Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 22, Number 3, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 September 1900 — SIMON GREY’S FAMILY. [ARTICLE]

SIMON GREY’S FAMILY.

A Story of Country Life.

BY ALMA L. PARKER, GUIDE ROCK, NEB.

CHAPTER lll—(Continued.) Vinuie walked lu by her father’s bedside. “Vinnie,” he said, “I don’t want you to ever speak to a Harrington again as long as you live. Y'ou will probably meet him at school this morning, but I don’t want you to ever speak to him. I want him to know that you uphold me in the tight with his father. Do you hear what I say?” But before she answered the patter of horses’ feet and the shouting of men’s voices were heard. ■ “Hurrah for McKinley, the next President of the United States!” rang out upon the morning air. “What’s that they’re shouting? I do wonder if MtKinley is elected," said Simon. “It may be so,” said Cynthia, “but dati’t worry about it. Simon. I guess if we work hard we can keep our souls and bodies together, If he is elected.” Just then their neighbor, Mr. Blank, appeared at the door to flnfl out how Simon was feeling, and to bring the glad news that Vinnie was elected. “Who’s to be President?” quickly inquired Simon. “McKinley,” he said. “I don’t see how it could be possible,” said Simon. “Providence has always been on the side of right in the affairs of this nation.” “So it has, Simon, and it has not yet forsaken us.” “You’ll repent a thousand times of the way you cast your ballot before another four years of hard times rolls around,” said Simon, who knew Blank was a Republican. Just then Johnny came In crying. . “What’s the matter?” said Jimmie. (“That Reynolds boy was just goin’ by, antßhe said McKinley was elected, and that IV-served my pa right to get .Icked. I wiAh I’d Lave licked him—-boo-hoo!” 'x. “Well, why “He’s bigger than am,” Johnny whined. > “Oho!” said Jimmie, laughing. That don’t make any diff. Old ton ain’t near so big as hd' licked him just the same.” f “Jimmie,” said his fanler, “march out of here, just as quick as ever you can; do you hear?” “Can’t we have any more pie and cake to eat, ma, if McKinley’s elected?” he added, as he proceeded to obey his father. “No, darling. We shall have to live very economical.” Vinnie now started to school, and Jimmie watched her as she -walked away. “ ’Pon my word, pa, if Glen Harrington hain’t come to meet her. Here he is now, and he’s congratulating her for defeatin’ him. Listen.” he said to Johnnie. “Vinnie is telling him that she is sorry she had to defeat him in order to be Superintendent. By golly! If they hain’t locked arms, and walking to school together, when pa told her not to even speak to him.” CHAPTER IV. Cynthia Grows Skeptical. Two or three days had passed by, and the report had been confirmed’that William McKinley, of Ohio, was to be the next President of the United States. Political Simon was able to be “up and around,” as Cynthia expressed it, though his face was slightly disfigured. He had stayed away from Boonsvilie quite a while, it seemed to the people of the town. “Pa,” said Jimmie, “if you stay at home much longer people will think you’re ashamed of your face.” “Well. I’m not, my son. Many a martyr before me has worn a disfigured countenance.” “Then you’d better get a move on you and go down town and pay up what you bet on Bryan.” “Simon,” said Cynthia, “did you bet on Bryan?” “Not much. Cynthia, but still we shall feel the loss of it now.” “Well, I am surprised.” said Cynthia, in astonishment. “How much did you bet?” “Twenty dollars, the money I got for the old. speckled cow, but you see I expected to get forty dollars back, or two cows for one.” “1 hope, Simon, that you have learned a lesson. Went and took the last dollar we had and fooled it away. What would you think if I had done such a thing as that?” # “It wouldn’t have been very proper In a woman, but meu. who are supposed to know about such things, often make piles of money this way.” "Yes, you tell how much you have made.” Cynthia said sarcastically. “Cynthia’. Don’t be unreasonable; half of the bets made have been won. 1 just happened to be unlucky, but not much more unlucky, after all, than any j one else. McKinley’s election will be a ] detriment to all laboring classes, and in regard to his victory, we may as well all be considered unlucky.” “Simon, they say down in Boonsvilie hogs have gone up 15 cents a hundred since last Tuesday (election day), and corn 2 cents a bushel, and they say

