Hermanner Volksblatt. [volume] (Hermann, Mo.) 1875-1928, 1921-04-29
DEFEATED
BY EDWARD
tcopynEht.)

don board announced the closing Of
the polls, Ainsworth, who stood JUS
within the rail. was conscious Of 9
quick thrill of anxiety and doubt. Hi
reason told him mat his plurality Of 9
year before vas an earnest Of success
but his instinct warned him Of fail
ure. He relit his cigar and leaned
against the railing with studied care
~lessness. He wished to keep his face
ex~pressionless during the count. d.
rectly opposite him stood the Tam.
many captain, and he knew that the
Tammany inspectors were watching
him as they prepared their tally
sheets. He could suppress any sign
OF exultation IL he won; he meant to
steel himself against visible dfsap-
pointment IL he lost. For him the re-
suit In this one district would tell the
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. at Is all over"
he said.
District captains reported at inter
walls, some by telephone, some in per-
son, handing over their slips with brief
comment.
ut was simply hi In the Eight
eenth," announced one as he gave the
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 u winter In Al
bany," he said. "The people don't
appreciate u.s."
The light one 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 sea- 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 1t vas 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 II
for the first time familiar buildings
and shop windows.
His wife me him in the hallway.
dearest, poor dearestI" 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 dlstaste-
fully. His wife sat opposite, watch
Ing him.
"WellY' she said presently.
I'm just simply BEATEN" he an
swered. That's ALL"
"BadlyT"
"Pretty badly. 1 don't know just
how much. 1t doesn't make any diff
ference"
There was a long silence. He no
ticed a wistful look in her eyes, and
came across to her.
She smiled-ratter curiously, he
thought-and stopped him with a ten
der hand over his mouth.
flush |"
But you will"
"How blind you arei"
"Blind?'
ayes. Shall / tell you the TRUTH"
"of course"
She walked away from him a little,
still looking at him and smiling curl
ously.
'Then listen" she said. "If It were
not for your disappointment, I should
be glad, glad, gladl What do ! care
for a winter in Albany, or anywhere,
when ! am not a part Of your lifef
Oh, you don't know how I have prayed
to keep from wishing, hoping, that you
would losel I wanted to have you
win, because your heart was bound
up In It; but Lob, I only wanted
you'll I am a Foolish woman, perhaps,
but I was Jealous of your other life."
She was sobbing passionately as
Ainsworth caught her In his arms.
Dearest" he said humbly, II never
knew"
mo, you v knew"
"And you cared so muchf"
"Do / care? Oh, my husband"
The silence which followed was
broken by the sound Of bare, tiny feet
In the hallway. A curtain was parted
doubtfully, and a small voice ID
tiously announced:
IT got lonesome, muvver. Tn
a-comin' In y And then a joyous "Oh,
there's my papaw
Seated on q beloved but unfamiliar
knee, a curly head nesting against the
defeated candidates w%aistcoat, an INK
ious inquiry followed:
"Has you got to 60 in just q min
ute, papaf"
"Nc, darling. WhyT