Eben, puzzled and dismayed, ran his hand through his hair.
“Wahn't callatin' to—but I kin—I kin.”
“D-Democrat—hain't ye—D-Democrat?”
“I kin be,” said Eben. Then he looked at Jethro and added in a startled voice, “Don't know but what I be—Yes, I guess I be.”
“H-heerd the ticket?”
Yes, Eben had heard the ticket. What man had not. Some one has been most industrious, and most disinterested, in distributing that ticket.
“Hain't a mite of hurry about the interest right now—right now,” said Jethro. “M-may be along the third week in March—may be—c-can t tell.”
And Jethro clucked to his horse, and drove away. Eben Williams went back into his house and sat down with his head in his hands. In about two hours, when his wife called him to fetch water, he set down the pail on the snow and stared across the next ridge at the eastern horizon, whitening after the sunset.
The third week in March was the week after town meeting!
“M-may be—c-can't tell,” repeated Eben to himself, unconsciously imitating Jethro's stutter. “Godfrey, I'll hev to git that ticket straight from Amos.”