The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1913-04-11
sank to the confidential undertone ,
the narrator.

SOOO-1OOA1uS man, SmOOl0-laceQ, DIS
eye straight ahead, and an alternate
that sat next mel was an alternate:
I've been an alternate four times; I
could have been delegate, but /
says, No, ADLER men than me are
wanting it; I'm willing to fight in the
ranks But wished had a vote, a
free vote that day. I tell you. The
alternate near me, he says, You'll
hear something fine now; I've heard
him speak,"
"You did, too, l guess"
I'VE could hear from the first min
ute. That kinder fixed our attention.
He had a mellow. rich kind of voice
that melted into our ears. We found
ourselves listening and liking him
from the first sentence. At first he
was as quiet as summer breeze, but
presently he began to warm up, and
the words flowed out like stream Of
jewels. 1t was electrifying; it was
thrilling, sir; it took us off our feet
before we knew it, and when he came
to the climax, those of US that weren't
yelling in the aisles were jumping up
and down on our chairs! know I
found myself prancing up and down
on my own hat on chair, swinging
somebody else's hat and screaming at
the top of my voice, with the tears
running down my cheekE God! sir,
there were men there on their feet
cheering their threats out that had to-
vote against Blaine afterward-had to,
because they were there instructed
no more free will than checked
trunk" The light died out of his
face. Eyes, sir, a great speech; never
so great a speech, whoever made it;
but it did no good, he wasn't nomi-
mated, and when We did nominate him
We were cheated out of our victory.
Well, we'll do better this Gay"
I'VE will that" said the other man.
heartily! MCKINLEY"
you'll excuse me"-the old man
struck in with a deprecating air, yet
under the apology something fercely
eager and anxious that glued the hear
er's eyes to his quivering old face
You'll excuse me. IL am a cOnsid-
cradle of an invalid and l don't keep
the run of things as I used to. You
see, live with my daughter, and you
know how women folks are, fretting
lest things should make you sick, and
my girl she worries 10, me reading the
papers. Fact is I got shock once,
an awful shock"-he shivered <involun-
tarily and his dim eyes clouded-"and
1t worried her seeing me read. Hadn't
ought to-; it don't worry Jenny here,
who often gets me paper, quiet like:
but you know how it is with women
it's easier giving them their head a
little-and so don't see many papers,
and l kinder dropped off. 1t seems
queer, but l don't exactly sense it
about this Mckinley. Is he running
against Blaine or jest for Weep
The girl, under some feminine pre-
text of dropping and reaching for her
handkerchief, threw upward a glance
| of appeal at the interlocutor. Hur-
riedly she stepped into the conversa-
ton. my grandfather read false re-
port about-about Mr.. Blaines sick
ness, and he was not we'll at the
time, and 1t brought on a bad attack"
II understand" said the listener.
with grave nod OF his head and
movement of his eyes in the girls d.
, rection.
"But about McKinley?" the old man
persisted.
Hes for vice-president," the girl
announced, her eyes fixed on the hes
itating man from Canton. have often
admired the intrepid fashion in which
woman will put her conscience at a
moral hedge, while man of no finer
spiritual fiber will be straining his
eyes to find a hole through which he
can crawl.
mckinley is not opposed to Blaine.
is he?" she asked the man.
"The Republican party has no name
that is more loved than that Of James
G. Blaine" said the man, gravely.
! That's so, that's SOL" the old parti-
san assented eagerly; ITO my mind
he's the logical candidate.'
The Canton man nodded, and asked
if he had ever seen Blaine.
"Once. only once. was on a dele
cation sent to wait on him and ask
him to our town 20 speak-he was in
Cincinnati. held out my hand when
my turn came, and the chairman near
ly knocked the breath out Of me by
saying, Here's the man gave more to
our campaign fund and worked harder
than any man In 1.-The county, and We
all worked hard for you, too Well,
Mr.. Blaine looked at me. You know
the intent way he looks. He has the
most wonderful eyes; look right at
you and seem to bore into you like q
gimlet. felt as II he was looking
right down into my soul, and 1 tell
You / was glad, to1 choked up so l
couldn't find word, not word, and
was ready and fluent enough in those
days, too, I can tell you; but stood
there filing up, and squeezed his hand
and gulped and got red, like fool.
But he understood. I have heard of
your loyalty to Republican principles,
Mr.. Painter says he. in that beautiful
voice Of his that was like violin:
and I burst in-1 couldn't help tit
amt, loyalty to Republican principles.
it's to you said that right out. And
he smiled. and said he, Well, that's
wron&& tut it isn't for me to quarrel
with you there, Mr.. Painter and then
they pushed me along; but twice
while the talk was going on saw him
look my way and caught his eye, and
he smiled, and when We were all shak-
ing hands for good-by he shook hands