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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d7b82bc --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,4 @@ +*.txt text eol=lf +*.htm text eol=lf +*.html text eol=lf +*.md text eol=lf diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..31abaf3 --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #67352 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/67352) diff --git a/old/67352-0.txt b/old/67352-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 3dfb42e..0000000 --- a/old/67352-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,8664 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Congressman’s Wife, a Story of -American Politics, by John D. Barry - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and -most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms -of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you -will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before -using this eBook. - -Title: The Congressman’s Wife, a Story of American Politics - -Author: John D. Barry - -Illustrator: Rollin G. Kirby - -Release Date: February 7, 2022 [eBook #67352] - -Language: English - -Produced by: Carlos Colon, the University of North Carolina at Chapel - Hill and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at - https://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images - generously made available by The Internet Archive/American - Libraries.) - -*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE CONGRESSMAN’S WIFE, A -STORY OF AMERICAN POLITICS *** - - - - - - THE CONGRESSMAN’S WIFE - - [Illustration: “‘_We’ve come back to have another little talk with - you, Mr. Briggs._’”] - - - - - The - Congressman’s - Wife - - _A Story of American Politics_ - - BY - - JOHN D. BARRY - - AUTHOR OF - “A DAUGHTER OF THESPIS,” Etc. - - ILLUSTRATED BY ROLLIN G. KIRBY - - [Illustration: Decorative image] - - 1903 - The Smart Set Publishing Co. - NEW YORK LONDON - - - - - COPYRIGHTED - 1900, by - ESS ESS - PUBLISHING CO. - - COPYRIGHTED - 1903, by - THE SMART SET - PUBLISHING CO. - - _First Printing Sept._ - - - - -Preface - - -In this story my aim has not been primarily to depict conditions in -American politics. This work has already been done far better than I -could do it by several writers, among others, by Mr. Brand Whitlock, -whose novel, “The Thirteenth District,” shows a remarkable insight and -fidelity. I have merely used a familiar condition for the purpose of -tracing some of its purely social and human complications. The contrast -between the standards a man may follow in public life or in business -and those he maintains at home, with his wife and children, seemed to -me to afford material worth the attention of the story-writer. - - J. D. B. - - _July, 1903._ - - - “_Naught’s gained, all’s spent, - When our desire is got without content._” - - - - - THE CONGRESSMAN’S WIFE - - - - -I - - -“Yes, Washington is never finer than now.” The white-haired Senator -stood at the top of the steps of the Capitol and looked benignly across -the city. The air was heavy with the rich odor of Spring. The trees -were putting out their tender green leaves. - -Douglas Briggs nodded. “It will be fine for a few weeks. Then we shall -have to send our families away,” he said, adding quickly, with a glance -at the Capitol, “that is, if they keep us here.” - -“It soon becomes unbearable, the heat,” the old gentleman agreed. “We -always try to get away before June. I suppose you have to be careful -about your little ones.” - -“Yes; and then Mrs. Briggs is rather run down, I think. It has been a -hard Winter for her--so much entertaining.” - -“It’s wonderful how they stand it,” the Senator said, musingly. A -delicate moisture had broken out on his smooth, fine face. “But I -sometimes think the women bear it better than the men. When I first -came here I went about a good deal. But that was more than a quarter -of a century ago. The life was simpler then; though, coming from the -country as I did, it seemed gay enough. There’s poor Braddon from -Kentucky. You knew him, of course. I went down to his funeral the -other day. It was this infernal entertaining that killed him--too -many dinners. The last time I talked with him he told me he had eaten -twenty-three public dinners in something less than three weeks. The -wonder is that it doesn’t kill more of them. I suppose it does--only we -say they died of something else.” He looked curiously at Briggs through -his big gold-framed spectacles. “How do you stand it?” he asked. -Without waiting for a reply, he went on: “But you youngsters don’t mind -those things as we old fellows do.” - -Douglas Briggs laughed. “Oh, I’m not so young, Senator. I turned forty -more than two years ago.” - -“But you look very young,” the Senator insisted, amiably. “And I’m -always hearing of you at the great dinners. I see your speeches in the -newspapers.” - -“Oh, I _speak_ at the dinners,” Briggs replied, smiling, “but I -don’t eat at them.” - -“No?” the old gentleman asked, softly. - -“That is, I never think of eating all they put before me. If I did, I -should have shared Braddon’s fate long ago. My first Winter of public -dinners gave me a fierce attack of gout. Now when I dine out I taste -the soup and I eat the roast and the salad. The rest of the dinner I -pass by.” - -The Senator’s eyes twinkled. “Very sensible, very sensible,” he said. -He patted Briggs on the shoulder with the kindly patronage of the older -man. “That’s why you keep your color and your clear eye. That’s right. -That’s right.” He shook his head and his face wrinkled with pleasure. -“I only wish we had a few more sensible young fellows like you in -Congress.” - -They clasped hands at the foot of the steep flight of steps. “I hope we -shall see you to-night,” said Briggs. - -The Senator shook his head. “Oh, no; those dissipations aren’t for us. -We keep away from crowds. But we’d like to see your new house,” he -added, pleasantly. “My wife and I will look in some afternoon.” - -Douglas Briggs walked down the street with a glow of amusement and -pleasure. He felt proud of his friendship with one of the oldest and -most distinguished Senators in Washington. He had reached the age, -too, when he enjoyed being treated like a young man; it gave him -reassurance. As he passed Congressman Burton’s house he noticed a line -of carriages extending far up the street. Then he remembered that the -Burtons were having a reception. “I ought to have asked Helen to go,” -he thought. Then he was glad he had not asked her. She would need all -her strength for the night; he had been putting too many burdens on -her, of late. - -This afternoon he was in one of his moods of fine physical -exhilaration. He had had an exciting day in the House; but now he -turned from all thought of care and looked forward with a boy’s -delight to the evening. His wife had asked a few people to dinner to -celebrate their establishment in their new house, and for the reception -that would follow she had invited nearly everyone in Washington that -they knew. As he approached the house he viewed it with a glow of -satisfaction. He had secured one of the most desirable corner lots in -Washington, and Hanscomb, whom he considered the best architect in the -country, had built on it a structure that Briggs proudly considered an -ornament to the city. It would be associated with him as other houses -were associated with men conspicuous in Washington life. - -On the sidewalk Michael, the servant whom Douglas Briggs had employed -ever since becoming a house-holder in Washington, was supervising the -arranging of the carpet on the steps and the hanging of the awning. - -“Well, Michael, how goes it?” Briggs asked, pleasantly. - -“All right, sir. The back of the work is broken,” Michael replied, with -a grin. He brushed down his thick red hair and rubbed his hand over the -perspiration on his forehead. - -“Have those men come from the caterer’s?” - -“The naygurs, sir? They arrived an hour ago, an’ ye’d think they owned -the place.” - -“Well, let them own it while they’re here,” said Briggs, severely, -apprehensive of Michael’s great fault, a fondness for interfering with -other servants and making trouble. - -“Div’l the word I’ve had with ’em, sir!” Michael exclaimed with a look -of scorn. - -“Very well!” Briggs commented, severely. He was fond of Michael, whom -he knew he could trust; but he had to be severe with the fellow. - -When Briggs entered, a young girl met him in the hall. “Oh, here you -are! I’ve been watching for you all the afternoon. Why didn’t you come -home before, you naughty man?” - -She put her arms on his shoulders, and he bent forward to be kissed. “I -couldn’t,” Briggs explained; “I’ve been too busy.” - -“Oh, Guy,” the girl cried, running to the broad staircase at the back -of the hall, “Uncle Doug has come.” She turned swiftly to her uncle. -“Oh, you should have seen us work this afternoon, Guy and me! We’ve -been helping Mrs. Farnsworth with the flowers. I’ve decorated the -dining-room all myself.” She seized Douglas Briggs by the arm and tried -to drag him with her. “Come along and see.” - -He drew his arm away gently. “I mustn’t now, Fanny. I’ll see it -by-and-by. I ought to get ready for dinner. Where’s your aunt?” - -“Aunt Helen’s in the drawing-room. She has a caller, I think.” - -Briggs frowned. “Hasn’t she taken a rest?” - -Fanny shook her head and looked serious. “I tried to make her, but she -wouldn’t. She said there were too many things to do. But Guy and I were -attending to everything,” she concluded, with importance. - -Briggs turned away and smiled. “Children awake?” he asked, as he -removed his coat. - -“M’m--h’m. Been playing all the afternoon. Miss Munroe’s been a brick. -As soon as she got Jack quiet she came down and helped Guy and me -decorate the ballroom. Oh, we had the loveliest----” - -Briggs had turned away absent-mindedly and started up the stairs. As he -passed the door of the drawing-room he heard a rustle of skirts, and a -sharp voice exclaimed: - -“Why, there’s your husband now!” - -He stopped and turned back. “Oh, Mrs. Burrell, how do you do?” he -said, abruptly. He extended his hand, and the old lady grasped it with -enthusiasm. - -“I’ve been all over your house,” she said. - -“It’s simply the loveliest place I’ve ever seen. I’ve just been telling -your wife,” she went on, “that I don’t see how Paradise can be any -better than this.” - -Briggs smiled. Then he turned to his wife and kissed her on the cheek. - -“Well, it does me good to see you do that!” Mrs. Burrell declared. -“It’s the only real home-like thing I’ve seen since I come to -Washington.” She took a long breath. “I was saying to Mr. Burrell -yesterday that if we didn’t know you and Mrs. Briggs we’d think there -was no such thing as home life in Washington.” - -“Oh, there’s a lot of it,” Briggs asserted, jocularly. “Only they keep -it dark.” - -“It seems to me there’s nothing but wire-pulling, wire-pulling, -everybody trying to get ahead of everybody else. It makes me sick. -Still, I suppose I’m doing a little of that myself just now,” she went -on, with a nervous laugh. “What do you suppose I come here for to-day, -Mr. Briggs? I ought to be ashamed bothering your wife just when she’s -going to have a big party. But I knew it would just break my girls’ -hearts if they didn’t come to-night. So I’ve asked if I couldn’t bring -’em.” - -“Quite right, quite right,” said Briggs, cheerfully, but with the -absent look still in his eyes. - -Mrs. Burrell was a large woman with hair that had turned to a color -approximating drab and giving a suggestion of thinness belied by the -mass at the back. She had a sharp nose and gray eyes, none the less -keen because they were faded with years and from wearing glasses. Her -skin, which seemed to have been tightly drawn across her face, bagged -heavily under the eyes and dropped at the corners of the disappointed -and complaining mouth. Douglas Briggs suspected that at the time of -her marriage she had been a typical New England old maid. If she had -been more correct in her speech he would have marked her for a former -school-teacher. As she talked it amused him to note the flashes of -brightness in her eyes behind the black-rimmed glasses from which was -suspended a gold chain, a touch of elegance which harmonized perfectly -with the whole eccentric figure. Briggs felt sorry for her and he felt -glad for her: she was enjoying Washington without realizing how much -passing enjoyment she gave to the people she met. - -“It was a mistake, their not receiving cards,” Helen Briggs explained. -“I know their names were on the list.” - -“Oh, those mistakes are always happening,” Mrs. Burrell replied, -greatly relieved now that she had got what she wanted. “Why, when we -had our coming-out party for our oldest girl there was at least three -families in Auburn that wouldn’t look at me. How I happened to forget -to invite ’em I couldn’t understand, to save my life. But I didn’t try -to explain. It was no use. I just let it go.” - -Douglas Briggs sighed. Mrs. Burrell represented the type of woman -before whom he had most difficulty in maintaining his air of -confidential friendliness. For her husband, the shrewd old business -man from Maine, who was serving his first term in Congress, he felt a -genuine liking. His weariness at this moment prompted him to make one -of his pleasant speeches. When most bored he always tried hardest to -be agreeable. “There was no need of your asking for invitations for -to-night,” he said. “We hope you know us well enough to bring your -daughters without invitations.” - -Mrs. Burrell softened. Her sharp little gray eyes grew moist. “Well, I -think you’re just as good as you can be,” she said. She looked vaguely -about, as if not knowing what to say. “Well, it _is_ lovely!” she -went on. “It’s splendid having these big entries. They’re just as good -as rooms. And those lovely tapestries on the wall downstairs--where in -the world did you get ’em?” - -“They were bought for us by a dealer in New York,” Briggs explained, -patiently. He wondered how long Mrs. Burrell could stand without -moving. At that moment the old lady turned and offered her hand to -Helen. - -“Well, good-bye again. The girls will be waiting for me at the hotel. I -guess they’ll be glad.” - -As soon as Mrs. Burrell started down the stairs Douglas Briggs turned -to his wife. “You must be tired, dear,” he said. “You ought to have -been resting this afternoon.” - -“Oh, no. I’m not tired, really.” She let him take her hand and she -smiled back into his face. - -“What is it?” she asked. - -“Nothing.” He pressed her hand more tightly. “Only I’m glad to see you -again, that’s all.” - -He placed his left hand on her forehead and drew her head back. Then he -kissed her on the lips. - -She drew away from him with a smile. “We haven’t much time. We have a -great many things to do yet.” - -“I must take a peep at the children,” he said. “I wonder if they’re -asleep yet.” - -“I think Miss Munroe is giving them their supper.” - -The children, who had recognized the footsteps, were at the door to -meet them. Dorothy, a fat, laughing girl of seven, ran forward and -threw herself into her father’s arms, and Jack, two years younger, -trotted after her. - -“Oh, you big girl!” Briggs exclaimed, “you’ll take all my breath away.” - -She kissed him again and again, laughing as his mustache tickled her -face. Jack was tugging at her skirts, trying to pull her down. - -“Let me! Let me!” he insisted. - -Briggs placed Dorothy on the floor and took up the boy. “How are you -to-day, sonny?” he asked, as he let the thick, yellow curls fall over -his eyes. - -“All right,” Jack replied, contentedly. - -“Been a good boy?” - -Jack looked wistfully at the governess, a young woman with black hair, -a bad complexion and a disappointed face, that always suggested to -Briggs a baffled motherliness. He pitied all people over twenty-five -who were not married. He valued Miss Munroe, but he often told her -that she had no business taking care of other people’s children; she -ought to be taking care of her own. - -“No, he hasn’t!” shouted Dorothy. “He broke his whip, and when Miss -Munroe took it away from him he cried and kicked.” - -“Oh--h--h!” said Jack’s father, reproachfully. - -“Well, it was my whip,” Jack insisted. - -“It’s all right,” Miss Munroe interrupted. “He said he was sorry.” - -Briggs walked into the nursery with Jack on his shoulder. Jack, who at -once forgot his momentary disgrace, clung to his father’s thick hair. - -“Ow, you rascal, let go!” said Briggs. He sank slowly into a chair, and -lifting the boy high in his arms, deposited him on his knee. Dorothy -followed and climbed up on the other knee. She placed a forefinger -between her teeth and looked admiringly at her father. - -“Papa, is the President coming to-night?” she asked. - -Douglas Briggs took her hand and drew the finger out of her mouth. -“I’ve told you not to do that, dear,” he said. - -She jumped and pressed her head against her father’s coat. “Well, is -he?” - -“I think not,” Briggs replied, with a smile. “I’m not sure that we’ve -invited him.” - -“Oh, how mean!” - -“He doesn’t go to parties,” Jack scornfully explained, with superior -intelligence. - -“Well, he has parties himself,” Dorothy insisted, indignantly. - -Briggs extended his hand between them. “There, there; that’ll do. Never -mind about the President.” - -“You’re going to be President some day, aren’t you, papa?” Jack -ventured, with confidence. “Only I’d rather live here than in the White -House.” - -“They say the White House isn’t healthy,” said Dorothy, repeating a -remark she had heard over the stairs. - -“Well, papa, when you live in the White House can’t we come and stay in -this house when we want to?” asked Jack. - -Helen Briggs, who had been discussing with Miss Munroe a detail of -the decoration for the evening, joined the group. “Jack thinks we’ll -have to move from this place to the White House,” said Briggs. “He’s -worried.” - -Helen smiled. “It’s time for Jack to go to bed.” - -“Oh, no. Just another minute longer,” Jack pleaded. - -“I must go and dress,” said Briggs. “Now, chicks, climb down.” They -obeyed promptly, but turned and made a simultaneous attack upon him. -He endured their caresses for a moment; then he cried: “Now, that’s -enough, I think.” He rose quietly and kissed them. “Go to sleep like -good children,” he said. - -On the way to their room Helen remarked: “Jack is getting so lively -Miss Munroe hardly knows what to do with him.” - -“Oh, he’ll be all right,” said Douglas. “I like to see a boy with some -spirit in him.” - -An hour later Douglas Briggs entered the dining-room, followed by his -wife. Fanny Wallace was already there, talking with Guy Fullerton. - -“How do I look?” Fanny cried to her aunt, catching up her long gown. -“Isn’t it perfectly beautiful? Don’t you just love those fleecy things? -Won’t dad be proud of his daughter?” - -“You look very well, dear,” said Helen, conservatively. - -“Well, you’re kind of nice yourself,” Fanny remarked. “And doesn’t the -gentleman look grand?” she added, to her uncle. “Only,” she went on, -giving him a little push, “you mustn’t let yourself get so fat.” Then -she glanced at Guy. “Do you suppose he’ll be like that when he’s forty?” - -“I’ve had a list of guests prepared for the newspaper people,” said -Guy to Douglas Briggs. He liked to ignore Fanny’s jokes when they -reflected on his personal appearance. “It’ll save a lot of time. And -I’ve arranged to have them take supper in a room by themselves. They’ll -like that better.” - -Briggs, however, had turned to the servant, who had just come into the -room. “Take the men up to the big room over the front door, Michael. -That’ll be the best place,” he went on, to his wife. “And have you -arranged about their hats and coats?” - -“I’ve attended to all that, sir,” Guy said, eagerly. - -Briggs looked relieved. “Well, I guess we needn’t worry.” - -Helen glanced up into his face. “I’m not going to worry,” she said, -with a smile. - -“Is the Secretary of State really coming?” Fanny asked. - -“I believe so,” her aunt replied. - -“If he speaks to me I shall faint away. Ugh!” The girl walked over to -Guy Fullerton. “You’ll have to do all the talking if you sit near me. I -shall be too scared to say a word. This is my first dinner, you know.” - -“You poor thing!” Guy began; but Fanny cut him short. - -“Don’t make stupid jokes, sir!” - -Helen Briggs turned to the girl. “I’m only afraid you’ll talk too much, -Fanny.” - -“If she does, we’ll send her from the table,” said Briggs. - -Fanny wrinkled her nose at her uncle. “That funny little Frenchman’s to -sit on my left,” she said, turning to Guy. “Oh, I won’t do a thing to -him!” - -“I want you to be particularly nice to young Clinton, of the British -Embassy,” Briggs replied. “He’s a first-rate fellow, but very shy. I -think perhaps you’ll amuse him.” - -Guy at once looked uncomfortable. Fanny observed him, and laughed. “I -expect to have a lovely time,” she said, casting down her eyes demurely. - -“Who’s going to take you out?” Briggs asked, glancing first at Fanny -and then at Guy. - -“Mr. West,” Guy promptly replied. - -Briggs looked puzzled. “What did you put her with him for?” - -Fanny smiled knowingly. “Perhaps because he thought I’d be out of -danger,” she said demurely. - -Briggs turned away impatiently. “Well, don’t you dare to flirt with -him, Fanny. He’s really dangerous.” - -Guy’s face looked anxious. “It isn’t too late to change the -arrangement,” he said, wistfully, and they all laughed. - -“Is it true that Mr. West is so wicked, Uncle Doug?” Fanny asked. “The -newspapers say awful things about him.” - -“Well, the newspapers say awful things about everybody. They say awful -things about me.” - -“Then they tell great big lies,” Fanny cried, rushing forward and -throwing her arms around her uncle’s neck. - -“Fanny,” Mrs. Briggs remonstrated, “you’ll get your dress all ruffled.” - -“Well, never mind,” said Fanny, philosophically, and she smiled at her -uncle. “I’d just like to meet someone that had been talking about you.” - -“Gee, it’s a good thing you aren’t a man,” Guy remarked with a shake of -his head. - -“Won’t she be a terrible little boss when she gets married?” Briggs -exclaimed, with a knowing look at the young fellow. - -“I’m going to be just like Auntie,” said Fanny, and Briggs laughed -aloud. - -“Then you’ll have to begin to change mighty quick.” - -The door-bell rang and a few moments later the first guest appeared -in the drawing-room. During the next few moments several other guests -arrived and Fanny was kept busy helping her aunt to keep them amused -until dinner was announced. The announcement was delayed by the -tardiness of the Secretary of State, who was known for his punctuality -in business and for his indifference and unpunctuality in social -matters. When, finally, the great man entered, walking quickly but -maintaining, nevertheless, an air of deliberateness and suavity, Fanny -breathed a sigh of relief. She turned to Franklin West, who had taken -his place beside her. - -“I’m starving,” she said. - -“You poor child.” He looked down at her with his fine dark eyes. - -“And yet I’m terribly frightened.” - -“At what?” he said with a smile. - -“Oh, all these wonderful men with their queer wives. Why do great men -marry such funny women, do you suppose?” - -“Be careful, little girl,” West whispered. - -Fanny shrugged her shoulders. “I’m not very diplomatic, am I?” - -“Perhaps you’ll learn to be as you grow older,” he said, smiling again. -“Diplomacy usually comes with age. It’s only the very young who can -afford to be frank. It’s one of the graces of youth.” - -Fanny flushed. “I believe you are making fun of me, Mr. West.” - -“Oh, no,” West replied, gallantly. “I’m merely telling you the truth.” - -The butler had entered and announced dinner and the procession was -about to start for the dining-room. “Don’t you think this is positively -_languishing_, Mr. West?” said Fanny, as she took the arm offered -her, and when he laughed aloud, she went on: “It’s been the dream of -my life to go to a dinner-party.” She sighed deeply. “And yet there’s -something sad when your dream is realized, isn’t there?” - -“Well, I must say you’re complimentary, Miss Fanny,” West exclaimed. - -“Oh, I didn’t mean that. I didn’t mean anything personal to _you_.” - -“What did you mean then?” - -“Well, I guess I mean that there won’t ever be any first dinner-party -for me again. I’m just foolish, that’s all.” - -After helping Fanny in her seat, West took his place beside her. He had -been bored on learning that this child was to be his table companion; -now he felt somewhat amused. - -“I can’t say that any of my dreams have been realized,” he remarked, -unfolding his napkin. - -“You poor thing!” Fanny cried. Then she looked searchingly at his face. -“You don’t show any very great disappointment.” - -Fanny glanced quickly around the table: many of the faces were partly -concealed from her by the masses of roses and ferns in the centre. -There was Guy, talking with that queer little woman from the Argentine -Republic, the wife of an under-secretary or something. Fanny wondered -vaguely how she had happened to be invited. Oh, she was supposed to be -intellectual or literary or something like that. Then Fanny smiled at -the thought of the way poor Guy would be bored. Suddenly she turned to -Franklin West. - -“Who do you think is the prettiest woman here?” - -“The prettiest woman?” West repeated, gallantly, emphasizing the noun. -“Well, I don’t think I should have to hesitate long about that.” - -“Well, who?” - -“Mrs. Douglas Briggs, of course.” - -Fanny’s eyes rested affectionately on her aunt. “Of course,” she -agreed. “But somehow,” she went on, “I never think about Auntie as -pretty. I just think of her as good. I don’t believe she ever had a -mean thought or did a mean thing in her life. Don’t you think she’s -perfectly lovely?” she asked, inconsistently. Fanny looked up into -West’s face and noticed that it had flushed deeply. - -“Yes, she is perfectly lovely,” he repeated in a low voice. - -“Now, if I were a man I’d fall head over heels in love with her.” - -“And then what would happen?” West asked, without taking his eyes off -Mrs. Briggs’s face. - -“Why, I’d marry her, of course.” - -“And what would become of Mr. Briggs?” - -“Uncle Doug?” Fanny asked in surprise. “Oh, I’d have fallen in love -long before he came along.” - -“But suppose you’d fallen in love after he came along?” - -Fanny wrinkled her nose. “I don’t like to suppose unpleasant things,” -she replied. “Anyway, there’s only one man in the world good enough for -her.” - -“Who’s that?” - -“The man that she married, of course,” Fanny exclaimed. - -The dinner proved to be a perfect success. When the great men at the -table learned that it was Fanny Wallace’s first dinner-party they -paid her such attention that she let herself go completely and kept -them laughing by her naïve impertinences. The sight of young Clinton -gave Guy Fullerton deep relief; he knew that the blotched-faced, thin -and anæmic Englishman, with the ponderous manner of the embryonic -statesman, would appeal only to Fanny’s sense of humor. Fanny, indeed, -was the centre of interest throughout the dinner; even the great men’s -wives petted her. When the ladies left the table to go into the -drawing-room Helen had a chance to whisper to her: “My dear, you’ve -been splendid. I sha’n’t dare give any more dinner-parties without you.” - -“Oh, aren’t they lovely?” Fanny cried, rolling her eyes. “Only I talked -so much I forgot all about eating anything. I’m actually hungry.” - -The guests for the reception began to arrive shortly after nine -o’clock. Long before this hour, however, the sidewalk near the house -was crowded with curiosity-seekers, in which the colored population of -Washington was numerously represented. Guy hurried from point to point, -giving directions to the servants, offering greetings, and showing his -fine, white teeth in frank, boyish enjoyment of his importance. As the -newspaper people came, he exaggerated his cordiality; some of the men -he addressed by their first names. “You’ll find the list of guests all -ready for you, old man,” he remarked, placing his hand on the shoulder -of one of them, “in the little room just leading off the dining-room. -Down there. And there’s everything else you can want, there at the -sideboard,” he added, significantly, with the consciousness of being -very much a man of the world. “I knew you newspaper people would like -to have a place to yourselves.” - - - - -II - - -“Well, I guess I _am_ mad! I’ve never been treated so in all my -life!” - -Miss Beatrice Wing swept indignantly down the stairs into the -conservatory. The interior of the house, planned after the Colonial -fashion, was filled with surprising little flights of steps and with -delightful irregularities. - -“Still, it was a very good supper,” said Mrs. McShane behind her. She -kept hesitating before the younger woman’s elaborate train. Her voice -was one of those plaintive little pipes that belong to many small and -timid women. Compared with Miss Wing and her radiant millinery, she -seemed shriveled and impoverished. - -“Oh, what difference does it make, anyway?” This time the voice -was loud and sonorous. It came from William Farley, Washington -correspondent of the New York _Gazette_, a thick-set man with -a face that was boyish in spite of the fine web of wrinkles around -each eye. He looked the personification of amiability, and was plainly -amused by the young woman’s indignation. - -Miss Wing sank into one of the wicker seats and proceeded to fan -herself vigorously, throwing back her head and letting the light flash -from the gems on her round, white neck. “Well, I believe in standing on -your dignity.” - -“I didn’t know we had any,” said Farley, with a laugh. - -Miss Wing turned to a young woman who was extravagantly dressed in a -gray-flowered silk, and who had just followed Mrs. McShane down the -steps. “Listen to that, will you, Emily? I once heard Mrs. Briggs say -that she hated newspaper people,” she added, to the group. - -Farley looked down from the head of the steps and smiled pleasantly. -“That doesn’t sound like Mrs. Briggs!” - -Miss Wing sat bolt upright and let her fan drop into her lap. “Well, if -I had known we were going to be shoved off for supper to a side room -like that, I’d never have come. I didn’t come as a reporter, anyway.” - -“What did you come as?” Farley asked, as he slowly descended the -stairs, brushing against the tall palms on either side. From the other -rooms music came faintly, mingled with talk and laughter. - -“I came as a friend of Congressman Briggs,” Miss Wing replied, with -spirit. - -Farley took a seat at a small table beside the miniature fountain. In -the little stream that ran through the grass goldfish were nervously -darting. “Wasn’t the invitation sent to the office?” He drew out some -sheets of paper and proceeded to make notes. He had the air of not -taking the discussion seriously. More important affairs were on his -mind. - -“No matter. It was addressed to me personally.” Miss Wing turned for -corroboration to Emily Moore, who had sunk into the seat near her. - -“So was mine,” Miss Moore echoed. - -Farley smiled, without glancing up from his writing. “How about yours, -Mrs. McShane?” - -Mrs. McShane, who always looked frightened, seemed at this moment -painfully conscious of the shabbiness of her black silk gown. But she -managed to reply: “I found mine in my letter-box this afternoon.” - -“It had been sent to the paper, of course,” Farley remarked, -decisively, as if expecting no answer. - -Mrs. McShane nodded. “I’ve never done anything like this before. I -do the temperance column in the Saturday paper, and the news of the -churches.” - -The young women exchanged glances. - -“Oh, well,” Farley remarked, cheerfully, “these ladies will help you -out. I’m relying on them for the dresses myself.” - -Miss Wing and Miss Moore rose and walked to the farthest corner of -the conservatory. By some physical expression they seemed to wish to -indicate that a marked difference existed between themselves and the -shabby, careworn little figure in black. - -Mrs. McShane looked relieved. Her face brightened. “It’s a beautiful -reception, isn’t it?” she said to Farley, in an awe-stricken voice. - -Farley looked vaguely about the room, as if making an estimate. “Yes,” -he said, slowly. “It must have cost Briggs a tidy bit of money.” - -Mrs. McShane opened wide her eyes. “And the champagne!” she whispered. - -Miss Wing, who had started to walk slowly back to the table, exclaimed -to her companion: - -“And we didn’t have a chance to see anything!” - -“Oh, well, you can go in after they’ve finished,” Farley remarked, -good-naturedly. - -Miss Wing assumed an air of decision. “I shall complain to Congressman -Briggs of the way we’ve been treated.” - -“Oh, let him alone,” said Farley. “He’s got enough on his mind. -Besides, in our business it doesn’t pay to be ruffled by little things.” - -“Well, I don’t see why newspaper work should prevent us from keeping -our self-respect!” Miss Wing exclaimed, excitedly. “To be treated like -a lot of servants!” - -“Or like people who have forced themselves in, without being invited!” -Miss Moore added. - -Farley, however, kept on writing. “To do newspaper work,” he commented, -with exasperating coolness, “you mustn’t have any feelings.” - -“The people you meet certainly don’t!” snapped Miss Moore. - -Miss Wing turned in the direction of the drawing-room, where, from the -sound of voices, most of the guests seemed to be gathering. “Well, I’d -like to know who these people are, that they presume to treat us so,” -she said, speaking in a loud voice, as if she wished to be overheard. -“Who is Mrs. Briggs, anyway? And who are all this rag-and-bobtail? The -Wings of Virginia have something back of them. They haven’t got their -respectability from political trickery, anyway.” - -Mrs. McShane, who had been sitting, with bewilderment in her eyes, as -if hardly knowing what to do, suddenly appealed to Farley. “I’ve got to -get my copy in by one o’clock at the latest,” she said in a whisper. -“It must be nearly twelve now.” - -“Come and get down to work, then, before anyone comes in here,” Farley -replied. “I suppose you have the list of guests that young Fullerton -passed round?” - -As Mrs. McShane and Farley bent over the table, the butler entered, -bearing a tray covered with cups of coffee. Mrs. McShane and Farley -took coffee, which they sipped as they worked. The others refused it. -As Farley took his cup he said, “Good-evening, Michael,” and the man -smiled and replied, “Good-evening, sir.” - -“I feel like tearing up my list,” said Miss Wing, as she held the -printed slip in her gloved hand. “I see,” she went on, addressing Miss -Moore, “they’ve got the Westmorelands down. Is Lady Westmoreland -here?” she asked, as Michael was about to ascend the steps. - -“She’s been here, ma’am, but she went away before supper.” - -Miss Wing’s lip curled. “Oh, well, they _got_ her, didn’t they?” -Before Michael had time to vanish she cried: “And is Stone here?” - -“Who, ma’am?” the servant asked, turning again. His manner subtly -conveyed resentment and dislike. - -Miss Wing repeated: “_Mr._ Stone.” - -“He’s in the drawing-room, ma’am; I just saw him in there.” - -Miss Wing turned to her companion. “Just think of their having Stone -here! Suppose we go and see if we can find him? I’d like to see how -he looks in society. I shouldn’t be surprised to find him in his -shirt sleeves. Well, Congressman Briggs knows which side his bread is -buttered on. He keeps solid with the Boss.” - -Farley stopped work for a moment. “I wonder who prepared this list!” he -said to Mrs. McShane. “Good idea!” - -“How do you happen to be doing society work, Mr. Farley?” the old woman -asked. - -Farley smiled. “Well, it is rather out of my line, I must admit. If I -had to do this sort of thing very much I’d quit the business. But our -little Miss Carey is sick, and she was afraid she’d lose her job if she -didn’t cover this.” - -The wistful look deepened in Mrs. McShane’s face. “So you said you’d -do it! You must have a kind heart, Mr. Farley. Oh, I wish they’d give -a description of the dresses with the list of guests!” she added, -despairingly. “It would save us a lot of bother.” - -“I’ve a good mind to fake my stuff about the frocks,” Miss Wing -interposed. - -Mrs. McShane looked shocked. “But suppose your managing editor should -find it out?” - -“Pooh! What do editors know about frocks?” Miss Wing spoke with a fine -superiority. “I’ve noticed that they always like my faked things best, -anyway.” - -“You have a wonderful imagination, dear,” Miss Moore remarked, -admiringly. - -“Well, I don’t know how I’d ever get through my articles if I didn’t. -The last time I went over to New York I called on all the leading -women tailors and dressmakers, and I couldn’t get a thing out of them, -and the next day I had to write five thousand words on the new Spring -fashions.” - -Miss Moore rolled her eyes. “What in the world did you do?” she said, -with an affectation of voice and manner that suggested years of -practice. - -Miss Wing smiled. “Well,” she replied, after a moment, “I had a -perfectly beautiful time writing that article. I made up everything in -it. I prophesied the most extraordinary changes in women’s clothes. And -do you know, some of them have really come about since! I suppose some -of the other papers copied my stuff. And then, I actually invented some -new materials!” - -The pupils of Miss Moore’s eyes expanded in admiration. “I wish I had -your nerve!” she said, earnestly. - -Under the warmth of flattery Miss Wing began to brighten. “And what do -you suppose happened?” she said, exultantly. “The paper had a whole -raft of letters asking where those materials could be bought. One -woman out in Ohio declared she’d been in New York, and she’d hunted -everywhere to get the embossed silk that I’d described.” - -Farley smiled grimly. “That woman’s going to get along in the world,” -he muttered to Mrs. McShane. “In five years she’ll be a notorious -lobbyist, with a hundred thousand dollars in the bank.” - -By this time Miss Wing had tired of the isolation of the conservatory. -The interest of the evening was plainly centred in the drawing-room. -“Come, dear,” she said, drawing her arm around Miss Moore’s, “let’s -walk about and get a look at the people.” - -As the two women started to mount the steps they were met by Franklin -West, whose smiling face suddenly lost and resumed its radiance as -his eyes caught sight of them. The effect was not unlike that of the -winking of an electric light. The women either did not observe, or they -deliberately ignored the effect upon him of the encounter, or possibly -they misinterpreted it. At any rate, it made no appreciable diminution -of their own expression of pleasure. - -Miss Wing extended her hand. “Why, how do you do, Mr. West?” Miss Moore -only smiled; in the presence of her companion she seemed instinctively -to reduce herself to a subordinate position. - -Franklin West took the gloved hand, that gave a pressure somewhat -more prolonged than the conventional greeting. “I’m delighted to -see you here,” he said, the radiance of his smile once more firmly -established. His face, Miss Wing noticed, was unusually flushed. She -suspected that he was ill at ease. As he spoke he showed his large -white teeth, and his brown eyes, that would have been handsome but -for