Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-08-11
XIX.

Mary and Mrs Jerome We're late in get
ting back from the Capitol. Christine was
one of those persons who can go nowhere
without unexpectedly meeting friends. and
she always found it impossible to detach
herself at once from the chatter and gossip
of the encounter She had not even sue
ceeded in leaving the House wing with
Mary alone, but had gathered in a fresh
detachment at each turn of the corridors.
a senator's wife, and a senator who had no
wife. a member or two and stray dipfo-
mat were added and it ended in lunch In
the Senate wing in the committee room of
the detached senator.
Mary tried in vain to escape; Christine
had too keen an appreciation of a drawing
card to permit 1t. and she played her hand
so skifully that she shared the admiration
and attention which Mary received. This
little entertainment with Its attendant dis
sspation in wine and flowers added genu,
Inc flush to Mrs. Jeromes piquant face and
she finally departed. bearing her trophies,
with air of triumph. She was still too
occupied with her own success and her
plans for future incursions into the fertile
territory that she had discovered by mere
accident TO notice Mary's depression when
they finally parted at Mrs. Writings door.
The last part of the adventure had been
trying in the extreme to the girl who had
endured such a strain for the last twenty
four hours Christmas friends did not ap-
peal to Mary and there was false note in
young Mrs. Jerome's manner: her inclina-
ton to ''fastness'' was especially patent at
table when she usually showed her pre-
dilect!On for champagne and cigarettes. and
when the lights of shaded candelabra were
replaced by broad day. as they had been
in the Capitol committee room. the fact
that she used art to enhance her charms
became appa1lingly apparent. Looking at
her in the midst Of her little triumph Mary
felt vaguely surprised that women like
t~4 hav. $hNk~
intimates and that the most exclusive So
ciaI lists always included Mrs. Sam Jerome
But on reflection Mary remembered that
Christine had married into an old and dis
being the junior branch were not we'll of
comparatively but that the senior branch
INDUCED In motor-cars. divorces and surgt-
cal operations Besides. Christine was
pretty. clever and we'll dressed. and there
could be no reason for a society which
freely admitted divorces with doubtful
regulations and the black sheep OF the con-
inent. to ostraciZa q young woman who
had money enough to reach the accepted
standard in clothes and bridge. and who
created an occasional peasurable ripple Of
excitement by indulging In a filtration that
al1ost. but not quite. reached the proper
ti6hs Of a scandal
When they finally parted under the porte
cochere Mary smiled bitterly to herself.
She had certainly been walking in intricate
ways for the last few days and she Won
dered a little where they would lead her.
Her mood was one of extreme depression:
she had listened to Rylands speech with
enthusiasm. she had forgotten herself and
been swept away with him to the moment
OF his triumph, but at that moment the IL
fusion vanished and her heart sank like
lead What part had she in it? The fact
OF his absolute singieness of heart. of the
purity of his purposes the strength and
brilliancy of his intellect, had been borne
in upon her with overwhelming force. Her
first sensations had been those of joy and
pride; the next moment. however. she
realized that the contrast between this up
right man. honored of his fellows and
steadily forging ahead to greatness. and
herself was too great to be spanned. She
was a miserable impostor shivering at the