The record-union., 1892-11-12

on his arrival found no one apparently at
nome; even the cook was absent from
his accustomed post. So Clarence at
tended 10 his horse and then went in the
house. As he walked through the dim
lng-room he heard groans as Of some one
IN pain. He listened. Yes. he heard it
AGAIN. Following the sound, he found
himself at a half-open door of small
room. Entering it he saw Ted's aunt.
She had slipped and sprained her ankle
so badly she could not reach the sofa, but
lay on the floor groaning in misery. Be
side her lay gray wig and dark blue
glasses, and the aunt was revealed as a
pretty young woman with long blonde
hair and the browncst of eyes. Clarence
stopped iii amazement and said help
lessly, why, oh, II beg your PARDON"
She Dlushed deep crimson, then turned
white ana tainted, leaving Clarence in
helpless bewllderment as to what to do.
lie brought water and poured it over her,
rubbed her hands and finally was re-
lleVed to find she was regalning con-
SclouSneSS, and also a renewal of the pain.
Her loot was swelling 50 badly the shoe
mad 10 be cut OF Clarence removed it
and brought more cold water and bathed
1t and bandaged it with table napkins
from the dining-table; then she felt easier,
and seeing in Clarence's eyes a grave
questioning look as to the purpose of her
masquerading as an old lady she made
her confession, and Clarence received it
as gravely as any Judge on the Supreme
bench, yet with the bearing OF the lawyer
rosS-questioning a witness at the bar.
After first promising on his honor never
to divulge, even to Ted, that he knew it,
II am not Ted's aunt" she said, in a
pathetic tone, but ! am his only sister,
and just returned from Oregon, where l
had been teaching. l wanted 10 see Ted
so much, and Of course | could not come
70 /, 4 -,
Cne or was so old and homely that no one
would look at me twice-at least Ted
wrote me all that. And then l suggested
this old disguise, and Ted warned me some
one would find me out, and you have"
she added ruefully, while her brown eyes
filled wiIh tears.
Pm nobody, and I will never tell"
said Clarence earnestly, much impressed
with the tear-flled brown eyes looking
at him beseechingly. IF l had not heard
you groaning l would never have known
it, but l am glad l could assist you.
Are you sure your ankle feels easier ?''
"Yes, thank you," she said brightly.
"And l SO do hope you will win"
with your good wishes for me Pm
certain to-" said Clarence. as he retreated,
hearing the men returning, Alice hastily
adjusting her wig and and glasses and
calling to her brother, who came hastily
in, to find his aunt needed medical aid
for her ankle.
Clarence returned to his valley home
haunted by pair of brown eyes. The
little god of love is a sad Iaeddler. Even
in politics he must bear hand. And
love and politics mixed is a combination
to be avoided. Cupid's motto on his
coat-Of-arms is, 81 turn the world upside
down." And the motto is not obsolete,
either. Prince and peasant, President
and politician, feel it and know the truth
of the motto.
Elections were over. Clarence was
lied him with his duties. He enjoyed
life in its many brilliant phases at the
capital and saw lobbying and love-mak-
ing combined with law-making.
When summer came Clarence had q
most 1raternal desire to visit his sister at
Harrison Hill, with a hope of again see
ing Ted's sister. The night he arrived he
found Mrs. Montague ready to attend a
school meeting. The Office of School Su-
perintendent for the county was vacant
and to Clarence's intense astonishment
Alice Lamson was the candidate for nomi :
nation. The mountain people were all in
favor of her, and the meeting was to send
delegates to the valley.
Despite all that Clarence had said in
his speech in favor OF women holding
office he was unreaSonably provoked at
this young lady in particular even want
ing it, and spoke in warm terms to his
sister about the unsuitability of woman
for it.
Struggling her shoulders, Mrs. Mon
tague replied: For heavens sake, if you
have a spark of love for me don't air your
prejudices up here if she is well out of
the way. Who knows Ted NAV be al
lowed to marry and be happy?"
'Oh, is that the way the wind bIows?"
said Clarence. rs it not rather crowd
ing the mourners, Sis, TO ask me to help
win her position that Will make her in
DEPENDENT of matrimony and myself?
That is, suppose 1 wanted to marry her?"
You, you marry her?" gasped his sis
ter. How, when, where, may [ ask, Gid
you see her? She has never been here
before"
mo, yes, that is-oh, was only work
ing out a progressive argument" stam-
mered Clarence. 'Suppose-suppose 1
should meet her, be introduced, learn to
love her, ask her to marry me, and so
FORTH" he concluded lamely.
''Ah,' said Mrs. Montague dryly, "you
certainly are talking at long range, but I
wish you would do all these things and
then Ted and | could follow suit.0
Very WELL" agreed Clarence cordi-
ally, "here's my hand on it.' And the
mutual hand-claspthat followed showed
both parties very much in earnest.
On the evening of this meeting Ted's
sister was i'll valley town, sitting in her
room alone, pondering over her prospects.
1t had just occurred to her that Senator
Clarence Stedman was the only one who
knew of her escapade of passing for an
old aunt. If any of those mountain peo-
pie were to know it it would be carried
on the wings OF the wind far and near.
and garbled 10 such an extent as to max o
it criminal act on her part, instead of
the gIrlish freak it was, emanating from
a fc No ho1. l,,-Ot
Well she decided to call on the Senator
and ask him as special favor not to
mention it. She saw his arrival at home
from his trip, and the next day she found
herself with fast-beaJing heart at his
office door. He colored with pleasure, as
he opened the door on seeing Ted's sister
rather embarrassed at his cordial greet
ing. She took the proffered seat and at
once stated her errand. Mr.. Stedman."
she said, i'll her sweet, hesitating way, II
have been asked to place myself in nom
ination for County School Superintend-
ent, and If nominated | want to ask YOU
please not to mention that exceedingly
silly episode of mine in the mountains,
when visiting my brother; people might
put wrong construction on it, and, it
would be very disagreeable for me. Will
you give me your promise 2" she asked
appealingly.
Clarence avoided direct reply by say
ing in tone of intense surprise: $50 you
are to run for Office. Well. if I was so
happy as to count myself one of your
friends, should certainly try to per-
suade you not to, by all means"
81 take my chances, as you did" said
she, proudly. You said yourself you
would, if in your power, allow women
not only franchise but an office if they
were capable"
Yes, yes; believe l did," said Clar-
ence. "Still l think that sort of thing
would do better for ladies who have no
chances to marry, for instance"