The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1914-09-23

ldtiON ~ ~ "a
shreds, honest a a
motives twisted 81 b
and warped"
Didn't you expect it," she asked.
Well, not anything so bad as this"
he confessed. Its nice mess you've
got ne into. isn't it,"
oh, Billy, you're such a gutter"
she sighed.
Il never wanted to run for mayor,
anyway" said he. lou egged me on
to it."
Il wanted you to Go something more
worth while than amuse yourself"
said She Billy. you have great pos
sibilities in; you, Il you'll only really
try"
"Well, rye tried" said he. And
tais IS the result Mud-slinging, repu-
t2tior-wrecking, a joke to all your
friends Why, only this afternoon as
was coming up here met Bob Whit
ing and Charlie Green and they
seemed to think it was excruciatingly
funny to give three cheers for her
honor, the next mayor. Of course,
there's no chance of my being elected.
but they needn't make quite such a
silly joke Of it."
Perhaps you wont be so much Of
q joke after election tomorrow"
"Don't you believe that" said he.
"T'ye got lust about as much show as
a SNOWFALL in-in-July," he ended
lamely.
It was o'clock the next afternoon
when Billy Capen, rather whitefaced
rushed up to the veranda where Mar
ion Orion sat fussing with tea things.
@Say, what am going to do?" he
groaned helplessly.
about what?" she asked.
I've been hanging around headQuar-
ters," he said. ''It seems that I'm
going to be elected beyond the shadow
OF doubt"
"Oh, Billy" she cried radiantly,
"It's awful" he groaned. "What,H
7 do?"
She stared at him.
81 believe ie I really an elected, I'll
go right down and resign" said he.
Billy Capen," she cried. "I'd like to
shake you!"
"I wish you would" he said lugu-
briously. "I'll make sweet little
mayor, won't I? Well, the downfall
Of this beautiful burg be upon your
head. You put NE up to it. You IN
duced me to run when the reform
crowd put my name up. Now. see
what you've done?"
TITS perfectly splendid" she cried.
"Why, Billy, you're the right man for
| the right place. They've needed you
for ever so long. know you've got
It in you"
81 wish I thought that way" said he.
Didn't you want to be elected?"
mol"
She stared at him
''Then-then what on earth did you
run for?"
well, I though there wasn't the
least chance Of my getting 1t; so !
didn't see how It was going to do any
harm, and though the attempt, the
trying, would show you-well. would
please you, Marion, and-and-oh,
hang it, the plain truth CT the matter
is I wanted to make good with you.
Now rye gone and got elected mayor,
and-end-if I've got to be his honor,
you'll have to be her honoress-the
power behind the throne"
She flushed slightly. She did not
look at him. Instead her eyes were
fixed on the blue fame Pickering be-
meath the bubbling brass kettle.
IF I do-if I consent to be her hon
Dress, as you choose to call twill
you do just as say?" ..-
Why, Of course"
Then you won't throw Mike Touhey
out as head Of the street department?
You know Mike was OUT gardener here
once. I'm very fond Of Mike"
Billy Capen stared at her silently
Tor good minute.
why, Mikes the biggest CRATER OF
the WuO!c ring u LIS oSd!P SA4S -
form crowd is particularly after. III
have tc throw him out whatever you
say"
Even II won't marry you If you
do?"
Even if you won't marry ne II ]
do," he repeated.
She put out the lamp under the
kettle. She jumped from her chair.
And just for that will marry you,
Billy" she cried. II was afraid
afraid it really was as you said; that
you d:dn't care anything about the re-
form crowd or about being mayor. l
! was afraid you were doing 1t just TO
make good with me-
We'll. that's all I'm doing 1t for
he maintained stoutly.
"Oh, indeed" said she. But she
was smiling proudly as she slipped
into mis- outstretched arms.
/ro-,.-;ch- 1oI. by- tra Mcclure NeWSpH~