The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1891-04-02

- NNDA lEsI daughter OF great
~ kit3 &ik4I man"
80 91ll ~ BE sure and catch a
b.E9 - - = Lord"
f--rTttI -1asl "And write when 1t
>-S ->laL7z-2s happens"
!. d. ]. |. !. i. Il. !. /.
E(G>>zSitr~ Z@7El This was but a frag-
F~N<H.#&iM lNl meut OF the merry chat
NJ El " l.Nl ter that was carried on
49, yt5~El Nb0ltAl about handsome Edith
HF St n ~ n Mclean while she was
81 ~ g f1--Se,E. saying coed 10y 10 her
M9 - intimate girl friends.
~ Judge Mclean, tho
richest and most nlu-
ential man in his district. had been chosen 10
represent in Congress that particular section Of
a certain Western State, aud now his wife and
two daughters were setting out 60 join him at
the Capital in time for the gay Winter season.
Just here the East bound train cut short the
pood-bvs, and the belle aud beauty of the Nc
Lane family was on her way to Washington,
dreaming of new fields 10 conquer,
"lohn and ] will go ahead and secure a
house" the Judge bad said 10 las wife lmme-
diately after his election.
John 3" repeated the lady, in surprise; ;
"what do you want Of himi"
q" For my Secretary, or clerk, or whatever
Congressman's confidential man is called. j
hate asking him TO Office, Just as he rs ready to
settle down TO practice; but really this is going
20 be new business 10 INC, and he has been nay
righ,-hand SO long that i am unwilling TO trust
q strguRer"
Mrs. Mclean frowned. For several years
this mme John had been q special dread-a
pcrniess lad who had, rs she expressed IT,
WOrmed his way into the Judges confidence
aud had risen from Office boy TO a prospective
partner John indeed aud she had looked
forward 10 this very election ms q means OF
getting rid OF him. The ambitious and worldly
l-t,,rr n hpur o.
his election her husband had said to the young
man, in the alt-fathcrly, ha.i-au.horitatiye
tone be M ways employed 20 his prOtege:
john, I'm going to need you. Can you
not come wiJh me at least for time? Casey
will look after the business. I'll make mp any
financial loss il may be. What do you sayl"
There were good aud sufficient reasons why
John Henderson was made exceedingly happy
by this request. The sacrifice referred 10 would
all have been in remaining at home.
do Won think ID right continued Mrs Nc
Lean, sharply, =" 10 take the young man from
the Officer"
Yes; the experience in Washington Will do
him good, !" replied the Judge.
But you 40 not intend bringing him to the
house,"
Yes. certainly; why not2" aud the gentle
man raised his eyebrows. +" am going 10 hire
O house large enough 10 accommodate my pri-
VHte secretary
Yes; bat, Andrew, think Of the girls John
Henderson is no longer a lad. am annoyed
with this growing familiarity. lie does not
know his place"
What Is his place."
The question was abruptly and sternly put.
As TO that" answered the lady there
may be difference OF opinion, but ] do not
think il iB as a member OF our family. We
have two daughters, whose future should be
our first consideration"
Anna ] think we have had enough Of this.
You seem to forget that ] was a poor boy, and
that ] made my money not nearly 80 much by
merit aud brain as by an unlocked for rise IN
real estate. ] am aware oil your ambition and
love Of position and money, but do not in
teud that ID shall either interfere with my best
interests or deprive John Henderson Of my
confidence aud friendship"
This closed the discussion In favor OF the
young man, and WHOM the young ladies learned
that he was % accompany them the fair Edith
merely tossed her pretty head, but LOttie,
blUshing. went hastily out 81 the room.
Chsper0ucd by her clever aud ambitious
mother, Edith Mclean made an impression even
upon the homogeneous elements Of official
society In the Capital. She was not only
beautiful and vyacIous, but witty aud agree
able, and dressed, or was gowEcd," as the So
ciety editor now Inns it, In superb fashion.
Presently. after the manner 0f much-adm red
admirers with q royal assumption Of power.
Mrs hcLoau had great hopes for Edith. Her
father Was very proud Of her. Little LOitIe,
in Washington as az home, was content 10 be
the lesser ligHt in the Mclean C0uslel lat iOn.
She WAS, usual, quite oyershadowed by Der
QuHeHiy sister and se.l-assertlVe mother.
There was one silent but impatient observer
Of Loith's social career one who had been
Jed 10 boiieyc Ae had certain rights, aud this
was J0Hu Henderson, tIc clerk 10 the million.
HiTe Representative. Since be had served hIG
apprenticeship as messenger IN her fathers
Office John Henderson had been a wOlsh per OF
she elder sister, Whale she, after The manner q
born ccguct Asa eyaded any direct acEn0wl-
edEmeul ~ promise % Der gWa part but Lad
held BIN IH bondage aud taClsly agclp tcd hIl
love al these years
how he saw. just as his own future seemed
assured, the eud Gi LIs dream. The great city
itself became with hts money, power, titles
RaiEiy ana admiration, huge rival that con.
tended for the place he had hoped TO fll
ltNas not, however until the "u0blcman," the
title o. hesh aud blood, appeared that the III
acknowledged lover experienced 4 sense o
despair.
Count De Carbon was not an attache Of tht
French legation but ~ The relative and friend
Of ono % lAcsc distinguished foreigners &C
qu.Ied eutrcu 10 the best society. Nor was Their,
any doubt rs 70 Tic fcuulueHess Of ais title o.
Tue importance 81 Hls family. Ills cTclcutlali
had been prupaily delivered and passed upon
By titlc-lOyiug but suspicious American man
mss.
The Count was the typical Trenclman-i
llt,le, thin why dark-skiHuea, black bIOEc,
maH with bcaty black eyes and lclccly-twlrc,
mustachc lis manners were what our grand
fathers would have Iikeuod TO a dancing
MASTERS. lle bowed on all possible occasions
made apologies Boo sna"lu and out, aud smiles
continually without pIyyOc4auu. But, then
bis teeth were very white and sharp au,
pointed
The Count Dc CARTON wa evidently yer.
much taken with Edith % night" Mrs Nc
Lean bad whispered 10 her Au band, as the
entered iIcir carriage after White House D,
certL0n.
Nonsense" laughed the Honorable Al
drew hnt hC looked pleased nevertheless, on
the next morning 60 breakfast De .ated the col
guest as described by Mr Mclean.
Edith, Aaii auuOyrG, bal pleased denied
81 course, l0yhIug across al lrl fathers cleI.
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