Read Online Free Book

Andrew the Glad

Page 80

"Jeff," she exclaimed, "that is a perfectly splendid idea! You must do

it, for offering them fun will be no bribery like whisky and money--it

will do them _good_." Sometimes it is just as well that a woman be not

too well versed in the science logical.

"Yes'm, and I believe it will work--ef we jest had a barbecue to put down

in the other corner opposite the dancing I know it would draw 'em, but

ice-cream will be about all we can git fer the subscription money, and

cold as it is ice-cream won't be no drawing card."

And there was no doubt that Jeff unfolded his plan to Caroline Darrah

from pure love of sympathy and excitement and for no ulterior purpose,

although it served to further his schemes as well as if he had been of a

most wily turn of mind.

"Jeff," exclaimed Caroline Darrah excitedly, "how much would it take to

have a barbecue and ice-cream and everything good to go with it and a big

band of music and fireworks and--"

"Golly, Miss Ca'line, they will be most five hundred of 'em and the

'scription ain't but a little over fifty dollars. I'm counting on the

dancing and the gitting-there ter draw 'em."

"We can't risk it," said Caroline. "I will give you two hundred and fifty

dollars and you can let it be known that no such celebration ever was as

the one his colored friends are going to give in honor of the election of

Judge David Kildare--his united colored friends, Jeff, high and low."

"Miss Ca'line, I'm a-skeered to take it! Mister David, he's jest

naterly--"

"Mr. David need never know about it. It is a subscription and you have

collected it--advertise that fact. I'm one of his friends and I can

subscribe even if I am white. You must take it, and get to work about it.

Only four more days, remember, and we all must work for Mr. David; and

too, Jeff, for those poor ignorant people who would commit the crime of

letting themselves sell their votes." There was real concern for the

endangered souls of the coons in Caroline's voice, and Jeff was duly

impressed.

They both fell to work on the packing of the basket as Temple's voice was

heard in the distance, for they knew she would express herself in no

uncertain terms if she found the amount of work done unsatisfactory.

But when he departed, Jeff carried in his pocket a slip of paper about

which it nearly scared him to death to think, and one of the money-bags

of the late Peters Brown was eased by the extraction of a quarter

thousand. Caroline was happy from a clear conscience and a virtuous

feeling of having saved a crisis for a dependent and ignorant people.

Which goes to show that a woman can put her finger into a political pie

and draw it out without even a stain, while to touch that same confection

ever so lightly would dye a man's hand blood red.

PrevPage ListNext