The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-08-02
THE EVENING STORY
Consul to Pango.

|
When Adam Hazeltine came from
college a full fedged A. B. and the |
winner of a prize in oratory, he
brought with him two well developed |
| ambitions. One of these-perhaps the |
one most fond1y cherished-was to
make himself so essential to the fu-
ture of Jessica Haight that she could |
not build an air castle that did not |
| include him as an occupant.
He believed that he had already |
| made considerable progress toward |
| the attainment of this premier ambi- |
| ton, and it inspired him with robust |
determination to bring about the |
speedy realization of the other.
That other was the inextinguishablet
desire to serve his country as Ameri- |
can representative in some foreign
sulate on the long list beginning at
| London. Il his latter ambition was
something he had acquired at college,
where he had specialized with direct
reference to a future connection with
Uncle Sans diplomatic and consular
service.
From the first his scheme to inter-
est Jessica Haight in himself and his
plans worked admirably. His cam
paign was so well ordered that she
capitulated without going to the trou-
BILE of making even the conventional
show of resistance.
come as surprise, Adam was proper
ly elated; it would enable him to de-
vote his undivided attention to the
promotion of his remaining aspiration.
: Besides, he had secured very ener-
getic ally in the young woman who
had professed herself willing to follow
! him to the end of the world.
; Jessica's opportunity to become ac-
tive in the matter came Immediately.
Judge Enoch Haight, her father, was
J the one man in New Thebes who
: could, if he would, exert powerful in
} f1uence in behalf of Adams candidacy.
Although the Judge held no office, 1t
j was understood in New Thebes that,
despite the changes brought about by
civil service reform, he was still pow
! er in the political world, quite enough
SO to land a consular appointment nao
he thus elected.
He was not so minded. Jessica was
brought to sudden realization OF the
fact at her first attempt to make MIN
a party to the pretty scheme which she
and Adam had devised. She had spent
a good deal of time in thinking up a
: diplomatic introduction to the busi-
ness. but when the moment came sne
out bluntly with a request that some
| thing handsome in the consular line
be done for Mr. Hazeltine.
Mr.. Hazeltine? he exclaimed
{ with amazemert written all over his
; usually placid countenance. What
t And then it occurred to the fair
: promoter that there were at least
, three families Of that name within
the limits of New Thebas.
why, Adam, of course she ex-
planned.
! why of course? 20 he asked. with
! no apparent modification of his as
r constituent.
And now she recalled the fact that
o her father had been given no oppor-
!. tunity to become wise as to the honor
j, which Adam purposed to confer on
e him. II was trying situation, but
y she was a young woman of courage
= and far too we'll acquainted with her
e father to stand in awe of him.
o "Oh, I supposed you were interest
e ed in him." she answered, with an ex-
cel1ent imitation of the Indifference,
which did not deceive the judge for an
: Instant "You used to think him very
bright, you know"
d Hes outgrown it." he returned
d grimly.
: ly "Stil1, he's spent years and years
: in preparing himself for the business
n and I shouldn't think you'd feel like
+ I--like-'
e Like what?' he interrupted i'm
: patiently.
v Like interfering with his ca
i reer," she said stoutly. Then, real
=. izing the absurdity of her position.
n she laughed a little and paused to Sc
= lect a more vulnerable point of at
d tack.
IT should think you would be glad
1t to do a small thing like this-for my
1t sake, if for no other reason" she went
o on.
!. "Jessica Haight," said her father,
l. with the look of a man about to SEN
n tence one of lis fellows to capital
e punishment. ct am a lawyer of aver
= age intelligence. / have never been
r accused of being lacking in the per-
" / T,r1fi will toll ma
= what you are driving at shall esteem
1t a personal favor"
"I don't know why should" she
returned, with her head in the air
since you don't seem inclined to dc
me the slightest favor"
IS The old man said no more, but
brought his breakfast to an abrupt
IA close and set out for his office. Even
before he stepped into the street he ex-
! changed his look OF deep perplexity FOL
u one of keen and humorous apprecia-
ton. This became intensified as he
10 covered the short distance between his
house and his place of business, and DJ
r the time he reached the latter his smile
is was so expansive that the other half Of
the firm of Haight & Williams, who
"a was the congressman from that dis
II trict looked up from his brief and de
manded an accounting. The judge tole
the story from beginning to end and
le found in his partner a sympathetic
L sharer in the humor of the situation.
FYour little girls all right, ne cnuck
ri led gleefully Hadn't you better le
Be me get something for the boy?"
mot on your life!'
f. Mr.. Williams was startled almos
ct into seriousness. He tried 1T. but n
ID couldn't recall another occasion OF
which his dignified partner had mad
- use of such an expression.
- "Why, why he stammered
- ! Boys all right. isn't he?"
"a Couldn't be better.
"All satisfactory to you, isn't it?"
lg Perfectly"
s. The congressman threw his ciga