Danville intelligencer. [volume] (Danville, Pa.) 1859-1907, 1905-09-08
A Job In the
Senate By
Chamber s~... IL
Copyright. 1905, by Frank II. Sweet

| the uooT, eSpeStant, impatient, tnOuBI
the visitors gallery would not be open
to the public until u. She drew from
her belt the one remaining link OF
former opulence. 1t still lacked ten
minutes, and she slipped the watch
back with a scarcely breathed sigh
| Why had she come here at all, she
thought accusingly? She would be bet.
ter visiting the stores In search of a
| position as clerk; there were surely
some business houses she had not yet
been in. And-and besides
Her eyes were brighter. and flush
came and descended to her lips In q
soft, evanescent smile that was more
like the smile of the old days before
the wistfulness came.
She had been standing at the post
office door, and he had looked precisely
as he had that day when he parted
from them in the Arizona canyon, he a
pennlless prospector and her father an
extensive mine owner. And he had not
forgotten. Even before she saw him
he had sprung from carrAg ge, with
out regard to his horses, and was COM
ing up the postoffice steps with out
stretched hands.
Good heavens! You here. Muriel-
Miss Ashburton," he had cried, with a
gladness In his voice which he did not
attempt to conceal and which brought
an answering color to her face and
light to her eyes. There had been
nothing between them except look
and hand pressure, but she had often
thought Of him in these later dreary
years and was glad to know he had
remembered her. II looked for you
everywhere everywhere" he had con-
tinucd but without n clew. 1 was
afraid you had gone from my life.
But pardon me; we cannot talk here.
and have great deal to say. May
l call on you at once-this evening?
Is your father here?"
my father Is dead" she had man
aged to say. Her brain had been In n
whirl, her heart in tumult. What
did 1t all mean? What was this i'm
petuous madman saying. implying? By
u strong effort she had controlled her.
self.
"Yes, you may call" she had an
swered in low voice. IL will be
glad to see you" And she had given
him the number of the house in which
she rented one small room.
"1hank you. I Will be there early. l
would ask to go back with you now,
but have an appointment which is
already overdue. Isn't 1t providential,
though. this meeting? l have been in
Washington only three days, and to
turn UP against you like this!'
"Have you employment here" she
had asked for want of something bet
ter to say.
"Yes, temporarily; a job in the SEN
ate chamber You remember I was n
jack of all trades. from a farm boy to
an impecunious prospector, with occa-
sional dabs ut fresco painting and jour
nalism to help me through college. But
l will not detain you here in the wind
any longer"
She had watched him spring into the
carriage and drive away, an odd light
In her eyes and warm color In her
cheeks. AS she went down the side
walk she laughed softly. Eight years
before she would not have been like
this. Evidently he was without any
regular employment, just doing some
temporary work in the senate chamber
-fresco painting probably, for he had
spoken Of being familiar with that. At
first, from his being in the carriage
holding the horses, she had thought he
might be coachman, waiting for his
employers return. But, after all, what
did it matter? Coachman or painter or
impecunious prospector. he was warm
hearted and honest and ambitious. She
could read that In his eyes and in the
strong, full grasp OF his hands. And
he had remembered her and-and cared
for her. 1t was beautiful to know that
In the hurrylng. Indifferent world there
was one who still thought of her and
cared for her little. The manner or
lack or employment was such small
matter compared with that. Knowl-
edge Of life soon leveled such petty dis
tinctions.
Almost unconsciously her steps had
turned toward the capitol. The only
alternative seemed n continuation Of
her search for employment, and, some
how, she shrank from that just now,
even though she had been restricting
herself to n single meal a day for
week She would celebrate the finding
of friend. 1t was opening day at the
senate chamber and would be unusual
ly interesting, and perhaps she might
see this friend himself or some Of the
work he had been doing.
s,,,JI ,kl, O., It,,a
ahead of her, and she felt herself being
pushed forward. The door WAS open
at last, and foot by foot yard by yard.
she was being impelled toward it. But
when she entered every seat was taken.
and she could only crowd herself into
the narrow space behind the last row
She could see the chaplain and a few
Of the senators on the far side of the
chamber and upon the few desks in
sight gorgeous display Of flowers.
Presently she heard the opening
prayer and bowed her head. Then
there was u confusion Of voices, with
quick, crisp sentences from one desk
and another. followed by a short recess
In which there was q great shaking Of
hands and introductions among the
senators. At the end of fifteen or twen-
ty minutes some Of those In the WIS.,
itors' gallery began to rise and leave.
They had witnessed the opening and
we're now going homo to lunch. Soon
she was able to step down to vacant
seat in one Of the front rows.
She had now a good view of the
chamber, and her gaze swept curiously
| from desk to desk. Many Of the SEN
ators she recognized from pictures she
had seen In current periodicals. Sud-
denly she started and half arose. She
, had not thought to see him down there;
If she met him ut all 1t would be In
one of the corridors, and probably at
! work. But there he was, at one Of
the desks. examining some papers.
| What did II mean2 He had no right