Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1909-05-27

py".
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 w open
mouthed establishment was reflected in
the faces Of Carolina and Hope Geor-
gfa as they observed their fathers ex-
preston. He forgot he was in Wash
ington. He did not know he was a sen
ator. The fact that he had ever even
thought Of making a speech was fur
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 flustered
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
Pts smile. A panied expression, a sug-
gestion of intense suffering, appeared
in her face.
"Why do you so hesitate, Senator
Langdon?" she finally asked in low
voice, just loud enough for the two
girls to overhear.
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
that he could not shame her before
Carolina and Hope Georgia. His south
ern chiyalry would not permit that.
Then, too, she was a most charming
person, and the thought, why not
why not take her at her word?' crept
into his mind.
eyes, father, why do you h~esitate?'
asked Carolina.
Senator Langdon mustered his voice
into service at last.
"I've been thinking" he said slowly
that
"That your daughters did not know
interrupted Mrs. S%pangler, "of our
1.-THE telephone-upstairs-is ringing,
madam" said a maid who had entered
to Mrs. Spangler.
The adventures could not leave the
senator and his daughters alone,
though she knew it must be Peabody
calling her. At any momen he might
remember his speech and leave. Al
ready late, he would still be later
though, because he would have no car
~riage-hers would purposely be de-
layed.
"Tell the person speaking that you
are empowered to bring me any mes
sage-that | 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 it that you
were going to say when l interrupted
you a 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 his cloud.
ed face cleared.
"Mrs. Spangler," he began, "your an
! nouncement today I have considered
to be-
premature" she suggested.
The maid returned.
"Mr. Wall says Senator Langdon il
wanted at once at the capitol"
"Great heavens!'' exclaimed Langdon
springing to his feet and glancing a
the clock. "I'm late, I'm late! 1 hope
to God I'm not too late!!"
"Nr. Wall says a 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. II hope thai
carriage hurries, else I'll try it on the
run for the capitol"
"It's a half hour away on foot" sale
Mrs. Spangler. "Better wait. You'll
save time"
But to herself she muttered as
though mystiied:
81 wonder why Peabody changed his
mind so suddenly? Why should he
now want the old fool at the capito1?"
The rumble Of wheels was heard
outside.
"Hurry, father"! cried Hope Georgia
The senator hurried down the stone