Willmar tribune., 1909-06-23
CHAPTER I.

smiling with the joy of Vernon's COM
Ing, she stopped on the bottom step
long enough to shake out the skirt of
the new spring gown she wore, with a
manner that told she had it on that
evening for the first time. Vernon
fastened to meet her, and it was not
until he had kissed her and released
her from his embrace that she saw the
dressing-case he had set down in the
hall.
What's that for?" she asked in
alarm. Her smile faded suddenly, leav-
Ing her face wholly serious.
Il have to go back tonight" he re-
piled, almost guiltily.
"To-night!"
Eyes; must be in Springfield in
the morning."
but what about the dinner?"
''Wel," he began, helplessly, 81
guess you'll have to get somebody in
my place.
Amelia stopped and looked at him in
amazement.
Il thought the senate never met
Mondays until five o'clock in the after
noon?" she said.
1T doesn't, usually; but had a tel
egram from Porter an hour ago:
there's to be conference in the morn
ing"
They started toward the drawing
room. Amelia was pouting in her dis
appointment.
Il knew something would spoil it, -
she said, Realistically. And then she
added, presently: Il thought that Mon
day afternoon session never lasted
longer than minute. You never went
down before until Monday night
II know, DEAR" said Vernon, apollo.
getically, "but now that the session is
nearing its close, we're buster than we
have been."
Cant you wire Mr.. Porter and get
him to let you OFF," she asked.
Vernon laughed.
HE isn't my master,' he replied.
"Well, he acts like it, she retorted
and then as if she had suddenly hit
upon an unanswerable argument she
went on: IF that's so why do you
pay any attention to his telegram"
1T isn't he, DEAR" Vernon explained
''it's the party. We are to have a very
important conference to consider sit
uation that has just arisen. must not
miss it,
well, it ruins my dinner, that's
ALL" she said, helplessly. Il wanted
you here"
Vernon had come up from Spring
field as usual for the weeks end ad
journment, and Amelia had counted or
his waiting over, as he always did, fol
the Monday night train, before going
back to his duties in the senate. More
than all, she had counted on him for &
dinner she had arranged for Monday
evening.
what time does your train leave?'
she asked, in the voice of one who sue
cumbs finally to hopeless situation
ELEVEN twenty" he said. "But
brought my luggage over with me, sc
could start from here at the last
minute. I'll go over to the Twenty
third street station and catch il
there
Amelia had had the deep chair Yer
non liked so we'll wheeled into the
mellow circle of the light that fel
from a tall lamp. The lamp gave the
only light in the room, and the room
appeared vast in the dimness; an eff
feet somehow aided by the chill thai
was on it, as if the fires of the Ansley
house had been allowed to die dow1
in an eager pretense of spring. 1t wa:
spring, but spring in Chicago. Sunda.
morning had been bright and the lake
had sparkled blue in the warm wine
that came up somewhere from thu
southwest, but by night the wind hat
wheeled around, and the lake resumed
it's normal cold and menacing mood
AS Vernon sank into the chair h,
caught narrow glimpse of the boule
ward between the curtains of the larg,
window; in the brilliant light of :
street lamp he could see a cold rail-
slanting down on to the asphalt.
"How much longer is this legislator,
to last, anyway" Amelia demanded, a
she arranged herself in the low chat
before him.
"Three weeks" Vernon replied.
e-weeks-more!' The cir
drew the words out.
Eyes, only three weeks" said Vel
non. "And then we adjourn sine die
The Joint resolution fixes the date fo
June second
Amelia said nothing. She was usu
ally disturbed when Vernon began t.
speak of his joint resolutions; whicl
was, perhaps, the reason why he spok
of them so often.
"Of course" Vernon went on. wit
certain impression of relief in hi
words, Il have another session afte
this"
when will that be-" Amelia asked
winter after next. The governo,
though, may call a special session t
deal with the revenue question. Tha
would take US all back there agail
next winter
Next Winter!" she cried, leanin
over in alarm. do you mean you'l
have to be away all next winter, too!
The significance of her tone wa
sweet to Vernon, and he raised hin
self to take her hands in his.
"You could be with me then, deal
est" he said, softly.
In Springfield" she exclaimed
"Whv NOT ?" asked Vernon s'0the
members have their wives with ther
some Of them." he qualified. thinl