The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1914-12-26
ing eyes and his unusually affable, at


tentive manner.
Suddenly he found himself compar-
ing his own little old-fashioned wife
with this handsome, self-possessed
woman before him. What wife kath-
! crime Strickland would be for the gov
ernor of state! What picture she
would make presiding at the head of
a millionaire's dinner tables! How
! wonderfully such woman would
adorn the richly furnished rooms of
/ his newly built mansion. Instead of
the work-worn fingers of his wife, con-
| tinuously fumblng with darning
| threads, he saw, in a mental vision.
this woman's lovely hands constantly
engaged in unwinding the threads OF
problematic political tangles. Here
was a woman who would be a mans
wife and comrade-the very antithesis
Of the household drudge his own wife
was content to be, with no interest
outside of the four walls of her home
and no desire for anything bigger in
life than the daily routine of break
fast dinner and supper, washing on
Monday, ironing on Tuesday. and SO
on to the end of the week-week after
week In the same deadly rut. Here
was q woman who would go along
with a man"-possibly a step ahead.
blazing the way for new and greater
glories and recognizing no limit.
Slade brought his reflections to
sudden halt as he remembered the
girls father.
why, what has happened to you.
+ senator? Your face looks different
than it did this afternoon"
Her fault" replied the senator.
with a smile of tolerant affection, in
dicating his daughter. "She made me
cut my beard this way. It's French"
Katherine laughed delightful,
throaty little laugh.
Nonsense, father" she protested.
"Of course, like the West, but l
don't believe in being absolutely typ
ical. ! was Mortified when l got back
and found you SO blatantly the typi-
cal. much-cartooned Westerner"
"Mr. Slade." resumed Strickland, "a
few influential men from different
parts of our state are having a meet
ing in town tomorrow, and ! want you
to meet them. I'm arranging little
impromptu dinner, and thought Kath
crime might be able to persuade Mrs
Slade and yourself to join U.s."
"Oh, father, tell the TRUTH" Kath
crime interrupted. These gentlemen
want to meet you, Mr.. Slade. heal
we're to expect great things of you
You see, I've been mixed up in poll
tics all my life, and do love to have
hand in them"
Shed run for president If they't
let her." leased her father.
Indeed would" the girl admitted
brazenly. 1--WE got politics in m!
blood, and home doesn't seem lik'
home unless politics are being brewet
in our dtnins-room. So you'll boil
come, won't you-you and Mrs. Slade.
Slade was stammering his accept
ance when Strickland interrupted alb
ruptly.
How'd you like to be governor
Slade"
Slade threw back his head with ,
laugh that was intended to denot,
complete unconcern.
"Oh-that talk! Did the evening
papers put that into your head or
and he paused significantly, did 20,
put 1t into the evening papers?"
Strickland's laugh was a practica
admission.
1T would mean a hard fight, Slade
The waterfront crowds against you
and you can't get on without thet
influence"
mot in this town. at least" amend
ed Katherine.
you've got to have Wesley Merritt
his paper, his highfaluting editorials
and his speechmaking-and his wife,
Strickland explained. He and hi
crowd run the town."
"0h, you mean my neighbors?
asked Slade. They'll come around.
he finished, meaningly.
But, man alive! Only today Mer
. ritt's attack on you was scurrilous.
demonstrated with him myself. He
. your out-and-out enemy. I've tried tt
:, get him-to-to come over and shak
, hands, but he swears he'll never eros
your threshold"
!. Il guess they'll come when / wan
'em to come" Slade interrupted, witt
an assurance his auditors could no
= understand. "In fact, I'm looking TO
= 'em any minute now" and he consult
Is ed his watch.
= you're looking for them-here-to
= night? gasped Strickland. showing
!, plainly he thought Slade was MAXIM
> joke Of the matter.
. Eyes, tonight" replied the would-b
= governor, quietly, and turned to Katt
ortno