ving-line, attended strictly to the task

ce of the returns that evening, that the reception he was tendering was a grand success, unanimously indorsed; he would have been

led past him and shook his hand and thronged along toward the buffet that

, after that well-understood quality in human nature, relished the hospitality more keenly. At the buffet all the plates were piled high. In the smoking-room men took handfuls of the Senator's cigars from the boxes. And the pleasantry con

ped down home to Marion to pay a debt which he owed to his const

joyous voices of the overwhelming majority gave Senator Corson to und

mouth closed and her

y agony that extended fro

y was disti

was Mrs. J. Warren Stanton in her home city Blue Book, and Doris in the family regis

na Corson, whose mother had become voicelessly and meekly the mistress of the Corson m

observed warning symp

an

s best judgment, was no longer assisting in the

mal character, Lana left the receiving job to her father and the Governor and the aides, and re

a stiffened arm, the raising of which pumped a groan from the lady. The white g

fingers unless they are very loose and beyond hope.

t the receptio

d to survey her youthful hostess. The flame on t

on't you know the difference betwee

y thing when the legislature meets. The members expec

back to his home, I think he'd better stay in Washington and send down a carload of food and stick a glove on the ha

it covered a firm hand that was unweary. "Father has given me good advi

es gave me

ry enthusiastic, Doris. I'm

es not belong in it. My father dines his gentlemen and accomplishes his objects. And I think you have become

d at the same time I was meeting many of my old, true friends. I'm gla

ton was surveying her hand, wri

that I have allowed California and Palm Beach to coax me away from Marion these last two winters. I ought to hav

issue right then with anybody, on that topic. "But the main trouble with old friends is, they take too many liberties. Your ol

n what

l not muddle my own ideas of society functions by calling it a reception-they declared tha

into words she put into the search

n, revealing nothing eith

m your father, outside of the hand-shaking art. You are about

smile was so ingenuous that it ought to hav

did not even blink when she said it-"though I never would have presumed to speak of it to you, Lana, without good and sufficient provocation-I think that you and Coventry should have confided in me, first of

greed Mi

oresaid old, true friends while you were out around the city to-day. One does drop confidences almost without realizing

ot ruffled. "Out of the knowledge that you profess in regard to old friends, Doris, you

are you

a fresh pair o

u're going back for another tur

have danci

dance with performing b

reason, but I have

erly gentlemen from the country who shook hands with a good Grange grip-they'll be wanting to get plenty of sleep so as to be wide awake to-morrow to hear the Governor's inaugural address. The other vigorous gentlemen who are so deeply in politics will

tant if true. But there's other information that's more important in my esti

en all those friends are under my roof, to stand here and brand t

icially announced?" queried

realized," said Lana, meekly apologetic. "Because, right now, I'm obliged to run the risk

el

ially declared until a

o understand

ar, I know! But let's no

shion. "Now go ahead and be your own jolly Doris Stanton! You're going to meet folks who'll understand you and appreciate all your wit. One

who was trying to coax back good nature. "Picking out another poli

egularly that he isn't, in a complimentary way, and the opposition paper says so in a sneering way-and I suppose that makes the thin

on narrowe

isgusted with the ways of politics, Lana, that I draw the line

rt Mor

. Stanton's tone wa

maintaining was losing its serenity and her fr

nds of yours down-stairs that you'll not be obliged, I think, to break your most exce

! I don't find it as funny as when

or in the affairs of this evening," acknowledge

'm putting you to one side as my

ur heart about a dead-and-gone love-affair with a rustic up in these parts. I understood from the chatter of your old friends that it is dea

Doris. It's not a matter of withholding confidence fro

decorates a boudoir and interests one's

atrocious!" Miss Cor

ep a sharp edge on my tongue because folks expect me to perform the social taxidermy in my set, and it's only brutal and messy if done with a dull to

d tell him I want to see him here. He will undoubtedly be located in some group where there is a rural gentleman displaying the largest banner of beard. My brot

his sister's cal

Cov! When you go back into that down-stairs garden pleas

needs to have everybody's good will and I'm doing my little best on the side-lines for him. And he i

perfectly good arm for the cause and I'm not allowing public affairs to take my mi

u're not abrupt or a

d to succeed, and therefore I'm shooting th

lared Coventry. "On the other hand, in a purely tolerant and friendly way, I'll say that Lana and I are proceeding agreeably, I think, and dad told me the oth

