"Bet you hundred to eighty--hundred dollars to eighty--eighty--old man's
'lected!" were Jack Heath's exclamations, as he stood rather unsteadily
in the bar-room of the Obershaw House, thumping his fist on the counter.
It was the night before election day, and of course the bar-room of the
Obershaw House, the headquarters of Mr. Heath's party, was thronged with
politicians and loungers, drinking, smoking, and discussing the chances
of the candidates for office; for we should state that the Hon. Rufus
Heath had succeeded in his efforts to obtain the nomination for the
governorship, as the numerous posters on the dead walls of Belton,
headed "CONSERVATIVE UNION NOMINATIONS," staringly announced.
Jack Heath had been for a week on what he called a "tare," and had but
just "brought up" at the hotel. He was still a little "sprung," as the
bar-tender qualified it, but had an eye to business nevertheless, as he
seemed anxious to secure bets on his father's election. "A hundred to
eighty--bet any man hundred to eighty old man's 'lected. Come, I'll make
it hundred to fifty--fifty, who'll take that?"
"I will--just for a flyer," responded a short red-whiskered man, who
kept a livery stable in the town; "I'll take it."
"Put up the ducats, Hank--put 'em up! Here, Bangs, old fel, hold stakes,
will you? All right--hundred to fifty more! Who's next man?"
"Here you are," said another individual. "Going to vote for the old man
too, but I'll take your offer for the fun o' the thing."
Jack fumbled away at his pocket-book, drawing out the bank-notes and
laying them in Bangs the landlord's hand with drunken solemnity and
slowness. He found no lack of takers, and soon stripped himself of money
to back his father's chances. Then a little contention arose about the
count, and Jack indulged in a good deal of abuse and swearing. However,
the party being in good humor, coaxed him, and vowed he was the best
fellow alive; so Jack, mollified, ordered a basket of champagne to be
opened, and "Here's to our next Governor, Rufus Heath!" was drunk with
three times three and a "tiger." Then Jack, a little more inebriated,
withdrew to play billiards, at which game he was an adept, and in spite
of his condition he made some excellent caroms, better than many sober
players could achieve; but he also missed some easy shots, and his anger
rising at that, he dashed his cue savagely at the table, ripping up the
green cloth so that Bangs had it down on the bill against him in no
time. Then Jack ordered more wine, telling Bangs to charge it to the old
man's account for "'lection spenshes," and again the company were called
upon to toast the future Governor of the "Jersey Blues," which they did
vociferously.
Now Jack, pulling out his watch, stared at it stupidly for some time,
until a dim notion coming to him that he was too tipsy to discriminate
between the hands, he requested somebody to tell him the time. "Pas'
twelve, eh? Time I was home--mus' go home early--got work to do
to-morrow morning--old man's 'lection day."
"Better stay here to-night, Mr. Heath," said the hotel-keeper, who was
familiar with Jack's habits. "We'll take good care of you. I've got a
nice room all ready and comfortable for you, and you'll be fresh and
fine for to-morrow's work."
"All right, Tommy Bangs, old fel. Let's have night-caps all round 'fore
we turns in, eh? Whiskey-skins, Bangsey. Stiff, and not too sweet.
Charge old man 'lection spenshes."
The whiskey-skins being disposed of, Mr. Bangs and his bar-tender led
Jack tenderly up the stairs, and put him away comfortably to bed.
About the time he awoke the next morning the election was in full blast.
The population were entirely given over to the business, and Belton was
emblazoned with multi-colored placards, calling upon the citizens to
"awake," to "arouse," and above all to "rally." Wagons decorated with
long muslin strips bearing the name of a prominent candidate, and some
watchword of uncertain application, such as "No monopoly,"
"Working-men's Rights," and the like, were driven about gathering
voters, who were stimulated to exercise the right of suffrage in the
right direction by the stirring notes of a fish-horn, blown by an active
partisan alongside of the driver.
The polls were surrounded by a motley crowd of fellow-citizens, who
beset the wayfarer with importunities to vote for this or that
candidate; and as each wagon drove up and deposited its load of voters
the new-comers were received with hurrahs and friendly hustlings. The
master of the Archimedes Works was conspicuous and ubiquitous,
shouldering his burly frame through the thickest crowds, jeering his
opponents, joking with his friends, and airing his wallet on the
slightest provocation. Jack Heath, owing to his exertions on the
previous evening, did not make his appearance on the scene of action
until mid-day, but his presence infused new vigor in the contest. A
crowd of henchmen were at his heels, and the bar of the Obershaw House
dispensed strong waters and tobacco, galore and gratuitous, to all the
supporters of the "Heath ticket" who chose to partake. And as many so
chose, the bar-tender and his assistants had their hands full, you may
depend, for the thirst of people who appease it at another's expense is
sufficient to appall the stoutest stomach.
