The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-02-17
nv OLIVE ROBERTS BARTON.
copyright, 1912, by the Associated
Literary Press.)

Copyright, 1912. by the Associated
Literary Press.)
Senator Elias Lansing wanted to
get married again. So dfd Mfs:
Marsh. That Is Senator Lansing had
NOT dreamed Of marrying until he
saw Mrs. Marsh, and MITE. Marsh had
no desire to assume matrimonial
vows for the second time until she
met the senator.
They had met at q reception 1t the
Italian legation one afternoon. anu
az 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
giriish, and the senator, looking from
her to the slender girl beside her.
wondered II he had heard Alright
when presented to her daughter.
Mrs. Marsh and Isabel met the
senator often at teas. dinners. the
aires and ballA Washington began
TO look wise and nod It's 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 was always wearing vto-
let's these days-huge bunches-with
the usual orchid.
The man was In love with tho
widow. But the trouble was this:
he was poor--poor. as senator's 60.
Having no one to support but him
self, he was able to AFFORD the show
the world demands OF a senator. sHe
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. Until now
, he had resisted manageable dauEh-
, ters. debutantes and widows.
On the other hand Mrs. Marsh.
aften ten years absence. had come
back to Washington. taken small
house with huge rent. and she and
her daughter wore gowns which were
the envy OF every women In tho capt.
tai. 1t was true the gardner did run
the electric car for them and the
same maid was always In evidence,
but what OF that! Such gowns and
such a well-kept house seemed to sig
! Nifty an ample supply of money to the
senator's simple mind.
II won't marry any woman who
can't live on my income, he said
over and over again to himself.
Even II she has her own money I've
got to feel lean keep her. No, It's
no use; 30 l guess It's homo to Wex-
ford county for Elias when the ses-
sion's 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 az they did before. Allen and
Sarah do make me comfortable,
| that's sure: and Jeremy dog II = bod
old scout enough. porninsn- hunting
and nights by the fire, but II there
was Just somebody to-"
The somebody wasn't 90 vague ~
1t sounds. There was Q clearly de-
fined vision always before his eyes.
But. strangely enough, instead 1T
wearing blue velvet she was always
clad In blue NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
with dainty white apron and smil-
Somehow he liked her In the ging-
ham. He grew absent minded and
morose.
One night to get away from ev-
crything--at q dcbutante's ball-hc
hid behind some palms In the con.
servatory. The dance music. soft
and dreamy 80 far away. and the
faint splash OF a fountain were sooth-
Ing. He had his drearna 10 himself.
Mrs. Marsh and Isabel were both ct
the dance. but both were In demand.
He had danced two with the former
and there was . long tnteFvai until
the next with her. He had mono
between. But n no couldn't have
his lady love. or 1t least be with her.
he was. becoming contented with this
vision OF his-the lady In blue ging-
ham.
The music and fountain became
fainter. and slowly stopped. The
senator's head nodded and he slip
ped Just over the edge Or day
dreamland into real dreamiand with
the same sweet golden lady leading
him on. He did not know her voice
behind him on tho other side u
the palms.
Mercy. isabel! should have
died II hadn't had this chance 70