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

majority and minority reports, which the
clerk read aloud in succession to the
| House. This consumed time and permitted
| the representative to prepare for his or
deal When the reading was over he began
| to speak.
What a nuisance murmured Christine,
this will delay Lawrence"
| But Mary scarcely heard her; what if the
little man failed her after all? What if his
| fear Of Schelling cowed him into submis-
! sion? Then she was conscious of almost a
| thrill Of triumph he was speaking against
| the Objectionable amendment. inaudibly
and weakly at first. but afterward with
| increasing courage and firmness. de-
nounc!ng it as Ubiquitous and framed to
! throw more money into the hands of cor
| porate wealth. an amendment which would
| disgrace the bill and one for which-he
added with great loftiness Of spirit-he
| would not vote under any considera ton
whatsoever. He moved that the paragraph
! be stricken from the bill and his motion
| was carried amidst round of applause
| Mary leaned back with bitter little
smile. How easy it is to persuade ourselves
| into belief in our own virtues, she re-
lected. She was disturbed in these cynical
thoughts by touch from Christine.
Mrs. Apple and two Of the little Apples
are Just across the aisle she whispered:
she's got her veil down. but she's been
crying. Imagine being moved to tears by
an applet
MARY glanced over the intervening seats
at the little woman opposite. She remem-
bered having seen her once or twice at
Mrs. Writings general receptions. and 1t
occurred to her that it must seem singular
| to Mrs. Apple to find herself in the
Capital city. where she had doubtless been
ambitious to take her part, and to be as
| little considered as one Of the lackeys at
! the doors of the great houses: To be able
| to look at the more public functions but
to have no place or part allotted to her in
| the social procession tina: was sweeping
| past her to the inner circles where she was
not privileged to enter. being neither rich
nor great.
Mary saw that. as Christine had said. she
was weeping behind her veil and the girl 9
! quick sympathies were touched. Without
a second thought she slipped out of her
| seat and. having crossed the aisle. leaned
! over Mrs. Apple and held out her hand.
Perhaps you remember me-" she said in
| low voice. II am Mrs, Writings niece
and l want to congratulate you on your
| husbands speech"
veil, took Mary's hand eagerly. smile
shining through her tears. "Oh. you re
| Miss Hadding"' she exclaimed with ex-
element. Il want to thank you-for what
Mr.. Cheever did: he told Mr.. Apple 1t was
| done for you-because he was your friend.
And-and-" her voice broke and trailed
of into sob.
Mary dragged her hand away. her face
crimson: she had not foreseen the result
Of her simple impulse OF sympathy.
You don't know-you can't-how much 1t
means-to US and the childrenr' the little
woman murmured: I'VE can't forget It
You're too good. Miss Haddingr'
"Don't-don't thank mel" Mary exclaimed
Under her breath and slipped away again
| In an agony of modification.
| Fred Cheever had done 1t for her-be-
cause he was her friend! Poor Mrs. Apple.
she had pressed her finger on a torturing
wound. Mary covered into her place at
| Christmas side and felt her face on fire.
| She shrenk instinctively from Mrs. Je-
rome's sharp eyes, but. happily for her,
she escaped notice at the moment for
Christine laid an impressive hand on her
| arm. her own attention riveted on the floor
| of tho House. Lawrence RyIand had risen
and begun to speak. At his first words
! there was a gradual cessation of the muir
| muir on the floor and in the galleries, and
| his voice, which was full and resonant.
gathered in force and volume until it easily
| being raised or violent in its articulation.
Ryland was a master both OF rhetoric and
| of logic. and never permitted himself to
and certain charm of manner and speech
which made the oldest and most ennuied
glad to keep their seats and listen. But
| II was not mere oratory: when Ryland
spoke It was because he had something to
| say and felt the wisdom of saying 1t at just
| that moment. His own belief in 1t, his
| force and his personal magnetism, were
| wont to carry conviction to his hearers. He
| was the sort of man who is sought to lead
| a forlorn hope to victory. to force doubt
] full issue, to carry men with him by the
| nero strength of his convictions and his
eloquent way of showing them their own