ck up many a jest by the roadside. I caught the song of an old man who stood near the turnpike, trimming a young orchard; and the laughter of a child that was ro

use is that over y

've got room to swing round in, and that's worth everything. Lumber dealer came one day and wanted to know what I'd take for those walnuts. I told him that I'd take human life if

known her a mile away. Her gracefulness was so original that she must have been unconscious of its effect. The soft climate of the South had touched her with its ease, but she seemed eve

at passed through my mind; and I did not realize that I had giv

s of the State gives him about all he can look after. Hell

The Senator introduced us, with heartiness and a flourish, and the moment I took Estell's hand I knew that from his lofty position among the money bags of the State he could not look down and find an interest in me. His nature was financial, his instincts commercial; and I can say with truth that commerce embodied in a s

thout delay to the dining-room where dinner was waiting. The Estells sat opposite the Senator

easant drive," Mrs

w of the town, saw the old f

ever notice how dear stupid people are? They are sometimes our dearest ones. I su

ething that sounded like that amount, but he droppe

. But you are

ying to get at an exact amount,

, Mr. Belford and I have entered into a business arrangeme

, I thought. "You mean that you are going to share losses,"

Senator spoke up. "We know ho

manager's elephant, and in this case I don't know but we might

e in silence. The subject was permitted to fall, but it was taken up a

said the State Treasurer, resting his head on th

ator replied. "That is, I'm n

dmitted Estell; "but it's a new l

the Senator was quick to retort. "It's s

g to a dog in the hall, and I listened with pleasure,

re will be a very busy one, I am i

part of a new session is generally taken up with the w

eye, when he withdrew his gaze from the ceiling, directed it at me and said that he was glad to see me so far advanced toward recovery. It was a m

else to say, "that you find your occup

mpt. I am quite sure that, if he did no

play," he replied, and turning to the Senator

laimed. "You don't me

o-old Dan

y, I met his wife one day about three years ago and she told me that Dan was dying,

to get five dollars from me, and said if I'

ncing lessons. And just at that moment she entered the room, a great dog following her. At the door she turned about to drive hi

ell back with a laugh so full of contagion that I caught it before I had time to strengthen my gravity with

r to behave himself," s

ked like a man who longed for rest, but who had almost despaired of finding it. "Florence," he spoke up, opening his eyes and sl

n find them," she replied; and hastening out, sh

have about worn yourself out.

haven't

ever introduced as an economy. Did

sometimes t

the infernal office?

give up your in

at the measures that owe their origin to me. Tom, it's all right to be tired, but it's dangerous to trample on common sense. Why don't I give up my office, indeed! Now what could have

ght to give it up," Estell replied, opening his eyes, but

s is not one of them. I make no objection to fair and honorable criticism, Sir; you know that. I grant every man the right to pass upon my acts in office-in office, u

w to be exact, I haven't heard anybo

d his good name. "But, Tom, you really need rest. Oh, of course, I don't mean that you should give up public life. No, Sir," he went on, looking at me, "when a man has once been a servant of the people, he is never satisfied to fall back among the powerless 'masters.' And

limp. I did not catch the words she uttered first, but these I heard and always shall remember: "And perhaps he has a wife who wor

clapped his hands and so did I, but Estell neither moved nor opened his eyes until he heard t

m across my knees, sprang back and with mock tragedy cried, "Defend yourself." But before I could get out of my astonishment to say a word, and as the dull eyes of her husban

vaguely conscious that I was on the face of the earth, "the Senator had no son; and that explains why he made a tomboy of his daughter."

on the wall. "That's all right, but her tomboyishness has made her decidedly human, and, Sir," he added, as the young woma

red, rousing up. "You could have studied longe

, standing with her hands res

Belford, where are you from, Sir? I ta

to this country when a boy. And among Americans I sometimes assert that I'm

orators. We've had men, Sir, that could make you laugh at your own sorrow and then compel you to look with grief upon your own laughter. But they are gone, Sir." He got up and stood with one hand thrust into his bosom. "They are gone, and the world will never look upon their like again. Why, Sir, Prentiss, with his oration on starving Ireland, made

do about it, heigho?" he yawned. "You people may discuss th