The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1902-09-13

!, man of distinction and character to the
place, and the Governor fancied that all Of
these men, some Of them running back into
the eighteenth century, were looking al
him with reproach He knew it was only
an idle fancy, but it weighed upon him,
and by and by his wife noticed his de
J preston.
'sWhat is the matter, Paul?' she asked.
'sHave you got the headache
IA little, Lucy" he replied, with a
faint smile. "It's been hard day at the
office, I've really been working, but it
will pass away presently"
His depression did not depart, however,
as he would glance up, despite himself, at
the rows of grave, steadfast faces on the
wall, and he always saw on every one the
same look of reproach. His wife's eyes
followed his own and she smiled.
1t will be nice to see your picture there,
Paul, five years from now, she said.
81 would much rather see it there FIVE
years from now than one year from now, :
he replied.
"Why, we can't think of such thing
as having it there only year from now, y
she said brightly. 'sWhy, you d be much
too young then, Paul. for such grave,
elderly company.
''That is good reason for us, = he said,
laughing little, ssbut Tn afraid it
wouldn't count much with the delegates to
the convention
They went back presently to the sitting
room, where the fire in the wide fireplace
was bigger and more cheerful than ever
The hickory logs cracked under its blaze
with sound like subdued pistol shots 1t
was dark and cold outside, and a rising
wind whistled around the old house. max
ing it all the more cosey inside.
They seldom passed an evening without
visitors, as there was no gayer house in the
little capital with its young host and hostess,
who stood so high both officially and per-
sonally
Mrs. Hastings gazed out of the window
into the cold dark, and then she turned
back to the bright fire.
'sl've grown to like this old house,
Paul, she said.
''All the Governors wives do, he re-
Piled
She sat down before the fire and, lean
ing her chin on her hand, was silent, gaz-
ing into the Goals. The Governor watched
her. The wilful brown curl which would
steal from under her red hood when she
crossed the Capitol lawn still fell across her
face There was aspiritual note in Lucy S
beauty, something childlike that appealed
to all that was deepest and best in him.
He not only loved her, but he felt that he
must be her shield too from the rough
world. But girl when she came here,
she was now both girl and woman, and
this new life had been good for her. He
might endure again that dull world of the
little town in the hills, but not she. He
was sure that even now she was building
air-castles in the Goals, and her beauty
seemed to him more appealing than ever
as the red fame of the fire fell across her
cheek
Her abstraction ceased after while
and she turned and gazed at her husband,
who now had fallen into a reverie. though
his thoughts were moody.
''Paul, she said, "you are i'll. I
know that you are You have been work
ing too hard. 1t was only jest of mine
about your smoking and joking with those
politicians
Didn't | know it was only jest of
yours, Lucy, dear?'' he said, putting his
hand on her shoulder with caressins mo-
ton. "But I have had a pretty hard
strain for the last H,cntl. There all the
regular work, and I've got to get ready
for the Legislature. I have to write too
my annual message, and that's no light
task And then must look after my in
terests in the convention also-Carter's to
be my leader there, but, of course, [
should help him.
He turned his face aside, as if he would
avoid her gaze, something that he had
never done before The action struck her,
and she was silent for little while. Then
she said
s'Paul, there is something else on your
mind. You have worked hard before, but
it never worried you in this way. What
is it, Paul p
''There is nothing else, Lucy he re-
Piled
Then he walked uneasily to the window
and gazed out into the darkness
She watched him keenly and with grow
ing uneasiness. She had all womans
intuition and most delicate sensitiveness
to her husbands S moods. She rose pres
emily and joined him at the window Then
she put her arm in his and she said again:
"What is it, Paul? Won't you tell
me? / know that you are troubled.
Something disagreeable has happened to-
day. 1t must have been those politicians -
She waited, obviously for an answer,
but he hesitated. She said nothing, but
increased the gentle pressure upon his arm.
eyes, there is something" he confessed
at length.
She still waited
''Come back to the fire. he said after
a pause.
He put her in the easiest chair before the
Goals and stood beside her, still hesitating
He thought how well she looked sitting
there in the Governor mansion, the first
lady of the State She too said nothing,
merely waited
''You are right, it was those politicians
from the western part of the State, he
said at last; they wanted something from
me and they wanted it very much. They |
were relatives and friends of Bill Curtis. y
1.-The man who committed that murder
and who was sent to the penitentiary for
life p
A shudder shook her delicate frame.
Eyes, the same, and they want me to
pardon him.
"Why, Paul, you wouldn't think of
such thingr
''They tell of his wife and children left
desolate. They say he is changed man
now and would lead good life. They
had with item too minister who pleaded
for him. He spoke of rejoicing over the
sinner who was forgiven. He quoted to
me the text, Vengeance is mine. saith the
Lord
Her lips set firmly.
81 feel very sorry for his wife and chill