The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1873-03-04


"Well does it require sham husband,
q handsome carriage, and all this sort of
thing to set up a lobby agent ?'
Certainly. Without husband would
not be respectable /; without carriage and
all this evidence of wealth could not be
attractive. 1t pays, however. could re-
tire now on a hundred thousand. But
am horribly ambitious want million
only think Of it, ! must have a million.
have sold myself for money and want
big price, ,.,., ,...,.l na.H
"And do none Of the honorable repre-
septatives know who you are ?"
"Why, you goose l thought you knew
better than that. Why, the ring always
reaches into the House and Senate, and
some of our directors are the most respect
able men in Congress. There is one, the
most benevolent, pious, philanthropic in
dividual in the world. He is so intensely
pious that he never speaks to me never
theless he pays me heavily. There is an
other most respectable gentleman, who
bows to me profoundly in the gallery and
on the avenue, and presents me to his fam
lily with lofty air, who would look at me
with intense astonishment if l were to
thank them for my clothes, carriages and
servants. Yet he contributes"
"Why, this is so damnable can scarce
ly credit"
Yes, it is very wicked, and I'd rather
you wouldn't believe it, But after the
schooling you gave me in deceiving, you
ought not to wonder"
You mean that for hit. You forget
that that service was in behalf of your be-
loved country, and this el asir -
But do you mean to say that men in
high position connive at this wickedness ?"
"Look around you ; see the enormous
fortunes realized by officials, and you will
see that mine is not the only carriage roll
ling about Washington that is fraud, and
l am but among the host Of the wicked.
You are too much man of the world Col
to be astonished at finding good deal Of
sanctimonious responsibility covering ras-
cality. 1t is the cheapest cloak to get and
the easiest to wear"
"And how do you influence these So
lons?'
! "Sometimes one way, sometimes anoth-
er; but always in being very quiet and ex-
elusive. The men bought oheaply are not
worth buying. My business is among the
higher sort, that will not stoop to common
carrion, and carry with them great moral
character that not only covers themselves
but all the little rogues that vote with
them.'' r..'Y
! "And do you often fail?' f
Sometimes; not often, for my mission
is to capture the leaders. The lesser lights
are left to coarser means. Some surrender
to delicious little suppers, others to per-
suasion, others again to love. There is
General --, proud, sensitive and sus-
picious, he comes to me with all his griefs
and listen to them. You'd be astonished
to know how little the tongue aud the ear
have to do with this business Then there is
Mr.. --, who began life with homely,
unrefined wife, and is now ashamed Of her.
Poor man he is really in love with me.
"And will all the money you get pay for
the degradation you suffer in return? You
are woman of fine intellect, an intellect
that approaches genius, You could COM
mand admiration, respect, wealth, by de-
voting your gifts to an honorable pursuit"
Her face flushed for a moment, and then
starting to her feet and pacing the floor in
some excitement, she exclaimed
~ learned my power when it was too
late. But you are the last man to upbraid
me. Do you know when / discovered my
powers as an actress? will tell you. I'm
der your tuition while in Baltimore. |
came to you starving ana you sent me into
private families to worm out their secrets
and betray their Intentions"
"There you go again. That was the
service Of your country, and the people
possessed Of these secrets were our enc
mics"
"What was the difference, so far as my
character went But do not regret---I
have nothing to regret. have no friends,
no relatives, no country. never knew a
man who did not either insult me or cheat
me; never knewa man who had not astony
heart and claws like a cat. hate them all.
They would hunt me down, and so hunt
them down when can"
"But you have made money enough,
why not leave this horrible business, and
from this ont try and possess your soul in