their complete lack of candor, wore a friendly glow. Miss Wing -considered West one of the most baffling men in Washington, and one -of the most fascinating. His features were strong and bold; his chin -would have been disagreeably prominent but for the good offices of his -thick black mustache, which created a pleasant regularity of outline. -His complexion was singularly clear for a man’s, and he had noticeably -long and beautiful hands. Miss Wing had often wondered how old he was. -He might have been forty; he might have been fifty; he could easily -have passed for a man of thirty-five. His was plainly one of those -natures that turn a smiling front on life. In fact, Franklin West had -long since definitely formulated an agreeable system of philosophy: -he liked to say that it was far better for a man not to try to adjust -circumstances to himself, but to adjust himself to circumstances; -that, after all, was the only true secret of living, especially--but -he usually made this comment to himself alone--of living in a city -like Washington. At this moment he was adjusting himself to a most -unpleasant circumstance, for in his attitude toward women he had a few -decided prejudices, one of the strongest of which was typified by the -Washington woman correspondent. - -“Where are you going?” he asked, when he had offered his hand to Miss -Moore, vainly searching for her name in the catalogue of newspaper -acquaintances. These newspaper people were great bores; but he must be -civil to them. - -“Well, we felt like going home,” Miss Wing pouted. “But now that you’re -here, perhaps we’ll stay.” - -West looked at her with an expression of exaggerated solicitude. -“What’s the matter?” he asked. - -“We’ve been neglected--shamefully,” Miss Wing replied. - -“They put us in a side-room,” Miss Moore interposed, “with the -reporters.” - -“It’s a mistake, of course,” West remarked. “Mrs. Briggs will be very -sorry when she hears about it. Have you been through the rooms?” - -Miss Wing shook her head. “We haven’t been anywhere,” she said, -plaintively. - -“Then let me take you into the drawing-room. Mrs. Briggs is----” - -“She’s always near where you are, Mr. West,” Miss Wing interrupted, -with a malicious smile. “I feel as if I had no right to appropriate -you.” She glanced affectionately at her companion. “Shall we go, dear, -or shall we send him back to our hostess?” - -“I think we ought to send him back,” Miss Moore replied, taking her cue. - -Miss Wing turned to West, her face shining with generosity. “So run -along. We’ll be generous--for once.” - -For a moment West looked confused. Then he recovered himself. “I -certainly do admire Mrs. Briggs, but that doesn’t keep me--” he assumed -his most intense look--“from admiring others.” - -Miss Wing threw back her fine shoulders. “Oh, if you’re going to pay -_compliments_, we’ll certainly keep you. Come along, dear.” - - - - -III - - -The departure of the two women with West gave Mrs. McShane and Farley a -chance to work rapidly for several moments. Mrs. McShane, whose years -of experience had not developed speed in writing, kept glancing every -now and then at Farley in admiration of his skill. He was evidently -preparing a general description of the evening, which promised to be -remembered, according to Mrs. McShane’s report, “as one of the most -brilliant events in a Washington Winter remarkable for the brilliancy -of its entertainments.” The old woman had read that phrase somewhere, -and she had already used it several times, each time with a growing -fear of detection by her editors. But for such sonorous phrases she -would have had some difficulty in continuing her newspaper work. During -one of her pauses Farley remarked, pleasantly: - -“Inspiration given out, Mrs. McShane?” - -“Oh, if I could only compose like you, Mr. Farley!” she replied, -enviously. - -Farley laughed. “I guess you’ll be all right,” he said. - -“Sometimes I think I oughtn’t ever to have gone into newspaper work,” -the old woman went on, pathetically. “I don’t know enough.” - -“Oh, you don’t have to know anything to do this kind of work,” said -Farley. Then he felt sorry. He looked up quickly, but Mrs. McShane had -apparently noticed nothing in the remark to wound her feelings. - -“Perhaps I can help you,” Farley went on, in a kindly tone. “I’ve been -trying to do my article in a different way from the usual society -article. I should think people would get sick of reading the same old -things about the entertainments here. Besides, this party is given more -to show off Briggs’s house than anything else; so I’ve been giving -up a lot of space to a description of the place itself. It’s one of -Hanscomb’s houses, you know--that big Boston architect, who’s been -getting such a lot of advertising lately. He’s one of the best men in -his line we’ve ever had. He’s modeled it on the Colonial style, which -is fashionable again. I know a little something about architecture. I -studied it once for six months in New York, before I began newspaper -work. So I’m sort of spreading myself. Now, you might do something like -that.” - -“But that wouldn’t be fair to you, Mr. Farley,” said the old woman. - -“No, I don’t mean that,” Farley went on. “You might make a lot out of -the floral decorations and the color scheme in the rooms. People like -to hear about those things. Didn’t you notice how the library was in -Empire----?” - -The old woman shook her head. “Oh, I don’t understand about these -things,” she interrupted. “I don’t know enough.” - -Farley laughed again. “Well, I’ll tell you. You see, in the first -place, Briggs didn’t have a professional decorator, as so many people -do nowadays. This place doesn’t look like a professional decorator’s -house, does it? Do you know why? Simply because Briggs has a wife whose -taste is the very best in the world.” Farley’s face brightened; his -eyes shone. “You know Mrs. Briggs, don’t you?” - -“Yes; I was sent to interview her once. She wouldn’t let me interview -her, but she was so nice about it I couldn’t help liking her.” - -“Ah, she’s fine to everyone!” Farley exclaimed, enthusiastically. “I -never knew anyone to meet her without--” He checked himself suddenly, -and his face flushed. “But we must get down to work. Look here. You’ve -been over the house, haven’t you? Well, I’ll describe the principal -features as quickly as I can, and you can work ’em up.” - -“But how about your own article?” Mrs. McShane inquired, anxiously. - -“Oh, that’ll be all right. I’ve got it half-done already.” - -For several moments Farley talked rapidly and Mrs. McShane took notes. -She kept looking up at him in awe of his skill in observation. What -a mind he must have, to be able to see so much at a glance! When, at -last, she took a moment to offer a compliment, he replied, with a smile: - -“Oh, this isn’t the result of my looking the place over to-night,” he -said. “I know Mrs. Briggs a little, and I’ve talked the house over with -her many times. In fact, I’ve had a hand in it myself.” - -As he spoke Farley turned at the sound of a footstep on the stairs. His -face brightened, and he started to rise from his seat. - -“Good-evening, Congressman,” he said. - -Douglas Briggs walked quickly down the steps. The exhilaration of the -evening made him appear at his best. His gray eye was clear, and his -brown hair, and lighter mustache, closely trimmed to his lip, gave him -a look of youth. - -“Oh, hello, Farley!” he said; “what are you doing here?” Then he -observed the little woman at the table. “Why, bless my soul! Mrs. -McShane, I’m delighted to see you.” He grasped Mrs. McShane’s hand -cordially; then he turned, smiling at Farley. - -“Great night for you, Congressman,” said the journalist. - -Briggs shook his head deprecatingly. “For Mrs. Briggs, you mean. This -is her blow-out.” - -Mrs. McShane gathered courage to speak. “And she’s looking beautiful -to-night, sir,” she said in a half-whisper. - -Briggs let his hand rest affectionately on the old woman’s arm. “My -dear lady,” he said, in the confidential manner that had won friends -for him all through life, “between you and me, she’s the prettiest -woman in Washington. But you mustn’t put that in the paper.” - -Mrs. McShane glowed. “I won’t, sir; but it’s true, just the same.” - -Briggs glanced from Mrs. McShane to Farley and again at Mrs. McShane. -“What are you two people doing in here, all alone?” he asked, in the -tone of the host who catches his guests moping. - -“We’re trying to get some notes together,” Farley explained. “But we’re -all at sea about the dresses,” he added, with a smile. - -The music had just ceased, and they heard a rustle of skirts in the -next room. Suddenly Fanny Wallace stood among the palms. As she was -looking back over her shoulder she did not observe the group in the -conservatory. - -“Isn’t it good to get out of the crowd?” she said, when Guy Fullerton -had come up to her. Suddenly she turned and glanced through the palm -leaves. “Oh, I didn’t know anyone was here!” - -“You’re just the person we’re looking for, my dear,” Douglas Briggs -exclaimed. “This is Fanny Wallace, my wife’s niece, Mrs. McShane. -She’ll take you through the rooms. She knows all about the pretty -frocks. It’s all she thinks about.” - -Fanny looked reproachfully at Briggs. Then she darted toward the old -woman. “Oh, Mrs. McShane, I want you to see Mrs. Senator Aspinwall’s -dress before she leaves. It’s gorgeous.” She turned to the youth, -who had dropped into conversation with Farley, and seized him by -the coat-sleeve. “Mrs. McShane, this is Mr. Fullerton,” she said, -impressively, “Mr. Guy Fullerton. He’s a very important young man,” -she went on. “He’s my uncle’s secretary. Think of that! _You_ can -come, too, infant, if you like,” she concluded, with a change of tone. -“You need to learn something about frocks.” - -The young man laughed good-humoredly and followed Fanny, who -had unceremoniously taken Mrs. McShane by the arm. As they were -disappearing, Farley called out: “I’ll rely on you, Mrs. McShane.” - -Fanny replied for the old woman. “We’ll be in the conservatory in half -an hour with yards of description. Oh, this is lovely!” she exclaimed, -with a little jump. “I always wanted to be a newspaper woman.” - -As soon as they were alone Farley walked toward Douglas Briggs. “This -is a good chance for me to ask you something, sir,” he said. - -Briggs smiled. “Have a cigar first, won’t you? Oh, I forgot. I -promised Mrs. Briggs there should be no smoking here. We might go out -on the balcony or up to the smoking-room.” - -Farley shook his head. “Thanks; no. I won’t smoke just now. And I won’t -detain you more than a minute.” He hesitated. “What I’m going to ask -seems a little like a violation of hospitality,” he remarked, with a -look of embarrassment. - -“My dear fellow, there’s no such thing as a violation of hospitality in -the case of a man in public life,” said Briggs, pleasantly. - -“Well, it’s simply this: We want to deny the story about you that’s -going all over Washington. It hasn’t got into the papers yet, but -I happen to know that the New York _Chronicle_ has it, and is -thinking of publishing it.” - -Briggs looked grave. In repose his face took on years; the lines around -the mouth deepened, and the eyes grew tired and dull. “What story?” - -“Why, the story that you are in that Transcontinental Railway deal.” - -“Oh, that!” Briggs threw back his head and laughed, but with a -suggestion of bitterness. “Why, to my certain knowledge, they’ve been -saying that about me for the past five years--ever since I entered -Congress. In fact, there’s hardly been a big political steal that I -haven’t been in.” - -“But the _Chronicle_ people are pretty strong, you know,” Farley -insisted. - -“I don’t give a snap of my finger for them.” - -“Then you won’t let me deny the story for you?” There was a ring of -disappointment in Farley’s voice. - -For a moment Briggs did not speak. Then he said, slowly: “Farley, I -know you mean all right, and I know you’d like to do me a good turn. -You _Gazette_ people have been mighty good friends to me. You’ve -stood by me when I had almost no other friends on the independent -press; in fact, no friends.” - -Farley’s brow knotted. “But if you’ll only let us show there’s nothing -in the story!” - -Briggs shook his head. “No, not one word! I discovered before I’d -been in public life three months it was simply a waste of time to -deny campaign stories. When a man goes into politics,” he concluded, -bitterly, “he makes himself the target of all the blackguards in the -country.” - -“But, Congressman,” Farley pleaded, “just a word would be enough.” - -“No. I’m older than you are, and I know what I’m talking about. I care -so little about this particular story that I made a point of getting -Franklin West to come here to-night. He’s the man, you know, who’s -supposed to be at the bottom of that railroad scandal.” - -“There’s not another man in your position who’d dare to take the bull -by the horns like that,” said Farley, his brow clearing. - -“I assure you,” Briggs replied, reassuming his confidential manner, -“it’s the only way of treating the bull.” - -Farley held out his hand. “I’m glad to have had this little talk with -you, Congressman.” - -Briggs took the hand firmly. “Look in on me at the House to-morrow; I -may have something for you.” - -“Thank you,” said Farley, as he ascended the steps. - - - - -IV - - -Douglas Briggs stood motionless. His face was hot; he could feel his -pulse beating in his temples. Sometimes he wondered if he betrayed the -fever that the mere mention of that railroad and the scandals connected -with it always caused him. The music had begun again, and he could hear -the dancers and the loud talk, broken by laughter. Some of the voices -he recognized, among them Fanny’s and Guy Fullerton’s. His wife’s voice -he could not hear. He started at the sound of a quick footfall. When -he looked up Franklin West’s white teeth were gleaming at him from the -head of the stairs. - -“Oh, here you are!” said West. “I’ve been trying to get a chance to -speak to you all evening.” He looked hard at Briggs, and the smile -faded. “Anything the matter?” - -Briggs drew his arm away and West let his hand drop to his side. “Yes. -Farley, of the New York _Gazette_--you know him, don’t you? I’ve -just been having a talk with him--he says the _Chronicle_ is -getting ready to jump on me.” - -West lifted his brows with a nice imitation of surprise. “About what?” - -“About our precious railroad business, of course.” - -West looked relieved. “They can’t hurt you,” he said, contemptuously. - -“I’m not so sure about that. A paper like the _Chronicle_ carries -weight. It’s not like the small fry that have been knifing me lately.” - -West turned quickly. This time he betrayed a suggestion of genuine -feeling. “But, my dear man, what can they say?” - -“They can say what all Washington is saying,” Briggs replied, fiercely. -“They can say I’ve taken money to push that bill through the House. -They can queer my re-election.” - -West drew out a silver-ornamented cigar-case and offered it to Briggs. -“You have a very bald way of expressing yourself sometimes. Have one?” - -Briggs lifted his hand in refusal, with a suggestion of disgust and -impatience. West deliberately lighted his cigar, puffed it, and then -looked closely at the burning end. “Taking money,” he repeated, as -if addressing the cigar--“that’s a very disagreeable expression! It -isn’t,” he added, with a laugh, “it isn’t professional.” He waited as -if expecting to receive a reply from Briggs. Then he asked, with a lift -of his eyebrows: “Besides, why shouldn’t you?” - -“Why shouldn’t I what?” - -“Why shouldn’t you take money for the work you’ve done? You earned it.” - -Briggs rose from his seat. His face clouded. “Then why should I lie -about it every time the subject is mentioned? Why should I try to -bamboozle that decent young fellow who was in this room a moment ago? -He believes in me. He believes that I’m an honest man, a statesman, a -patriot. He believes that I think of nothing, care for nothing, work -for nothing, but the welfare of the people who elected me.” - -West smiled. “He must be an awful ass!” he remarked, quietly. - -In spite of his disgust Briggs gave a short laugh. “He--oh, well!” He -turned away as if the sight of West had become suddenly obnoxious. -“Have you ever believed in anyone in your life, West?” he asked, -keeping his face averted. - -“Oh, yes,” West replied. “In you, for example. I believed in you the -first time I saw you. I knew you were going to get there.” - -Briggs looked at him as if examining a curiosity. “That was why you -helped me?” - -“Certainly,” West acknowledged, with a resumption of his large smile. - -“You knew that some time I’d be useful to you?” - -“You’re brutal now, Briggs.” - -“Perhaps I am.” - -“One doesn’t refer in that way to any service, however slight,” West -remarked, in the soft voice of conscious politeness. - -“True,” Briggs replied, bitterly. “But you must admit the payment has -been rather hard.” - -“Most people wouldn’t think so. When you came to me, five years ago, -you were on the verge of bankruptcy, and you hadn’t even begun to make -your reputation.” West looked at Briggs to observe the effect of his -words. Then he continued, with a wave of his hand: “And now see what -you are! You’ve made a big name. You’re a power. You have all the -swells in Washington at your parties. If you had gone under, five -years ago, you never could have retrieved yourself. You know that as -well as I do.” - -“And how much satisfaction do you suppose my success has given me?” -Briggs exclaimed. “Since I began to prosper here I’ve not had one -really happy moment.” - -West laughed. - -“You don’t believe that?” - -“Of course I don’t. You’re blue, that’s all. That newspaper man has -hurt your feelings. That’s your only fault, Briggs--you’re too easily -hurt. You want to have everybody’s good opinion.” - -“I could get along with my own,” Briggs replied, quietly. - -“By helping to put that bill through the House you’re doing the country -a thousand times more good than you’ve ever accomplished through those -reform schemes of yours. You aren’t practical enough, Briggs. Solid -facts are good enough for me.” - -“I’ve observed that,” said Briggs, without a change of expression. - -“But I’ll tell you what you can do,” West went on, ignoring his host’s -manner, “since that conscience of yours is bothering you so much. You -can vote against the bill. That’s what I wanted to speak to you about. -It would be a very good move just now.” - -Briggs looked interested. “How vote against it?” he said, wrinkling his -forehead. - -“Simply vote,” West replied, with a smile and a wave of the hand. - -“After all the work I’ve done for it?” Briggs asked, in astonishment. - -“Who’s to know about that? If you like you can get up in the House and -explain why you’ve changed your mind.” - -“_Speak_ against it, too?” Briggs could not resist the temptation -to lure West on. The revelation of the workings of this man’s mind had -a fascination for him; they were strangely free from any relation to -the principles which he had always believed in, if he had not always -practised them. - -“Yes. That will turn the tables on the papers that have been attacking -you. It will make you seem like a martyr, too. It’s worth thousands of -votes to you.” - -Briggs walked slowly across the conservatory. His curiosity had -suddenly changed to strong temptation. After all, the scheme was -practicable. It was merely another expression of the deceit he had -been practising for years. In spite of his confidence in his safety, -it would be wise for him to take every precaution to protect his -reputation. The attacks on his character by the opposition papers would -probably grow more violent as the time