The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-08-25
DELILAH UP TO DATE.
From the London Truth.

oA Adctr am one, said Mrs. Huntington,
raising her eyes TO her neighbor's face.
They were very pretty eyes. large and
soft. and clear and blue, and the neigh
Dor aforesaid was greatly impressed by
their eloquent gaze. He was a good youne
man Of virtuous habits and spotless repu-
tation. as beftted the conservative mem
Der for Ditchwater, but he had his small
weaknesses for all that.
A delightful sense OF bien-etre stole over
him, and he looked as. indeed. he felt
| thoroughly well satisfied not only with
himself-he was always that-but also
also with things In general: and he was
not always that. The dinner left nothing
to be desired. and il had fallen to his lot
to take in the prettiest woman In the
room. He was a politician. but he was
also man, and he felt that life was worth
living.
Il am political Philistine," Mrs. Hunt
ingdon explained presently-"that is what
l mean"
"Ehr' said Mr. Beaumont. absently.
while his mind lowered in the balance be-
tween two peculiarly seductive entrees.
| And what may political Philstine be?
Not new phase of the New Woman. is
it?"
Mrs. Huntington made little moue.
Il suppose" he said. you call yourself
political Philistine because you're a rad
ical, while your husband and all his fam
| lily are conservatives"
For a moment Mrs Huntingdon con-
templated the elaborate table decorations
in thoughtful silence. Then she turned to
him again.
by the by" she observed casually, my
brother has made up his mind to contest
the Ditchwater election with you this time
but l suppose you have heard
heard this morning. ! was-er-surpTised.
Mrs. Huntingdon's eyes wandered back
TO the flowers. Yes, l dare say He has
been advised and pressed to do Il, but OF
course II is only waste of time. He hasn't
chance against you-not a ghost OF a
chance. He can't have"
Well" Mr.. Beaumont returned in the
same slow way, "of course 1 shouldn't
have ventured to say such a thing to you,
but as you have said 1t / suppose / may
venture to agree with you. 1t may be good
party policy to contest the election-I don't
say II isn't-but It is, as you say waste
OF time. Modern radicalism has taken no
root at Ditchwater. Nearly all the people
are tories born and bred, and the local in
fluenee is tremendously strong In my
humble opinion the seat is--to use a COM
mon expression-as safe as a house."
He smiled confidently. and his tone and
manner aroused in Mrs. Huntington a
consuming desire to take him down a peg
or two.
You mean" she said, thoughtfully.
that the people are driven to the DOLL
like so many sheep, and vote as they are
told to vote. You mean that they would
vote blindly for the conservative candi-
date whoever he might be, and under any
circumstances whatever. IL they were told
to. / see."
Mr.. Beaumont stinened percepubly.
txnnrrr he cot fH.e fa 10,
members of your party always talk about
ours, but it's sheer nonsense all the same.
You assume that our voters have no free
viii or independence. but / can assure
you that they have both"
only they are not allowed to exercise
them Mrs. Huntington suggested rs
that it?"
Mr. Beaumont Redeemed angrily.
That is not 1t at ALL" he returned, in
his most pompous tone. They exercise
their free viii and independence whenever
they choose. Why shouldn't they?"
! why, indeed2" asked Mrs. Hunting
! don, and she then looked up in his face
with her most persuasive smile. Don't
be cross" she went on softly. 81 don't
want TO make you cross. Won't you ex-
plain things to me little? ! am always
| open to conviction"
| Her eyes met his, and under their soft
eloquent gaze his ill-humor melted away
| like snow in sunshine.
| Il am not cross" he said, land what
| mean is that the Ditchwater people will
vote for the tory candidate almost to
man, so long as he is a good candidate
| and-er-popular. If the seat is ever
lost the loss will be due to purely perso-
nal feelings and considerations. DO you
see what / mean
"Oh, yes" murmured Mrs. Huntingdon,
| ''how could l help seeing? You make
things so delightfully."- clear and say so
I -.EaA
| il is!'
Mr.. Beaumont smiled gratified smile.
I'm always considered rather a good
| hand at explaining doubtful points" he
| observed complacently
"Of course you are popular" said Mrs.
Huntingdon. in a tone which implied a
firm conviction that he could never under
any circumstances be anything else.
He smiled again.
"I-er-flatter myself that l am"
And equally, of COURSE" Mrs. Hunting
don went on, you are honored and re-
spected and trusted by your constituents
and l know what that means. The Ditch
water people are such a straitlaced lot, and
] have always heard that If anything were
known against a man--even quite a slight
thing-the result would be-would be-
Fatal" said Mr.. Beaumont. supplying
the required word. yes, the Ditchwater
people are very stern moralists; but that
is no disadvantage IN my Case tuOuBH IL
might be in some"
Mrs. Huntingdon looked at him with a
curious expression.
II thank thee. God. that l am not as
other men are" she quoted mentally. and
then she added aloud. mo. indeed: an ad-
vantage, / should think. / wish--ob, dear,
our hostess is making move already, so
we must finish our talk another time.
Come and see me on Wednesday at $780,
If you have nothing better to do. l shall
be at home, and alone"
The Huntingdons had charming house
in the immediate neighborhood of Gros-
venor square, and there on the following
Wednesday Mr.. Beaumont duly. present
ed himself and spent delightful hour
in the daintily decorated, subtly scented
drawing-room. Mrs. Huntington, ar
rayed in a tea gown Of manifold and
complicated destinations, left nothing to
be desired, and when at last he took his
leave he did so with great reluctance.
He had been allowed to hold forth at will
upon his favorite subjects, and had been
listened to with absorbed interest and
open admiratton-and what could mortal
man desire more?
"Good-by," murmured his hostess, rails
ing her eloouent ewes to his $50 good