The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1912-12-28
A Story OF the Republican Convention
OF 1895.


sembly and watch the throbbing OF
the Republican pulse if could not
hear II heart beats. Therefore. per.
haps ! studied my ncighbors more
than ] might study them a Ider differ
ent circumstances The great wooden
hall had It's transient and uusubstan-
tial Character stamped on every bare
wooden juist and unclinchcd nail. Il
was gaudy with flags and bunting and
cheap portraits. There were tin ban
nerettes crOokedly marshaled on the
foor to indicate the homes OF the dif
ferent states. \ few delegates. doubt
less new to the business and over
jealous. were already on the floor. but
none of The principals were visible.
They were perspiring and arguing In
those committee rooms. those hotel
Hobbies and crowded hotel rooms
where the real business OF tho con
Nention was already done and neatly
prepared for presentation 10 the ma
ton. ] had nothing 10 keep mo from
studyinE my neighbors. In front OF
me sat two people Who had occupied
the same seats at every session that
j Was present, young girl AID an old
man. The girl wore the omnipreseut
shirt waist tof pretty blue and white
iints, with snowy Guns and color,
and her green straw hat was decked
with blue corn flowers. from wlich
] inferred that she had an eye on the
fashions. Her black hair was thick
and glossy under the green straw.
thought that she had graceful neck.
u was very white. Whittier than her
face. which kept a touch OF sunburn
as N she were often out in the op.n
air. somehow ! concluded that she
was shop girl and rode a wheel n
were wrong IL is not likely that I shall
ever know
The Old man. fanclcd. was not 80
old as he looked: his delicate. haggard
profile may have owed its sunken
lines aud the dim eye to sikness
rather than 10 years. He wore the
heavy broadcloth OF the rural poll
tcisn. and his coat saRged over his
waistcoat ut home. ON his coat Lapel
we're four oldfashioned Blaine
badges. lncessently he famed him
self
1T can't be they amt going 70 nom
mate MIN today he asked rather
than asserted. his voice breaking ON
the higher notes. the mere wreck OF
n voice
sured him
Well. wanted to attend a Repubrl-
can convention once more before 7
died. Your ma would have u I wasn't
strong enough: but know better: You
and | knew better. didn't We. Jenny 90
she made no answer except 20 nat
his thin. ribbed brown hand with her
SOFT, white, slim one. but there was a
world OF sympathy In the gesture and
her silent smile
Il wonder what your ma said when
she came downstairs and found The
letter, and US gone. he cachlcd with
the gasrulous glec OF "a child recount.
Ing successful mischief. made M.
think OF times when YOU was little and
] stole you away for the circus Once.
your pa thought YOU was iost-'mem-
Dtr Aud once. NOu had on your
school dress and you'd tore DO he did
scold YOU that time iU- We had Gun
when they used 10 let me have money.
didn't We. Jenny"
Well. now ! earn money. We have
good times. TOO grandpa" said Jenny.
smiling Oh" same tender. comprehend
ing smile
We do that. 7 don't know What
would DO 'Ccpt Tor Nou. IambIe. and
ms is-thi- le "a grand time. Jenny.
you look and listen if'z % great thing
10 see a nation masking IFS prircitfas
dent"
lie hair turned his head as ho spoke.
with mounting enthusiasm. f.l-
bringing hl- il-nIne face and eager
eyes no longer dim into the f1ru. of
his next ueighhor- bright gray eyes
no No. iEhhur Was Young man. not
very young. hu' hardly tn D.. called
smile
81 think BIN pretty fair mon NV.
seii. said me other With "A i1fu.a Idol.
dersiatemcrf. % come f.om his fo.r ID.
Nhat was There Iu such e. simple
statement f1 bring aIatucffs anxious.
n'N mo mo NoIIe ..fIs SOFT er..'
There o. Was ono could not ml-frI. D.
Wen said hc old man. thcrc vas
haiierinE defcrerr" in h.e voice