, and she wants
Fred elected supervisor TO keep her
taxes down and the roads in good re-
pair. She thinks she can get her taxes
reduced one-half and make the coun-
ty build bridge, which maybe she
ought TO build"
Lets see; in that what they call
graft" was asked.
''oh. no. no. Graft lisa different
thing. This is just taking care of
number one. you know"
And what sort of a man is your
cousin Fred
He's awfuily lazy. but awfuliy
good. He says he won't hustle to get
a single vote. and that's the reason
electioneer for him. shan't make
any speeches. OF course. but shall
drive around asking everybody to vote
for him. ] shall begin with you
right now"
And ! pledge you my vote. There
must be some one running against
him on the Republican ticket Do
you know him."
mo. but Aunt Jane does That ts.
she has seen him, and she writes me
that Ii villain was ever printed on
mans face II Is on his. She says he
must be guilty OF many crimes, and
that he ought to be showed under ten
feet deep !, X shall help to sncw him
under"
Mr. Burden laughed heartily and
good naturedly and asked:
so you are going to md out how