Evening star., 1909-03-07

ton long ago that Stephen Hedges wife had
lain dying. with her and the Senator alone
watching, and when she had drawn down the
shades passing band began to play loudly and
she had heard him groan. Would he remember,
This waiting was timely respite to plan an in
tervlew OF strategic moves, and yet these old
melting memories would come.
1t was hour before Senator Hedges ap-
peared She had not been prepared for two
crutches When she had seen him last it had
been only a cane. He waited for her to speak
' | know you must be surprised to see me-
Senator, she began primly because his piercing
glance said, Don't you dare pity mei'-and
yet pity would burn the anger from her heart
" One does not look for visits from the wife of
the man who slapped ones face the floor of
the House, he reJolned gr1mly.
That was SO long ago. she pleaded.
The sting is torever! he snapped.
Why wouldn't the strength to denounce this
come to her. Mother Hutt clasped her
black gloved hands determined to use her
knowledge threateningly. But, looking at the
crippled figure she sought IN vain the words of
bitter arraignment. The very simplicity of a
tender old heart robbed her of courage. yet led
her all unconscious into the paths exalted diplo
macy might have followed.
Yes. because you were both wrong she
answered steadily. " If one had been in the
right, he would have been magnanimous. If
G. |. had ever forgiven himself he would have
asked your pardon. Don't you recollect how
once your Steve and our Jack got into such
fight over which should be the caveman in the
areaway of our boarding house and when we
the mothers. had fixed up their disfigurements.
your wife Kate tried to reason little Steve into
saying he was sorry.-Kate always was so gem
tie with the children.-and finally the young
ster called out, Look out. ma Cause if you
make me SO 'shamed can't like myself enough
to tell Jack. he ought to forgive me-, Steve al
ways was the brightest child she smiled remi-
niscently.
THE Senator'S expression of wasping instinct
had vanished at her natural mention of his
wife's name. His tense shoulders softened a
little into the leather cushions When he spoke
however, the yielding denied His harsh
voice wrung the words from his spent frame
with almost incredible vehemence.
And what has the bright Steve become, A
ter married bogus Count! You know all this
And all the time I've had to see YOU prosper
Hutt, the impeccable, became landmark in
the House
Yet you went to the Senate. Stephen" she
interrupted him, the name coming uncon-
sciously in her great effort to hark back to a
softenlng perspective
His crutches clattered to the floor: but for
bidding gesture held her help away and he con-
tinued. And your boys went through college
and came out with honors and settled down here
in the East, and you re proud of them. And
could just Hutt's SNUG smile when your
Annie married the richest man in your home
town She didn't marry foreigner. oh no.
Mrs HUT came forward until her blunt
fingers trembled on the edge of the desk oppo-
site him. How you have hated and suffered
and misunderstood, Stephen Hedges!" she said
" But let me tell you thing 1t isn't what
came to say at all but it just has to be said
first OF course, my Annie had to marry Ben
Lupper,-theyd always been sweethearts and
Annie never had any ambition for branching
out in Washington life.-and of course she has
sweet home out in Huntsville and everything
she wants: but I'd be an old goose if couldn't
see that your girl, with her unhappiness and the
hardships she's been brought to through that
foreign marriage, had developed a thousand
times the deeper. stronger character. Why
when she came to see me the other day"
"She came to see your My Charlotte?" he
unused wonderingly. and then demanded
sternly, How did she dare come back here?"
Shed heard you were sick, and wanted to
be near" replied Mother Hutt.
Wants some more money to buy another
jackanapes husband, suppose you mean!" he
snarled but his head dropping.
No; she spoke about getting something to
do. She's very fine" spoke the woman as
tenderly as if commencing her own.
MY daughter in the Departments! Ill
never stand for that She knows it. too: but
where is sheo'
Mrs. Hutt sighed as she gave the address
I'm write to her But you'd better give her
to understand that this is deathbed call. The
doctors told me year ago it was all up: but |