294 MARK' TWAIN'S SKETCHES. 



educated, refined, spoke several languages fluently — a perfect gentleman — he was 

 a perfect gentleman, and singularly juicy. For supper we had that Oregon patri- 

 arch, and he was a fraud, there is no question about it — old, scraggy, tough, nobody 

 can picture the reality. I finally said, gentlemen, you can do as you like, but / 

 will wait; for another election. And Grimes, of Illinois, said, 'Gentlemen, / will 

 wait also. When you elect a man that has something to recommend him, I shall be 

 glad to join you again.' It soon became evident that there was general dissatisfac- 

 tion with Davis, of Oregon, and so, to preserve the good-will that had prevailed so 

 pleasantly since we had had Harris, an election was called, and the result of it was 

 that Baker, of Georgia, was chosen. He was splendid ! Well, well — after that we 

 had Doolittle and Hawkins, and McElroy (there was some complaint about McEl- 

 roy, because he was uncommonly short and thin), and Penrod, and two Smiths, and 

 Bailey (Bailey had a wooden leg, which was clear loss, but he was otherwise good), 

 and an Indian boy, and an organ grinder, and a gentleman by the name of Buck- 

 minster — a poor stick of a vagabond that wasn't any good for company and no 

 account for breakfast. We were glad we got him elected before relief came." 



" And so the blessed relief did come at last .'" 



" Yes, it came one bright, sunny morning, just after election. John Murphy was 

 the choice, and there never was a better, I am willing to testify ; but John Murphy 

 came home with us, in the train that came to succor us, and lived to marry the 

 widow Harris " 



" Relict of " 



" Relict of our first choice. He married her, and is happy and respected and 

 prosperous yet. Ah, it was like a novel, sir — it was like a romance. This is my 

 stopping-place, sir ; I must bid you good-by. Any time that you can make it con- 

 venient to tarry a day or two with me, I shall be glad to have you. I like you, sir ; 

 I have conceived an affection for you. I could like you as well as I liked Harris 

 himself, sir. Good day, sir, and a pleasant journey." 



He was gone. I never felt so stunned, so distressed, so bewildered in my life. 

 But in my soul I was glad he was gone. With all his gentleness of manner and his 

 soft voice, I shuddered whenever he turned his hungry eye upon me ; and when I 

 heard that I had achieved his perilous affection, and that I stood almost with the 

 late Harris in his esteem, my heart fairly stood still ! 



