Aunt Jane's Nieces at Work

Download in format

"But Kenneth's

a bright lad and a big gun in his county. He'll win, hands down."

Patsy shook her head.

"He's afraid not," she said, "and it's worrying him to death. He doesn't

like to be beaten, and that's what's troubling him."

Uncle John pushed back his chair.

"Poor boy!" he said. "What ever induced him to attempt such a thing?"

"He wanted to defeat a bad man who now represents Kenneth's district,"

explained Patsy, whose wise little head was full of her friend's

difficulties; "and--"

"And the bad man objects to the idea and won't be defeated," added the

Major. "It's a way these bad men have."

Uncle John was looking very serious indeed, and Patsy regarded him

gratefully. Her father never would be serious where Kenneth was

concerned. Perhaps in his heart the grizzled old Major was a bit jealous

of the boy.

"I think," said the girl, "that Mr. Watson got Ken into politics, for he

surely wouldn't have undertaken such a thing himself. And, now he's in,

he finds he's doomed to defeat; and it's breaking his heart, Uncle

John."

The little man nodded silently. His chubby face was for once destitute

of a smile. That meant a good deal with Uncle John, and Patsy knew she

had interested him in Kenneth's troubles.

"Once," said the Major, from behind the morning paper, "I was in

politics, meself. I ran for coroner an' got two whole votes--me own an'

the undertaker's. It's because the public's so indiscriminating that

I've not run for anything since--except th' street-car."

"But it's a big game," said Uncle John, standing at the window with his

hands deep in his pockets; "and an important game. Every good American

should take an interest in politics; and Kenneth, especially, who has

such large landed interests, ought to direct the political affairs of

his district."

"I'm much interested in politics, too, Uncle," declared the girl. "If I

were a man I'd--I'd--be President!"

"An' I'd vote fer ye twenty times a day, mavourneen!" cried the Major.

"But luckily ye'll be no president--unless it's of a woman's club.

Page:: 1; 2; 3; 4; 5; 6; 7; 8; 9; 10; 11; 12; 13; 14; 15; 16; 17; 18; 19; 20; 21; 22; 23; 24; 25; 26; 27; 28; 29; 30; 31; 32; 33; 34; 35; 36; 37; 38; 39; 40; 41; 42; 43; 44; 45; 46; 47; 48; 49; 50; 51; 52; 53; 54; 55; 56; 57; 58; 59; 60; 61; 62; 63; 64; 65; 66; 67; 68; 69; 70; 71; 72; 73; 74; 75; 76; 77; 78; 79; 80; 81; 82; 83; 84; 85; 86; 87; 88; 89; 90; 91; 92; 93; 94; 95; 96; 97; 98; 99; 100; 101; 102; 103; 104; 105; 106; 107; 108; 109; 110; 111; 112; 113; 114; 115; 116; 117; 118; 119; 120; 121; 122; 123; 124; 125; 126; 127; 128; 129