The Dolores star., 1909-06-04
CHAPTER XIV.

They walked briskly down the slo-
ping street under the railroad bridge
and then up the little hill whereou
SITS the capitol of Illinois. They
could see the big flag high upon the
dome standing out in the prairie wind.
and the little flags on the house wing
and the senate wing whipping joyous
ly. sprightly symbols OF the sitting Of
both houses.
Now and then they heard cheers
from the house wing, where the legis-
lafive riot that ends a session was al
ready beginning They passed into
the dark and cool corridors Of the
state house. then up to the third
floor. where members and messenger
boys. correspondents and page boys,
rushed always across from one house
to the other. swinging hurriedly
around the brass railing Of the ro-
tunda. 1t seemed that the tide Of
legislative life was just then setting
In toward the senate.
"Oh. Morley" whispered Amelia.
forgetting his offense. and clinging
close to him, Il can't go in there.
really I can't"
Nonsense" said Vernon, come on.
I'll deliver you to Mrs. Hodge-Ls-
throp In minute; then you'll be per-
fectly safe. Besides, you have your
lobbying to do"
They reached the senate entrance,
and the d0orkeeper. seeing senator.
opened way through the crowd for
their passage. There was confusion
everywhere. the nervous and excited
hum of voices from the floor. from the
vestibule, from the galleries, from all
around. And just as they stepped up
to the raised floor whereon the desks
OF senators are placed. the gavel fell.
and stiffness with 1t. They saw the
lieutenant governor leaning over his
desk, studying a slip of paper he held
In his hand.
ION this question:" he said, "the
yeas are 80 and the nays are II: and
two-thirds OF the members-elect hav-
ing failed to vote in the Affirmative,
the resolution is lost"
Vernon stood transfixed. The whole
thing was borne in upon him; he saw
Mrs. Overman Hodge-Lathrop, and the
expression OF calm and lofty satisfac-
tion that had settled on her face told
him that 1t was the Ames amendment
that had been lost. But some new
| thought seemed to strike her. for when
Senator Porter looked around with
something like smile of congratula-
tion, she beckoned him, and he has.
tened to her side.
Move to reconsider and to lay on
the table" she said. and with a look
OF admiration he turned and made
the motion. 1t was put. 1t was carried
Of course. and the amendment was
lost irrevocably.
"Well, that's attended to-" said Mrs
Overman HodgeA athrop. "Ah, Nor
ley" she said calmly, you here? And
Amelia?"
"She's here" he said. "and IL did
not get here on time!" The shame and
modification on his face we're pitiable,
though they could not have touched
Mrs. Overman Hodge-Lathrop's heart.
"And l didn't get here on time" /"
he repeated. ruefully.
why, my dear boy" said Mrs.
Overman Hodge-Lathrop. 81 didn't in
tend that you should"
He looked at her fercely, angrily,
a second.
$50 that was the game, was it?" he
said. He whirled. with another fierce
look, on Amelia.
That was the game, yes. Morley"
said Mrs. Overman Hodge-Lathrop.
but you needn't look at Amelia So
she was utterly innocent. the dear
little thing"
Amelia came up. She had seen Yer
mons expression.
What is it-what has happened?"
she inquired
We'll. got here too late. that's ali, -
said Vernon. Il was detained, and
Mrs Hodge-Lathrop has just now
kindly told me that she had arranged
| that / should be. I'm ruined, that's
all; I'm lost"
mo, Morley" said Mrs. Hodge-La.
throp. you're saved. You're saved
| from yourself" She still smiled at
him sweetly. You might have made,
don't you know. another one of your
| speeches"
Vernon bit his lip and walked away.
He encountered Martin, but could only
look at him helplessly. Martin re-
turned his look with one Of surprise.
you here?" he said
well, yes" replied Vernon. "At
last-too late, It seems"
The surprise had not left Martins
face; to 1t was now added perplex-
ity
IF we'd known" said Martin; but
we thought. that is. we heard, that you
had ducked."
| Vernon shook his head as with a
| gain that would not let him speak. He
| vas looking disconsolately across the
chamber to where Miss Greene stood
'alking with Bull Burns. AS in a
'ream, he heard Mrs. Overman Hodge
athrop exclaim: