Aunt Jane's Nieces at Work

He conveyed, nevertheless, the impression that he was more prosperous

than refined, and the farmers and townsmen were as quick to recognize

this as was Mr. Watson himself.

Moreover, the Honorable Erastus was dubbed "close-fisted" by his

neighbors. He never spent a penny on anyone but himself, and being

unscrupulous in politics he was naturally unscrupulous in smaller things

of a business nature. But since he had risen from a stable-boy to his

present affluent position he had never been unwise or careless enough to

be caught in any crooked action; and while his acquaintances had an

indefinite fear of dealing with him they could not accuse him openly.

It seems strange that such a man should have been chosen to represent a

wealthy and important district in the State Legislature, but politics

can show many a similar case. In the first place, Mr. Hopkins was

aggressive, and knew political methods thoroughly. He had usurped the

position of Democratic leader in his community and the others were

afraid to antagonize him openly. When he was nominated for

Representative he managed to dictate, by shrewd methods, the nomination

of Thompson, the store-keeper, on the Republican ticket. Thompson owed

Hopkins a large sum of money and Hopkins held a mortgage on the stock.

Therefore Thompson dared not make a fight, and although the Republican

vote was normally the largest in the district, Hopkins had managed to

win enough of them to his side to win.

He had been a little anxious about his renomination, because he knew

that he had not represented his district very satisfactorily; but when

Kenneth Forbes received the nomination on the Republican ticket he felt

that "all was over but the shouting" and that he would "win in a walk."

Had it been an issue between the personality of the two men, Hopkins

would have had little chance of success; but young Forbes had already

raised another issue by his anti-sign speech at the school-house, and

Hopkins intended to force that issue and so defeat Kenneth because of

the ridicule the latter's position had already brought upon him.