Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1918-05-29
CRRiSTINE'S RUSE
BY }. JOHNSON.


me this morning, after enough returns
were in 10 show that his son-in-law,
John F. Blackenham. was elected TO
congress. Il am a little proud of his
| great victory, although he is the man
| that took from me my daughter and
| political life at one fell swoop."
The grand old Kentucky aristocrat
toyed with a spoon moment with the
mint in an empty glass, humorous
bit of political Renaissance showing in
his eyes.
"When John F. Blackenham," con-
tinued the judge. first came in from
his cabin home on Salt Lake to study
law with me, he would have been
good attraction in a 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.
introduced the uncouth, plebeian
| youth to the beautiful, high-born arts
| 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 ii soon became
| apparent that she needed no enconr-
agement. One morning she came TO
me as l was about leaving for the Of
| flee, and, putting two soft arms about
my neck, told me Mr.. Blackenham had
| proposed marriage to her. Thinking
she had regarded II as deadly insult,
| said, as soon as l could get my
breath: Never mind, darling, I'll
look after the gentleman
"She Struggled 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, I
know, being rich, you will not let us
starve until he gets started in the law
| practice. You will look after him.
81 was a moment speechless with
thisT 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 himr
"My mind worked under high pres
| sure. What could l do? / couldn't
scold and chide this child-the exact
image of her dead mother, sub. So
said: I'll agree to 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. 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 ap-
preaching, and I soon noticed that my
would-be son-in-law was shaking hands
! and kissing backwoodS babies at live
ly rate. 1 got the nomination for coun-
! ty Judge by the asking. as usual, and
my party had at least 500 majority.
| ''My law student got the nomination
against me from his party, and he was
my opponent-what political impu-
| dence
81 thought he wanted the nomination
| from his party as an advertisement for
young lawyer. Well, sub, can still
feel a hitch at my heart when 1 think
of the horrors of that moment when
| the returns of the election came IN
and / found myself, Judge Blueblood,
sub, defeated by majority of just 500.
Fraud-infamous fraud-had been
committed. / would contest the cleo
ton, of course.
"Christine told me that if her lover
had really been guilty of countenanc-
ing ballot-box stuffing against her dear
old father, she would cancel the en-
gagement, so sent for the leading pol
iticians in each precinct to meet on
the coming day at my office, report the
enormous frauds known to each, and
help devise a plan of contest.
ION the day appointed my Office was
crowded with old-time friends, but
! their. peculiar countenances were not
indicative of much good, as they sew
orally appeared. After all were in and
the door locked. l turned to Ham Jar
ris, the leader in Concord precinct, and
babe him report the frauds in his pre-
cinct.
"'Wal.' he drawled, with an ear-to-
ear grin, Il know of two l think. Two
fellers voted for you that want Of
age
"a thunder of laughter, at which ]
frowned. went up from each throat.
"All. finally, acknowledged they had
voted against me!
And here is our authority for vio-
latin party principles said one. hand
ing me circular that each man in the
back precincts had received the night
before election. 1t ran as follows:
"'Vanceburg, KY, Nov.
"Dear Sir-WiIl you have the kind
ness to vote against my father and for
his penniless, self-made opponent, to
whom Tn engaged? All, do Ny IA
Their is rich man, has received the
higher honors. and doesn't need the
office. 1t would not only be a great
service TO me, but would encourage
thousands of poor but ambitious young
men. appeal TO Kentucky gallantry.'