for his re-election approached. -But at the thought of getting up in the House and attacking the bill he -had worked for, of making himself an object of contempt to the very men -who were his partners in the deal, he turned sick. “No, thank you,” he -said, suddenly. “I may have done worse things, but I couldn’t do that!” -For a moment, in spite of the sordid quality of his motive, he had the -delicious exhilaration of feeling that he had resisted a temptation. - -West shrugged his shoulders. “It’s what Aspinwall has done over and -over again in the Senate. It doesn’t seem to hurt him. He’s one of the -most popular men in the country--and the biggest fraud,” he added, with -a laugh. - -Briggs had begun to pace the narrow walk of the conservatory. He -stopped as if on impulse. “West!” he said. - -West looked up in surprise. “Well?” - -“I have something to say to you. I’ll stand by you in this railroad -business till it goes through. I’ll vote for the bill, because I’ve -pledged myself to it. You can get along without my vote, I know. The -bill is sure to pass. But if there’s any odium to be attached to me for -supporting it, I’ll take the consequences.” - -“Oh! I thought you were a little nervous about your election, that’s -all,” West remarked, carelessly. - -The lines running from the corners of Briggs’s mouth deepened. “I’ve -lied pretty constantly so far, and I suppose I’ll go on lying till the -deal goes through.” - -“That won’t be till the next session. We never can bring it up before -adjournment.” - -Briggs apparently did not hear this speech. “But remember one thing,” -he went on, as if continuing his previous remark, “it’s the last -official work you need expect me to do for you. Any personal service -I shall be only too glad to do. Whatever your motives may have been, -you stood by me when I needed a friend. You made my career possible. -I should be an ingrate to forget that. But we’re quits. In future, I -propose to keep my hands free.” - -West rose from his seat and walked toward Briggs. His face betrayed -that he was trying to hide a feeling of amusement. These spasms of -virtue on the part of Briggs always gave him a pleasant feeling of -superiority. “My dear fellow,” he said, laying his hand on Briggs’s -shoulder, “you’ve been a brick through the whole business. Stand by me -till the bill goes through. That’s all we expect. Only don’t try to be -too ideal, you know,” he urged, gently. “Ideals are very pretty things, -but they won’t work in practical politics. If the Government were -run by ideals it wouldn’t last six months. Legislation’s a business, -like everything else that brings in money, and the shrewdest men are -going to get the biggest returns. Think of all the men we’ve known -who’ve been sent home from Washington simply because they’ve been -over-zealous! But I must hurry back to the drawing-room. I’m in the -clutches of two newspaper women. I only broke away for a moment on a -pretext. I’ll see you later in the evening.” - -Briggs watched West disappear. Then he sank on the wicker seat again. -This interview was only one of many similar talks he had had with -the lobbyist; but each new encounter had the result of heaping fresh -humiliation on him. He had always disliked West. The first time that -he met the fellow he had felt an instinctive mistrust of him. Now the -dislike had become so bitter that he could hardly keep from showing it. -Sometimes, indeed, he did not try to hide it, and it seemed as if West -only pretended that he did not observe it; or as if, indeed, it only -amused him. Briggs recalled, with helpless misery, the steps by which -he had bound himself to one of those men who used their knowledge of -the law to spread corruption in politics. He had come to Washington -full of ambition and eager for reform, with an inspiring sense that he -had been chosen to be a leader in a great work. Soon he discovered how -small an influence he was able to exert. After a few months, however, -his personal qualities, his faculty of putting himself on confidential -terms with people, made friends for him even in the opposition party. -The first time he spoke in the House, his remarks, faltering and -vague, had made a poor impression. At that trying moment his ease and -eloquence had left him. For several months he was too discouraged to -try again. He found it easy, as many another man had done, to drift -with the political tide. One day, however, he suddenly lost his -self-consciousness in a debate on a pension bill in which he had been -taking a deep interest. He threw himself into it with vehemence, making -two speeches that were reproduced in part by nearly all the big papers -in the country. Those speeches gave him a national reputation. The -leaders in Congress took an interest in him; their wives discovered -that Mrs. Briggs was worth knowing. He felt more pride in his wife’s -success than in his own. He became dissatisfied with his hotel rooms -and took a house that proved to be nearly twice as expensive as he -thought it could possibly be. In return for hospitalities he had to -give elaborate entertainments. His wife remonstrated; he reassured her, -and she trusted him. At the end of the year he owed fifteen thousand -dollars. - -It was then that he had first met Franklin West. He recalled now with -shame his own ingenuous dealings with the lobbyist. In spite of his -misgivings, he had accepted the fellow’s offer of help; he had placed -himself under such obligations that only two courses were open to him, -both, as it seemed, dishonorable--to go into bankruptcy and to ruin -his future career, or to become West’s agent, his tool. At the time, -he thought he was making a choice between two evils, and he tried to -justify himself by the exigencies of the situation and by the plea that -his public services more than justified his course. After all, if the -Government did not pay its legislators enough to enable them to live as -they must live in Washington, it was only fair that the matter should -be squared. But it was only in his worst moments that he resorted to -this argument. - -Like most buoyant natures, Douglas Briggs often had sudden attacks -of depression. His talk with Farley, followed by the interview with -Franklin West, had taken away all his enthusiasm. Farley, he thought -bitterly, had just said that this was a great night for him. Yes, it -was a great night. It advertised him before the country as one of -the most successful men in Washington and one of the richest men in -Congress. What if the papers did ask where he got his money? They were -always asking such questions about public men. He need have no fear of -them. It was from himself that his punishment must come. - -The opening of the new house, this magnificent ball--what real -satisfaction could it give him? He could not feel even the elation of -victory. He had won no victory. This ball, this house, stood for his -defeat, his failure, for the failure that meant a life of deceit, of -concealment, of covert hypocrisy. Even from the woman he loved beyond -the hope of salvation he must hide his real self. He must let her -think he was someone else, the man she wished him to be, the man she -had tried to make him. Their children, too, would be taught by her, he -would teach them himself, to honor him. They would learn the principles -by which he must be judged. - - - - -V - - -“What’s the matter, dear?” - -Douglas Briggs looked up quickly. “Oh, is that you, Helen?” He smiled -into his wife’s face and took her hand. In spite of her matronly figure -Helen Briggs did not look her thirty-five years. She had the bright -eyes and the fresh coloring of a girl. - -“I stole away just for a minute,” she said. “I got so tired of smiling.” - -“So did I. Come over here and let me kiss the tired place.” She -took a seat beside her husband and turned her cheek toward him, -with the amused patience of the married woman who has ceased to be -demonstrative. “I know the feeling,” said her husband, with his fingers -at the corners of his mouth. “Muscles in here.” - -Helen sighed. “Horrid, isn’t it?” - -“Well, it’s all part of the game, I suppose. Whew!” - -“What was that for?” she asked, quickly. - -Briggs patted her hand. “Nothing, dear, nothing. They say it’s a great -success.” - -“I was frightened about the supper; but everything has gone off well.” - -Briggs looked into his wife’s face. “Helen, sometimes I wonder what -would become of me if it weren’t for you.” - -“What a foolish thing to say, Douglas!” - -“Someone told me to-night that I’d been successful here in Washington -because I had such a popular wife. I guess there was a good deal of -truth in that.” - -She drew her hand away and let it rest on her lap. “Nonsense! You’ve -succeeded because you’ve worked hard, and because you’ve had the -courage of your convictions.” - -“Oh!” In the dim light she could not see the change of expression in -his face. - -“And I suppose you’ve had a little ability, too,” she conceded, with a -smile. - -For a moment they sat in silence. - -“Helen!” he said. - -“Well?” - -“Sometimes I feel as if I hadn’t a shred of character left, as if I -couldn’t stand this political life any longer, with its insincerities, -its intrigues, its indecencies. Now, these people here to-night--what -do they care about us? Nothing. They come here, and they eat and drink -and dance, and then they go away and blacken my character.” - -She turned quickly, with astonishment in her face. “Why, Douglas!” - -“I shouldn’t talk like this, dear, especially at this time, when you -have so much on your mind.” He took her hand again and held it tightly. -“Helen, do you ever wonder if it’s worth while--all this?” - -“This display, do you mean?” - -“Yes; this society business. I’m sick of it. Sometimes it makes -me--well, it makes me long for those old days in Waverly, when we were -so happy together. Even if we were poor we had each other, didn’t we?” - -“Yes.” - -“And we had our ambitions and our foolish aspirations. They helped to -make us happy.” - -She drew closer to him. “But they weren’t foolish, Douglas. That is, -yours weren’t. And think how you’ve realized all you hoped for already!” - -Douglas Briggs drew a long breath. “Yes, I’ve got what I wanted. But -the reality is considerably different from what I thought it was going -to be. I suppose that’s true of nearly every kind of success. We have -to pay for it some way. Why, Helen, there are whole days when you and I -don’t have five minutes together!” - -“That’s because you have so much to do, dear. I used to mind it at -first. But then I saw it couldn’t be helped.” - -“And you’ve been too good to complain. I’ve understood that all along.” - -“I didn’t want to stand in the way of your work, Douglas. I could -afford to make a few sacrifices, after all you’d done for me.” - -“Never mind. Just as soon as I can break away from Washington we’ll -have a good long holiday. If Congress doesn’t hang on till Summer, -perhaps we can take a little trip abroad. We’ll go to Scotland and hunt -up those people of yours that your father was always talking about. -Then we’ll run over to Paris and perhaps see a bit of Switzerland. -We’ll send the children with Miss Munroe to Waverly and then we’ll -pretend we’re on our honeymoon again. You need the rest and the change -as much as I do, dear--more. We’ll forget about everything that -has bothered us since we began to be prosperous. We’ll be boy and -girl again, Helen. Why, we haven’t grown a day older since we were -married--in our feelings, I mean--and to me you’re just as young and as -pretty as you were that afternoon in your father’s study when I told -you I couldn’t get along without you.” - -She had allowed her head to rest on his shoulder. “Douglas!” she -whispered. “Don’t be so silly.” - -He bent forward and kissed her on the forehead. “And do you remember -what you said when I told you that?” - -“What did I say?” she asked, with a smile. - -“You said you’d rather be poor with me than the richest woman in -the world without me. You were a very romantic little girl in those -days, weren’t you? And then I made up my mind to make a great place -for you. That’s the only real happiness that has come out of my luck -here, Helen--seeing you respected and admired by these great people in -Washington, the famous men we used to talk about and wonder if we’d -ever know.” He stopped; then he went on, in a lower voice: “Some of -them I know a little too well now. Oh, ho!” he sighed, “I’m afraid I’m -growing pessimistic. It can’t be I’m getting old without realizing it. -See these two lines that are coming on my forehead. They grow deeper -and deeper with every session of Congress.” - -“They’ll go away when you take your vacation, Douglas,” she said, -reassuringly. - -“And you haven’t a line in your face, dear,” he said, looking at her -with a husband’s proprietary pride. - -She shook her head. “Oh, yes, around the eyes. They’re plain enough -when I’m tired.” - -“No matter, you always look the same to me. I sha’n’t ever see ’em,” -he went on, exultingly. Then he sighed again. “What a fine thing it -would be if we could give our poor brains a vacation, if we could only -stop thinking for a few weeks! But for some of us the waking up would -be--well, it wouldn’t be cheerful. Helen, the other night I dreamed -that we were back in the little cottage in Waverly, where we lived -during the first year of our marriage. I could see the old-fashioned -kitchen stove and the queer little furniture, and your father’s -portrait over the mantel in the parlor. It all seemed so cheerful -and restful and happy and innocent. There you were, in that pretty -little house dress you used to wear--the one I liked, you know, with -the little flowers worked in it. We were just two youngsters again, -and it seemed good to be there with you all alone. Then I woke up, -and a thousand worries began to buzz around my head like an army of -mosquitoes, and I had that awful sinking of the heart that you feel -after you come back from a pleasant dream and have to face reality -again.” - -“You mustn’t think of those things, Douglas.” - -“Mustn’t think of them? Why, they’re the things that keep me happy. If -I didn’t think about those days and expect to live them over again some -time, I believe I’d lose courage.” - -“No, you wouldn’t, Douglas. You just imagine that.” - -He laughed, patting her arm. “My dear practical little wife, what a -help you are! Do you know, I feel as if I had always been married. I -was thinking of that the other day. I can’t think of myself any more as -not married. I can’t think of myself as apart from you. Have you ever -felt that way?” - -She looked into his face and smiled. - -“Ever since the very first day we became engaged,” she said, and he -leaned forward and started to clasp her in his arms, when they heard -a rustle of leaves behind them. Instinctively they drew away from each -other. Then they heard Fanny Wallace exclaim: - -“Oh, here they are!” - -Fanny was out of breath, and young Fullerton was waving his -handkerchief before his face. They had evidently been dancing -desperately. - -“Oh, Auntie,” the girl panted, after a moment, “the great Mrs. -Senator Aspinwall is going, and she’s looking around for you, to say -good-night. What in the world are you doing here?” - -“Mr. Stone is moping in the drawing-room, sir,” said Guy, respectfully. -“He looks as if he wanted to eat somebody’s head off.” - -Briggs smiled and passed his hand over his face. “I don’t believe Stone -enjoys parties. He feels more at home at his club. I suppose we ought -to go, Helen.” He rose wearily and stretched out his arms. “What a bore -it is!” he said. “I suppose we’ll have to stop and speak to some of -those people in the ballroom,” he whispered, noticing a group that had -just come downstairs. - -As soon as they had left the conservatory Fanny turned to her -companion. “Uncle and Auntie are just like lovers, aren’t they? Do you -suppose you’ll be like that when you’ve been married ten years?” - -Guy lost no time in seizing the advantage. “That’ll depend a good deal -on you,” he said, insinuatingly. - -Fanny drew back from him and tried to look taller. “What a horrid thing -to say! You make me very uncomfortable when you talk like that.” But -she could not maintain a severe demeanor for more than a moment. “Isn’t -it beautiful to be allowed to stay up just as late as you please!” she -exclaimed, rapturously. “It makes me feel really grown. It’s almost as -good as wearing long dresses. Just listen to that music, will you?” -She struck an attitude, her arms extended. “Want to try?” she asked, -holding her hands toward the young fellow. - -He fairly dived into her arms, and they swung about together, brushing -against the palm leaves and breathing hard. Suddenly she thrust him -back from her and continued alone. - -“You haven’t improved a bit. Oh-h-h!” - -From the waltz Fanny broke into a Spanish dance she had learned -at school, using her fan with a skill that caused Guy to applaud -enthusiastically. “Oh, isn’t it great!” she cried. “I could dance like -this all night. Look out! Don’t get in my way and spoil it!” While in -the midst of one of her most elaborate effects, she suddenly stopped. A -voice had just exclaimed: - -“What in the world are you two people doing?” - -Fanny turned and confronted a large, smooth-faced, white-haired old -gentleman, who was looking down in astonishment from the head of the -steps. - -“Oh, is that you, dad?” she said, tossing back her hair. “I’m just -practising being in society. How d’you like it?” Then she went on, -glancing at Guy: “Oh, you haven’t met dad, have you? Well, this is -_It_, dad--Mr. Fullerton, Mr. Guy Fullerton.” - -Jonathan Wallace walked deliberately down the steps and offered Guy his -hand. “How do you do, sir?” he said, with ponderous gravity. - -Before Guy had a chance to speak Fanny broke in: “Mr. Fullerton’s -the young man I’ve been writing to you about--the one that’s been so -attentive this Winter. Here, come and let me fix that tie of yours.” -She gave her father’s tie a deft twist and patted the broad shoulders. -“There! That’s better. Now they’d never know you come from the country.” - -Wallace turned to Guy. The expression in his flushed face began to -soften. “You mustn’t mind _her_,” he said, quietly. “She’s always -letting her tongue run away with her. We let her talk to keep her out -of worse mischief.” - -Fanny walked over to Guy, who looked as if he were trying hard to -think of something worth saying. “Well, you _have_ been paying -me attentions, haven’t you, Guy?” she said, her voice growing tender -as she finished the question. Then she triumphantly exclaimed to her -father: “Now!” - -Guy was plainly embarrassed. He tried to assume a careless air. “Oh, -yes, I’ve been giving Miss Fanny all my spare time,” he replied, -entering into the joke. - -The face of Jonathan Wallace grew severe again. “You could find better -use for your time, I haven’t a doubt,” he said, without looking at -the young fellow. “Well, sis, I’m going home. I’ve had enough of this -rabble. I’ve rubbed up against politicians enough in the past half-hour -to make me hate my country. To hear ’em talk you’d think the country’d -been invented to support their families. This is the most selfish -town I’ve ever been in. It’s every man for himself and nobody for his -neighbor.” - -“There is a lot of wire-pulling going on here, that’s true, sir,” said -Guy. - -“Wire-pulling!” Wallace’s face expressed a profound scorn. “There was -a fellow in the other room mistook me for the Secretary of State, and -he buttonholed me for half an hour, talking about the benefit he could -confer on the country by being made Minister to Austria. Minister to -Austria! I wouldn’t give him a job as an errand boy in my factory.” - -Fanny threw her arms around