there has been more business done the last few days than there has been for * long time. Maybe we ain’t gola’ starve to death after all.” “Just as I expected,” said Simon. “It’s just a McKinley wave.” “Well, If that’s the kind of waves McKinley brings, I say he’s all right.** “You can’t understand about thdse things, Cynthia. Women never can. But you see these gold bugs that h4v» control of the markets will raise priqes just a little, to catch farmers In theflk trap. It’s simply another Republican scheme, and the reason there is so muck. business done is because the farmers: are smart enough to takQ advantage of ’em, and sell before they go down.” j “Maybe we’d better sell our hogs now If tflat’s the case.” “They are hardly fat enough for tbs market.” “Well, I don’t see what we’re goln* to do. You have gone and bet away that S2O. Maybe we’d better sell our sheep and cattle during the McKinley wave.” “I would, Cynthia. I’d be tempto® to make a clearing sale, w.ere it not for the looks of the thing. You see Harrington and some others would say I was ashamed to live here since the fight and was goin’ to move away.” ] “I don’t see, Simon, as we’d have te move away if we did sell everything.** “No, not as long as the money lasted, and they didn’t close the mortgage. But then I suppose we’d either have to move to the poorhouse, or to Mexico, or India, where people have good times.’* “Well, if you ever take such a ridiculous notion as to move down there In Mexico, apd live among them Greasers, you will go alone. I’d never go with you.” ** “But suppose we move to India?” “Simon Grey! Are you crazy? Whfl| they’re all heathen over there, and I’v» heard that there’s more people there now than there is room for. Besides, where on earth could you get money enough to take us all that far? Wltfkj > ll<’> :i sujV'M ■< TTeiilmis, when Joe Harrington hit you knocked out some of your sense.” fl| But no sooner said than Cynthia rfl® ized that she had struck the chord, for such a remark was an insuHl to Simon, who had long been noted for ■iger every and w’hen s fashion, ison. He ind madly " oor, swore! rd he’d, gm j wourin’tJ hen w ■ l.ffeß ■ e ••Referring to that old cuss ton again, are you? He was tile that told you the Mexican lad’s* IE Greasers. No doubt in my mild b’ufl what it’s another blamed Repqblicfcn scheme to make people think thq Mexicans are not as good as we are. I dare say they’re whiter than you are!" and he shook his fist in her face, to size it. / j “Simon,” said Cynthia, “take those eggs and go to towa. We need sotne groceries, and maybe a little fresh air , might calm yon. Yon know the doctor j said your brain should not be irritatffl.”J “I’ll attend to my brain,” retorfcfl Simon, "and also to the buyin’ of thtl groceries. I want some tobacco forpnfl thing. Anything else we need?” I "I suppose we could all live if you hatq tobacco; but if there’s any you might get some sugar and coffflM Simon then started for and Cynthia was left at home with two little boys. “Pa looks kinder dilafl idated, don’t he?” said Jimmie, as fl watched his father disappear down th® road. fl Many remarks similar to Jimmkfl were made by the people of Boonsvifl when they saw Political Slnflk isl did indeed look dilapidated; biwigufl was less erect, and his feathers Ac.ued I to be drooping. » ] "Hl. there, Simon.” soinebodflisald; I “up again, are you?” V I “Yes. sir,” said Simon. “UpaflevejM ready to defend my honor.” the fellow laughed. - ••To bad you were so iinfortntflflH “Ob. you ne-'dn't grieve abo<flfl|| a.:.': a:.y more unfortunate thß|||H a;-... TT <■: |, ;l , J,llt US a flflfl same boa;--ii.<- boat of slaveflHfl| despair.” BH| r.’t ih.T rstmid you, SimflMfl| •■We]!, yon will before many HHBB roll by. We are elected to the rb-h men for four mg|fl y.a’ we w]]; all bo '■l Wi.b-y 5;..-n:y last long.” ■■Suppose it does, though: fl||H9| would you think?” “What would I slowly rvpe.T.-d I would :i- • ' wr •' ' 1: ' S' bb. a!i ceive the people.” "Well, woi’idu't you be gladsOwmiil <IM m 1 !>•■:■■ t. regardless of thfl|||g|||| (To be continued.) flflflfl