The Dolores star., 1921-04-08
Defeated
BY EDWARD BRoNsoN.
tCopyrtsht)

Wnen the chairman OF the 1nSpec-
ton board announced the closing Of
the polss. Ainsworth, who stood Just
within the rail. was conscious Of
quick thrill Of anxiety and doubt. His
reason told him that his plurality Of
year before was an earnest of success,
but his instinct warned him Of fall
ure. He relit his cigar and leaned
against the railing with studied care
lessness. He wished to keep his face
expressionless during the count. Di-
rectly opposite him stood the Tam
many captain, and he knew that the
Tammany inspectors were watch ing
him as they prepared their tally
sheets. He could suppress any eign
Of exultation If he won; he meant to
steel himself against visible disap-
pointment If he lost. For him the re-
story OF the election.
The room was tense with excite
ment as the formalities prescribed by
law were complied with.
The candidate watched the opening
OF the final ballot listlessly. He knew
that he was beaten.
At the club house he pushed his way
through the crowd. 1T Is all over"
he said.
District captains reported ut inter
vals some by telephone, some In per.
son, handing over their slips with brief
comment.
''It was simply HI in the Eight
hA ba
secretary his report.
The telephone rang again, and the
secretary turned to Ainsworth.
"Your wife wants to speak to you"
Ainsworth spoke into the transmit
ter.
1--WE will postpone our winter in AL
bany." he said. THE people don't
appreciate U.S."
The light tone and the jest were for
those who stood around him. The can
didate knew that no assumption of
carelessness would deceive the woman
at the other end of the wire.
Ainsworth resumed his seat on the
edge Of the table.
You were going to take her with
your asked the leader.
Ainsworth nodded
"Too bad" said the leader, relapsing
into silence.
Presently it was certain that the
state had been saved by the unexpect-
ed magnitude of rural majorities.
The streets were quiet as Ainsworth
walked home. He listened curiously
to his own footballs, and noted as if
for the first time familiar buildings
and shop windows.
His wife met him In the hallway.
Dearest, poor dearest!" she said,
with her arms around him.
They went into his study and sat
down at his table, pushing an accumu-
latiOn Of papers from him distaste-
fully. His wife sat opposite, watch
Ing him.
"Well?" she said presently.
I'm just simply beaten" he an
swered. That's all"
"Badly?"
"Pretty badly. I don't know just
how much. 1t doesn't make any DIFF
ference"
There was a long silence. He no.
tlced wistful look In her eyes, and
came across to her.
She smiled-rather curiously, he
thought-and stopped him with a ten.
der hand over his mouth.
"Hushr'
But you will"
How blind you are!"
"Blind?"
Eyes. Shall I tell you the truth?"
"Of course"
She walked away from him little,
still looking at him and smiling curl
ously.
"Then listen" she said. 'If 1t were
not for your disappointment, I should
be glad, glad. glad! What do l care
for winter in Albany, or anywhere,
when l am not part of your life?
Oh, you don't know how I have prayed
to keep from wishing, hoping, that you
would lose! l wanted to have you
win, because your heart was bound
up in 1t; but I--oh, / only wanted
you! am foolish woman. perhaps,
but was jealous Of your other life"
She was sobbing passionately as
Answorth caught her In his arms.
Dearest" he said humbly, Il never
kneww
mo, you never knew"
"And you cared so much?"
"Do l care? Oh, my husbandw
The silence which followed was
broken by the sound of bare, tiny feet
In the hallway. A curtain was parted
doubtfully, and small voice eau
tiOusly announced:
II got lonesome, muvver. I'm
a-comln' !" And then joyous "Oh,
there's my papa!"
Seated on beloved but unfamiliar
knee. curly head nesting against the
defeated candidates waistcoat, an anx-
ious inquiry followed:
HAS you got to go in Just min