her father’s neck. “Poor old dad! he does -have such a hard time whenever he comes to Washington. Don’t you, dad?” - -She drew her hands away and danced behind Wallace’s broad back, -jumping on her toes and smiling satirically over his shoulder at young -Fullerton, who had assumed his gravest expression. - -“Then there’s another fellow,” Wallace went on, addressing the boy, -“who’s been trying to work me because I am related to Briggs’s wife. I -forget what he wanted, now. Some job in New York. If I had to stay in -this town ten days at a stretch I’d lose my reason. Talk about serving -the country! Rifling the country is what those fellows are doing. If I -had the power I’d clap the whole gang of ’em in jail.” - -“Dad, you are very cross to-night,” said Fanny, decidedly. “You’d -better go home. Think how I feel, having you talk like that before this -rising young politician.” - -“Well, sir, if you intend to make a politician of yourself I’m sorry -for you. I’m going, sis.” - -Fanny seized him by the lapel of his coat and kissed him twice. “All -right. Get your beauty sleep,” she said, protectingly. “Good-night. And -be sure to put on your scarf and turn up the collar of your coat. I’ll -go down to the hotel and take breakfast with you to-morrow if I wake up -in time.” - -“Better be sensible and stay in bed,” Wallace grumbled. - -“Good-night,” Fanny repeated. - -Wallace bowed to Guy. “Good-night, sir,” he said, as he turned to go -out. - -“Isn’t he a lovely father?” said Fanny. “Oh, you needn’t be afraid -of him. I just do this to him,” she exclaimed, twirling her little -finger--“except--oh, I know when to let him alone. Sometimes he’s -dangerous. Oh, here comes Aunt Helen and that horrid Mr. West. What do -you suppose would happen if Mr. West took his smile off? D’you suppose -there’d be anything left?” - -Helen Briggs looked surprised at seeing the girl. “Your uncle told me -you had gone away with Mrs. McShane, Fanny,” she said. - -“Oh, she found Madame Alphonsine, the dressmaker,” Fanny replied. “So I -wasn’t any use.” - -West glanced significantly at the young people. “I hope we aren’t -interrupting a _tête-à-tête_,” he said, with exaggerated -politeness. - -Guy tried to assume a careless air. “Oh, not at all, not at all,” he -said, grandly. He objected to West’s amiable air of patronage. - -“Let’s go into the ballroom, Guy,” Fanny whispered. - -Guy hesitated. He looked wistfully at Helen. “Can I do anything for -you, Mrs. Briggs?” - -Helen shook her head. “Just amuse yourself, that’s all.” - -Fanny seized the boy by the arm and drew him toward the steps. - -“Guy’s always trying to earn his salary. I never knew anyone that -worried so much about it.” - -West took a seat on the wicker divan beside Helen. “He’s an exception -here in Washington, then, isn’t he?” he remarked. - -“He’s a good, conscientious boy. I sometimes wonder if this Washington -life isn’t hurting him.” - -“There’s so much wickedness here, do you mean?” - -“So much wasting time,” Helen replied, seriously. - -West drew one of the palm leaves between his fingers. “Don’t you think -you are--well, just a little too scrupulous about these matters?” he -asked, keeping his eyes turned from Helen’s face. - -Helen laughed. “That’s what Douglas is always saying. You aren’t going -to blame me, too, are you?” - -West let the palm spring back from his hand. He tried to look serious. -“I should be the last man in the world to blame you for anything, Mrs. -Briggs,” he said, softly. “I admire you too much as you are.” - -Helen took her fan from her lap. He could see that her face had -flushed. “Aren’t we complimentary to-night!” she said, with a smile. -“Do you often say things like that?” - -“No. I’m not much of a hand at paying compliments.” West leaned -back and took a long breath. “Besides, it would be very hard to pay -compliments to a woman like you.” He leaned forward and allowed both -his hands to fall to his knees. “Do you know why?” he went on. “Because -you are one of the few women I’ve met whom I really respect. I pay you -the compliment,” he laughed, “of telling you nothing but the truth.” - -“That’s the best compliment any woman could be paid, isn’t it?” said -Helen, fanning herself nervously. - -West leaned toward her. “But there are some things I have never quite -dared to tell you,” he remarked, in a low voice and with a smiling lift -of the eyebrows. “I’ve never dared, because--well, perhaps they would -be too interesting. There are some things, you know, that it’s very -hard for a man to say to a woman, especially to a woman like you.” - -“They are usually the things that are better left unsaid, aren’t they?” -Helen remarked, quietly. - -“Perhaps.” He spoke slowly, as if trying to keep his voice steady. -“But sometimes it is almost as hard not to say them. It isn’t always -necessary to put them into words, you know. They say themselves in a -thousand ways--in a look, a tone of the voice, in the lightest touch of -the hand.” - -Helen sat suddenly upright. “You are in a very sentimental mood -to-night, aren’t you, Mr. West? I’m prepared to receive all kinds of -confidences.” Her assumption of gayety was betrayed by the expression -of her eyes. - -“I was going to tell you something,” West acknowledged. “I think I will -tell you. I’m in love. I’m in love with the most fascinating woman in -Washington.” - -“We all know who that is,” said Helen, smiling. “But aren’t you afraid -of the Senator? They say he’s a wonderful shot.” - -West looked injured. “You’re laughing at me now, aren’t you?” - -“It’s very hard to take you seriously sometimes, Mr. West.” - -West apparently did not notice the suggestion of satire in Helen’s -voice. He did show impatience, however, at the interruption that took -place as soon as Helen had spoken. - -“Here she is! Everybody is looking for you, Auntie! Uncle Douglas is -out on the terrace with Mr. Stone, and there’s a whole raft of people -waiting to say good-night in the drawing-room and in the hall.” - -Fanny Wallace made a pretty picture as she stood half-hidden by the -foliage. Her faithful attendant waited in the background. - -Helen rose and turned to West, who offered his arm. “Shall we go? I’m -afraid I’m behaving very badly to-night,” she said. - - - - -VI - - -In the drawing-room Douglas Briggs found Stone standing disconsolate in -a corner. The Boss was plainly out of his element. The politicians who -stood near him either had no personal acquaintance with him or belonged -to the opposition party. One of these, indeed, the white-haired Senator -from Virginia, had recently made a bitter attack on him in a magazine -article. It was the first attack that had persuaded Stone to break -silence under censure, and the bitterness of his reply showed how -deeply he had been hurt. He seemed now to be ostentatiously unconscious -of his enemy’s presence; but when the host appeared his face assumed a -look of intense relief. - -“I’ve been looking all over the place for you,” said Briggs, fibbing, -as he often did, to cover a momentary embarrassment. The presence of -Jim Stone in his house on so conspicuous an occasion, had caused him -considerable perturbation. He knew, however, that the Boss had come -out of personal friendliness and as a mark of special favor. - -Stone had no small-talk, and stood in silence waiting for Briggs to -make a statement that might lead up to a discussion of their mutual -interests. - -“Have you seen my wife?” Briggs asked, glancing vaguely about the room, -though he knew perfectly well she had gone back to the conservatory -with West. A few moments before Helen had mentioned that Stone had -shaken hands with her, without, however, entering into conversation. - -“Yes, I saw her when I came in,” the Boss replied, indifferently. The -animated scene in which he found himself evidently annoyed him. - -“Suppose we walk out on the balcony,” said Briggs, desperately. Stone -nodded, and they slowly made their way through the crowd, Stone -without speaking and looking straight ahead, and Briggs exchanging a -few smiling words with those of his guests whom he could remember by -name. At his wife’s parties he frequently sustained long conversations -with people whom he could not remember to have seen before, but whom -he impressed by his interest and friendliness. It was this faculty of -being agreeable that made enthusiastic young girls say of him: “When -he is talking with you, you feel that you’re the only person in the -world he cares anything about.” - -His natural keenness and his long experience with men of Stone’s type -made it plain to Briggs that the Boss had in mind something that he -wished to discuss. He decided to give Stone an opening. - -“I see by the papers to-night that you’re leaving town to-morrow.” - -“Yes; I shall take the noon train,” Stone replied, dropping into a seat -where he could look down the wide avenue. The air was warm and heavy, -and the electric light fell in soft showers through the foliage of the -trees. Hansom cabs and coupés were passing along the asphalt pavement. -Around the canopy leading across the sidewalk to the front door the -group of unwearied curiosity-seekers watched the departing guests. -Stone observed these details as if they had no interest for him. He had -the curious eyes of the man who seems to be always looking within. - -“I must be getting over to New York myself pretty soon,” Briggs -remarked, tentatively. - -“You’ll find some people there who’ll be glad to see you.” For the -first time in their talk Stone showed interest. “The boys would like to -talk over a few matters with you. They don’t like the way things are -going lately.” - -“I’m sorry to hear that,” said Briggs, quietly. - -“They think you’re going back on ’em.” - -For a moment they listened to the clatter of the horses’ hoofs in the -street. Then Briggs asked: “What has given them that impression?” - -“Well, they say you’re getting too high and mighty for ’em. You ain’t -looking out for their interests. They say you’ve been making altogether -too many concessions to the kid-glove fellows.” Now that Stone had -escaped from the drawing-room he was limbering up, getting back his -usual confidence and his air of authority. - -“I don’t believe I quite know just what they mean by that,” Briggs -said, with a laugh. - -“Oh, I guess you do,” Stone went on, easily. “That is, you will,” -he explained, suddenly realizing that he was a guest talking to his -host, “if you take a little time to think it over. I knew what they -meant, and I’d been thinking pretty much the same things myself. The -only trouble with you, Briggs, is, you’re too easy. You don’t seem to -remember that we’re not in politics for our health. Those fellows think -we ought to do all our work for glory. They’ve got plenty of money -themselves, and they believe we ought to get along without any.” - -“I suppose there’s some truth in that,” Briggs acknowledged. - -“But don’t you let them fool you,” Stone went on. “They’re in the game -for what they can make, just as you and I are. Bah, I know ’em. When -they want anything from me they come and fawn and lick my boots, just -as the dirtiest of my heelers do. Then, when they find I won’t budge, -they call me a thief and a scoundrel. I’ve observed, though, that in -spite of being the most abused man in the country I manage to run -things pretty much as I choose. Now you take warning by me. I can see -plain enough that you are getting farther and farther away from the -party. If you don’t look out you’ll find yourself high and dry. If you -lost your grip on the machine, d’you suppose the kid-glove crowd would -have any use for you? Not a bit of it.” - -Briggs kept silence for a moment. In the presence of this man he -felt curiously helpless. Whatever might be said against Stone as a -public influence, there was no doubt that he was a man of force and -self-confidence. - -“Still,” Briggs said at last, “I’ve got to stand by my convictions, Mr. -Stone.” - -“Oh, keep your convictions! But don’t let them make you forget you’re -here in Washington because your party sent you here. Now, if you -do what your party wants you’ll be all right. If you pull off your -renomination next Fall you’ll have to do something for the boys. They -won’t have any more shilly-shallying. I know that, because I’ve heard -them say so.” - -Briggs smiled grimly. “Well, sir, I must say I appreciate your -frankness.” - -Now that Stone had delivered his warning, the significance of which he -knew Briggs would fully appreciate, his manner softened. “I say these -things to you because I like you. You’re a credit to the machine. -You’ve done mighty well here for a young man. Only don’t forget that it -was the machine that made you. That’s the point. Well, it’s about time -for me to be going. You’ve got a fine place here. By Jove! I envy you -myself.” - -Douglas Briggs did not stir. He was thinking hard. The loss of -his renomination in the Autumn had not occurred to him even as a -possibility. He had believed that, with Stone’s support, he was firmly -established in New York. - -“It’s very early yet, Mr. Stone,” he remarked, absently, following his -guest back into the house. - - - - -VII - - -As this evening marked her first “grown-up party,” Fanny Wallace had -entered with delight into the festivities. She had danced nearly all -the dances, most of them with Guy Fullerton, who stood at the door of -the ballroom and watched her hungrily while she was waltzing with other -men. Now she was exhausted, but, in spite of her aunt’s hint, repeated -several times, determined not to go to bed. “Let’s go where we can -be alone,” she said to Guy. “Then you can fan me till I get a little -breath, and entertain me. I’ve done so much talking ever since we got -acquainted I actually don’t know whether you can talk or not.” - -Guy, who liked her little jokes, even when they were directed against -himself, agreed enthusiastically. They passed from room to room, only -to find a group of people in each. - -“I don’t suppose there’s any use in trying the library,” said Fanny at -last, with a sigh. “But perhaps no one’s there. It’s about time people -were going home, anyway,” she added, tartly. - -On entering the library she uttered a cry of delight. “Not a soul!” she -exclaimed. “Isn’t all this leather furniture nice? I just love green -leather. I made Auntie promise that she’d have it. Here, you fix this -big chair for me, and bring up that foot-rest. Yes, that’s it. Oh, I do -wish they wouldn’t make furniture so _tall_. There, that’s lovely! -Now you can sit on that chair--yes, that one, and don’t bring it too -near, please. That’s right.” She sank back luxuriously and folded her -hands in her lap. “Now you can tell me--let me see, what can you tell -me? Oh, talk to me about your life at Harvard. You haven’t told me half -enough about that.” - -“Well, there isn’t much to tell,” said Guy, with a smile, as he stroked -his thick, blond hair. - -“There isn’t? Well, you ought to be ashamed to say so. Did you work -_very_ hard?” - -“Well, not _very_,” Guy replied, with an amused glance from his -blue eyes. - -“What did you do, then?” - -“Oh, I did lots of things.” - -“Such as what?” - -“Well, the best thing I did was to make the first ten of the Pudding.” - -“What!” Fanny sat bolt upright. - -“Yes. I made the first ten of the Pudding,” Guy explained, modestly. -“Great, wasn’t it?” - -“What in the world are you talking about? Is it possible you’re guying -me? Well, I’m ashamed. I didn’t think you’d try anything like that on -me!” - -“Oh!” Guy’s face lighted up. “I thought you knew what that meant. -Please excuse me. Why, I wouldn’t guy you for anything in the world. -The Pudding’s one of our crack societies, that’s all, and the men are -elected in batches of ten. It’s a great compliment to be on the first -ten. I was awfully proud of it.” - -Fanny looked humbled. “I’m just a country girl, after all,” she -acknowledged. “And you’re the first Harvard man I’ve ever known. -There!” Suddenly she resumed her usual manner. “Now, don’t you take -me down like that again, Guy Fullerton. If you do I’ll--Well, tell me -about your old society.” - -Guy controlled an impulse to rush over and kiss her. He never loved her -so much as when she bullied him like that, especially if her bullying, -as often happened, followed a moment of contrition or self-abasement. - -“Well, it’s all right as a society. The best men in the class belong to -it--that is,” Guy explained, with a blush, “a lot of the fellows are -perfectly fine. Oh, I wish you could have come to my class day!” he -broke out. “A lot of us, together in the gym--that is, the----” - -“Oh, I guess I know what the _gymnasium_ is!” Fanny snapped. “I -suppose you had heaps of girls there!” - -“Oh, yes; heaps!” Guy continued, innocently. “All the fellows said that -we had the prettiest----” - -“Stop!” - -Guy stopped, astonished. - -“I don’t want to hear about your pretty girls.” Fanny turned her head -away, and Guy hesitated. Then she gave him a sidelong glance and one of -her most amiable smiles. - -“Well, never mind,” she conceded. “Tell me about it--girls and all. You -didn’t really care much for any of ’em, did you?” - -Guy met her look with a smile. “Well, I thought I did at the time, but -I’ve changed my mind since.” - -Fanny kicked out her feet. “Oh, the poor things!” she exclaimed. “I -suppose you made ’em think you’d never forget ’em. Well, anyhow there’s -_one_ girl that’s on to you.” She clapped her hand to her mouth. -“Oh, I’m glad dad didn’t hear me say that. He says if I don’t stop -talking slang he’ll cut off my allowance. Well, now go on. Tell me some -more about the Pudding. Why, of course, the _Hasty_ Pudding. I -once went with Aunt Helen to some theatricals they gave in New York. -That was three years ago. Did you ever take part in their theatricals?” - -Guy fairly beamed. “Did I? I was the _Princess_ in ‘The Princess -and the Dwarf.’” - -“A girl’s part!” cried Fanny, with a woman’s horror at discovering even -a remote suggestion of effeminacy in a man she likes. - -“Yes; why not? It was great sport.” - -“But why didn’t they let you be a man?” - -“Oh, they said I’d do better for a girl,” Guy replied, flushing. “You -see, with my smooth face I could make up to look like a girl easily -enough.” - -“It must have been kind of fun,” Fanny acknowledged. Then she asked: -“Did you wear----?--did you?” - -Guy nodded. “It was awful getting ’em on. They made me hold my breath -till I thought I’d nearly die. Then two of the fellows fastened ’em. I -didn’t draw a comfortable breath the whole evening. Gee! It was fierce.” - -Fanny clapped her hands. “Oh, how I wish I could have seen you!” - -“I’ve got some of the pictures,” Guy remarked, tentatively. - -“Here?” Fanny exclaimed. - -“They’re up in my trunk somewhere.” - -“Oh, you mean thing! You’ve had ’em all this time and never showed ’em -to me! Well, that’s just like a man! And you might have known I’d have -given anything to see ’em.” - -“Well, I’ll bring ’em down to-morrow,” Guy promised. - -“And what else did you do in your old club?” - -“Oh, we used to have all kinds of sport,” Guy replied, feeling the -difficulty of explaining to the feminine mind matters exclusively -masculine. - -“And didn’t you do any work at all in college?” Fanny cried, -petulantly, with the exaction of serious accomplishment that all women -make from men. - -“Ye-e-s,” Guy replied. “I used to work pretty hard at examination -times. But I wasn’t a grind, you know,” he added, quickly, as if -defending himself from a reproach. - -“What’s a grind?” - -“Why, a fellow that does nothing but study--just grubs. It’s awful to -be like that!” - -Fanny sat upright again. - -“Well, I declare!” she said. Then she sighed. “You’re the funniest -thing!” - -“There were some fellows I knew,” Guy conceded, “who could do a lot of -work and yet go in for all the society things; but they were wonders. -I never pretended to be much at study, you know. If I got through my -‘exams’ by the skin of my teeth I considered myself lucky.” - -Fanny looked at him thoughtfully. “Well, you’re kind of a nice boy, -just the same.” She cuddled in the corner of the chair and crossed her -arms, her hands clasping her shoulders. “I never was much at lessons -myself,” she admitted. Then she turned quickly toward the door. -“_’Sh!