Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-03-27
md Hope Georgia could formulate re-

and Hope Georgia could formulate re-
ply.
because your father and I wanted
to take this opportunity to announce to
you-our engagement"
The speaker smiled her sweetest
smile.
The two girls gazed at each other in
uncomfortable amazement. then at Mrs.
Spangler, then at their father, who had
/ turned partly away from the table and
was gazing abstractedly at the ceiling.
4 Hope Georgia was the first to regain
her voice.
"Oh Mrs. Spangler," she calculated,
'you are very kind to marry father
butt
whats that" exclaimed the sena
tor, reused from his thoughts by his
youngest daughters words and thrust
ing himself forward.
Mrs. Spangler laid her hand on his
arm.
ooh, SENATOR l have just told the
dear girls that you had asked me to
marry you-that we were soon to be
married." she said archly. looking him
straight in the eye. She clasped her
j hands and murmured, II am SO hap
pyw @
/ The hero Of Charlottesville tried to
speak, but he could not. He stared at
his hostess, who smiled the smile of the
budding debutante. His own open
mouthed astonishment was reflected in
4 the faces of Carolina and Hope Geor-
4 gia as they observed their fathers ex-
preston. He forgot he was in Wash
ington. He did not know he was SEN
ator. I The fact that he had ever even
thought Of making speech was 1ur-
thest from his mind.
What did it all mean? Had Mrs.
Spangler gone suddenly insane? His
daughters-what did they think? These
thoughts surged through his, fustered
brain. Then it flashed over him-she
was joking in some new fashionable
way. He turned toward the fair wild
ow to laugh, but her face was losing
its smile. a panied expression, sug-
gestion Of Intense suffering. appeared
in her face.
Langdon7" she finally asked in low
voice, just loud enough for the two
girls to overhear.
1 The junior senator from Mississippi
looked at his hostess. She had enter
tanned him and had done much for his
daughters in Washington. She was
alone in the world-a widow. He felt
j that he could not shame her before
Carolina and Hope Georgia. His south
ern chivalry would not permit that.
4 Then, too, she was a most charming
person, and the thought, "Why not
4 why not take her at her word?" crept
into his mind.
eyes, father, why do you hesitate"
1 asked Carolina.
i Senator I.angdon mustered his voice
into service at last.
4 GIVE been thinking" he said slowly,
"that"-
"That your daughters did not know, .
interrupted Mrs. Spangler, "of our
1.-THE telephone-upstairs-is ringing,
4 madam" said maid who had entered
to Mrs. Spangler.
4 The adventures could not leave the
senator and his daughters alone,
though she knew 1t must be- Peabody
4 calling her. At any moment he might
remember his speech and leave. Al
ready late, Ae would still be later,
though, because he would have no car
riage-hers would purposely be de-
4 layed.
"Iell the person speaking that you
are empowered to bring me any mes
sage-that l cannot leave the dining
hail." she said to the maid.
To gain time and to hold the sena-
tors attention Mrs. Spangler asked
slowly:
"Well, senator, what was 1t that you
were going to say when interrupted
you few moments ago."
Langdon had been racking. his brain
for some inspiration that would enable
him to save the feelings of his hostess
and yet indicate his position clearly.
He would not commit himself in any
way. He would jump up and pro-
nounce her an impostor first
After a moment Of silence bis cloud.
ed face cleared.
'Mrs. Spangler," he began, "your an
nouncement today have considered
to be-
premature" she suggested.
The maid returned.
"Mr. Wall says Senator Langdon Is
wanted at once at the capitol"
"Great heavensw exclaimed Langdon,
springing to his feet and elancing at
! the clock. I'm late, I'm late! hope
to God I'm not too latew
"Mr. Wall says carriage is coming
for Senator Langdon," concluded the
maid.
eve must talk this matter over some
other time, Mrs. Spangler," the Mis-
sissippian cried as he sent a servant
for his hat and coat. 81 hope that
carriage hurries, else I'll try it on the
run for the capitol"
cts half hour away on foot" said
Mrs. Spangler. "Better wait. You'll
cavo timen