The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1909-05-15
CHAPTER ill.-Continued.

SHNP eH llI.-SontiNueo.
Vernon scarcely knew what to re
ply; such objections as he might have
found at other times-the old mascu
line objections to womens voting and
meddang in politics-had all disap
peafed al sight of this remarkable
young woman who wished to vote her
self; he could not think of one OF
them. try as he would. His eyes were
on the rose.
Perhaps your objections are mere
ly prejudices,' she yentured boldly, in
her eyes a latent twinkle that dis
turbed him
Il confess. Miss Greene" he began
trying to get back something Of his
senatorial dignity. such as state sena
torial dignity is. that / have not de
voted much thought to the subject;
am indeed rather ashamed to acknowl
edge that | did not even know the
amendment was coming up to-day, un
til l was-ah-so delightfully."- re,
minded by your rose"
He raised the rose to inhale its fra.
GRANGE. She made no reply. but she
kept her eyes on him, and her gaze
compelled him to go on. 1t was hard
for him to go on, for it was now but
a struggle against the formality of a
surrender that had been inevitable
from the beginning. But his man s
pride forced him to delay it as long as
possible.
what assurances have you from
other senator's" he asked Though
perhaps. I need not ask-they have
nj irpn ~
He looked at his colleagues. sporting
their roses Miss Greene gave a little
exclamation of annoyance.
DO you think | don't know" she
said that | don't understand all that
] might have known that they would
not take it seriously. And | thought
i thought-to put the matter SO eas-
lily to them that ] should be spared the
necessity of buttonholing them"
1T was novel way of buttonholng
them" he laughed.
oh" she exclaimed. catching her
breath, they wear the roses-and
laugh at met"
Her eyes flashed through the mists
OF vexation that suggested tears.
You are all alone then?"
'i llotl SftiAl inns III Il low. SblItIlbuS
tone, as if he were dealing with some
deep grief
"All alone"
And you represent no one-that is,
no society no club?"
Il am not paid lobbyist" she said.
though | believe it is not beyond the
properties of our profession. | do
what do only from love of princi-
Pile. | represent only my sex" She
said 1t impressively. and then with a
quick little laugh that recognized the
theatrical that had been in her atti-
tude. she added: And that, l suspect,
without authorization.
The ladies, generally. do not seem
to be interested" Vernon acquiesced.
No" she shook her head sadly. mo,
on ths contrary. l suppose most OF
them oppose the measure"
Il have generally found them of that
feeling Vernon observed
THE slaves. before the war, often
petitioned congress not to set them
free. you will remember"
Miss Greene spoke with a bitter.
ness. Then quickly she collected her
self
But your objections. Senator Yer
non?" she said. Really, we must get
down to business"
She raised the little chatelaine
watch that hung at her bosom and
looked down at it And then sudden
ly, without waiting for his objections,
as If she had quite forgotten them in
deed. she impulsively stretched forth
a hand and said:
You will help me. won't you?"
Vernon looked into her eyes. His
gaze, after an instant. fell. He tried
to run the stem of the rose through
his buttonhole. The thorns caught in
the cloth.
You'll have to do it," he said, help.
lessly.
From some mysterious fold of her
habit she took pin, and then, lean
ing over, She pinned the rose to his
coat pinned it with its long stem
hanging, as woman would pin a flow.
er to a mars lapel.
THANK YOU" He was looking into
her eyes again.
Rather let me thank you.' she said
TITS SO good of you to vote for my
measure"
His eyes widened suddenly. He had
quite forgotten the resolution. She
must have perceived this for she