The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1902-06-17
POLITICS and
CORNELIA
By Elizabeth A. Hyde
Copyright, 1902. by the
s. S. Mcclure Company

SuuerdDle concert was undoubtedly
fiattered.
'Disagreeable thingsr" she said
lightly. why, what are they? Tell
me about them"
! ''Well, there's choosing among clerks
for promotion. for one thing, and dis
missing them when you can't keep
them, for another-widows and moth
ers who come weeping into your Office
and faint on your sofa and have to be
taken home in cabs"
"Oh, dear, how sad! Do you have to
say who is to go? 1t must be very
hard"
1T is. There are other things that
for example. Hardly day passes but
some young fellow asks me for letter
to his chief or senator or representa-
tive. OF course it's easy enough to die
tate few lines of stuff just to satisfy
him. but it's bore to have him come.
Especially when he comes again be-
cause the letter was no good"
But aren't the letters any goodY
asked Cornelia in real surprise. Il
thought you had such-oh, such won
derful influence now. | thought any
letter of yours would get any one any
thing"
The man looked up with grim
smile.
i "Oh, of course ! can get anything
really want" he said. 'I'ye fixed sew
eral men from my state very comforta-
bly,, but these others are just boys.
Miss Cornelia. looking out for soft
snap. We men can't be bothered with
recommending kids"
Weren't you ever a kid yourself.
Mr.. StokesY' was on Cornelia's lips,
but she checked them in time She
was thinking of one kid in particular
who like these others was looking for
soft snap. At least. he had told Cor
nelia it was soft snap because it
meant $4,000 year to him and some
thing more precious besides, but there
was hard work in it, and he knew it.
Cornelia knew all about it. When the
kid had asked her to marry him it
was not because she admired his cias-
sic profile (even she could hardly call
1t that, and instead of blaming herself
and fate she had found that life had
suddenly become grander, sweeter and
better worth the living. She wished
she could ask this man to help him, to
give him the letter the commissioner
required and which she knew the boy
was going to request. That hateful
red tape! The commissioner had said.
Yes, undoubtedly young Beale is the
man for the place. but how are we to
give it to him when he seems to have
no political backing at all, whereas
that fellow Morris, who hasn't the
sense he was born with, has the whole
senate or near itw
1.-THE kids don't understand the tricks
of the trade, you see" the man went
on. "They think a letters letter and
go off grinning. expecting to be in the
cabinet in four years and president in
eight They're too soft to know that
nine out of ten letters are shams and
not worth the paper they're written
on"
COrnelia felt distinct hatred of this
man who could speak so cruelty. How
she detested him for saying ''kids!'
She wished he would go.
"How do you manage with the re
cipients of the lettersY' she asked. to
make conversation. Don't they honor
all from the Hon. Gilbert Stokes?"
NO" he replied. "They all know
the little finishing touch that makes it
important. If we mean what we say
and really want fellow to get job,
we pin visiting card to the top of the
letter. IL there's no card. it means no
job. Simple. isn't it? When the let
tiers go by hand, the boys think it's a
little dodge to prevent forgery or some
thing of that sort, and we never have
any trouble"
Cornelia's throat frightened. IL
don't see how you can do that" she
said stiffiy. ''But-but | suppose
with a swift change of tone-''you
can't help it. of course. And how do
you do it,"
ITS not much of a story" he said,
and it was not, but Cornelia listened
with breathless interest and was glad
that he wandered on from one topic
to another. requiring only monosyllabic
replies from her. She sat In the CRATE
full shadow above him, her cheeks
burning and her usually quiet hands
furling. and unfurling her fan. When
he rose to GO she said good night with
unwonted cordiality and watched him
as he strobe down the street past the
merry doorstep parties out of sight.
But long after the last noisy group had
dispersed she still sat there thinking.
The boy came up stairs two steps at
time and nearly knocked Cornelia
over at the top.
Its come. dearr' he cried. catching
her in his arms to steady them both.
$50 you can order your trousseau at
Bnce. It's a sure thing now. That fel-
low Stokes has sent me a fine letter.
Isn't he brick?"
The quick color few to Cornelia's
cheeks.
oh she said, "you got my note7
I'm so glad, dear. May'I see the let
ter?"
She took it with trembling fingers
and read it through. 1t was addressed
20 the commissioner and asked in
courteous and well chosen phrases that
the writer's esteemed young friend.
Godfrey Beale, be appointed to the pO-
sition he sought. The letter was spot
less and correct in every detail, but
there was no sign of a card either on
the letter or in the envelope, the lat
ter containing only Geoffrey's letter Of
transmittal.
Twill you let me show it to mother.
dearw the girl asked. refolding it.
'She will like to see 1t, Of course. 1t
is fine, isn't itY' she ratified on "Just
what you needed. 1t is so kind of Mr..
Stokes. | will be back in a minute or
two
She found her mother and read the
precious page to her; then, running
noiselessly on the soft carpets. she
went to her own room. Hastily select
ing a visiting card from the tray on
her desk. she pinned 1t to the letter
and closed the envelope Her heart
was beating wildly. and her fiuttering
hands could hardly hold the letter
She stood an instant undecided then
dropped ON her knees beside the bed
Dear Cod" she whispered. don't let
1t be wicked-please don't let it be
wicked. dear God! l don't mean it to
be, and it is the only way" She knelt
a moment with bowed head, then went
quietly down stairs.