Evening star., 1922-11-05

privilege to know. Even at
the times when he remembers
that his written and spoken word on
international law Is respected as au-
thority the world over he Is still
real person. and as human as they're
made. But when he dives into the
past and salvages the picturesque
days Of his youth and poverty. then,
then Is he the joy Of all good lis
teners.
We had been talking idly Of the
changes OF recent years. and some
ono asked him. curiously. whether or
not he was an advocate OF women In
politics
And then he told US this story:
All I've got now I'd exchange on
the instant to live over again the
time when L was scrambling through
my law courses. living on two meals
day. The queer part of 1t was that
thought 1t was fun even then.
But once pneumonia got me and l
was taken to a hospital. My real
ordeal began when 1 was discharged
as cured. too weak to do more than
stagger along. without cent In my
pocket and hardly a friend IN the
city. I went out into November
sleetstorm and. after I'd dragged
myself a block or two. fell .uncon-
scious on the street.
dropped down on the very steps
Of Cyrus Hooper's house, and Mrs.
: Cyrus came out and found me. A
beautiful, big red-headed woman she
was, with a heart as big and as open
as the plains Of her native state. She
picked me up herself didn't weish
very much after pneumonia-and she
carried me into the house and put me
down on a sofa. wrapped me in blan-
kets and tried to give me something
hot to drink.
When I came to. there she was,
leaning over me. You poor kid" she
said. Lie still. Don't try to talk"
Then / heard her speaking to some
one in tho room. "Cy." she said. Il
tust wish you'd look at this boy l
found fallen down in front of the
house. I've sent for the doctor-1
don't know what's the matter with
him, but he looks half starved and
sick enough to be in bed"
my good Geneva" a mans voice
answered, "you don't know but he's
got the smallpox"
"He hasn't got the smallpox" she
answered, with a sort Of laugh In her
voice, because If he had he'd be
spotted"
She came to my side and l man
aged to gasp out that I'd just come
from a hospital. where I'd had pneu-
monia, and that I'd be all right in a
few minutes.
"There now, Cy." she said, tri-
umphantly, you see-he hasn't got
the smallpox. He's wasted away to
skin and bone. the poor boy. Here
slip an arm under his head and Wen
carry him upstairs"
i: x **
CAN hear her voice yet-deep and
Il warm, with q sort OF sweet
resonance in it. like the murmur IN
side a violin when the strings are
touched very gently.
She and Cyrus carried me upstairs
and put me to bed. and stayed right
there for a week. Mrs. Hooper nursed
me, and found out everything about
me-past, present and future. Natu-
rally. as soon as I was we'll enough
she took my life in hand and ar
ranged it for me.
L was to stay right there. in her
house, and be Cy's private secretary
when I wasn't working at my studies.
I could help Junior in some OF the
studies which he found hardest. 1
was to occupy a little room in the
third story of their little cramped
house, and I was to have all my meals
with them.
didn't resist her. not for a mo-
ment. for my bout with Illness had
frightened me. I made all sorts OF
good resolutions about how I'd buckle
down to my studies and what I'd do
for the woman who'd rescued me from
death, or worse.
But / am forgetting Cyrus, and why
he needed a private secretary. 1t was
his first term In Congress and he was
actually living on his salary and
voting as his conscience told him. He
had brainsTa brain with an edge
to 1t.
Good old big Cy Hooper! Every one
knows him now. Congressman three
terms, governor. senator two terms:
he lust missed the nomination Tor
President.
Tho Hoopers had a little house on
an obscure street, and there they
made a real homo. OF course. they
were nobody, but they were glad
Of It
Geneva had that clear skin that
now and then comes with red hair
that creamy. delicious color that
makes q beautiful red-headed woman
more beautiful than any other. Her
lips were very red and her eyes were
brown. I could rave on about her for
hours. There never was any one like
her. She was impulsive and generous,
and yet level-headed. She was in
terested in every new reform move.
She knew tho whole game Of politics
through and through, as we'll as
Cyrus did, yet she was what is called
q homo woman, and what a cook!
old-fashioned things. you know. that
nobody ever hears Of nowadays.
Well, tho reason why Cyrus needed
tho services Of q secretary was this:
Quito contrary to the usual prece-
dent, he had been appointed to two
committees. one very important and
dssirable-publio lands-for q west
-. ..u that IN and on0 fairly So