The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1901-02-11

| by the woman With the HQShtng black
eyes and soft sefsu6ds ctfveslwith 1
/ talon Ut Washington Is the scene, q
salon presided over by her and with
place aud power at HID command, and
the opportunity to become . part of
the political life Of the day and, per-
haps to write his name in the history
Of the times-all this was so much
more alluring.
He rose from his easy chair and
drawing on his overcoat walked slow
ly to her hotel. There was the usual
soiree there and he went sadly per-
turbed.
She greeted him cordially and was
not long in discovering his state of
mind. She lured him to coy corner
and turning On him with an express
sion in her eyes which set the blood
bounding through his veins laid her
hand on his arm and with her face so
close to his that he could feel her
breath on his cheek. said:
"Mr. Crawford--Philip, you must not
ruin your future by making mistake
on this bill. Cannot you see that you
not only are planning the ruin Of your
own life, but also of the others who
are interested in you? Do not be
weak and foolish. Remember there is
a tide in the affairs of men that
taken at It's food leads on to fortune,
neglected II seldom offers a second
opportunity. The food is here for
you. Do not turn away from it,"
He heard her as in a trance. The
intoxication of her presence deadened
his senses and distorted his Judgment.
Leaning forward he took her hand
and whispered:
~ will vote for the BILL
There was gentle pressure as her
hand was withdrawn and She replied
with averted face:
II thought you would be governed
by your reason rather than whim.
viii you speak for II? 1t would help
very much with two or three country
members who are on the fence"
mo, not that" he exclaimed, alb
rnptly, rising and throwing up one
hand as II to ward off blow. III I
do not oppose the bill it is all that
can be expected from me-"
you foolish hoy, with your impos-
sible IDEALS" she said, with n smile.
swell, I think You are wise after ALL"
Then looking at him keenly. she
said:
"By the way, heard to-day that II
the hill passed, s. N. & P. would jump
20 points on the exchange and that
tine bill would pass if you did not OPP
pose it. 1t might be worth while to
place an order for 1000 shares"
Before he could reply they were in
terrupted and soon after he departed.
He was glad the die was cast, but was
not wholly satisfied with the result.
He sat long time in his room staring
at the fire and thinking. As he was
preparing to retire he opened bu-
reau drawer and in rummaging for
something turned up photograph. 1t
was that OF a sweet-faced girl with
honest gray eyes, broad forehead
and wavy brown hair-strong, clear
cut features, thoroughly womanly and
thoroughly honest. He stood gazing
blankly at the photograph for some
minutes. Then he flushed deeply. His
boyhood sweetheart with whom he
had 70 often planned and replanned
his career. How she had faded from
his mind during the weeks he had
been under the spell of the black-eyed
beauty at the hotel. Then he thought
of the advice he had just listened to
from the lips Of the one woman and
of the very different advice he would
have received from the other. While
there yet rang in his ears the seduc-
tive words of the woman of the world
showing him the promised land to be
the price of stupefying his conscience,
in imagination he heard the honest
voice of the girl back in the home
town Strengthening his every good
purpose and stimulating his ideals to
yet higher flights.
And this was the girl he had for.
gotten while he had listened to the
voice of temptation, lulled by the
sensuousness of the temptress.
Suddenly he dropped the photo.
graph and strobe to his table where
he wrote the following note to the
black-eyed woman at the hotel:
"If you have bought S. M. & P.
stock I would advise you to sell it. I
have changed my mind and under no
circumstances will vote for the
Thompson bill. Philip Crawford"
His speech the next day against the
bill is still remembered in the state
capital as the most powerful and elo-
quent of many sessions. The girl
with the gray eyes wrote him about
it in glowing terms.
He is now at Washington and
gray-eyed woman presides over his
home. An old and faded photograph,
handsomely framed, occupies the place
of honor in his library.