_ I see some people coming.” - -From the hall they heard a woman’s voice. “Well, I declare! I feel -played out. I’ve done nothing but bump against people all the evening; -all kinds of people, too. I never saw so many nationalities in all my -life.” - -“It’s Mrs. Burrell,” Fanny whispered. “You know her, don’t you?--that -queer old woman from Maine, with the three daughters. Let’s go out.” - -Mrs. Burrell had entered the room, and started on discovering Guy. -Fanny was hidden behind the back of her chair. “Excuse me, if we’re -intruding,” she said to Guy, with effusive politeness and a bow that -somehow suggested an intended curtsey. - -Fanny lifted her head like a Jack-in-the-box. “Oh, not at all, Mrs. -Burrell. How d’you do?” - -The old woman started. “How you scared me!” - -Three young girls had come into the room, followed by a youth whose -deep black and carefully curled mustache at once revealed his race. A -shriveled little man with thin white hair and beardless, wrinkled face, -enlivened by a pair of keen eyes, walked loosely behind. - -Fanny nodded to the girls and rose from her seat. The Frenchman greeted -her with an elaborate bow. Guy looked uncomfortable, but Fanny did -not try to relieve his embarrassment by introducing him. It was Mrs. -Burrell who broke the silence. - -“Ain’t it fine here to-night?” she said. “Well, Washington’s a -wonderful place! Here’s Emeline’s been speakin’ French to Musseer de -Lange on one side, and Gladys has been talking German to--” She looked -round at the girls. “Where is he?” she asked. - -“I think we have lost ’eem in the crowd,” the Frenchman explained, with -a look of distress on his face. He had evidently been having a hard -time. - -“I guess Gladys’s German was too much for him,” said the tallest and -the least pretty of the girls. - -“I’ve asked you not to say things like that, Carrie Cora,” said Mrs. -Burrell. - -The old gentleman, who had been looking with a dazed expression at the -book-shelves and at the etchings on the walls, now spoke for the first -time, turning, with a smile, to Fanny. - -“Carrie Cora an’ I are the plain ones of the family,” he said. “English -is good enough for us.” - -Mrs. Burrell sank into one of the leather chairs. “Well, it’s kind of a -relief to get out of that crowd. You go over there, Emeline, an’ go on -talkin’ French with musseer.” - -The look of distress deepened in the face of the Frenchman, who, -however, made a place for the girl. - -Fanny had edged toward Guy. “Let’s get away,” she whispered. “We -haven’t had more than ten minutes alone the whole evening.” - -Guy’s face brightened. “I don’t believe there’s anyone in the -conservatory.” - -As Fanny started for the door she asked: “Aren’t you girls dancing?” - -Mrs. Burrell answered for them: “I’ve been urgin’ them, but they won’t.” - -“I don’t know how,” the eldest girl explained, with a note of -resentment in her voice, which her mother at once detected. - -“I should think you’d be ashamed to say so, Carrie Cora, after all them -lessons last Winter.” - -“It’s too hot in there,” said Gladys, who, being the prettiest, -evidently considered that she need not try very hard to be amiable. - -“Well, good-bye,” said Fanny, unceremoniously. “Come on, Guy.” - -Mrs. Burrell followed the slim figure with an envious look in her eyes. -“Ain’t she the bright little thing?” she remarked, addressing her -husband. “I wish our girls was more like her. She’ll marry someone ’way -up. You see if she don’t.” - -“Oh, I guess our girls can hold their own against anyone, Sarah,” -Burrell replied. - -“Well, I’m sure they’ve had advantages enough,” Mrs. Burrell grumbled. -“I don’t see why they don’t get more attention, though.” - -Burrell’s eyes sparkled with irritation. “Well, they get attention -enough when they’re to home. That’s where they ought to be.” - -“I just hate to hear you talk like that, father. You don’t seem to have -no ambition for the children.” - -“I’ve brought ’em up respectable, an’ I’ve given ’em enough to eat -an’ drink, an’ I’ve expected ’em to marry decent fellers in their own -station in life. I married a farmer’s daughter, an’ I ain’t had no call -to regret it; an’ what’s good enough for me is good enough for them.” - -Mrs. Burrell refused to be mollified by the compliment. “Well, times -are changed since then, an’ I guess I ain’t a-goin’ to have those -girls’ education wasted. What did we come here to Washington for, -anyway?” - -“Well, that’s the very question I’ve been askin’ myself ever since we -landed here. What in hell did we come here for? I wish I’d stayed down -in Maine, where I belong. I’m somebody down there. But here the’ ain’t -hardly anybody thinks I’m worth speakin’ to. There’s not a man here -that’s asked me to have a drink with him to-night.” - -Mrs. Burrell rose from her seat with quiet dignity. “If you’re goin’ to -begin to talk like that,” she said, in a low voice, “I’m goin’ home. -I declare, these parties are only an aggravation, anyway. Come on, -girls.” She walked toward the little Frenchman and offered her hand. -“Good-night, musseer,” she said, with a large smile. - -The Frenchman bowed low again. “Good-night, madame.” He touched the -tips of her fingers with his small, gloved hand. - -“I don’t believe I like those Frenchmen,” whispered Mrs. Burrell, as -the family started to leave the room. “You never can tell whether -they’re laughin’ at you or not.” - -“I guess nearly everybody’s beginning to go,” said Carrie Cora, -briskly. “Let’s hurry up, or they’ll think we want to be put out. Oh, -say, look out there, will you? There’s that Mr. West, that they say is -so attentive to Mrs. Briggs. He’s been drinking champagne and punch all -the evening. See how red his face is!” - -“Hold your tongue, Carrie Cora,” said Burrell. - -“And talking with Mrs. Briggs, too,” cried the youngest daughter. “Here -they come. Let’s get out of the way. They’ll think we’re spying on -them.” - - - - -VIII - - -The Burrells came face to face with their hostess in the wide hall. -“I wondered what had happened to you,” said Helen, leaving West, who -strolled into the billiard-room, and joining the group. “Have the girls -been enjoying themselves?” she asked, turning, with a smile, from the -mother to the three daughters. - -“Oh, yes, we’ve all been having a lovely time!” Mrs. Burrell replied, -her eyes shining with enthusiasm. - -“Oh, yes, lovely!” the girls cried together. - -“Of course,” Mrs. Burrell went on, with a wistful look, “after my -daughters get better acquainted they’ll have more partners.” - -“Ma!” exclaimed Carrie Cora. - -“But let me introduce you to some of the gentlemen,” said Helen, -solicitously. “We’ll go back into the drawing-room.” - -“No,” Burrell interposed. “We must go home. We ought to have gone long -ago. I’m sorry not to have had a chance to talk with your husband about -that law case of mine, Mrs. Briggs.” - -“I’ll speak to him about it, Mr. Burrell,” said Helen. “Now that -Congress is nearly ready to adjourn, he’ll have more time. Is it to -come before the New York courts?” - -The old man nodded. “Those New York men have infringed on my patents, -confound ’em! Mrs. Briggs, there ain’t anybody else I’d trust as I do -your husband. He’s been a brick to me ever since I come here. He’s the -only one of the big fellows in Congress that’s taken any notice of me, -an’ I guess I appreciate it. An’ the girls, they think you’re just -perfect.” - -“I’m only sorry I couldn’t do more for you, Mr. Burrell,” said Helen, -with a smile. - -Mrs. Burrell led the way toward the staircase, the others following, -with the exception of Carrie Cora. - -“Oh, Mrs. Briggs!” the girl exclaimed, impulsively, “I have something -to tell you. But I--I mustn’t stay a minute.” - -“What is it, dear?” - -“He’s come to Washington,” Carrie Cora whispered. “He got here this -morning.” - -“Why didn’t you bring him to-night?” - -“I wanted to,” Carrie Cora replied, breathlessly. “I wanted him to meet -you. I’ve told him so much about you, and what a help you’ve been to -me. But I was afraid of ma. She was furious when he came to the hotel. -He sent his card up, just as bold, and ma didn’t want to let me go down -to see him. But I did. And oh, he’s--he’s just as handsome as ever!” - -She turned her face away, to hide the tears in her eyes. - -“My poor girl,” said Helen, taking her hand. - -It was at an afternoon tea that the strange girl had confided to Helen -Briggs the story of her baffled love-affair. Since that time Helen had -often thought of it with a pity none the less real because it had the -relief of amusement. - -“And he wanted me to go right out, just as I was, and get married. He -said he’d call a carriage.” - -“I’m glad you didn’t, dear,” said Helen, trying to keep from smiling. - -“I think I would have gone--only I just had my every-day dress on, and -I looked horrid! It seemed so foolish to go like that. And now I’m -sorry I didn’t. I never shall have the courage again.” - -“You’re sorry?” - -“Yes, because ma says that I’m not to see him any more. She made an -awful fuss. That’s what I wanted to speak to you about. Won’t you -please talk to ma? He’s just as good as he can be, and even if he isn’t -very successful he earns enough for two. That’s all I care about.” - -“But what can I say to your mother, dear? I don’t even know him.” - -Carrie Cora looked down and began to rub the carpet with her foot. -“Well, ma thinks everything of you, and if you’d just--just ask her to -let him come to see me, that would be something. I’m sure she’ll like -him when she understands him better. Pa likes him, but pa is afraid to -oppose ma in anything, except when he gets roused.” - -Helen patted the girl’s hand affectionately. “Well, dear, I’ll go to -see your mother to-morrow. I’ll take her out for a drive. Then we can -have a good talk together.” - -Carrie Cora impulsively threw her arms around Helen’s neck. “Oh, Mrs. -Briggs!” she cried. Then she drew back, ashamed. “It’s silly of me to -act like this, isn’t it, before all these people? But I must go now. -They’ll wonder what has happened to me. Good-night, dear Mrs. Briggs.” - -During Helen’s talk with the girl Franklin West had appeared at the -back of the hall with M. de Lange, whom he seemed to know. As soon as -the girl disappeared the two men walked toward Helen. - -The Frenchman drew his heels together and made another of his low -bows, which West observed with the amused superiority of the American, -scornful of decorative politeness. - -“I have been waiting to say good-night, madame. Your reception, it is -most beautiful! The flowers, the pretty women! Ah, you Americans, you -are wonderful!” - -West interposed coolly: “Well, we do things in pretty good style over -here, that’s a fact.” - -M. de Lange looked bewildered. Then his face shone. - -“Ah, yes. It is--it is _superbe_. Such beautiful _toilettes_! -And your women--they are so many--so----” - -West threw back his head. “Yes, we certainly have a great many,” he -said, with a laugh. - -The bewildered look returned to the Frenchman’s face. “So many--so -beautiful, I mean, so charming. And so many kinds! So different! Your -Washington--it is a marvel.” - -Helen extended her hand. - -“You are very good to say so. But I’m sorry you’re leaving.” - -“_Au revoir_, madame.” He glanced at West and bowed once more. -“Monsieur!” - -West looked relieved. “Perhaps now we can have a moment together,” he -said to Helen. “I have something to say to you. Will you come into the -library?” - -Helen hesitated. “But only for a moment,” she said. When she had -entered the room and taken a seat she asked, in a matter-of-fact tone: -“What is it?” - -“A few moments ago you told me that you weren’t able to make me out,” -West said, slowly. - -Helen smiled good-humoredly. “Not quite that, I think. I hadn’t tried -_very_ hard.” - -“You said you didn’t understand what kind of man I really was.” - -Helen moved uneasily. “I really think I ought to go back. You must tell -me these things some other time.” - -“Wait a minute. I may not have another chance to see you alone -to-night. There is something I must say to you now.” - -Helen drew a long breath and turned slightly paler. - -“I must tell you what it means to me to be near you.” - -Helen kept her eyes turned from him. “I don’t understand you,” she -said, quietly. - -West let his hand rest on her arm. “You don’t understand?” - -Helen turned and faced him. “No,” she replied, coldly. - -“Do you mean that you haven’t understood all along how I felt toward -you?” For a moment they faced each other in silence. - -“Please take your hand off my arm,” said Helen. - -“Why don’t you answer?” West insisted. - -Helen drew her arm away. - -“Because, as I have told you before, there are some things that are -better not said.” - -“Then you’ve known?” - -“Yes, I’ve known.” Helen did not flinch. “I’ve suspected.” - -“Why have you allowed me to come here, then?” - -“Because,” Helen replied, slowly, as if measuring her words, “I thought -you would never dare to speak to me as you’ve just done. And if you go -on I shall have to call my husband. Before that becomes necessary I -must ask you to leave here.” - -West assumed an attitude of contemptuous indifference. “Thank you, but -I prefer to stay.” - -“You will not go?” - -West folded his arms. “No.” - -Helen turned toward the electric bell. - -“Don’t touch that bell,” said West, authoritatively. - -She faced him as if fascinated. He could hear her breathe. “Now, you -won’t call the servants, and you won’t tell your husband anything about -this conversation. In the first place, your servants are really my -servants.” - -Helen shrank back. “Oh!” she said. - -“They are paid with my money,” West went on, with a grim smile. “So I -think I may call them mine.” - -“How contemptible of you!” - -West lifted his shoulders. “Well, perhaps I am contemptible. It all -depends on the point of view, I suppose. Now, you don’t consider your -husband contemptible, and yet he’s worse than I am. I don’t pretend to -be any better than I am.” - -“I’ll let you say these things to his face,” Helen replied, starting to -leave the room. - -West stood between her and the door. “If you make a scene here, Mrs. -Briggs, you’ll simply disgrace yourself and you’ll ruin your husband. -Can’t you see what you’re doing? Your husband has been in my pay ever -since he came to Washington. But for me, do you suppose you could live -in all this luxury? Why, this very ball to-night has cost more than -half his salary. All those stories that they tell about him are true, -do you understand?--only they’re not half as bad as the stories I could -tell. If the whole truth were known he’d be held up before all the -country as a thief and a hypocrite. But for me he’d be a petty country -lawyer in the backwoods that you came from. I gave him his chance; -I’ve made him what he is. I’ve favored him more than anyone else in -his position since he came here, for your sake, because I loved you. -He knew that, and he’s been playing on the knowledge.” He released her -hands. “I hope you’re satisfied now.” - -Helen sank weakly into a chair. - -“Shall I ring for your husband, Mrs. Briggs?” West asked, with -satirical politeness. - -Douglas Briggs, who had just learned from Fanny that his wife was in -the library, happened to be outside, in the hall. He overheard West’s -last remark. - -“Ring for me!” he repeated, as he entered the room. “What’s the matter?” - -“Mrs. Briggs is feeling a little faint, I think,” said West, with -perfect composure. “So I suggested that we send for you.” - -“Are you ill, Helen?” Briggs asked, anxiously. - -“No. It’s--it’s nothing. If you will take me out on the balcony I shall -feel better.” Helen passed her hand over her forehead. “It’s so close -here.” - -Briggs passed his arm around his wife’s waist and walked slowly toward -the door. As he left the room he turned. “Make yourself at home, West,” -he said. - -When they reached the balcony Helen let her hand rest on the rail and -drew a long breath. “It was so dreadfully hot in there!” she said, with -a twinge of conscience at the covert deceit. But she felt she must keep -the cause of her agitation from her husband; at any rate, until she -had time to think and to decide what to do. If she were to speak now -of the insult she had received, she felt sure that nothing would keep -Douglas from attacking West and driving him from the house. She must do -everything she could to prevent a scandal. - -[Illustration: “‘_I don’t pretend to be any better than I -am._’”] - -“We’ll have to send you back to Waverly, dear, and get some more color -into those cheeks of yours.” Briggs took his wife’s hand. “Why, you’re -trembling!” he said. - -“Oh, it’s nothing, dear, nothing. I shall feel perfectly well in a -minute.” She let him draw her close to him, and they stood together in -silence. “We must go back, Douglas. Some of the people must be looking -for us. I’m all right now.” - -“If you feel faint again let me know, or go out of that hot -drawing-room,” he said. “I’ll keep an eye on you, anyway.” - - - - -IX - - -It was nearly three o’clock before the last guest left. The flowers in -the deserted rooms had drooped and faded; even the lights seemed to -have dimmed. The house wore an air of melancholy. Fanny and Guy came -from the dining-room, where they had eaten a second supper. - -“I wonder where Aunt and Uncle are?” she said. “Doesn’t it seem -ghostly?” She yawned, covering her cheeks with both hands. “Ugh! I -guess they’re in the library.” - -Helen Briggs was seated in one of the big easy-chairs, her head thrown -back and her eyes closed. Her husband sat beside her, looking down at -her face. - -“Flirting, as usual!” said Fanny. Then she added: “Well, wasn’t it -grand?” - -“Better go to bed,” said Briggs, sleepily. - -Helen half-opened her eyes. “I’m glad you had a good time, dear.” - -“Everybody seemed pleased,” said Guy, with a glance at Douglas. He -liked to look at things from the professional point of view. - -“Fanny, do go to bed,” Helen insisted. - -“All right,” Fanny assented, meekly. She kissed Helen; then she kissed -her uncle. She approached Guy Fullerton on tiptoe and held her hand -high in the air. “Good-night, sir,” she said, softly. - -A half-hour later the house was in darkness, save for a light in -the library, where Douglas Briggs sat writing. After an evening of -excitement he never could rest, and he found that some quiet work -soothed his nerves. He was one of those men who seemed to thrive with -very little rest; he had often worked all night, not even lying down, -without showing in his face the next day a trace of the vigil. - -Helen had gone to her room, but not to sleep. She changed her ball -dress for a loose gown, and letting her hair fall over her shoulders, -she sat for a long time thinking. Should she tell Douglas? A disclosure -might lead to serious consequences. It would not only break the -business relations between Douglas and West, but it would also involve -her husband in a bitter personal quarrel. For the present she resolved -to keep her secret. As for the charge West had made against Douglas, -that was merely another of the calumnies circulated about him since -he had begun to be successful in Washington. Why was it that one man -could not prosper without exciting the hatred and the envy of so many -other men? Douglas, she felt sure, had never done anything to injure -anyone. His success had been won by his own abilities and industry. -He had worked harder than any other man in Washington. She knew that -herself, and she had often heard it remarked by others. She recalled -all the unselfish work he had done in Congress, the bills he had -toiled for with no purpose beyond that of doing good. Everything he -undertook seemed to succeed. Helen had never thought much about the -way in which he had made his money. It had come to him along with his -successes. She knew that he had lately had good fortune in some land -speculations near Washington; but that was perfectly legitimate, and -it was merely another evidence of his shrewdness. There were plenty of -Congressmen in Washington who remained poor simply because they had not -her husband’s business resources and enterprise. When finally she went -to bed, however, she had a vague sense of discomfort that could not be -attributed to the agitation caused by her interview with Franklin West. -She did not like even the thought of questioning her husband about his -ways of making money. She had never doubted him before. Why should she -doubt him now? - -The next day Helen rose at noon with a splitting headache. She rang the -bell, and when the maid appeared, bearing breakfast on a tray, Fanny -came, too. Fanny’s cheeks were flushed and her eyes were bright. - -“What do you suppose I’ve been doing? I’ve been taking breakfast -down at the hotel with dad. Then I made him go out with me and buy -me a lot of things. So I’ve had a profitable morning. Half a dozen -lace handkerchiefs, a silk scarf and a _beautiful_ tailor-made -coat. It’s going to be a dream. I went to the place you like so -much--Broadhurst’s. I wish you could have heard what they said about my -figure. And when I got back everybody was asleep except Uncle Doug. I -shouldn’t wonder if he sat up all night, though he declared he didn’t. -Here, I’ll fix that tray, Mary. You go down. Let me pour the tea, -Auntie. There are two black lines around your eyes. They make you look -so interesting! I guess you’re kind of tired.” - -“Yes, I am,” Helen acknowledged. - -“All right, drink this and you’ll feel better. Why don’t you stay in -bed?” - -“I mustn’t. I promised that I’d take Mrs. Burrell for a drive this -afternoon. I told one of the girls.” - -“More missionary work, I suppose. Auntie, if you don’t stop driving -round with old frumps like that, I won’t recognize you on the street. -Well, I guess I’ll go for a bicycle ride with Guy. He’s been promising -to take me out to Chevy Chase for a long time. Don’t you think it would -be proper?” - -“Can’t you get someone to go with you?” Helen asked, sipping her tea -and wondering why she could not shake off, even for a moment, the -thought of Franklin West’s remarks the night before. - -“I suppose I could get Mrs. Simpson. She’s always glad to have someone -to ride with her.” - -“Do that, then,” said Helen. - -Fanny sighed. “What an awful thing to have to be so proper in this -world!” - -When Helen had dressed she went up to the nursery, where she found -Dorothy and Jack eating dinner. They seemed to be always eating. They -jumped from their seats and clung around her. They wore their heavy -street clothes and their thick boots. - -“I was going to take them out before dinner,” Miss Munroe explained, -“but it seemed damp. So I thought I’d wait till the afternoon.” - -“Are you going out, mamma?” Jack asked, clutching at Helen’s dress. - -“Yes, by-and-by,” Helen replied, patiently. - -Dorothy immediately became plaintive. “Oh, can’t we go with you?” - -“Not to-day, dear. I’m going to take Mrs. Burrell for a drive.” - -“Oh, shoot Mrs. Burrell!” Dorothy cried. - -“Dorothy!” said Miss Munroe, reproachfully. Miss Munroe often wondered -where the children learned their naughty words. They seemed to absorb -them from the air. Sometimes she was afraid their parents would think -they had learned them from her. - -“Papa came up before he went out,” said Jack. “He says he’s going to -buy me a sword.” - -“Papa is always buying things for Jack!” Dorothy, with a little -encouragement, would soon have burst into tears. Helen saw that the -child was nervous from her morning in the house. - -“Take them out as soon as they have finished eating,” she said to Miss -Munroe. - -As Helen descended the stairs she met Fanny and Guy just about to start -out on their wheels. “I’ve telephoned Mrs. Simpson, and she’s going. -She wants us to lunch with her. You don’t mind, do you, dear?” Fanny -asked, solicitously, eager to seem important. “If you do, I’ll stay.” - -Helen shook her head. “No, your uncle won’t be here, and I’ll lunch -late. So go and have a good time.” - -On the table of the library Helen found a pile of New York and -Washington morning papers. She glanced at them to see what they had to -say about the ball. Some of the New York papers made brief reference to -it; one, the most sensational, published a long account. The Washington -papers gave it considerable space. Just as she was turning a page of -the New York _Chronicle_, Helen caught her husband’s name in one -of the editorial columns. She turned back and read the paragraph: - - “Last night in Washington Congressman Douglas Briggs, of New York, - gave a ball to celebrate the opening of his new house. It is said that - the house alone cost twenty-five thousand dollars. It is furnished in - a style that only a rich man could afford. Six years ago Congressman - Briggs went to Washington without a dollar, to devote himself to - political affairs, practically abandoning his growing law-practice. He - has apparently found politics profitable. Funny world!” - -Helen read the paragraph rapidly; then she read it more slowly. On -finishing, she sat motionless for a few moments. Finally, she placed -the paper carefully on the top of the pile. She rose and walked to the -window. She heard Miss Munroe come downstairs with the children. She -had an impulse to go out into the hall and bid them good-bye, but she -checked it; she wished to speak to no one for a few moments. - -She went back to the table and read the paragraph again. Then she -placed the paper in the centre of the pile. She would not allow herself -to think why she did that. She heard a servant pass through the hall, -and she called that she would have luncheon served in an hour. During -the interval she busied herself feverishly, but she could not keep -from thinking about that paragraph. Of course, Douglas would see it. -Perhaps he had seen it already. She remembered now that Guy usually -clipped from the papers all references to her husband. He had left the -papers on the table to look them over on his return with Fanny. The -clippings he pasted in the big black scrapbooks that Douglas kept on -one of the lower shelves, under his law-books. She was tempted to look -through these scrapbooks now to see if they contained any references -like the one she had just read. But she felt ashamed. - -After luncheon Helen drove to The Shoreham, where the Burrells had -lived since coming to Washington. Carrie Cora was the first to receive -her. “I’ve had the hardest work keeping ma at home,” she said. “I -didn’t want to let her know I knew you were coming. That would have -spoiled everything. It’s just lovely of you to come! Gladys and Emeline -have gone to the Philharmonic concert, and pa’s up to the House.” - -Mrs. Burrell presently made a vociferous entrance. She was one of those -women who do everything noisily. “Well, if this isn’t good of you, to -come just after that party of yours! I should think you’d be all beat -out.” - -“I’ve come to take you for a drive,” Helen explained. - -Mrs. Burrell slapped her dress with both hands. It was a shimmering -brown silk of fashionable cut, that looked somehow as if it did not -belong to her. - -“I don’t believe I’m fit,” she said. - -“Oh, yes, you are, ma,” Carrie Cora urged. “Please go.” - -“We’ll go out into the country somewhere,” said Helen. - -“So it don’t make any difference what you wear,” Carrie Cora chimed in. - -Mrs. Burrell looked relieved. “I just hate to keep changing. It seems -to me we do nothing here in Washington but dress, dress. I get so sick -of it! That’s the worst of living in these hotels. You never feel at -home.” - -After starting with the old lady, Helen Briggs hesitated to broach the -subject of Carrie Cora’s love affair. A remark she made soon after they -had settled down into conversation unexpectedly relieved her of the -necessity. - -“I hope Carrie Cora doesn’t mind being left alone in the apartment,” -she said. - -“Oh, Lor’, no,” Mrs. Burrell replied. “I’ve never seen anyone like -her. She just loves to be alone. She’s always been queer about that, -and lately she’s been queerer than ever. She don’t seem to take an -interest in anything. Now, last night, she’d never have gone with us -but for you. She hates parties; but she thinks everything of you.” Mrs. -Burrell drew nearer Helen. “She’s in love,” she whispered. - -Helen smiled. “There isn’t any great harm in that.” - -“There wouldn’t be,” Mrs. Burrell agreed, “if the young man belonged to -her station in life. But he don’t. He ain’t got a cent to his name.” - -“I’m sorry to hear that. But isn’t there anything else against -him?--besides his being poor, I mean.” - -“Oh, I guess he’s _good_ enough,” Mrs. Burrell acknowledged, -grudgingly. “I never heard anything against him. His name is Rufus -James,” she added, as if this fact in some way explained his condition. -“He’s here in Washington now.” Her lips tightened as she looked at -Helen with an expression that said: “Think of that!” - -As Helen said nothing, Mrs. Burrell went on: “Of course, he come just -because she was here.” - -“He must be very fond of her,” Helen ventured to remark. “But I don’t -wonder; Carrie Cora is a very fine girl.” - -“She _is_ a fine girl. I declare to goodness I wish she wouldn’t -keep her light under a bushel. She does make me so mad! She could have -gone to the best teachers down to Boston or anywhere. Father even -offered to send her to Europe. She said she’d rather stay at home and -do housework. She’s a splendid housekeeper. I sometimes think that’s -what Rufus James wants to marry her for.” - -“Well, that’s a great compliment to Carrie Cora,” Helen laughed. “It -seems to me a pretty good reason for marrying, too.” - -“And have her go off and live in some tumble-down place in Auburn!” -Mrs. Burrell exclaimed, in horror. - -“But perhaps that’s the only way she could be happy,” Helen insisted, -gently. “Carrie Cora’s naturally domestic. I can see that.” - -Mrs. Burrell sighed. “And I always wanted to make something of her! I’m -sure her father’s spent money enough.” - -“But if she makes a good wife and mother--that will be enough, won’t -it? Besides, is Rufus James so very poor?” - -“I don’t believe he makes more than a thousand dollars a year.” - -“That’s just what Douglas was earning when we became engaged,” said -Helen. - -“What?” Mrs. Burrell looked startled. “Well, I declare!” she said. - -“Douglas was teaching school then at Waverly, where we lived. They paid -him only six hundred a year; and he made the rest by writing for the -newspapers. At the same time he studied law.” - -“Well, he _was_ smart. I don’t wonder he’s so successful.” - -“We had to wait three years before we could marry. That seemed a long -time.” - -Mrs. Burrell sighed. “It must have been hard.” - -Helen at once pressed the point. “How long has Carrie Cora been -waiting?” she asked. - -“Oh, they’re not _engaged_,” Mrs. Burrell replied, reproachfully, -as if this fact threw Carrie Cora’s case out of the discussion. - -“But how long have they been fond of each other?” - -“Well, as soon as I found it out I did my best to stop it,” said Mrs. -Burrell, as if flaunting a generous act. “I just told him he wasn’t to -come to the house any more. That was more’n two years ago.” - -“So they haven’t seen anything of each other since?” - -“Oh, yes, they have. Indeed they have. That girl’s just as obstinate. -She’s her father all over. I’ve said that to my husband a thousand -times since this trouble come on us. It’s spoiled our Winter here. That -girl’s a damper on everything. I kind of thought when she come down -here she’d get over it. But, as I was saying, she used to meet him -’round places in Auburn, mostly at Emily Farnsworth’s. Emily always was -a great friend of Carrie Cora’s. I used to like Emily real well. Now we -don’t speak.” Mrs. Burrell pressed her lips together again, and tears -stood in her eyes. - -“Those things are always unfortunate,” said Helen, sympathetically. - -Mrs. Burrell clutched her by the arm. “There he is now!” she said, -“over there. See that slim young man with the derby hat?” - -“Who?” Helen asked, mystified. - -“Why, Rufus James himself.” - -The young man saw that he was observed, and looked at the two women -with surprise in his face. Then his face darkened and he flushed and -turned his head quickly away. - -“He reco’nized me,” Mrs. Burrell exclaimed. “You could see that plain -enough. And he never had the politeness to lift his hat.” - -“Can you blame him?” Helen asked, with a faint smile. - -It was Mrs. Burrell who flushed now. - -“He’s good-looking, isn’t he?” Helen went on. She was secretly pleased -by the young man’s show of spirit. - -Mrs. Burrell remained silent for several minutes. Helen waited. “Oh, I -know you think I’m as hard as a rock,” she blurted out at last. “Just -because----” - -“Oh, no,” Helen interposed, quickly. - -Mrs. Burrell grew humble. “Do you think I ought to have let him come?” -she asked. “To the house, I mean?” - -“It’s always a pity when those things have to go on outside the house.” - -“So Mr. Dyer said. He’s our minister. He talked to me just as you’ve -been talking. But I suppose I’m obstinate myself. Still, I’ve always -tried to do right by that girl.” - -“I’m sure you have.” - -They fell into silence again. They had reached the country, and soft -breezes blew across their faces, bearing the scent of apple blossoms. - -“You ain’t said much,” Mrs. Burrell began, “but I can just _feel_ -what you think. You think I ain’t done right. Oh, don’t! I know just -how you feel. You think I’ve been throwing that girl in temptation’s -way. But I guess I know Carrie Cora better’n anyone else. And Rufus -James is an honorable young man. He’s always had a good reputation in -Auburn. Oh, dear!” - -The tears ran down her withered cheeks. “I’d like to go home,” she said -to Helen. “I don’t feel a bit well. Perhaps my husband will be home. -I want to have a talk with him.” Helen spoke to the driver and they -turned back toward the city. “I’m an awful fool,” Mrs. Burrell went on. -“And don’t you go and blame yourself for anything I’ve said or done. -I’ve known all along that I wasn’t doin’ right, but it was just that -pride of mine kept me from acknowledgin’ it.” She dried her eyes and -sank back in the seat. Suddenly she sat bolt upright. “D’you suppose -Rufus James would come to dinner to-night if I asked him?” she said. - - - - -X - - -Helen Briggs felt uncomfortable on leaving Mrs. Burrell. It was true -that she had not introduced the subject of Carrie Cora’s love affair, -but her conscience troubled her, nevertheless. She did not like -interfering in other people’s business. However, victory had probably -been won for the girl, unless something should change her mother’s -mind. A resentful word, a disagreeable look on Carrie Cora’s part, -might shatter the possibility of a lifetime of happiness. On the other -hand, Helen argued, Mrs. Burrell might have been justified in opposing -her daughter. In spite of her own experience, Helen had grown sceptical -with regard to marriage. Many marriages among her friends had begun -with every promise of happiness and had been either disappointments or -complete failures. So often, she had observed, love seemed to be only -an expression of egotism, that soon betrayed itself in selfishness or -resentment or bitterness. - -On reaching home Helen found the house deserted save by the servants. -On the way she had observed the plain and patient Miss Munroe with -the children in the Park. She went into the library to get something -to read, and her eye fell on the black scrapbooks. Without realizing -that she had for hours been resisting the temptation to examine them, -she quickly drew one out from the shelf and placed it on her husband’s -desk. It happened to be the newest, and it was only half-filled with -newspaper clippings. With a nervous impulse she placed it back on -the shelf and took the volume at the opposite end of the row. On the -fly-leaf she read, in her husband’s handwriting: “My first speeches -in Congress.” Most of these had been clipped from the Congressional -reports, and many of them she had read. She turned the pages quickly, -stopping here and there to read a personal paragraph of praise or -criticism. One paragraph contained this statement: - - “It is a satisfaction to see that in Douglas Briggs New York has at - last sent a man to Congress who gives promise of taking a conspicuous - position before the country. Briggs is impulsive, even hot-headed, and - consequently injudicious, and his faults would be serious in a man - of greater age and experience. But he has decided force of character, - invincible determination, remarkable insight into public affairs and - an inexhaustible capacity for work. He is sure to cut a great figure - if his party stands by him. His danger lies in the chance of his - becoming too big a man to be held in check by the party management. He - has already overridden several party measures and taken leadership in - pushing reforms that are distinctly opposed to the party’s policy.” - -Helen had an impulse to kiss the paper on which these words were -printed. But she checked it and turned the leaves more quickly, letting -her eye run down each column. For more than an hour she pored over -the volumes. When she had glanced over the first three she noticed -a change in the tone of the comments. They began to be sarcastic; -they pointed out several inconsistencies in her husband’s course. One -paper published in parallel columns quotations from his speeches, -contradicting each other. Then followed open charges of corruption -against him in connection with a railroad bill then under consideration -in Congress. As she read, Helen grew faint. How did it happen that she -had neither seen nor heard of this article? Why hadn’t Douglas spoken -of it to her? Why had he not come out with a public denial, or sued the -paper for libel? Then she said to herself that she was foolish to ask -these questions. Attacks of this kind were made every day on public -men; the higher their position the more bitter the enemies they made. - -She heard a sound at the front door, and she started. It was probably -Douglas returning early from the House. She was tempted to put the book -quickly back in its place; but she sat without moving, waiting for him -to come in. He walked up the stairs, however. She rose with a sigh of -relief and, closing the book, left it on the table. She made a quiet -resolve that she would never tell him of the thoughts that had passed -through her mind. She would try never to think of them again. She was -ashamed of having thought of them at all. - -Douglas Briggs stopped on the upper landing and called, “Helen!” Then -he looked down. “Oh, there you are,” he said. He descended quickly, -and she met him in the hall. “Rested?” he said, taking her hand and -pressing it against his cheek. - -“Yes, dear.” Then she suddenly put both her hands on his head -and kissed him twice. “I’m glad you came back early,” she said. -“Everybody’s out, and I’ve been feeling lonely.” - -She returned to the library, and he followed. “I’ve been looking over -your scrapbooks,” she said. - -“Couldn’t you find anything more