Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-09-14
BIG car rolled up to the curb.
and a gloved hand beckoned.
How are we doinpp Tell

me frankly" said the COVER
nor's wife. and made room on the
beat beside her.
"As you always do-your prettiest"
paid !, as the car smoothly gathered
Roadway.
But is 1t pretty enough-politi-
cally, you know?"
/ chuckled inwardly. Reform gov
ernors, machine governors and ac-
.cidents-its the same with all of
fhem. The first thought after deliv-
-Frins an inaugural is. II can do a lot
-petter-next time" And that thought,
once In. won't out. And as a cover
por thinks, SO thinks governors
Wi1e. One good term deserves an
other. Besides. it's Christian duty "to
keep ambitious upstairs and self
keekers out of Office"
1.-THE question:" my lady went on
Treally isn't. are we making good?
10. do people think we are?"
4 l threw back my head and laugh
pa. Truly. this charming friend of
mind was learning things She had
married Forrest within a year. Just
before hs took Office. in fact; but she
had gone to the executive mansion
with no more notion of the political
game than an angel has of fiat
house furnace.
Still, II 1t hadn't been for politics,
ehe'd never have come to be a friend
pr mine: outside of that we play in
different leagues. I hate to waste time
m, hat
trade Is attending to campaign odds
and ends nobody else happens to look
after. In that way I made her ac-
Quaintance. We were co-workers in a
little scene that saved Forrest from
defeat at the polls--and. incidentally,
set wedding bells ringing before the
echoes of the election cheering had
fairly died away.
I laughed az 1 say; and she laid
hand on my arm. you haven't an
swered my question. Mr.. CARING"
''Well," said l, not too eagerly,
"there's only one thing harder than
electing reform governor, and that's
re-electing him. People demand too
%much of him. 'Tisn't as If he travelled
on popularity. or regularity. or cut
of whisllers, or had a nickname to
hold the popular fancy. Why. I knew
an Honest Jerry who pulled through
on square-deal reputation, when
every scale in his store called fifteen
ounces a pound"
What a disgraceful imposition
"Oh, / don't know. All the other
grocers in his town were on a four
teen-ounce basis"
Her lips twitched. but she would
not suffer me to divert her from her
line Of inquiry. "They count us. then.
a reform administration? Good! I'm
proud of 1t. If much is demanded,
much will be given willingly But
but is there faith in us?"
1 shrugged my shoulders. "The gov
errors no machine man. but he is
party man. Still. he classes as re-
former, and lot of good folks ex-
pect him to work miracles. At the
other end the sporty crowd look ask
ance at him. He isn't much of mixer.
you know-that hurts with the In
betweens."
And, more than all, I'm hurting
him, lessening his popularity"
started at her. She was in earnest
why, of sudden she was almost
tragic.
"You! You hurt him-hs popularity?
Nonsense! You're his best asset
She stopped me. Listen. please!
There is gossip that rises to the in
dignity Of scandal; gossip that George
and 1 have disagreed, quarreled-
even that left him for time"
"And somebody dared bring that
EARN to you"
''There is variety Of friendship
which halts at neutrality-suspicious.
should be thankful for the warning
1t has given me. But, first of all,
seek your advice"
Forgive me-" said ]. "but-well,
how could such story start?"
She told me. Forrest had younger
brother. a bounder Of Benjamin Of
the flock: weak, .,Wild, attle-brained.
who married in folly, if in honor, and
was shipped west to make man of
himself. He and his wife squabbled,
kissed and made up; went broke; fell
sick; sent out the S o S call. The
governor was under oath to stick to
his job. So his wife went west; played
banker, nurse and referee; brought a