I get only gas! I'm looking for oil! Is th

ecause the fans can't be bothered by the nuances of courtship. But for a chap to get down on his knees these days in real life would make the girl laugh as loud

go ahead this very n

appointment as genera

rtainly don't

it to be

f carving your own kin in order to keep up the edge of your tongue. I wouldn't as much as intimate it, by denying it, that you g

t man who has time to attend to one thin

did have a good eye

go ahead and get a promise from Lana Corson. Then you'll

ho

England c

cated stare. "I think I have a little the advantage of you, Dor

of him! I haven't

family's members are thoroughly en rapport, to use dad's favorite phrase when he's showing the strawberry mark on ideas and making the other fellow adopt 'em as his own

s of age and asserts itself. You can't expect an infant or juvenile conscience to bo

d drive any girl to break her engagement a doz

id about him-But no matter! I think you do know men very well, Cov! I'll do no

oventry, with conviction. "Any dreaming, wondering, restless g

," averred Mrs. Stanton, a caustic and u

they are waiting for the right man to come along and take sole possession of them, body and soul and affairs-when they are women! Then it isn't bossing any more! It's lov

with an ounce of brains can take stock in this

here!" He tapped his finger on his breast. "It w

to reason! No

argue us right out of the notion. I won't argue. But I don't want you to think I'm keeping anything away from you that a sister ought to know. As my sister and as Lana's good friend, I'm sure you'll be glad to know that I

ave the room and was assured, to his dismay, that Miss Corson had heard the declaration; she was at the threshold, her lips apart; she was pla

est to get that situation out of t

ther silly. Despite present appearances I don't go around making speeches on a certain

rassment her countenance was displaying bland satisfaction. This was an occasion to be gr

the threshold. She was

ve the situation still more. "Oh, I say, Lana! This isn't

to overhear," t

I take nothing back, but this is no kind of a time to

urted the young matron. "One word will

tleman has introduced the bill and on motion of the lady it has been tabled. But it will be taken from the table on a due and proper date and

ndar, Lana, may I have a

im the eng

h?" he queried, wistfully.

all! Some of my Marion friends are old-fashioned and I must humor them with the waltzes.

the implied compliment she paid him. He dabbed

re about it! I feel quite happy now. I'm even so kindly disposed toward politics that I'm ready to go down and dance for the cause, whatever it is your father and mine are going after. These men in politics-they always seem to

she and her friend descended the broad stairway of the mansion Lana was discoursing on the need of coaxing men of big commercial affairs into politics. Her vi

he receiving-line was broken. Senator Corson was sauntering here and there, saying a word to this one or that in more intimate manner than his formal post in the line p

itself to his growls; when he barke

ould make for your state prison," suggested Mrs. Stanton, sweetly. But she did not provoke a reply from the girl and noted that Lana

f Marion!" said the matron

rly. As soon as he saw Lana he broke away from the group of men who were engaging him. The Governor accosted Morrison sharply, when

lemn promise to come early! But you excused me this morning when I was obliged

rensics in her greeting. There was the winning candor of old friendship in her smile and he flushed boyishly in his frank delight. She presented him to Mrs. S

with an unconventionality of tone and phraseology that caused the metropol

nthusiasm on that subject," was her suggestive move toward another topic. "

e pardoned, Mrs. Stanton, for co

ithout waiting for the matr

r accounts, Lana, for the two winters you have been away. And why not anot

Mrs. Stanton, "and collections ca

madam?" he asked. "I'll be truly obligated i

nding are excellent," said Mrs. Stanton, with a significance meant for Lana's confusion. But while she was detachin

State House. I'll bother you only a second, Morrison. Then

few moments, Governor." He started to

to it right her

ve a word

"And I'm in a hurry. Have you got 'em smo

ether they'll stay smoot

rt

n! I told you so at the

, however," Morrison insisted. "That general understandi

as the usual manner of Lawrence North when he did not desire an interview prolonged to an extent that might commit him. "I'll be at the Stat

erable audience and produced a result that interfe

ception-hall, beckoning amiably,

ities with the girls, I want you to have a bit of

," protested the daughter, with a warmth that the subjec

enator assumed an air of mock autocratic dignity. "I command the obedience of my daughter!" He saw the banker approaching. "I c

t. "But I feel that it is quite essential for us to get together on that matter we menti

, Mister Mayor. I recommend that you go along with him. You won't have to do a thing

a. "The waltzes

know you always put business ahead of pleasure, though it may be hard to do it in this case, my boy! But after you and my friend Daunt get matter