The morning times., 1897-02-14
Copyright, s97, by Harriet Prescott Spof-
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PART /.


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PART L
All at once the heads Of the grave and
reverend seigneurs in the Senate chamber
were turned toward the diplomatic gallery,
and Harry Bentinck's head with them. He
had just come in from the House to consult
one OF the Senators Of his State regarding
pointinquesgion. The heads slowly turned
back again, and the business OF the hour,
which really had not had an appreciabe
pause, was resumed. Kindly remember that
this was some years ago Perhaps the
heads OF Senators are no5 50 easily turned
today.
II was bit moment, but in that moment
all things had made shift to change, and
nothing was ever q lite the same To Harry
Bentinck, member of Congress from dis
trict famed for sending a powerful member
and d man of whom rather remark able
things were expected.
He passed his hands across his eyes with
q quick, involuntary motion. 'Dazzled?"
said Senator MacMichael, at whose desk he
stood. We'll, then, have a care. There
are hidden reefs in those waters. Wiser
men than you have come to shipwreck over
just such spots.''
But what was that to Harry Bentinck?
He was suddenly aware that he was living
his own life, aware of it with fullness
OF the heart. bounding of the blood,
an ex xhiieration OF the brain that made him
feel clear-headed enough to understand
the meaning OF the universe. Alas! he
had only plunged into the darkness OF the
greatest secret OF it all! He had fallen
irrecoverably in love with Gloria Cam
peador.
The old Senator glanced up into the
gallery and glanced away again. He saw
nothing there to detain the eye impera-
tively-just pretty woman. But what
Harry Bentinck saw was all the romance
OF old Spain, OF young Cuba, Of girlhood,
Of innocence, of beauty, OF love. AS the
girl stood an instant, while her companion
seated herself, one saw her tail. svelte
figure and observed the mantilla- like
effect Of her hat and veil. for she was in
a sort Of half mourning, and then the per
feet pallor, as smooth and exquisite as
that Of the petal Of cape jasmine, and
the face in which her feit ures We're CHS
eIed like some delicate sculpture and
where the eyes, large and k-fringe ed,
glowed Ike dark, unknown jewels
You meaner beauties Of the skies,
What are you when the moon doth rise?''
Harry Bentinck was saving to himself,
and he was making for the gallery, where
Anthony should introduce him, when he
was met by this Senator. and by that, with
congratulations on his speech of the day
before in the other house, and delayed till
there We're too many up there to make il
wise to add himself to their distinguish
able number, even if the Vice President had
not left his chair just then and walked with
him to . sofa, where he might speak with
him on subject Of mutual interest, for the
young Congressman was already person
Of some importance. Wei. he would make
inquiries by and by, he thought. He was
hot TO be bafiled in anything on which he
had set his heart.
And meanwhile here was this pressing
piece Of business, and there WAS the JUS
tees dinner, and the Cuban matter, Of
which he knew nothing. TO look up for an
Interview in the Ltctor in the interest Of
some Of the people at home, who wished
to maintain the status quo, and So the time
passed. And the next day there We're a
pair Of constituents. who Considered that
they owned him, To be taken care of and
shown the city, and there were the COM
Iaittee meetings and a matter to be laid
before the President, and Harry Bentinek
found that the man who served his coun-
try had not much time in which to serve
himself. All the same. he had not turned
corner without looking up and down, and,
although nIany Of the young women taking
their afternoon stroll on the Avenue, or
driving up and down its length, bent for a
second glance at the tall and handsome
young fellow, with the ruddiness Of youth
still on his coUntenance, swinging down
from the Capitol, in his wish to see one he
saw none.
IL was quite perfunctorily and because
IT was expected Of him, being on the COM
nittee for foreign affairs, that he went
TO the ball at the Mexican legation. He
wandered through the rooms, seeing few
that he knew and thinking he was not made
for social life and lie had better be at
home reading up on international law,
when suddenly, like a statue in relief
against mass Of mossy grecnery, he sa "
Gloria, clad in white satin, her fingers
playing with the rope OF pearls that, falling
from tile high comb in her blue black,
shining hair, wound about her throat and
fell again below her waist. At that mo-
ment she dropped her fan. Thank You,
Nr. Bentinck,'' she said very distinctly
as he bent and restored it, and then he
bent again and almostas low. Il saw you
she said then, with an enchanting smile,
''in the Senate chamber. l asked who you
were--''
Il also. senorita-I saw you lie muir
INJURED, but no one has told me your
name"
II am Gloria Campeador,' she said,
gently. They do not call me senorita,
although ] am Cuban born. But / have
lived SO long In New York, out Of my
own country, the habits follow me-
'You call Cuba country, them" asked
Mr Bentinck.
Cuba oountryl" the heavy white
lids lifted in a flash. What do you call
it, then? Spanish dependency? No
no. She is chained and bound and bleed
ing. but she is utterly a country, the
youngest of all the countries, may be-my
couRtry!" Although she spoke so low,
with a sort of restraint in her voice, there
was a fire beneath the tone that kindled
response in the nearer.
You make me believe you he said
"Ah, then" she replied, with a quick
laugh, as she threw open her fan, THAT
repays me for keeping my temper. And
you know il is difficult, she said quickly,
half under her breath, when my one
thought, my one hope, is FOR my country"
She was so beautiful, so impassioned,
as she stood there still, half leaning
with q certain Ianguor of attitude. but
with such glow in her eye, on her smile
that Harry Bentinck felt sudden, strange