The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-06-09
CRAFTS UGLY SHADOW

passages. until she stood just outside
II doorway few feet from the raised
desk of the lieutenant governor.
Evidently the Warm summer sun
had Its effect on the Senate. There
was a general Ar of somnolency In
the great room. Her father. lounging
In his leather chair. seemed on the
verge of nodding: the senator's were
Yawning, reading, or gazing out the
windows; the pages moved on ieaden
feet.
The clerk was droning over a roll
call. which he started just as she
reached the doorway and caught the
eye of the nearest page.
Senator Calendar, please" she
whispered to the boy. ... -.
The clerk was calling the BIS"
when Calendar received her message.
He rose and sauntered up the aisle.
Whispering to the clerk as he passed
i In moment he was before her
His pale, preoccupied face bright
ened wonderfully at sight OF her.
You're early" ne said, extending his
hand: welcome To our humble
abode
AS she heard his voice and took the
proffered hand. all the misgi1 ings
and doubts slipped away No one
could look or speak as Robert Cal
lendar looked and spoke and he dis
honest. A sense of peace WAS with
her.
You look tired" she said. impui-
sively.
II am" He frowned sbsently, and
then shook himself together. I'm
tired of It all ! want to get back
home again. and stay there. | feel
these seven months have been almost
wasted
Il am sure your constituents will
not say So" she defended.
HE smiled with wry humor. They'll
say | might better have stayed there
and paid the mortgage on my farm. q"
he said frankly. They'll pretend to
think mothers starving before now p
You have your record, she OBJ
served. legally
care what they say I'm through
with politics. I've Just been casting
UP what its cost me. / brought some
money when l came--not much. bat
quite a little for "a poor man. That's
all gone, and my salary, too
4 Il don't regret the time I've spent
here, though" he continued thought
fully. Its been play spell. and /
never had one before. There were
many things which | learned that
Will help me In my practice. And. ="
/ his boyisn face ifghtca with the smile
) that unconsctousiy won MIN friends.
I I've met lot OF real people--your
mother and father among the rest,
and-you."
/ There was no mis,sking the accent
! ON the last word. Alice Maitland s
I face flushed and her heart beat quick
/ ~. But she fought down the aEfta
| ton which the caressing tone aroused,
! After all he unused. when the
}tumult and the shouting die away,
/ that's all there is tn politics, the
I friends ons makes the people one
/ learns to~~-fove." ne finished softly
| What about the Alderman bin -
asked Miss Maitland
| We've handed the G. 4 z. some
thing that viii hold them for while -
he replied triumphantly. That's one
reason m glad I've been here Ac-
herman and l were boys together, and
/ he presumed on that old friendship.
lie tried To bride me this morning.
| The face ~ the young attorney
hardened into sterness Offered me
/ the Job OF railroad attorney at s. 600
a wear If ia vote for his hill"
! You refused" replied Alice with
, happy certainty
| Well. told him I'd move 10 ia bic
| the bill this afternoon. IT he didn t
/ consent aso its dying that waa [
threatened to tell the Senate OF his
oHer- He gave tu-at least he said
/ he would made the motion Just be-
( fore you came and gave the clerk my
vote as | passed Boy" He bochpn-
ed a dawd!ing page, What Was the
vote ~u ffss Yfeff0n to table
I 'SeVenty-siX for. six against re-
piled the youngster Say the re-
porters are looking for you. senator,
! You got a big rep for killing the
bill
+ Apraf"u.iy The seEator ild NOT near
for moment He was looking into
the eyes OF Alice Maitland, reading
what he saw mirrored there-~reading
with love and reverence and a touch
of awe.
I Then nc reused himself, Tell the
reporters / won't be back this after
noon"
/ And they went away together,