The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1918-05-09
CHRISTINE'S RUSE
BY J. JOHNSON.

congress. IL am little proud OF his
great victory. although he k,,thc man
that took from me my daughter and
political life at one fell swoop."
The grand old Kentucky aristocrat
toyed with spoon a moment with tho
mint in an empty glass, humorous
bit of political "Reminiscences showing In
his eyes.
"When John #. Blackenham," con-
tinued the judge. first came In from
his cabin home on Salt Lake TO study
law with me, he would have been a
good attraction In dime museum
But / saw that the fellow was not all
blue jeans, and knee joints. Big as he
was, he was principally head.
when my daughter Christine came
home from Lexington, where she had
graduated, she one day called in at the
law Office, and, with secret amusement,
l introduced the uncouth, plebelan
youth to the beautiful, high-born arls-
tocrat.
81 should have known better, howev-
er, than to have exposed my aristo-
cratic daughter to this big, brilliant
plebeian. didn't stop to think that it
is brains and not money or birth that
make certain kinds of men the mas
tiers Of this Notwithstanding women.
"At first, through sympathy with the
poor fellow, encouraged Christine to
treat him kindly, but 1t soon became
apparent that she needed no encour-
agement. One morning she came to
me as l was about leaving for the Of
fee, and, putting two soft arms about
my neck, told me Mr.. Blackenham had
proposed marriage to her. Thinking
| said, as soon as / could get my
breath: Never mind, darling, I'll
look after the gentleman
"She snuggled closer to my bosom,
patted my cheeks with her rosy fin
gers and said: I'm so glad to hear
you say you will look after him He's
so poor, and needs your assistance;
and as I'm the only child you have, |
know, being rich, you win not let US
starve until he gets started in the law
practice. You will look after him!
81 was a moment speeches. with
fury; then I said: Can l believe all
this" She looked up and said, with af-
fected innocence: Papa, If you can't
believe me, I'll go to the office with
you and prove it by hlmv
"My mind worked under high pres
sure. What could / do? / couldn't
scold and chide this chlld-the exact
image of her dead mother, sub. So
said: I'll agree 10 this illogical union
the plebeian with the aristocrat-if
you'll agree to wait until he himself is
able. in this town, to support you in
the condition in which you were born
She agreed. I knew it would take him
many years TO gain foothold in this
old Kentucky town.
"The time for making nominations
for county Offices was rapidly APP
and I soon noticed that my
would-be son-in-law was shaking hands
and kissing backwoods babies at live
y rate. ! got the nomination for coun-
ty judge, by the asking, as usual, and
ny party had at least 500 majority.
my law student got the nomination
against me from his party, and he was
ny opponent-what political impu-
lence
Il thought he wanted the nomination
rom his party as an advertisement for
young lawyer. Well, sub, l can still
eel a hitch at my heart when think
# the horrors of that moment when
he returns of the election came in
nd | found myself, Judge Blueblood,
uh, defeated by majority of just 500.
fraud-had been
ommitted. l would contest the cleo
ion, of course
christine told me that If her lover
ad really been guilty of countenanc-
lg ballot-box stuffing against her dear
Id father, she would cancel the en-
agement so ] sent for the leading poll
icians in each precinct to meet on
lie coming day at my office. report the
lormous frauds known to each, and
clip devise plan of contest.
ION the day appointed my office was
.owded with old-time friends, but
lelr peculiar couptenances were not
of much good, as they sew
ally appeared. After all were in and
lie door locked, turned to Ham Jar
s, the leader In Concord precinct, and
lde him report the frauds in his pre-
net.
oval he drawled. with an ear-to-
If grin, 4 know of two think. Two
Hers voted for you that want of
re-
"A thunder of laughter, at which I
owned, went up from each throat.
"All, finally, acknowledged they had
ted against me
And here is our authority for yio-
lin party principles said one, hand
: me circular that each man in the
ok precincts had received the night
fore election. II ran as follows:
"'Vanceburg. KY. Nov.
Dear Sir-Will you have the kind
SIS TO vote against my father and for
penniless. self-made opponent TO
ON Tn engaged An, dol My IA
n is rich man, has received the
her honors. and doesn't need the
&c. 1t would not only be a great
vice TO me. but would encourage
usands of poor but ambitious young