Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-01-16

ing an idle and apathetic session I felt a
sudden stir In the House, one of those
movements aroused by an unexpected in
terest. but I was absorbed just then in a
letter from Aunt Jane and / did not raise
my mead AS read on Harrison strolled
from his desk across the house and sat
down beside me in Pedens vacant seat
why don't you look up?" he asked. in
ms usual careless half-bantering tone.
something of interest and Importance
10 both of us has happened
glanced at him inquringly not sure
that he was in earnest
don t understand you" l said
Pauline Harmon is in the balcony"
wheeled around at once at this start
ling news and beheld her. Behold" not
see, Is the word. because Pauline Har-
mon was gorgeous creature who Jumped
at the eye. She sat in the lobby now. the
target OF many glanceS, but calm and at
ease. conscious that she was beautiful and
observed. Her dress was lighter than
that worn by most women at this period
OF the year. l do not describe 1t because
l knew neither its materials nor its cut
but 1t became her rather flamboyant
beauty, and she showed at her best. a
large. full-blown woman having charms
and knowing how to use them
Harrison laughed softly, and his laugh
had the ring, not of affectation or cvni-
cism. but of truth.
lhis is a vivid addition to our little
world he said. land | think I see an
increase of its picturesqueness and color. y
j could not doubt his words, and | felt
alarm, too; alarm on account of Alicia
upon whom this arrival would out shame
watched Pauline Harmon and I saw
well now potent her charms could be with
man III whom the intellectual element
was lacking. The outlines of her figure
were graceful and fine, her color was
delicate, and she showed at all times the
supple and velvety ease and strength of
a tigress. Physically she was a splendid
woman. and ] sighed for Alicia's SAFE
because another could draw from her the
husband whom I despised, and of whom
| wished that she was rid forever. Such
curious creatures We arei
Her eye passing over the floor of the
mouse, perhaps with the cool examining
gaze of the tigress seeking possible vic
Tins, alighted at last upon me, and nv
look met hers. She smiled-it was a
warm, ingratiatins smile. giving her face
the look OF an innocent woman-and she
made me little bow, which | returned
Smile and bow together said: Come out
and talk to me, but | pretended not to
understand, and turned back to the letter
OF thai very prim and precise person,
Aunt Jane WHAT a word or dificr.nre
between her and Pauline Harmon,
But Pauline Harmon did not lack atten-
ton. Harrison himself went into the
lobby to see her, and, one by one, fully
dozen members of the house drifted
little court, in the center of which she
sparkled and shone. l. seemed to me-
giving her occasional chances. that she
was some what modified in manner since
/ had last seen her in Louisville: that is
TO say, subdued and restrained: her voice
was not so loud, her gestures not so ex-
IRENE. and | fancied that ! saw about
her, despite her bright dress, a certain
primness ridiculously suggestive of Aunt
Jane. But l smiled at the though, and
reflected that it could not be-
half an hour later my glance met
hers again, but her eyes no longer con-
tanned any hint OF another invitation 40
join her circle. / had declined once which
was enough. and they passed culdly on
After the session | met Harrison on the
capitol steps.
What is she doing here?'' l asked
A new enemy for you. She has come
to fight you
Don't joke" | said.
Il am in earnest. She tells me tina; she
mas come to Frankfort to lobby against
the Peden bill think you'd tier be on
your guard. She's perhaps more formula
BILE than you suppose
Go be continued tomorrow