The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1906-10-18


Figuratively speaking. Portia stood
in the wings and applauded. Also,
she saw that her protege had reached
the point where he needed grooming
for whatever race lay before him.
Hence her urgings, which made a trl-
umvirate out of the council OF two.
with Brookes ormsby as the third
member.
On the porch OF the Brentwood
apartment house was David Kent.
With the striking Of the city ball clock
at nine Mrs. Brentwood had com.
planned of the glare OF the electric
crossing-lamp and had gone in, leav
ing the caller with Penelope in the
hammock on one side Of him and
Elinor in a basket chair on the other.
Their talk had been of the late NUM-
cipal struggle, and OF Kents part In
Il: and, like Miss Van Brock. Penelope
was applausiye. But Elinor's congrat-
ulations were tempered with depreca
ton.
Il am glad you won for the league,
OF course; everybody must be glad OF
that" she said. But | hope the Ar
gus didn't report your speeches cor
rectly. II 1t did, you have made a
host Of bitter enemies"
What does a mana real man
care for that?" This from the depths
of the hammock.
Il. at least. can afford 20 be care
less" said Kent. Il am not running
for office, and have nothing else 70
lose. politically OF otherwise"
Can any man say that truthfully7"
Elinor queried.
Il think can. have given no hos
tages TO fortune"
But | think you owe IL 10 yourself
to be more careful in your public ut
terances." she insisted. III these
men on the other side are only half
as unprincipled as your accusations
make them out to be. they would not
stop short Of personal -iolence."
Il am not hunting clemency or per-
sonal immunity just now" laughed
Kent. ~On the contrary. | am only
anxious TO make the score as heavy
as possible. And so far from keeping
prudently in the background, I'll con-
fess that I went into this franchise
fight chiefly 10 let the capitol gang
know who I am and where stand"
A sudden light came into Elinor's
eyes and burned there steadily. She
was of those who lay yotive offerings
upon the shrine of manly courage.
zone part of me approves as much
as another part disapproves," she said
after a time. Il suppose II isn't pos
sible to avoid making political enc
mics; but is It needful to turn them
into personal enemies?"
He looked at her curiously.
q am afraid I don't know any mid
die path. not being a politician" he
objected. And as for the enmity OF
these men, shall count It an honor to
win IT, If do not win IL, | shall know
/ am not succeeding"
Silence for another little space. which
Miss Brentwood broke by SAYING:
Don't you want TO smoke? You
may"
Kent felt in his pocket.
Il have no cigar"
She looked past him to the ham
mock. ''Penelopel" she called softly;
and when there was no response she
went to spread the hammock rug over
her sister.
you may smoke your pipe" she
said, and when she had passed behind
him to her chair she made another
concession: Let me I'LL IL for you
you used to-"
He gave her the pipe and tobacco.
began to wonder IL he ought not to go.
Notwithstanding his frank defiance
of Brookes Ormsby, and his declara-
ton OF intention In the sentimental
affair, he had his own notions about
the sanctity of betrothal. Mrs.
Brentwood had vanished, and Penelope
was asleep in the hammock. Could
he trust himself to be decently loyal
to Ormsby IL he should stay? Nice
questions of conscience had not
troubled him much of late: but this
was new ground-or II not new, so
old that 1t had the effect OF being
new.
He let the question go unanswered
and stayed. But he was minded to
fling the biggest barrier he could lay
hands on in the way of possible dis
loyalty by saying good things of orms-
by.
Il owe you much for my acquaint-
ance with him." he said. when the
subject was fairly introduced. "He
has been making all kinds of a coed
friend to me. and he promises to be
more"
Isn't your debt to Penelope. rather
than to me?" she returned.
mo. ! think not You are RESPONSE
BILE. in the broader sense. at all events.
He did not come west for Penelope's
sake" Then he took the plunge: