Evening star., 1914-08-23

tain charms, bit faded but not altogether passed
away. She much at home on the Continent, in
London, in New York. even at Newport as at
Madrid; but her heart to the latter place, be-
there she big frog in little puddle. No one
disputed her authority. l knew that Mrs. Merrick
Conger was ambitious for her husband, and certain
talks had with her made her realize that the Bouons,
with their great wealth, She could read
the signs of the times, and Madrid with its new in
dustres, developing on metropolitan lines.
Perhaps it did not need my intimatons to make her
understand that Albert Boulton already political
power. As self-made man with social ambitions, he
was naturally a Stalwart. l made it plain that if
Boulton wished he could the nomination, which
she believed by species of divine right, should
to her husband.
But Mrs. Merrick Conger's policy not pacific
lines The Bouons weeds, and out of her garden
they must go! She feared that her husband and her
father-in law, man like, would hold out welcoming
hand to the tire manufacturer. Then there would come
a day when she would have to concilate his family
With their beautiful home, their money, and their
prestige, they would sweep all before them even the
Congers and there would be to stop them. She
could invoke the specer OF the paternal candy
shop to down Mrs. Boulton.
Perhaps if Mrs Merrick Conger had had marriage
able son. she might have adopted other measures and
amagamated the Bouton fortune. AS it was, she had
other but the freezing out process, which if
successful would make the enemy leave Madrid dis
couraged, disgusted, and utterly routed
In fact, Albert Boulton himself, without his political
ambitions, had constantly thwarted her projects. She
had founded a branch of the Consumers League, she
had interested herself in all possible reforms for the
benefit of the working naturally with the ult
mate object of strengthening her husbands position in
places where it weak,-only to find that at the fa
tire plant these had been all forestaed There
was really nothing to reform. She planned Mechanics
Institute be erected by subscription only to learn that
Boulton had donated two hundred thousand dollars for
Just such purpose and the to be laid
within month. was responsible for this last scheme
Perhaps Mrs. Conger knew it. She treated me now
with much hauteur. She plainly showed me that she
knew well what l after and that l was also under
the ban. So it of wits between
TUST at this crisis called to Washington by my
> friend the United States Senator Madame Senator
was anxious to begin her Newport campaign. 1t was
only natural that should discuss the Boultons and
the of the winter. Madrid in the Senator's
district The situation there gave him no little
He did not much for the Conger regime, and he
wanted strong who could be relied upon to pull
popular VOTE succeed the old General. There
rumors of split in the Stalwart party Madrid had
always been Gibraltar but could take no risks
Then told him my story and the experiences of the
winter. 1t was tempest in teapot. We went into
session of ways and means, and when rose he had
accepted my plan, which had been weeks in working
out to the last detail. The Boutons would arrive!
Part of the plan this: The Senator and dis
tngushed company from Washington, in which would
be included most Eminent Parsonage, would come to
Madrid for the laying of the cornerstone of the Me-
canics Institute. After the morning ceremony and
luncheon the entire party would be entertained by Mr..
and Mrs. Albert Boulton at their home on Calumet
There would be reception, to which the invitations
would be limited to the civic authorities, of the
prominent Office holders, clergy, and bench, etc,
and their families For this affair to have @care
blanche" and make Madrid @st up and take notice"
1t would be in the taste to make this function
Society event in any way, and yet those invited would
really represent the flower of Madrids most Exclusive
set The Boultons only lending their house and