The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1900-12-27

| world tripping sayly along at his SIDE, nef
silver voice riIigfaE 6nEfis ear:.
| Where have You been!' she asked
'In the .WestISE al
| What were yell ,dojng.-
Laying the foundation for the greatest
empire the wolff hasS'ev known" he AN
swered in loW tone.
Her eyes greml round with wonder, and
! turning her pretty face on him she ey-
| claimed: ~ mi
Il can't expldn an, Miss Maude, but
you may expect grana results sobn The
world will be- started. Did you ever
dream of an empire, of crowns, royal pur-
pie. court robes, and all that is magnificent
in royalty?'
| NO she answered with toss of her
| head. Il am an American girl
But such Il dream may some day come
| to your waking senses. You may yet lie
| startled. rs well as the world; but remeIl-
Der then, Maude-Aliss Livingston-what
| do is for you
For me?'' e;'
Yes"
Il don't want an empire nor kihgly
robes. Albany is good enough 70: me-
NO, no; there is nothing good enough
for you" he quickly answered. The rich
est throne in the world is not good enough
for YOU The beautiful girl turned her
eyes upon him and said:
oh. what fiattery." Then, putting out
her lower lip beyond her upper, she made
| Il little pouting -grimace, which seemed
familiar to her, and tried to change the
subject. But Harry was not so easily put
aside.
"Maude-Miss Livingston he began.
why do you always misconstrue my
| meaning! Why do you always meet my
sentiments with scorn. 1 swear l mean
every word say
But tell me about this new empire OF
kingdom, these royal robes and all-where
is the new kingdom to be set up and On
what crumbing ruins is it to be built:"
Il can't tell you all now, Miss Liv-
son as much as have already told you
but have told all that | dare; further
| am forbidden"
Harry, does it occur to you that what
you are about TO do may be very danger
| 0us!' she asked.
There is always risk where there is re-
ward, he answered. But the truly brave
never hesitate in any great undertaking
| because there may be danger in it.
But there are different kinds of
danger" she suggested. One kind even Il
brave man should shun-that is danger OF
| dshonor."
Harry did not like the remark. He had
often felt something akin to premonitory
warning, but, like reckless young men with
other thought than success. Surely, the
eX-Nice-President of the Unoted States
would not engage in anything wrong, he
thought.
He went with Maude to tue various
| stores, and was highly delighted to carry
her parcels home for her. He did not go
any farther than the door of the great
house, for Harry stood III awe of the great
lawyer.
You must be sure and come to our
Christmas ball." said Maude.
Would it be agreeable to your father?'
he asked, fixing his eyes on the pretty face
With a smile she assuRed him that any one
whom she chose TO invite would Oe agree
able to her parents.
You will come, won't you?" she asked.
Certainly hewould, He never received
an invitation IN his life that was more well
come. III
The evening of the great ball, at which
the elite of AibaByswas represented, came.
Society had besnion tie qui viye of expect
ancy for some ITeeks, and many fashion
able people from New, York had come up
to participate in the grand affair.
1T will be the last" said Mr.. Living
ston, ''and it shall beg grand affair. One
more hour of pleasure, and then to society
they must bid farewell forever"
When Harry, Granger arrived at the
Livingston mansion he found it abIaze
with splendor. "A servant in livery met
him at the door, lie was ushered into the
drawing room, where he found Mr.. Liv-
ingston pacing mp aud down the apartment
with dignihed, unconcerned demeanor, as
if he had no home in danger. Shortly
after his arrival Mrs. Livingston came
down, gorgeously dressed for the occasion,
flashing with Jewels Maude followed
close after her mother, and Harry was
sure he had never seen a creature so RAJ
Hinntly hnnHsnnla in oil hic lifa
was warmly welcomed by the mother, but
il was Maude's smiles which more than re-
paid him for the freezing cOOlnesS of the
father.
Other guests were arriving, and many
names since familiar in history as noted
men in literature, politics or the army were
announced. Mr.. Cooper, a tall young man,
came, and shortly after Lieut. Gaines.
Then came Judge Peck, a short, stout,
fussy politician, who seemed to have the
whole machinery of the Government on his
shoulders. He had been Il member of the
Legislature once, and had never ceased to
take interest i'll politics.
He shook Harry's hand with that cordial
greeting known only to politician, and
before letting 90 of it asked his opinion
of the Constitution, and wanted to know
whether he approved "a centralized or dis
seminated power" Harry, who had never
as yet given the subject much thought, an
swered that it might be well to have con
siderable of both, thus unconsciously
touching the keystone of the nations
strength. The Judge launched out upon n
learned disquisition on the Government,
calculating clearly to his own mind the
weak spots in the Constitution.
Harry was greatly embarrassed, and
Maude seeing it, on some trifiing pretext
came and led him away.
You don't care for that harangue, do
you?"
Il assure you | do not, Miss Living
ston." he answered.
DO you dance?"
mo-
He had never learned the terpsichorean
art, for his life had been too busy to admit
Of many accomplishments He now keenly
felt the need of such accomplishments. and
on that night would have given much to be
able to dance. But rustic youth does not
make II graceful figure in his first waltz,
and Harry knew it.
Judge Peck was soon introduced to n
fat young man, whom Harry recognized rs
Asa Jarvis Holding Asa's hand in his