Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-02-02
CONGRESSMAN'S WIFE

Continued from page 10

IKE all happy rehcs III the oouth 10 De
fo' de wa"
On the way home Captain Roderique
did most of the talking. and what he
said remains the only reality of the occa-
sion. And now, Eta, after all this YER
batim report of trivialities, you are to
hear the momentous revelation l prom
ised
have agreed to write a book on the
colonial development and policy of His
Majesty King of Etruria! Naturally
Captain Roderique does not wish to
appear as the author, because he would
be considered prejudiced; but he says
any publishing house would jump at 1T
signed by the wife of a Congressman,
and he is sure it will make me re-
garded as an authority on this burning
question. Think, Eta, may make the
name of Beulah Rural famous even while
Amos is still in the political ranks. Cap
tain Roderique is sure l can achieve it.
He has had this in mind ever since he
first saw me, he says.
But until our minds have converted
the gross untruths into golden literature,
we must hide every trace of our labora-
tory" was his peroration.
lust the same" l exclaimed lnvolun-
tarily, "of course l must let Amos know.
Captain Roderique replied, however,
with resentment that surprised me, For
Heavens sake, don't show me prudlshly
American side,-you with your ORIENTAL
look of temperamental intuitions!" Then
he added, pouting like a disappointed
child, "If you tell your husband, he will
want to write the book for his own glori-
fcation; and will never reveal my Gov
ernment'S secrets to anyone but you. so
will a great work be lost!"
So I promised absolute secrecy, and
have been hiding the pangs Of stolen pie
indigestion ever since.
WHEN we reached the Rainey, Cap
w tain Roderique stopped to pay the
cab driver, and made dash to get in
side My foot caught in the carpet
stretched over the steps on account of
the weather, and / stumbled forward
only to find myself rescued uprightly by
Mr.. Teale.
He regarded the night liner and Cap
tain Roderique intently; then turned
such compelling glance on me that was
on the point of retailing the evening from
A to z; but the Captains smooth voice
interposed with:
Good evening, Mr.. Teale. Beastly
time trying to get Mrs. Rural's carriage
at the diplomatic. But very nice recep-
ton, in spite of the crowds. must not
keep you standing mere 10 get cn1ied.
And he was bowling himself away, when
Mr. Tea1e caught his arm.
We'll walk home together, if you
please, Roderique," he said.
Then he turned to me. Senator Todd
has pneumonia, and Amos is going to
spend the night there. Mrs. Todd sends
her love, and asks that you will come to
her in the morning"
THE way these words came made me
feel as if some one was holding my
head under dripping ice water cooler,
with the drops falling with freezing insist
ence on the same spot. But the next day
when was sitting with Mrs. Todd in the
little den, right off the Senator's bed
room, we fell to talking about Mr.. Teale;
half critically, because it was relief to
disapprove of some one outside of my
self And then she told me things which
explain that hint of tragedy in his life,
and make me pray not to meet him for
few days. If do, l shall be torn between
a sense of shame and the desire to put my
arms round his neck and cry.
The Alice" they referred to SO ten
derby that day is Mr.. Teales wife, and
she is hopelessly, at times violently, in
sane under guard, in a villa built for her
on the grounds of our State institution
She had a voice of wonderful promise,