The sun., 1909-12-19
Bo''O'' "REMINISCENCES (
The Hon. Mr.. Mundy's Sacrifice.

The Hon. Mr.. Mundy was as good |
an his word. Owing to his influence |
;r the Committee on Claims and on the [
aoor OF the House the special bill for the
r.lief OF Mrs. Larcomb passed without |
onnosition. She was thus enabled to |
I'D her sister, Miss Matilda. away sor |
,aoser care and better treatment. while |
,he herself continued to polish the brasses |
and do the other work without consuming |
ber soul with bitterness.
Peace and contentment then reigned
!, the old fashioned house where my
sister Laura and I had our rooms. Thither
Mr.. Mundy formed the habit OF coming
evenings to sip his tea while he expatiated
m the blissfulness OF homo and contrasted
tbe excellencies of his first and his second
aepsrted dear ones. like many another
Polonius OF widower by indirections
finding directions out.
without opposition Mr.. Mundy had
succeeded in carrying out his grateful
promise to Laura. but not without criti-
cism. Every member had . SCORE or more
Of private bills for weeping. pleading.
pagRing or threatening constituents.
many OF which the tenacious watchful-
mesa OF -Unoonditional- Mundy had
Kept from consideration. What busi-
ness then had he 10 let his actions eat
his words by forcing through the measure
Of measures which he had most fercely
condemned
At first these mutterings were low.
for Mr.. Mundy was q warrior OF experience
and renown. but when. gradually that
psver failing attendance Of his grew
hx when gradually IL became known
that he was Willing away his time in
the house of the beneficiary OF the Larch-
aide case, then they waxed loud. even
.s great Hercules himself was secuted
while he fingered effcminate among the
Amazons.
All this learned in that unavailing
time after the evsnt. Even as Mr.. Mundy
formed the habit OF coming 70 our rooms
90 did my Congressman. Mr.. Gizer. aban-
don the habit OF doing 90 he had already
formed. AS result worked with him
early and late at the once. leaving Laura
to the guilcless IL not wise charge Of her
own sweet will.
One day when Mr.. Giser and I were
breathiessly engAged over national bet
terments the once door opened with a
rush and closed with bang. A woman
She was slight, spare and weazen. with
suspicious little eyes and an inquisitive
nose sr.-
great hat rolled portentousiy on
top Of q mass Of faded hair even ~ Il
stuck there tenaciously. Her age was
beyond masculine calculation. even as
it was beyond masculine inquiry; J
doubt il she herself would gue.s ut. II
for faar af wIrno0inR right She WAS
richly dressed with a good deal OF the jet
Of an aggressive competence.
you are the Hon. Van Cortland Gixer
from the Thirty-eighth New York; abe
:sld Nc. g %y asps's oastieSses oa your.
though devote my time and means here
70 the cause Of my downtrodden sisters
| want your help,
4 am sure, madam replied Mr.. Gixer.
nervously pusting his hand inte his pocket.
that it u at once my duty and my pieas-
uTe to contribute TO the alleviation Of 90
serious a family calamity. l trust that
their injuries may not prove permanent.
Meanwhile IL you viii accept--
bah! You know well enough what
. mean. ! spoke figurstively and In a
4 assure You, madam interposed
Mr.. Gizer, that haven't the slightest
objection to q woman voting II she
chooses to do 90. but the regulation Of
the Franchise. you must know d purely
Don't be . LAodioean. Mr.. 0iser
lest the fate Of one befAu you Congrnse
has jurisdiction over the District Of Co
lumbia. Il 10 here. 1t the capital Of the
nation, that this great reform should be
}ect lesson In civics to the country.
4 beg to differ With you. madam Tc
my mind II should be q refined and beau
tiful city Of homes. shut on. so far al
may be possible, from
tested Miss Jermain. with rattlinG je'
confirming. =You are like all the rest
90 stuck in the mud OF precedent that yot
don't dare move.
Nor do 1 believe that this. inaniticr
b all that sils you. Arc you aware. sir
n the notorious Larchside claim yot
have already laid yourself open to grave
suspicion? I am holding that eminent
statesman's fate In my hand
He Ia chairman Of the Committee os
the Elective Franchise. This very da1
his committee favorably reports my bill
forthwith he will have to answer for nh
conduct before the bar Of the House.
-0h. know very well what am about
Do you remember what q pack OF woive
do TO a wounded wolf2 They turn an'
one OF the leaders. but let the pubii
once detect a weak spot. black spot
the others Of them viii be frat and fore
most in casting him out.
Reflect while there ID yet time. Yo
are young and shall have another chance
But IL you are not with me I'm agains
you. Mark that
There was . departing rush, glitter
,ns clash Of jet. a warning bang. MI
Giser sighed.
How much easier IL 10. Buffum. b
said, to legislate for q whole nation tha
for the least Of its component parts.
II
That evening whom I returned to ou
rooms found Laura 90 divertingly al
soybed in an outspread newspaper tbs
knew before she spoke she must be he
own most intelligent reader.
Look at this.' George she cries
- double loaded column on the fri
page OF the Newtown Clarion. How
that for fame7 It's the funniest thin
ever read n ! say IL myself. My, m!
but it's richi"
took the copy Of the paper OF whic
khro,I 1h aav-.s - oha 01> Va,xra