Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-01-15

muttered more than one member under
his breath: but the deepest sigh OF con-
tent was uttered by Mr.. Harkins down I'm
his obscure corner.
When the first sentence was uttered
Evelyn Carter started. look of surprise.
then Of stupefaction, came into her eyes.
Her face turned white. her lips were
pressed closely together, and she stared
at Mr.. Barker In a sort of fascinated hor-
ror. Then her gaze turned, and. aghast.
she looked at Whitney. who was looking
up at her. his face expressing much the
same emotions as hers.
Mr.. Barker spoke on. his speech in
creasing alike in beauty and power: he
not only thrilled his audience, but thrilled
himself as well, and he grew In confidence
and strength. BY and by he turned his
eyes from the speaker to the audience
about him and behind him. He saw the
white, stricken face Of Whitney, and a
pang Of remorse shot through him. Then.
despite himself, he glanced up into tint
balcony and beheld the face Of Evelyn
Carter, also white and stricken.
But he would not look again at either
of them: now he resolutely turned his
face all the while to the speaker: the re-
morse was gone, and in its place came a
defiance that held him to his task; he
went on with undiminished power to the
end, saying the whole speech. every word
Of 1t, and delivering such a terrible blow
to the bill that nothing seemed left OF
that unhappy measure.
Mr.. Barker sat down. white and trem-
bling from his effort. but triumphant. He
knew that he had swept the house of its
feet, he knew 1t in the breathless silence
that followed az it had preceded his great
effort, and then the blood surged to his
head, In a wild burst Of exultation as the
cheers came. deep rolling, following in
upon each other. like waves Of the sea.
Mr.. Barker was forced to rise and bow
more than once. 1t was minutes before
the applause died. and then he sat with
his head modestly bent over his desk. He
would not meet the looks Of those two
faces again-at least, not yet.
The silence came once more. and then
up rose a tall figure. 1t was Whitney.
and he, too, was recognized by the
speaker. Mr. Barker glanced quickly at
him, and despite himself he trembled. He
had never before seen Whitney look SO
stern and also SO strong. His features
seemed somehow to be drawn together,
as If his whole being were powerfully
concentrated on one purpose; it was the
lion about to spring. But what could he
do? II he proclaimed the truth all men
would laugh at him and say he was the
widest of romancers. No, such decl-ra-
tion was impossible, and Mr.. Barker,
stealing himself, awaited the event with
a curiosity that literally burned him.
Whitney began to speak in notes low at
first, but full of music and beauty, and
the great assembly listened in enchanted
attention. Gradually his voice rose. and
all bent forward in interest and delight.
But over a desk not far away a face
suddenly turned white, and down in an
obscure corner the same whiteness over
spread another face.
Whitney was speaking for the bill. And
he was speaking for it with a force.
power and a matchless charm that en-
dowed the measure with the. very breath
of life. and made it seem the most neces-
sary thing in all the world to the state
Everybody wondered why they had not
seen before such obvious reasons for its
passage. All the effect of Barker's great
effort was swept away at once and people
knew now that the bill would pass. that it
ought to pass.
Whitney demolished Barkers argument
clause by clause and point by point. Bar
ker shuddered. He. too, was convinced.
The arguments that had seemed so good
to him were thin and hollow. At last he
stole a look at the balcony, and there he
saw flushed and happy face. and bril-
liant eyes gazing down in love. triumph
and admiration at Whitney. Lower sank
the head of Mr.. Barker. and he did not
move again until the orator was done.
When Whitney sat down the applause
burst forth in a mighty roar, and il
lasted much longer than that for Mr.
Barker. Other speeches were made, but
they were after the climax. and when the
vote was taken that afternoon the bill
passed-as all the world knew, through
Whitneys magnificent speech in favor of
it-and was passed by the senate the fol-
lowing day. becoming law with the gov
ernor's signature q week later.
Whitney was sitting that evening in the
parlor at the house Of the lieutenant gov
ernor. He had asked the great question
and he had received the right answer.
His triumph was complete and his face
expressed his pride and joy. Evelyn, shy,
blushing and lovelier than ever, was near
him, and Mr.. Carter had just come in to
express his approval of his future son-in-
law.
While the lieutenant governor was
speaking. servant brought in a card,
and before they could say anything the
owner of the card followed.
1t was Mr.. Barker. ms face white, but
with a new strength and resolve i'm his
|. eyes. Whitney and Evelyn gazed at each
other in astonishment. but Mr.. Barker
was the first to speak.
g know that you consider my coming
here an intrusion and an impertinence,
he said. God knows that you have a
right to think that and worse OF me- Don't
go, Mr.. Carter; you too should hear this
Listen, Whitney. I was tempted, sorely
tempted, and you. in your strength, do
not know what terrible temptations can
come to a weak man like me-"
There was a pause. The lieutenant gov
ernor. yet understanding nothing, looked
amazed. Whitney and Evelyn. touched
already in some strange manner. moved =
little closer to each other. Mr.. Bankers
face worked pitiably, but he went on