The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-06-03


hands. She had seen him in that posi-
ton CT detection but twice Beforehand
once was the night her mother died.
through the tobacco scented halls of the
Avenue House servants were hurrying with
long-necked bottles and pitchers of ice
water Delegates were gathered in vari-
Gus headquarters. and in the parior. which
Blair had reserved. tn, Congressman was
In the midst of lively story of Washing
ton life. a porter bec&oned him outside.
Lady downstairs 10 see you. SIR
He went to the stuffy plush-furnitured
waiting-room at the far end of the lower
hall. Out of the gloom came slight
girlish figure.
MIR. Blair?''
AT your service, mad-miss-"
Miss Landor.''
Beg pardon-John Landor's daughter
You ought TO know. but it was -four
years ago that you visited US last at our
house,
Yes, you have grown" 1t was moro
| than that. She had developed from c
short skirted school girl into woman.
Il came to see you-for father"
The Congressman shifted his feet uncas
| lily.
You know, Mr.. Blair, what, he wants
what he needs-what you practically prom
Used to give him.
Blair did not reply Immediately. Be
fore him a picture that seemed the dupli-
cate OF one that had for years been in his
dreams-a tall. slender girl. with brown
hair and eyes. a face that told of tender
| ness and trust Steadily he looked at his
visitor, and then went closer to her SIDE.
Let us not talk of this here. he urged.
81 want to see your father
He called porter and sent word to Mar
tin.
II am going out few minutes" he ex-
planned, when the Third Ward leader came
in. tell the committee l will be back by
II o'clock
but they want to see you right now"
Cant help it-important business"
Martin did not go to the committee. He
noticed Jean Landor and stepped forward
with outstretched hand.
You here? Are you helping run your
fathers campaign"
Don't you wish / were not?" was the
non-committal reply, given with smile.
Down the dimly lighted hall and into the
dark street the trio went. Jeans hand
resting on the broadcloth covering Of the
Congressman's arm.
Martin left them at the drug store with
a final adjuration to Blair: Don't fail TO
be back on time"
Blair half grumbled response.
He orders me around as If I was
slave" he exclaimed petulantly when they
were out of Martins hearing.
Maybe you are?"
Maybe. A politician is always some
body's slave. It's only matter OF degree
between the constable and the Congress
man. / sometimes think common labor
er is more independent"
Then, why not stop"
Blair laughed. "A woman's question.
You don't know everything; besides. tod
you politician is a slave-sometimes
They entered the humble Landor home.
and he was left along in the little sitting
room.
Her mothers likeness" he thought, and
then there came to him something that
flushed his clean-shaven cheeks. and made
him glance at the mirror to see If he were
really SO very grey and elderly.
Glad to see you, Tom" exclaimed Ian
dor a moment later, reaching out his hand
frankly. Quite an honor, sure-good
while since you were really under my
roof" He seemed stopped and worn with
care.
Eyes. four years. / was feeling my wa,
as a candidate then"
and now I'm feeling mine"
An evident embarrassment existed on
both sides. Lander feared to ask the IA
vor. and Blair feared to have it mentioned.
But it was before them and the Congress-
man was the one to breach the question.
.'How's it coming, John?'
'I'u tell you; It depends on who gets
this convention-you know how it is and
what the other side claims
Yes l know, John; and they tell me
you can't name the delegation. So must
buy them with the postoffice-that's their
plan"
$50 I've heard-and / guess it's right.
Well. I'm afraid l amt got enough"
The doorbeIl rang. and Lander left the
room. He was gone long time. Jean
took his place, and Blair talked % her OF
the old times on the prairie. Finally, aft
er walking up and down the room nerv-
ously. he came close to the girl
May / tell you a story?" he began.
Thirty wears ago your father and I
plowed prairie and herded cattle togeth-
er cut in the short-grass country. We
studied as we worked. and ! believe We
did the best and highest thinking of our
lives in those lonesome days. We were
friends, neighbors. and at last rivals for
the love OF the same girl. Neither seemed
TO advance in her favor beyond the other.
One summer-'71, l think 1t was-we both
had a fine crop of growing wheat One
afternoon, Just before harvest. hailstorn
came up. When it was over your fathers
wheat was ruined; mine was untouched.
Such is the mystery of womans love that
from that day lost ground with the one
we both wooed. She married John Ian
dor-and l went away TO study law and
politics"
The girl was watching him intently.
II succeeded fairly well in law. and then
came the opportunity to get an office.I had
no money and success meant debts and OBJ
legations. 1t was inevitable-if / had
known it all. ! would not have entered the
fight ! have paid some of the debts--but
not all. The obligations are yet uninet.
You ask me to throw away chance to dis
charge the obligations and pay off the debts
TO favor one who took away from me the
one loved
He was your friend In the time of need
The girls eyes were downcast.
Il know it--and so was / his. He was
much older and he is the older and poorer
now-but IL is a great deal to ask"
There was call from Lander. and Jean
went to her father in the hall-a messenger
had brought in some news of far-away
prairie precinct.
When the father and daughter returned
10 the sitting-roo their visitor was gone |
and a side door ajar told how he had de-
parted.
Martin returned to the hotel jubilant |
ITS all right" he told the leaders. 1.-The |
old mans scared enough to come to time, |
and the thing to do is TO make him give a |
promise. He's gone out to Landor's but |
won't stay long, and the look of his face |
says that he amt stuck on the job of
breaking the news"
McLaren. shrewd and crafty manager of |
The First Ward nudged the sheriff: Mar
lin II steer us through all right.
So when Blair returned he found per-
emptory demand from the committee that