The Washington herald., 1912-12-08
THE OLD PARTISAN '' ee[;Es oeTAz5 ;',,e' 5HAsE'
A story of The Republican conven-

A Story of the Republican conven-
tIon of 1896.
sat so far back in the gallery that
my opinion OF my delegate friend
dwindled with every session. Never
theless my unimportant seat had fits
advantages 1 could see the vast assem-
bly, and watch the throbbing OF the Re
publican pulse If could not hear its
heart-beats. Therefore, perhaps, / stud
led my neighbors more than might
study them under different circumstances.
The great wooden hall had its transient
and unsubstantial character stamped on
every bare wooden joist and unclinched
nail. It was gaudy with flags and bunt-
ing and cheap portraits. There were tin
bannerettes crookedly marshaled on the
floor, to indicate the homes of the differ
ent States. few delegates, doubtless
new 10 THE business and overZealous
were already on the floor, but none Of the
principals was visible. They were per-
spring and arguing in those committee
rooms, those hotel Hobbies and crowded
hotel rooms where the real business OF
the convention was already done and
neatly prepared for presentation TO the
nation. I had nothing TO keep me from
studying my neighbors In front of me
same seats at every session that I was
present, young girl and an old man.
The girl wore the omnipresent shirtwaist
Cof pretty blue and white tints, with
snowy Guns and collar), and her green
straw hat was decked with blue corn
flowers, from which / inferred that she
had an eye on the fashions. Her black
hair was thick and glossy under the
green straw. I thought that she had
lwWNw
than her face, which kept a touch of sun
burn, as If she were often out in the
open air. Somehow I concluded that she
was a shop girl and rode a wheel II
were wrong il is not likely that I shall
ever know.
The old man, I fancied was not so
old as he looked; his delicate, haggard
profile may have owed its sunken lines
and the dim eye to sickness rather than
10 years He wore the heavy hroadcloth
Of the rural politician, and his coat
sagged over his narrow chest as If he had
left his waistcoat at home. On his coat
lapel were four old-fashiOned Blaine
badges. InCessa ntly he famed himself.
1T can't be they amt going to nomi-
nate him to-day?" he asked rather than
asserted. his voice breaking on the higher
notes. the mere wreck OF a voice.
"Oh, maybe later" the girl reassured
him.
Well. I wanted to attend a RepublI-
can convention once more before I died
Your ma would have it I wasn't strong'i
enough; but I knew better; you And
knew better: didn't we, Jenny"
She made no answer except to pat his
thin, ribbed brown hand with her soft.
white. slim one; but there was a world
of sympathy in the gesture and her sill
ent smile.
Il wonder what your ma said when
she came downstairs and found the let |
ter, and US gone he cackled with the |
garrulOus Glee OF a child recounting sue
Cessful mischief; made me think of the |
times when you WAS little and I stole you !
away for the circus. Once your pa
thought you was lost member? And
once. you had on your school dress and
you'd tore it-shP did scold YOU that
time. But We had fun when they used
to let me have money, didn't we, Jenny?