As the day waned, the fellow-citizens merry with potations deep
disported themselves with antics gay. Individuals were bonneted;
ballots, those executors of the freeman's will, were scattered to the
winds; and the ticket-distributors who were unlucky enough to be caught
in their boxes found themselves suddenly in a topsy-turvy position,
heels in the air, and kicking wildly to extricate themselves, to the
intense enjoyment of the hilarious and playful electors. At sunset the
polls closed, and the citizens who had rallied so nobly repaired to
their homes, with the exception of some zealous politicians who remained
to learn the result of the voting. The bar-rooms were still tumultuous
with the wrangling of excited partisans, and Jack Heath lorded it at the
Obershaw House, but he soon succumbed to the fatigues of the day, and
was kindly put to bed by considerate Mr. Bangs at an early hour.
* * * * *
The Hon. Rufus Heath remained at home during the eventful day. He had no
doubt as to the result of the election, and felt certain that he would
carry it. Candidates always feel so. The amazing self-conceit that
induces every ticket-holder in a lottery to expect a prize would permit
no other supposition than one of success. Still, being a cautious man,
he was anxious to have his belief corroborated. Meanwhile so confident
was he of the issue, that he employed himself in preparing a draught of
his inaugural address, and revolving in his mind a proper disposition of
his affairs preparatory to a removal of his home to the capital of the
State. He anticipated, too, no little gratification in teaching his
opponent a lesson, for he deemed it no less than a piece of impertinence
that an obscure village lawyer, who had acquired some cheap fame by
vulgar appeals as a stump speaker, should presume to cross swords with
him in a contest for position. At length night came, and towards ten
o'clock a messenger brought various returns that had been announced,
almost all indicating majorities in his favor. He went to bed, but found
it difficult to court slumber with such a stake still weighing in the
balance. The next morning he became rather uneasy as the minutes passed
and no friend came to congratulate him on the result. Mumbie, he
certainly expected would have been on hand betimes. The newspaper, too,
did not arrive at the usual hour, delayed probably to give the latest
results of the canvassing. At length it came, and he saw at a glance
from the returns of certain decisive counties that he was defeated.
The editor endeavored to depreciate the importance of these indications
by stating that the final result was still in doubt; that later news
might alter the complexion of things, etc. But Mr. Heath was not to be
deluded by such assertions, and was convinced that he and his party had
lost. As the first check in a career of uninterrupted prosperity, it
proved a bitter disappointment; so bitter, that he lost his temper--an
unusual occurrence for him--swore at James for some trivial offence,
snarled at Mrs. Applegate, and snubbed poor Mumbie, who had come rather
blunderingly to sympathize with him. To one unaccustomed to obstacles
and reverses they come with double severity, and Mr. Heath took his
defeat deeply to heart. Friends, to be sure, proffered condolences,
advising him to try again; that in the next attempt he would certainly
be successful, etc., etc.; but a sense of discouragement had taken
possession of him which no sympathy or counsel could remove. Probably
the bitterest pill to swallow was the discovery that his own county and
town had given a large majority against him. He was much surprised at
this, being utterly unconscious of his personal unpopularity. Small
comfort he got too from George Gildersleeve, who never spared a beaten
adversary, and gripping the patrician's hand when he met him a few days
after, bade him be of good cheer in such words as these: "Sorry for you,
Heath, but it couldn't be helped. I could have told you how it would be.
Too much of the old Democratic leaven about here. This county cooked
your mutton, and I carry it in my breeches pocket. Liked to have helped
you--you're an old friend; but you can't expect us to desert our
life-long principles, scratch our ticket, and go for outsiders when the
woolly-heads are getting so rampant. There is no safety in these times
but sticking to the old ship. But I wouldn't be down in the mouth about
it. If you'll only come round to our side of the house, I'll engage to
send a good-looking man of about your size to Trenton or Washington. You
ought to be there; you've got the brains, and have forgotten more than
half those fellers ever knew; but you ain't the right stripe, that's the
trouble, and you're on the wrong track."
Mr. Heath endeavored to take this advice good-humoredly, and attempted
a smile at the blunt sallies; but the smile was a forced one, or a
"yellow laugh," as the French express it.