The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1913-05-22

] ~ heard another o0un0 rising 10 MIN.
Gle with the clamor Of the bells
cheering voices He had n strong de-
sire to turn back and fee to some hid.
ing place In the hills, but he forced
himself to march forward.
At the northernmost edge Of the
town he perceived rapidly limping
figure. 1t was Jeremy Apologize.
"Heard you came ont this way"
Jeremy gasped IAN wanted to be
first to tell you. Nominated by accla-
nation at 3:45 this afternoon! |
hain't felt SO good since Appomattox.'
John. beholding the tears shining in
honest Jeremy's eyes. felt the moisture
rise to his own. His heart leaped
sharply; It was something to receive.
even II one has not earned, such
loyalty!
! Down Main street came team
dra wing double seated spring wagon.
From the wagon descended silent
trio whose haDdclasp eloquently told
what awkward lips could not phrase.
! "Druv into town to git the news Of
the convention" Ri explained. "rhey
said ye'd gone out the pike, 90 we
druv out to fetch ye in. They're wait
I'm for We, considerable excited"
! They've found out" said Dan Girls
we'll dryly. "all at oncet that ye're
great man."
"'Low damned the Amurrican PEG.
i pie mite too soon," confessed Sykes.
| which caused Cranshawe and Criswell
! to laugh.
cit in," commanded Ri. "Come
; right along, Jeremy"
J They all climbed into the wagon.
John with lips compressed as IL he
faced an ordeal And indeed he did.
F, ri was quick to perceive what Jeremy
In the hysteria Of his Joy had over
looked. His great, hairy hand fell on
Johns knee in tight grip.
I! II want to say something while got
the chancet. l guess there's more to
this than appears to be. But have
faith in We, John Dunmeade. l have
faith that yell govern this state in
the fear Of God and the love of your
| fellow men,
"Whatever We do supplemented
Sykes. "I'll believe that"
can so long as we got faith in We
ye needn't lose faith in yourself" Girls
well concluded.
John did not answer. He was past
speaking just then and 4ater when his
townsfolk acclaimed him.
At home took place wonder. Judge
Dunmeade. almost forgetting the Judi
cial dignity. slapped John on the back
and exclaimed: "My son, this is a hap
py hour. always knew you would
make your mark
At which Miss Roberta shifted. But
when she tried to convey her felicia
tons her tongue refused the unaccus
toned Office. and she broke away to
prepare supper that should do justice
to the occasion.
That evening Benton county made
holiday, with torches and bonflres and
fireworks. John made a speech at his
h0me-n much Of Il speech, it Is true
but his audience was not hypercritical
Il lasted Just three minutes. Then the
band began to play America" For a
little deep hush fell. Then some one
later identified as one legged, hys-
tsrically happy old sOldier-began to
sing in cracked. quavering voice.
Something that passed beyond mere
1ubilation stirred. With one accord the
crowd lifted up its voice and sang,
my country. it's of thee
The solemn, stately measures died
away. A young woman under tree at
the edge of the crowd discovered un-
ashamed tears coursing down her
cheeks. A last cheer was given, and
the famous celebration passed into
history
At his window John Dunmeade look
Cd with troubled eyes up into the 81
lent, starry night. 1t was ungenerous
perhaps, but he could not help thinking
Of the lean years Of defeat and discour
agement. And he wondered. Was the
hymn still ringing in his ears the voice
o. an abiding passion-or hysteria7