Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-08
Drawings by Emlen Mcconnell

She's here with him now. They have taken
cottage out on Pine-st for the session. By
heaven! we may win yet
Rodman had come close to Hudson. His
features were still impassive but his eyes
were glowing. What is her name:' he de
manded in a sharp voice that rang through
the room. Tell me her name!'
Mary Gardiner Hudson stopped with
gasp; for Rodman had reeed back from his
words from blow, with every vestige of
color gone from his face
Good Cod" Hudson heard him whisper.
MARY Gardiner''
4 Hudson leaned toward him. "You know
her." he asked.
- used to know her." answered Rodrnan.
He was making tremendous effort to control
himself; but Notwithstanding that his hand
shook pitifuly Il used to know her; but it
very long ago"
She will help" persisted Hudson.
A grim smile fitted over Rodmans face.
God knows he replied.
You can only try went on the other.
Tearing piece of paper from an enveop, he
penciled few lines upon it. There is the
address. And remember the caucus meets at
eight; it is five now
The change in the man was almost mir
aculous. Hudson now the masterful one,
Rodman the weak and yielding
81 will go at once, he said weakly, holding
the paper which Hudson had thrust into his
hand - at once"
But he did not. For many minutes after
Hudson had left the room he sat staring
stolidly into the fire. Mary Gardiner! Yes, he
had known her-known her and loved her
in the far off long ago when love all,
before ambition had possessed his soul and
frozen his heart. They had been betrothed
hen. They had been betrothed when he left the
peaceful little town where both were born to make
place in the great world for hmself-and for her.
They had been betrothed, and he had left promising
TO return soon to claim her But he had never gone
pack The lure of the city with its song of greatness,
had won him, and Ambition had claimed him for her
own There had not been room in his heart for that
and for love; he had let love die; had failed
her pathetic letters, until they had ceased
altogether; had resoutely driven the memory of her
rom his brain with the thought that she would be
1rag upon him.
And now Even in his bitterness of spirit the
rony of 1t brought grim smile to his thin lips The
hing for which he had sacrificed her, for which he
lad sacrificed every tender thought in his life
lift within her keeping! If he reached the goal
oward which his whole life had been directed, it
would be only because of the help of the woman,
o care for whom he had thought would drag him
Town.
But he would never ask her that AS he sat
ooking into the fire, he told himself that his pride
power which had triumphed him all his life,
sserted itself. For time he fought even though
lie knew the fight was vain But at last it con-
luered. Suddenly he rose and threw on his over
oat. Then he made his way to the street and
topped into waiting cab. Leaning out of the
alb, he called address to the driver. 1t that
# the cottage on Pne-st.
A trim little maid answered his ring. Yes Miss
Gardiner was in. If the gentleman would wait in
he sitting room she would summon her In silence
2odman nodded, and entered the door she had ndi-
ated. Once across the threshold he stopped short
nd drew in his breath sharply. If he had doubted
before, he could doubt no longer. 1t the same
iary Gardiner that he had known. Every object
the cheerful little room with it's pleasant aspect
nd bright fire. spoke of her unmstakabv She
lad always had that feminine knack of trans
orming even the commonplace things with her
owing care. and the sweet spirit of homelike peace
hat brooded over the room could have been created
My by her.
1t then, he stood there, and felt her gentle
influence, that the force of his recollections over
anne HIM. Before, when he had heard her name
md realized her power his future she had been
4 hest l,ndo,