rom Dunchester, where he had been frequenting various tramps' lodgings,
having mixed with a number of other vagrants, who left the house before
the character of his sickness was discovered, and who cannot now be
traced. The unfortunate man was about forty years of age, of medium
height, and red-haired."

The same paper had an editorial note upon this piece of news, at the end
of which it remarked, as became a party and an anti-vaccination organ:
"The terror of this 'filth disease,' which in our fathers' time amounted
almost to insanity, no longer afflicts us, who know both that its
effects were exaggerated and how to deal with it by isolation without
recourse to the so-called vaccine remedies, which are now rejected by a
large proportion of the population of these islands. Still, as we have
ascertained by inquiry that this unfortunate man did undoubtedly spend
several days and nights wandering about our city when in an infectious
condition, it will be as well that the authorities should be on the
alert. We do not want that hoary veteran--the smallpox scare--to rear
its head again in Dunchester, least of all just now, when, in view of
the imminent election, the accustomed use would be made of it by our
prejudiced and unscrupulous political opponents."

"No," I said to myself as I put the paper down, "certainly we do not
want a smallpox scare just now, and still less do we want the smallpox."
Then I thought of that unfortunate red-headed wretch, crazy with the
torment of his disease, and of his hideous laughter, as he hunted and
caught the children who made a mock of him--the poor children, scarcely
one of whom was vaccinated.

A week later I opened my political campaign with a large public meeting
in the Agricultural Hall. Almost up to the nomination day no candidate
was forthcoming on the other side, and I thought that, for the fourth
time, I should be returned unopposed. Of a sudden, however, a name was
announced, and it proved to be none other than that of my rival of many
years ago--Sir Thomas Colford--now like myself growing grey-headed, but
still vigorous in mind and body, and as much respected as ever by the
wealthier and more educated classes of our community. His appearance
in the field put a new complexion on matters; it meant, indeed, that
instead of the easy and comfortable walk over which I had anticipated, I
must fight hard for my political existence.

In the course of my speech, which was very well rece