The Washington herald., 1907-10-18
By FOXCROFT DAVIS
PARTXI

The Secretary Of State who had been
walking about the room eyeing Senator
March. went up TO him and offered his
hand.
1t is useless for me to remain he
said 4 think I know the truth of the
business, and perhaps ! should act just
as you are acting. GOod-by."
He grasped Senator MaTch's hand, and
the two men, looking into each others
eyes. understood perfectly. If Senator
March had been guilty. as he proclaimed.
the Secretary Of State was not the man
to offer him a hand.
Meanwhile. in these eventful hours, at
the White House, and at every other po-
litical center IN Washington. the agita-
tion was profound. nor was IL confined TO
those who had a direct interest in Sen
ator March's downfall That night there
was large dinner at the British En-
bassy. and although the subject of Sen
atoT March was uppermost in every
mind, little was said about It. and that
with bated breath. Ii was too astound-
ing and not to be intelligently discussed
until Senator March had been heard. The
general belief was not far from the real
truth.
When the last guest was gone. Sir
Percy and Lady Carlyon went to Lady
Carlyon's own sitting-room II was the
first moment they had been alone to-
gether since they had seen the startling
news in the evening journal AS they en-
tered the room, Lady CarlyOn gave her
husband his favoTite chair and drew the
lamp shade so that the light should not
VeX him-all those graceful little atten-
tons which are so soothing 70 a wearied
and perplexed man. She knew by in
tuition what his first words would be.
1T seems to me-" he said. "as If I had
brought about this whole frightful catas-
tTOphe, as I introduced Senator March 10
Alicia Vernon But for me- and for my
folly and bad conduct sixteen years ago,
Alicia Vernon and Senator March would
probably have never met. All the conse-
quences ought TO have fallen upon me,
but you see they don't; they fall upon
the man who Is the soul Of truth and
honor. and wreck him, while I sit in
peace by my own fireside with you"
Lady Carlyon. being a true woman,
would rather the consequences of her
husbands early miSdoing should fall any
where than on him, and with a woman's
conception or miscOnceptiOn, Of abstract
justice said so 10 Sir Percy. He felt
however. as if the Fates and Furies had
fallen upon the wrong man. Lady Car
lyon cOmbatted this with tender sophistry,
which did not convince her husband.
AT all events" she said. Senator
March is an innocent man, and can no
doubt dispTuve all these things. I should
ike TO hear his disclaimer Would there
be any objection 10 my going 20 the Sem
ate chamber, for Of course the matter
win be taken up at once?"
Lady CarlyOn had not been brought up
in a Representatives. family without
knowing something Of the way things
went on in Congress.
I think you may GO" replied Sir
Percy, of course Senator March Is limo
cent, but 1t would be just Ike him 10
sacrifice himself for his wife"
AS you or any other man, who Is a
man. would do. responded Lady CarlyOn
Yes, but men are not called upon to
sacrifice themselves for the right kind Of
women Ike yourself my dainty Lady
Lucy and then they kissed each other
and forgot for a time all the troubles
and perpleXities and remorses Of life.
The next morning dawned clear and
bright and soft, an ideal spring morning
in Washington. Alicia March. who had
not once lost herself in sleep through all
the miserable hours Of the night. rose
early and dressed herself without her
maid. Throughout the splendid house
was the somber and intangible atmos-
phere Of calamity: the servants had read
the newspapers, and knew that disgrace
and disaster were at hand for the master
and mistress of that house. They were
fun Of curiosity. and whispered among
themselves, specializing upon their
chances Of getting new places.
Alicia watched the whole Of the early
morning for some communication from
her husband in his locked room. only two
doors away from her, but there was no
or letter. Senator March's own
bTougham always came for him at half
past ten, and 1t was the same on this
tateful morning. Alicia, looking out Of
the window, saw some light luggage
brought down and placed upon the box.
She turned to her desk, and, writing
few appealing words. took them herself to
the door of the study and knocked loudly
She could hear voices within-Senator
March giving his directions TO his score
tary. and TO Watson. his man Of bust
ness. No attention was paid 10 her. not
even when she thrust the note under
the door. There was. however, a pause.
and she thought perhaps Senator March
was reading what she had to say. She
did not hear another door of the study
open and the three men pass quickly
down the softly carpeted stair but hear
ing the bang Of the carriage door, she
ran toward the window and saw Senator
March drive of alone. A wild desire took
possession Of her to see the tragedy
brought about by herself played 70 the
end She rang her bell violently for her
maid, and with great agitation was
dressed in the same simple black gown
and hat and thick vel she had worn
when going to Colegrove's hotel in the
winter. As on that day, she went out as
II TO walk not caring for her carriage to
De seen al the Capitol. and. calling a cab.
directed the man to drive her 10 the
dome-capped building on the hill
She had feared being recognized, but
when seeing the surging mass Of people
those crowds Of the unknown who year in
and year out swarm through the Capitol
pack the galleries and block the corridors.
who seem strangers to the town and to
each other. she realized that there was
little danger of her identity being known.
She Joined the surging mass. and was
swept onward to the public gallery. where
the crowd was clamoring at the doors
and the doOrkeepers were holding them
back. Alicia, making her way toward
one Of the doorkeepers, whispered:
Il am Mrs. March. I desire 20 60 in
side"
The man recognized her instantly. he
had often seen her passing through the
on the way 70 and from the pri-
vate gaIiery-Senator March's wife was
too important person 20 be unknown 10
The Capitol officials. He opened the door
a foot OF two, and, still keeping the crowd
back, passed Alicia into the gallery. There
was scarcely standing room. and Alicia
was almost suffocated with the pressure:
standing at the very back of
the crowd. she was safe from observa-
ton. She glanced around the great hall
with its grained-glass ceiling, through
which the yellow sunlight filtered casting