Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1923-01-03

mutton-head the other day; he said our
candidate ought 10 be farmer. man
of the common people and when
asked him where he'd find anybody
more a man Of the common people
than Beasley, he said Beasley was TOO
much Of a society man 10 suit hint
The idea OF Dave as a society man
was too much FOR me. and / laughed
In Sim Peck's face. but that didn't
stop Sim Peck! Jest look ut the style
he lives In he yelped. Amt he fairly
Tapped In luxury? Look at that big
house he lives I'M Look at the way
he goes around IN that big car or his
and niger To drive him. half the
time" / had 10 holler again. and. OF
course. that made Sam twice as mad
as he started out 20 be; and he went
on swearing he'd show me. before the
campaign was over The only trouble
he and Grist and that crowd could give
Us would be by finding out something
against Dave, and they can't do that
because there isn't anything 10 find
out"
/ shared his confidence on this lat.
ter score, but was somewhat less san.
| guine on some others. There were only
two newspapers Of any political in
fluence In Wainwright, the Despatch
and the Journal. both operated ir
/ the interest of Beasley's party, and
neither had "come out" for him.. The
gossip l heard about our Office led me
/ 10 think that each was waiting 20 see
what Roadway Sim Peck and his fac.
/ ton would make; the Journal espe.
cially, / knew. had some inclination 10
coquette with Peck. Grist, and Com
pany. Altogether, their faction was
not entirely 20 be desplsed.
Thus. my thoughts were a great deal
more occupied with Beasley's chances
than with the holiday spirit that now,
I with furs and bells and wreathing
mists Of snow, breathed good cheer
over the town. So little, indeed. had
this spirit touched me. that, one eve
ming when one of my colleagues,
standing before the grate-fire in the
reporters room. yawned and said he'd
/ be glad when tomorrow was over, ]
asked him what was the particular
trouble with tomorrow.
christmas" he explained, Ian
I guidly. Always so tedious. Like
I Sunday"
1T makes me homesick," said an
other, a melancholy little man who
was forever Dragging of his native
Duluth.
Christmas" repeated-"tomor.
rowl"
1t was Christmas eve. and had not
I known e.! / leaned back In my chai-
| I'm "A sudden loneliness, what pictures
coming before me of long-ago Christ
mas ewes at home i-Old Christmas
ewes when there was q Tree. .
Ny name was called; the night city
/ editor had an assignment for me. go
up 20 sim Peck's. On Madison street, f"
he said. "He thinks he's got some
thing on David Beasley, but won't
say any more over the telephone. See
what there is In H."
! picked up my hat and coat, and
/ left the Office at a speed which must
have given my superior the highest
conception OF my journalistic zeal. At
I n telephone station on the next corner
I called up Mrs. opportunities house
7 and asked for Mr.. D0wden.
What are you doingT' l demanded,
T when his voice responded.
playing bridge" he answered.
"Are you going out anywhereP
"NO. What's the tr0ubleT
an tell you later. / may want 70
see you tonight before I 90 back 10
/ the office"
"AI right I'll be at home all the
evening"
hung up the receiver and made OF
on my errand.
Down town the streets were crowd
ed with he package-laden people,
bending heads and shoulders 10 the
bitter wind. which swept a binding,
sleet-llke snow horizontally against
them. At corners Il struck so tumul-
tuous n blow upon the chest of the pc
destrians that for a moment Il would
halt them. and you could hear them
Z
bathers IN a heavy surf. Yet there
was a gayety I'm this eager gale; the
crowds pressed anxiously, yer hap
PLY. up and down the street in their
generous search for things 10 give
away. II was not the rich who strug-
gled through the storm tonight; these
were people who carried their own
, bundles home. You saw them: toiiers
and savers. tired mothers and fathers,
worn with the grinding thrift Of all
the year. but now for this one night
careless Of how hard-saved the money
reckless OF everything but the joy Of
giving II TO bring the children JOY on
the one great tomorrow. So they bent
their heads TO the freezing wind. their
arms laden with daring bundles ana
their hearts upllfted with the tremul-
Gus happiness Of giving more than they
could afford. Meanwhile, Mr. Simeon
Peck. honest man, had chosen this
season 70 work harm II he might 10