active in its outward appearance, and I expected to find a raw interior, but I was more than happily surprised. The auditorium was well appointed, the chairs were of th

n him the Senator explained with so many gestures intended to depress him, and with so many shrewd words thrown out to c

e to think it over, there are many people in my senatorial district who hold a prejudice against

Times, would twist this thing out of all shape, Sir. He would fight the house to injure me, and he'd

he books were kept properly. "That's all right," he said. "I can't do it myself, but I'll take them home and turn them o

e going out the thought occurre

"He may not be taken with the idea, but it will give Florence a pract

wouldn't speak to him about it when I'm present. Even the s

ciate your sensitiveness. Yes, Sir,

n," said the Senator, "and I will have a talk with him. It's a matter of no impor

f the house, lay stretched upon the floor, and as I entered he looked up contemptu

spoken to the dog. He raised his head and gave her an appealing look

t, and soon a squawk and a command from a ne

l arrange

plied. "My father gets nearl

ter Mr. Estell, t

broke in. "Cons

d be a good idea to bring the boo

would give me somet

at your fa

e won't care. He may object at first-he

kes to me very kindly,

t he doesn't seem a bit like his old self. He used to be lively and liked to go out, but now he's worried all the time and doesn't care to go anywhere. I don'

e enough, and I believe we

of politics. Always the same thing, anxiety and treachery and everything unpleasant. Mr. Estell was offered an excellent place in a New Orleans bank, some time ago, and I begged him to take it, but he wouldn't. And I can

room. But Estell did not appear to see me until h

o involve the whole family i

e the whole communit

me and say: 'Helloa, Estell, understand your wife, the

Estell," I began,

bills pasted up all over the house. Might take a few of them to Jackson with me and stick 'em up in the Treasurer's office; m

dian's squint of the eye. "Oh, yes," said he, "and we'll have the Governor issue a proclamation commandin

med me was his favorite bit of humor), and I laughed as if I really enjoyed it. I felt more kindly toward him, but the eye of prejudice made him old, for constantly I wondered how she could ever have given her consent to marry him. I had been told, by the Senator, I think, that his family was high, that his people w

ot; she went out into the magnolia garden; and through the window I watched her as she walked about beneath the trees. To me she was such a picture, so lithe a piece of Nature's art, that in m

I think we'll run all right. Bound to if we put our energies into it.

t would involve considerable expense, and I think that the best plan

give you time to work on your play. It will be quite a f

essful play,

ke it a success all right enough, for we'

ugg Peters is one of

w as he is. Why, that fellow is no account on the face of the earth! Why, he's common! And, Sir, the people wouldn't go to see a play that had him in it. We can get better

but isn

't see how you can elevate the stage if you put such men as Bugg Peters on it. Why, confound his hide, do you know there's not a bigger liar in this State? And do you know that he owes me?-well, I won't attempt to say how much. We'll give him wheat, Sir, to k

own upon us. "Sit down," said the Senator. "That is,

object?" I ask

people o

and then sits on a trunk or a box," Washington spoke up, smiling. "But," he added, "the Sena

do you need?" th

genuine a laugh as ever was

solemn. "We need something, however, and when our own resources had fallen short, I told my brethren that I knew where

what's the matter

cracked

fteen miles. Why don't you take the money that a bell would

h us always, Senator.

ch? Hang me, if I don't believe you've got one old fellow over there that gets up and rings it in his sle

n the be

do you have

and it must be paid

s leg and thrusting his hand into his pocket, to draw forth a roll of bank notes; and on beholding this great display of wealth the negro's thick eyelids snapped. "Here you a

or. You mean Brot

ere, and in going about the neighborhood you may tell the people that we are-I say we because I want to see the town well entertained-tell the people that they are to have

immorality of life, of passion that knew no law, but not for a moment did there live in my mind a suspicion that this woman could forget the exacting demands of a matron's duty. I felt that the danger lay for me alone; that the warm and sympathetic relationship of friend of the family and partner of the father would establish me almost as a member of the house-hold; that a sisterly rega

f a moral code; my reflections might have come like flying splinters, but as I look back and again b

Belford, and he has not regained his stre

ay or two, and, besides, he is used to his room out here and might as w

ur pardon

g to have my own way about my o

han you t

t's

I understan

ay what

lking in and out-and I couldn't think of riding-would take up too mu

l to be attended to. Suit yourself. Perhaps it would be better. Washingt

ve me a look, but not