The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1912-05-03
(OOpynght l0IS, b Associated Literary PTess.]


Marsh. That is, Senator Lansing
had not dreamed of marrying until
he saw Mrs. Marsh, and Mrs.
Marsh had no desire to assume mat
rimonial VOWS for the second time
until she met the senator.
They had met at a reception at
the Italian legation one afternoon,
and as soon as the senator had made
his best bow to the bright little
woman in the stunning gown and
hat of kings blue Cupid began to
get in his work. The blue velvet
hat on the soft golden hair made
her look very girlish, and the SEN
ator, looking from her to the slen-
der girl beside her, wondered if he
had heard Alright when presented to
her daughter.
Mrs. Marsh and Isabel met the
senator often at teas, dinners, the
aters and balls. Washington began
to look wise and nod its head when
the senator took to dropping into
Mrs. Marsh's box after the first act,
or walking home from church with
the widow and her daughter. And
Mrs. Marsh vas always wearing vio-
lets these days-huge punches
with the usual orchid.
The man was in love with the
widow. But the trouble was this
He was poor-poor, as senators 90.
Having no one to support but him
self, he was able to afford the show
the world demands of a senator.
He had an apartment that was all
that an apartment should be. And
his clothes, his servants and his car
came up to the public demand. I'm
til now he had resisted marriage
able daughters, debutantes and
widows.
On the other hand, Mrs. Marsh,
after ten years. absence, had come
back to Washington, taken a small
house with a huge rent, and she and
her daughter wore gowns which
were the envy of every woman in
the capital. 1t was true the garden
er did run the electric car for them
and the same maid was always in
evidence, but what of thatl Such
gowns and such well-kept house
seemed to signify an ample supply
of money to the senator's simple
mind.
81 won't marry any woman who
can't live on my income" he said
over and over again to himself.
"Eyen if she has her own money
I've got to feel l can keep her. No.
It's no use; SO l guess it's home to
Wexford county for Elias when the
sessions over. Anyhow, it'll be
good to get back to the old house
and Jeremy will be glad to see me
good old dog-and Allen and his
wife and the horses. Oh, the simple
life for me; and yet things somehow
won't seem just as they did before.
Allen and Sarah do make me COM
Portable, that's sure; and Jeremy
dog is a good old scout enough,
mornings hunting and nights by the
Gre, but if there was just somebody
to-"
That somebody wasn't 80 vague
as it sounds. There was a clearly
defined vision always before his
eyes. But, strangely enough, instead
Of wearing blue velvet she was al
ways clad in blue ginghams-some-
times with a dainty white apron and
smiling at him across the breakfast
table. Somehow be liked her in the
gingham. He grew absent-minded
and morose.
One night to get away from ev-
erything-at a debutante's ball-he
hid behind some palms in the con-
servatory. The dance music, soft
and dreamy so far away, and the
faint splash Of a fountain were
soothing. He had his dreams to
himself. Mrs. Marsh and Isabel
were both at the dance, but both
were in demand. BE had danced
two with the former, and there was
"a long interval until the next with
her. BE had none between. But
if he couldn't have his lady love, or
ct least be with her, be was becom-
Ing contsnted with this vision Of
hS-4he lady in blue bingham.
The music and fountain became
faintar and slowly stopped The
senator's head nodded end be
slipped Just over tho edge AZ day-
dSesmland into real dEaanlsud with
tie aazae ewAut RnlAan ladY leadina