The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1886-11-13

For many years he had held his trust with
consciou, rcctitudc, and slight depreciation
of other forms of merit and for as many
years had been as regularly returned to his
, seat by his constituency with equally con-
scious rectitude in themselves and an equal
skepticism regarding others Removed 10y
hi, nature beyond the reach of certain tenn
tations and by circumstances beyond even
, the knowledge of others, his social and polici-
, cal integrity was spot!eSs. An orator and
practical debater, his refined tastes kept him
, from personality, and the public recognition
| Of the complete utisclii,hneSs OF his motives
! and the magnitude of his dogmas protected
him from scurrility, His principles had
never been appealed to by bride; he had
rarely been approached by an emotion.
A man Of polished taste i'll art and litera-
turc, and possessing the means to crafty IL,
his luxurious home was flied with treasures
he had himself collected and fu thcr enhanced
by the stamp of his appreciation. His library
had not only the elegance Of adornment that
his wealth could bring and his taste approve,
but a certain refined negligence Of habitual
use and the easy disorder OF the artists work
shop. All this was quickly noted by II young
girl who stood on its threshold at the close of
a dull January day.
The card that had been brought to the SEN
ator bore the name of Carmen de HarO;"
and modcstly in the right hand corner, in al
most microscopic script the further dcscrip-
ton of herself ~ Artist Perhaps the pic
tur,,squenes, OF the name and its historic sug
geston caught the scholars taste, for when
to his request, through his servant, that she
would h, kind enough to state her business,
She replied as frankly that her business was
personal to himself, he directed that she should
/ be- admitted Then ntrenChng himself be
hind his library table, overlooking a bastion
of books and glac!s of pamphlets and papers,
and throwing into his forehead and eyes an
expression OF utter disqualification for any
| thing but the business before him, he calmly
| awaited the intruder.
| She came and for AN instant stood, heSitat
| ingly, framing herself MS n picture in the door.
Mis-. HopkIn,on was :iGht--she had 'no style"
unless an original and half foreign quaintneSs
| could toe called So There was desperate at
tempt visible to combine an American shawl
! with the habits of n mantlla, and il was al
ways slipping from one shoulder, that was SO
supple and NiyactouS ps TO bctray the deticicn-
cics Of an education IN stays. There was
cluster of black Curls around her low fore
head, fitting her so closely as to seem to he
part Of the scalSkiu cap she wore. Once from
the force OF habit, she attempted to put her
shawl over her head and talk through the
folds gathered under her chin, but an aston
shed look from tho senator checked her.
Nevertheless he felt relieved, and, rising, mo-
toned her to a chair with heartneSS he
would have scarcely shown TO Partisan toll
leta And when, with two or three quick,
long steps she reached his side and showed a
frank, innocent but strong and determined
little face. feminine only III its flash of eye
and beauty of lip and chin curves, he put
down the pamphlet he had taken up some
what ostentatiously and gently begged to
know her business.
l think have once before spoken Of her
voiCe--au organ more often cultivated by my
fair countrywomen for singing than for
Speaking, which. considering that much Of
our practical relations with the sex
are carried on without the aid Of
all opera score, seems a mistaken no
ton II theiIS--and of it, sweetness,
gentle intiexion, and musical emphasis. She
had the advantage Of having beel trained In
musical language, and came of race with
whom catarrhs and sore throats were rare.
80 that in a fe" brief phrases SHE sang the
senator into acquesenc~ IT, sh. impaired
th. plain lihrett" Of her business namely. a.
'ir,iIV t. -, some Of hi. rae cu.rasinsa"