The Wahpeton times. [volume] (Wahpeton, Richland County, Dakota [N.D.]) 1879-1919, 1918-07-18
The Widows
Choice
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sy.lv.z. sELpEN
t0o1yrishs 81 Tss Sssss 1. Hssssy OoJ

J An air Of suppressed excitement per-
: vaded the little knots Of men at the
street corners. There was q rumor
abroad that for the FIRST time In twelve
years the Thirteenth ward would xo
Democratic, and 1t was the night be.
fore election.
Strange men. had been seen for
more than a week buttonholing the
leaders, and it was q well-known fact
that 1t had been the strong person.
altty Of "the Old Man." as he was af-
fectfonately called. that had held the
ward for the Republicans. When he
absolutely refused q denomination for
congress. and Barney Mulcahey's|
name was put up, there were signs
OF change Of party.
The first caller at the Wtdow|
Flynn's saloon that night was Pat!
Murphy. As he sided up to the bari
the temptation was too great. Hei
kissed the widow ON the cheek. The,
widow bridled up and soundly boxed.
his ear.
Take that" she cried, 'for an i'm
pident rascal, and Mike not q year
dead!"
"Sure now. Peggy" he protested,
you know I'm only waiting for de-
cency's sake. or I'd asked you at the
funeral. I've waited now ten years.
and it's long time. Mike was q
| friend of mine, but always be-
grudged him wan thing, and you know
what that was"
flush your nonsense" she said. II
have work to do this night, and no
time for foolin'."
tits no foolin' to me-" he NUT.
tered.
"They tell me-" continued the
widow. "that the Thirteenth's goin'
Dimmycratic. That's foine way of
standin' by the Old Man, don't
think. What do they know of the
Dimmycrat? know him. lived in
! his family as second gufFi for two
years. There's where you see n man,
and, Pat Murphy, if he riprisinted the
party of the Ould sultan himself I
wouldn't vote for him. Now, listen
to me, do you work this night for
Barney Mulchahey for mimber Of
congress. and if he carries the ward
Republican, maybe-now, mind you,
say maybe-I'll listen to your non-
sense. None O. that. now''-as he
leaned towards her. ''And another
thing-I may keep saloon, but IL
you touch drop Of whisky don't
come near me, dye hear? name it."
The city hall bell struck one, there
was clatter in the engine house near
by. and ut the stroke of eight, as the
horses settled themselves back in
their stalls, the crowd began to move
towards the Widows saloon. For she
was pretty and popular, and all of
Mixes old friends felt a certain re-
spOnsibility when he was taken so
suddenly that hot July day.
Old Pat Reddy was speaking an
they came in. TITS time we changed,
byes. We'd have voted for the Old
Man as long as he'd run. Whereof
our pinsions been II he hadn't looked
out for thin? But now he's out we'd
better so back to the old party"
"Yes." called the widow; "it's q
pity the Old Man ever let go his holt
on ye." She drew glass after glass
Of beer and wiped of the counter with
fresh towel. "N0 one of you men
could fool him-he read you every
time; but let woman 60 to him with
the words hunger and cold In her
mouth. and his hand was in his pocket
and half ton of coal In her hall
way while other men would be ask.
ing her name, and showing her tho
way of the 'Sassiety.' l suppose your
fine new Dimmycrat. Mr.. Monroe. will
look after US all, too. Well. let mo
tell you. you'll get left. I know him
we'll. and whin he goes to Washin't0n
he goes for the Honorable Peter Mon
roe. Oh, it's lucky you have your pin.
sions. for 1t 'ud be singin' We would
be for thin If you dipinded upon him.
tell you. you'd better pin your faith
to Barney Mulcahey, and I'd like to
cast eyes on the Jay what's tried to
queer him in the ward. All. hn.
thought so, she said, as welI-dr" ,e,i
young lrishman quietly slid OUT If the
door.
"Pat Murphy" she called. "i'.'"ow
that fool Flanagan. and dn.:'1 IL him
out O. your sight the nigh If he be-
gins to talk Monroe n ,<zlc him"
Murphy looked Ion ,Iy at the
flushed face Of the H.,'oa and whis-
pered over the bar: "Did you name
what you said the now?"
'"Try me and see" she laughed.
'"They say" growled the Widows
cousin, "that A1ulcahey's not a good
Christian" He looked around at his
audience and softly fingered bill in
his pocket, the like of which he hadn't
seen In many day.
"You don't say!" cried the widow.
"A1uch you know about it. Was it
your intintion to run him for a bishop?
What is q good Christian?" She
leaned over the bar and the men fell
silent
Nov, I'll tell you some things
about Mulcahey that you don't know.
How nanny of you would have been
good Christians IL you'd been raised in