Los Angeles herald., 1910-02-06


4 other offered during the session had
excited half much interest as this proposal
of Mr. Moores to regulate the schools of the State
cording to new system, drastic nay revolutionary in
its character. The question was already sore one.
committee, after long examination had made severe
report upon existing methods, stating unanimously that
the schools antiquated and decidedly inferior to
those of other States.
The pride of the people, and also that of the House
and Senate had been touched. Many of the members
had come to the aid of the old system and others had
publicly announced that they would support the conf
mittee 1t ioregone conclusion that the Legs
laure would divide seriously on the question and the
division would not be partisan. Republicans and Demo-
Gratis alike would be found in the attack and the de-
tense.
Now Mr. Moore had introduced his measure and the
field cleared for the battle The bill was referred to
committee with instructions to report, and the day S
session of the House adjourned But members and
spectators talked of nothing else as they passed out
Bob Whitney, the young member from Fulton County,
and several friends, walked slowly down the AISLE dis
cussing the measure and wondering whether 1T would
pass. Whitney, tall, bue-eyed handsome and under
thirty, favorite in the House Moreover he was
its first orator, man born with the gilt OF golden
speech, and obviously destined to high career He was
in love- too with Evelyn Carter the handsome daughter
of the Lieutenant Governor and runor said that she did
not look upon him with disfayor.
AS Whitney stood upon the Capitol steps he forgot for
a moment the perpeXing bill A deep snow had fallen
about week before followed by rain which in half
hour gave way to intense cold. Very little of the
snow had melted but the rain had frozen upon its sur
face and the world literally sheathed in coat of
sivery-white The shone bright but frosty
and cold the white hills threw back its CLEANS in
frozen river flashed and glered too, and the myrad5
of icices hanging like spears from the roofs, seemed
now and then to be tipped with fame.
Paths had been broken through the sheet of ice and
the beneath and down the Capitol grounds and
along the city streets the snow heaped on either side
OF the walks i'll great white walls.
Whitney, still drawing deep breaths of the cold, brac-
ing air walked between the white walls replying to the
stray words of friends whom he met but thinking now
neither of them of the bill. He had the best of
reasons for this detachment because he his way
to the railroad station to meet Evelyn Carter who was
interesting and far attractive than any bill
could possibly be even to an ambitious and rising
young politician ~
She had been gone only week, yet the glitterng
world glittered all the for him because she
coming There was in him the strain of sentiment the
touch of poetry which orator such as he, must have,
and he was consciously willing to attribute much of the
beauty about him her speedy arrival. He smiled be
cause he pleased and Others seeing the smile,
Lie seemed very full to Whitney that morning After
some vexing hours he had found his mind and was
free from doubt He loved Evelyn Carter, and many
little signs inspired him with confidence that he did not
love in vain hence the reasons were numerous and good
why he should hold his head high and include the whole
world in his happy smile.
preferred stand the asphalt beside the tracks, and
gaze into the west whence the train bearing her would
appear The capital lay i'll valley and the encircng
line of high hills cut by two deep cefts through one
of which the river flowed, while the railroad came by
the other From the station neither clett was was visible
and to anyone standing there the wall of hills would
seem compete far as the eye was concerned the little
city was its little world.
against the dazzling blue of the western sky the train
showed in the cleft and then came swiftly into the sta
ton. He was at the step when Evelyn Carter came
down. helping her the asphalt, although none was
more sure-footed than she.
She was warm, glowing wrapped in furs her cheeks,
rosy at any time red with the frost and her eyes
brilliant with animation and the pleasure OF seeing him
again She was beautiful in a thoroughly sane and
wholesome way, full of life, having alike the wish and
'' How How pleasa1t it is to be bac!" she exclaimed
"What snug little town it is! And how makes one
II hope it isn't the town alone" said Whitney.
Aren't you glad to see me?"
Oh, well, little bit since you ask me- she laughed
"Your father is detained at the Capitol and asked
to be the delegate to meet YOU There is CAB at the
corner" c ..o,,.. e 4h;.. ,,.aro
only A country road I'd you home for prize. L
feel fine enough to do it, and I'd beat you, too"
Since we're not allowed to run we'll make 1t walk
I'm glad YOU don't want a cab
1t was a half mile by the most direct route to Mr.
Carters house the far side OF the river but the two
chose another way, which was full mile and they
wished that was twice as much As they swung along,
they breathed freely and easily and the color in their
Il heard OF the bill before came down." she said.
"The papers Up there were talking about it, they say
it's going to arouse the whole State"
Naturally; it's radical revolutionary
And they said that nobody knew how anybody else
THAT IS true there is no partsanshp in this matter,
and there be none every member Snould vote
strictly according to his personal Judgment. ~.
"Then it to be the feature of the session Oh
what great parliamentary fight is coming.
She looked at him eagerly her eyes sparkling He
met her glance and smiled i'll sympathy
"And there will be grand debates she continued;
"What a chance to make a reputation! And you will
be in it, won't you?
But she stopped suddenly and look of dismay re-
nlaced the brilliant sparkle that shining in her eyes
"That is, if you can make up your mind about the
b;11 She said ruefully I've heard that the members
lust don't know what to do, and neither you nor any,
iodv else can make great speech without convictions
But | have convictions about this BILL he SAID.
know how am going to work and vote"
And you will tell me"
"Of course l will tell you, but not until come 70
~ ar this evening See we are going through field
now, and there is nobody in sight hundred yards
for box of chocolates 80
~ She raised her skirts a little and was gone like
aash When Whitney reached the end OF the hed she
was there, flushed and triumphant