South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1921-06-03

a great many columns Of figures
headed bushels and acres and
square miles etc.-and there you
were History? The branch was
purely a receptive one. Old ladies'
interested in the science bothered
you come with long reports OF pro-
ceedings OF their historical societies
Some % or 80 people would write
YOU each year that they had secured
sam Houston'e pocket-knife or san
"a Anas whisky flask or Davy
Crockett's rifie-al absolutely au-
thenticated-and demanded legisla-
tive appropriation 20 purchase. Most
n the work in the history branch
went into pigeon-holes.
One sizzling August afternoon the
commissioner rechned in his Office
chair wsh his feet upon the long.
official table covered with green bill
lizard cloth. The commissioner was
smoking a cigar, and dreamily re-
/ garding the quivering landscape
framed BY the window that looked
upon the treeless capitol grounds
Perhaps he was thinking OF the
rough and ready life he had led, Of
the old days OF breathless adventure
and movement Of the comrades who
now took other paths or had ceased
10 tread any. Of the changes civtli-
zation and peace had brought, AMI.
maybe. cOmplaCently, Of the snug
and comfortable camp pitched for
him under the dome OF the capitol
Of the state that had not forgotten
his service.
The business Of the department
was lax. Insuronce was easy. sta
tistics we're NOT In demand History
was dead Old Kaufman, the ef-
fcient and perpetual clerk. had re-
ouested an infrequert half-h3liday'
melted 10 the unusual dissipation by
the Joy Of having successfully twist
ed the tail Of a Connecticut insur-
ance company that was trying TO
do business contrary 20 the edicts OF
the great Lone Star state.
The office was very still. A FEW
subdued noises trickled in through
the open door from the other de-
partments-a dull tinkling crash
from the treasurer's Office adjoining
as a clerk tossed a bag Of silver 70
the floor Of the vault-the vague, in
tcrmittant clatter Of a dilatory type
vriter-a dull tapping from the
state biologists quarters as If some
woodpecker had flown in 20 bore for
his prey in the cool OF the massive
buiiding-and then a faint rustic
and the light shutting Of the we'll
worn shoes along the hall, the
sounds ceasing AT the door toward
which the commissioner lethargic
back was presented. Following this.
the sound OF a gentle voice speaking
words unintelligible 10 the commits
sioners somewhat dormant compre-
hension. but giving evidence Of be
wilderment and hesitation.
The voice was feminine; the COM
m szsioner was Of the race of cava-
liers who make salaam before the
trail Of a skirt without considering
the quality OF its cloth.
There stood in the door a faced
woman. one of the numerous sister
hood of the unhappy. She was dress
ed in black-poverty's perpetual
mourning for lost Joys. Her face had
tho contours Of % and the lines of
40 She may have lived that inter-
vening score of years in a l2-month.
There was about her vet an aurum
OF indignant. unappeased, protesting
youth that shone family through
the premature veil of unearned de
cline.
81 beg your pardon. mann" said
the commissioner, gaining his feet 10
the accompaniment of a great creak-
ing and sliding of his chair.
Are YOU the governor. SIR ASK
ed the vision OF melancholf.
The commissioner hesitated at the
end Of his best bow. with his hand
I'M the bosom OF his double-breasted
"frock." Truth AT last conquered.
-eU no ma'am am not the
governor. / have the honor 10 be
commissioner of insurance. statistics
and history. Is there anything.
ma'am. I can do for you? Won't YOU
have "a chair. ma am ,"
The lady subsidized into the chair
handed her. probably from purely
Dbysical reasons. She welded a
cheap fan-last token Of gentility TO
be abandoned. Her clothing seemed
TO indicate a reduction almost TO eN-
IRENE poverty. She looked at tee
man who was not the governor. and
saw kindness and simplicity and a
rugged. unadorned courtlinees eman-
atfng from. a countenance tanned ana
toughened by 40 years Of outdoor
life. Also. she saw that his eyes
we're clear and strong and blue. JUST
so they had been when he used them
70 skim the horizon for raiding XII