interesting?” He dropped into a seat -near the table and ran his fingers through his hair. “We’ve been having -a great fight to-day. Aspinwall’s new tariff schedule. If I’d known I -was going to make a speech I’d have asked you to come. Have you seen -the notices of our ball last night in the papers?” - -Helen nodded. - -“The _Star_ gave us a great send-off. They treated me as if I were -a millionaire.” Douglas Briggs sighed. “I wish I were.” - -“That reminds me, Douglas,” said Helen. “I want to ask you something.” -She was astonished at her own boldness. She felt as if she were -speaking at the bidding of someone else. She thought of her resolution, -but she felt powerless to keep it. - -Briggs looked up. “Well?” Helen did not answer at once, and he added: -“What is it?” - -“Since last night,” she began, slowly, seeming to hear her voice in -another part of the room, “I’ve been wondering if we weren’t living -very extravagantly.” - -He looked at her in surprise. Then the expression in his face softened. -“I shouldn’t worry about that, dear, if I were you. There’s no need of -it.” - -“Douglas!” she said. - -“Eh?” He observed her sharply. - -“How much do you make in a year?” - -Briggs smiled and frowned at the same moment. “What?” he said, with -astonishment, “how much do I make?” - -“Yes. What’s your income? What was it last year? Please tell me. I have -a reason for asking.” - -Briggs looked vaguely around the room. “’Pon my word, I don’t believe I -know myself.” - -“Can’t you estimate?” - -“I suppose I could,” Briggs replied, with a note of irritation in his -voice. “But what do you want to know for?” - -“I think I ought to know.” - -“Don’t you have everything you want?” he asked, inconsequently. - -“Yes.” - -“Have I stinted you in anything?” - -“No, Douglas, never. You’ve been perfect. No woman ever had a more -generous husband.” - -Briggs thrust his hands into his pockets and burlesqued an attitude -of extreme self-satisfaction. “There! Then there’s nothing more to be -said, since I’m such a paragon.” - -“But I want to know, really,” Helen insisted. For the first time she -had known him she suspected that he was not quite sincere. And yet she -could not believe that he was capable of acting with her--with anyone. - -Briggs turned quickly. “I told you I didn’t know myself.” - -“But I’m serious about this,” Helen went on. “Now, your salary is five -thousand, isn’t it?” - -“M’m--h’m!” - -“And the property Aunt Lena left me--how much does that bring in?” - -Briggs lifted his shoulders. “Last year it brought in only two -thousand. We might have got more out of it----” - -“Please don’t reproach me about that. You know how much I want to keep -it safe for the children!” - -“Well, if that isn’t just like a woman!” Briggs retorted, laughing. -“When she might have more for the children!” - -“Or nothing at all,” Helen remarked, quietly. - -Briggs drew his hands from his pockets and sat erect. “Helen,” he said, -leaning toward his wife, “if you weren’t a woman you’d be a parson, -like your father and your two younger brothers. It’s in your blood.” - -Helen ignored the remark. “That makes seven thousand, doesn’t it?” - -“But I never touch _that_ money. I add it to the principal.” - -“So we have only five thousand to live on!” Helen exclaimed, in a -startled voice. - -Her husband smiled with patient superiority. “No, no! Now you talk as -if you were a millionaire’s daughter. How much did your father live on, -I’d like to know?” - -“Eighteen hundred a year.” - -“Well, I dare say he was just as happy on that as we are on----” He -stopped, looking at her with an expression in his eyes that she had -never seen there before. - -“On what?” she asked, quietly. - -“On what we spend,” he replied. - -“The ball we gave last night must have cost at least eighteen hundred,” -Helen persisted. - -“Well, I guess we’re good for it,” Briggs replied, complacently. - -Helen lost control of herself. “That’s what I can’t understand,” she -cried, excitedly. “How are we good for it?” - -Douglas Briggs rose and walked slowly toward his wife. He laid his hand -gently on her shoulder. “My dear child, that’s not a nice way to speak -to your husband!” - -“Please don’t call me your dear child again, Douglas. Now, I have a -reason for asking these questions, and I want you to give me direct -answers.” - -Briggs let his hand drop. Helen rose and walked to the edge of the desk. - -“I think you must be ill, dear,” he said, looking at her solicitously. - -She tried to keep the tears from her voice. “I shall be, unless you -tell me the truth.” - -Douglas Briggs kept his eyes on her for a long time. She turned from -him. “Do you mean that you want to know whether I am an honest man or -not?” he asked, in a low voice. - -“I have never questioned your honesty, Douglas.” - -He hesitated. “I will tell you the truth,” he said, as if he had just -passed through a struggle. “Last year I must have spent nearly thirty -thousand dollars. It was all I had. At the end of the year I was five -thousand dollars in debt. That has since been paid.” - -“How did you make that money?” she asked, facing him. - -Briggs looked down at the table. His eyes wandered over his papers and -over the black scrapbook. “That’s a cruel question for a wife to ask -her husband,” he remarked at last. - -“Not when she knows he will be able to answer it,” Helen said, firmly. - -“Well, I--I made it mostly through my law practice.” - -Helen began to breathe quickly. “But I heard you say the other day -that since you came to Washington you had been forced to give up your -practice.” - -“So I have--very largely, almost wholly, in fact,” he replied, growing -impatient again. “But there are some interests that I have to look out -for here.” - -“Such as what?” - -“Well, there’s the--there are some railroad interests.” - -“Some railroad interests!” Helen repeated, blankly. - -“Yes.” - -“The railroad that Mr. West is concerned in, do you mean?” - -“Why, yes. You know that perfectly well. I’ve been associated with that -railroad for years, in one way or another.” - -“That’s the road that receives so much favor from the Government, isn’t -it?” - -“Oh, that’s mere gossip. There’s no such thing.” - -Helen looked straight into her husband’s face. Her figure had become -rigid. “What do you do for the railroad, Douglas?” - -His eyes flashed; his nostrils turned white. “You’re going too far, -Helen,” he cried. - -She did not stir. “I have a right to ask these questions,” she -continued, keeping her voice low. “Oh, I know you consider that I can’t -understand these things. You acknowledge that you receive thousands of -dollars a year from that railroad--five times as much as your salary.” - -“I made no such acknowledgment,” Briggs replied, angrily. - -“But it’s true; you know it’s true, Douglas. You can’t deny it.” - -“I won’t take the trouble to deny it, since you evidently want to -believe it.” - -“And you know you don’t give the road an hour a day of your time.” - -His lips curled. “My dear girl, lawyers aren’t paid by the hour, like -your seamstresses.” - -“And the railroad’s regular attorney is Mr. West,” Helen went on. “You -know that.” - -“Well, West does all the dirty work,” he said, with a laugh. - -“And what do you do, Douglas?” She hesitated. “Answer me, Douglas--what -do you do?” - -“Wait a minute,” he said, in a low voice. He raised his hand. “I warn -you that you are interfering with matters that don’t concern you, that -you can’t even comprehend. You are doing it at your peril.” - -“What do you do for that company?” she repeated. - -He extended both hands in a gesture of deprecation. “I simply look -after its interests in the House. There’s the truth, now. It’s -perfectly legitimate. There are plenty of men who do the same thing for -other corporations--men in big positions.” - -Her face grew pale and she swayed forward slightly. Then she stood -erect and her eyes filled with tears. “Oh, Douglas!” she said. - - - - -XI - - -On the morning after the reception Franklin West sat at his desk in -his office in the Belmore Building. His head was bowed over a mass of -type-written sheets. He paid little attention to them, however. He -found it hard to work this morning. He was thinking, with considerable -disgust, that he had made himself ridiculous the night before. He had, -moreover, made a misstep that might lead to serious consequences. - -Yes, he had certainly been a great ass. He had spoken to Mrs. Briggs -in a way he would never have thought of speaking if he had been in -his senses. However, now that the mischief was done, he must consider -how to meet the consequences. What would the consequences be? Would -she tell her husband? The answer to that question depended wholly on -whether she believed the charge he had made against her husband’s -integrity. West knew well enough that Mrs. Briggs had an absolute -belief in her husband, and this knowledge had often caused him a -contemptuous bitterness. Why should a man like Briggs be allowed to -deceive such a woman as that? If Mrs. Briggs still kept her faith in -her husband, there was no reason why she should not reveal the episode -of the previous night--none except the woman’s natural fear of creating -a scandal. This motive might be strong enough to keep her silent. -But, of course, he could never enter her house again. He might, it is -true--and the thought gave him a momentary relief--he might write her -an apology, and explain his behavior on the plea of his condition. -But that would be too humiliating, and it might give Briggs a hold -on him that would be decidedly disagreeable, and lead to disastrous -consequences. However, this expedient he could try as a final resort. -It was, of course, possible that Mrs. Briggs would believe what he -had said, or would make an investigation that would bring the truth -home to her. Here was an interesting problem. Once convinced that her -husband was a hypocrite, that he had made his money by means that she -considered dishonest, would she still respect and love him? - -West took a satisfaction in thinking that if he had made himself -ridiculous, he might have at least ruined the happiness of the woman -who had repulsed him, and of the man for whom he had a covert hatred, -caused partly by jealousy, partly by an instinctive consciousness of -Briggs’s dislike, and partly by that natural aversion which all men -have for those associated with them in dealings that degrade them in -their own esteem. - -The green door leading into the adjoining room opened, and the office -boy entered. “There’s a lady to see you, sir,” he said. - -Franklin West looked up. “Who is she?” - -“She told me just to say a lady wanted to see you.” - -“All right.” West rose slowly and left the room. A moment later he was -greeting Miss Beatrice Wing. - -“This is an unexpected pleasure,” he said, with his large smile. - -Miss Wing was radiant in a new Spring frock, a tight-fitting blue serge -suit, with a large hat, trimmed with blue flowers, resting jauntily on -her auburn hair. - -“I don’t often come out so early,” she replied, “especially after such -late hours.” She looked as if she had had the night’s rest of a child. - -“Come into my office, won’t you?” West led the way, and Miss Wing -followed, suggesting by her walk the steps of a dancer. As she passed -the clerks glanced up and smiled covertly at one another. When she had -seated herself she looked at West for a moment without speaking, her -face bright with good humor. - -“I’ve come on a funny errand,” she said at last, rubbing her left arm -with her gloved hand. - -“That’s interesting,” said West, cheerfully. - -“I want you to do something for me.” - -The smile disappeared from his face, but swiftly returned. West rarely -suffered more than a momentary eclipse. At this moment, however, his -instinct warned him of danger. “I shall be only too glad,” he began, -but Miss Wing cut him short. - -“I want,” she said, waving one hand with the air of making a joke, “I -want to place my services at your feet.” - -West continued to smile. “What do you mean?” he asked. - -“I want you to give me something to do. I want you to give me a share -in your enterprises. I know I can be useful to you.” - -“But what about your own work--your newspaper work?” - -Miss Wing snapped her gloved fingers. “What does that amount to? Why, -it hardly pays for my frocks. And to tell the truth,” she went on, her -manner growing more familiar, “I’m not at all clever at it. My editor -has to rewrite nearly everything I send him. By nature I’m a business -woman. Society reporting bores me. I like larger interests. That’s what -I came to Washington for.” - -West showed that he was growing interested by slightly closing his left -eye. This gave him a curiously sinister expression, which Miss Wing -observed. “You want to do some political work--is that the idea?” he -asked. - -Miss Wing sank back in her chair. “I want to get a little power if I -can, and to use it for my own advantage. Now, there’s frankness for -you. But I’m only a beginner. I’m just getting my start.” - -West cleared his throat. “Since you’re so frank, Miss Wing,” he said, -pleasantly, “perhaps you’ll tell me just what you have in mind.” - -On being confronted with this question Miss Wing flushed. “I think you -know perfectly well what I mean. I’ve told you that I want you to let -me into your schemes.” - -West shrugged his shoulders; his face became almost sad. “I haven’t any -schemes of that sort,” he said, softly. - -Miss Wing laughed outright. “You haven’t any interest in railroad -legislation?” she asked, with a lift of the eyebrows. - -“It is true that I’m employed by a railroad. But as you aren’t a -lawyer, I don’t see how you could help me.” - -Miss Wing looked at him for a long time, her smile hardening. “I’m -surprised that you should treat me like this.” Then her face softened. -“I’m a little hurt, too.” - -“You wanted me to be frank,” West replied, gently. - -Miss Wing hesitated. When she spoke it was with a complete change -of tone. “There’s really no use beating about the bush any longer. -Everybody in Washington knows what you do for that railroad. Everybody -knows that last year you spent more than a hundred thousand dollars -for it--right here in this city. And everybody knows that Congressman -Briggs is your tool. He is helping you push the bill through the House. -But everybody doesn’t know one other fact that I know.” She held her -head high and looked at West defiantly. She flushed, and the flowers -in her hat trembled. - -“What may that be?” he asked, quietly. - -She sank back in her seat and smiled. “If I were to publish an -article,” she went on, “showing that you had not only bribed -Congressman Briggs, but had taken advantage of your hold on him to make -love to his wife, that would make a dreadful scandal, wouldn’t it?” - -West did not stir. He seemed even to control his breath. “I don’t know -what you are talking about,” he said, in a low voice. - -Miss Wing smiled and watched him. She admired a man who could take -things so coolly. “I’ve suspected for a long time,” she explained, -lightly, “and when I saw you drinking all that punch last night, I knew -you were losing your head. Wasn’t it strong? I just sipped it. That -was enough. Oh, you _were_ amusing! You entertained me all the -evening.” - -West looked at her without a change of expression. He was thinking -how pleasant it would be to take her by the throat and choke out her -silvery laugh. “You followed me about, then?” he asked. - -Miss Wing looked injured. “Oh, dear, no--nothing so vulgar. But I saw -it all by the merest chance. I happened to be standing near the library -door at just the right angle. I saw you threaten Mrs. Briggs. There was -no need of hearing what you said. It was all as plain as daylight. Now, -what do you propose to do about it?” - -West roused himself. “Do you realize,” he said, “that if you were to -start a story of that sort no one in Washington would believe you?” - -Miss Wing looked hurt. “Then you want me to publish the article?” she -said, reproachfully. “How unkind of you!” - -“Do as you please about that. It won’t be the first libel that has been -printed about me.” - -“Perhaps you would prefer that I should inform Mr. Briggs of what I saw -last night,” she said. “That would be less public, wouldn’t it?” - -“Tell him,” West replied, with a yawn, “and you’ll get turned out of -the house for your trouble. Besides, Mrs. Briggs would deny the story. -Then where would you be? No, my dear lady, you’ve made a false start. -You’ll have to try your game on a younger hand. I’ve been in Washington -too long to be afraid of a woman like you.” The smile had completely -faded from his face. He looked like a different man, and much older. -“Only, if I were you,” he went on, “I wouldn’t make the mistake of -bothering Congressman Briggs. That might be disastrous to your career -here.” - -[Illustration: “‘_I shall give you a few days to think the matter -over._’”] - -Miss Wing rose from her seat. “Thanks for your advice; it’s so -disinterested,” she said, with a bitter smile. “But I shall give you a -few days to think the matter over. The article will keep. In case you -should wish to write me----” - -“I know the address,” West interrupted. “Going?” Miss Wing stood at -the green door. The toss of her head conveyed anger, resentment and -disappointment. “If I were you I’d stick to newspaper work,” West -called after her. “It pays best in the end.” - - - - -XII - - -A week later the mild Spring weather changed to heat that suggested -Midsummer. The Potomac flats sent up odors that made people talk about -malaria and the importance of getting out of town. Congress gave no -sign of adjourning, however. The House was choked with business; -important bills were under consideration and equally important bills -lay waiting to be brought up. It looked now as if the session might -last till July. - -The heat, combined with a peremptory order from Ashburnham, had -persuaded Fanny Wallace that she must leave for home. She was not -altogether sorry to go; since the night of the ball, an atmosphere -of gloom seemed to envelop the Briggs household. It affected even -Guy, who, however, attributed it to pressure of business. When Fanny -complained of it, Guy would close his lips impatiently and say, “Well, -Mr. Briggs is up to his neck.” At last Fanny ordered him to stop using -that expression. “You have such a horrid trick of saying the same -things over and over again,” she cried one day, and when he looked -depressed, she tried to apologize by adding: - -“I suppose that’s because you’ve got such a limited vocabulary.” - -“A man don’t need to know as many words as a woman,” Guy retorted, and -he further exasperated Fanny by refusing to explain what he meant. - -“I intend mighty quick to go to a place,” Fanny exclaimed, “where my -conversation will be appreciated. At any rate,” she added, “I’ll go -where people aren’t afraid to smile once in a while.” - -By the time she did leave, however, she and Guy had quarreled and had -been reconciled again many times. They parted with the understanding -that if Guy could be spared for a week or two, Fanny should go -to Ashburnham for a vacation. But on this subject Guy remained -conservative to the end. “If Congress holds out all Summer,” he said -grimly, “I’ll have to stay here. I can’t leave the Congressmen alone.” - -“Great company _you_ are,” Fanny maliciously commented, as Guy -stepped off the train. But she atoned by smiling at him ravishingly -from the car window, and kissing the tips of her fingers. - -One hot afternoon, a few days later, as Douglas Briggs was walking -slowly home, he met Miss Munroe and her little charges. Dorothy and -Jack were walking listlessly, their faces pale, their eyes tired. Even -Miss Munroe’s face lacked its expression of patient placidity. On -meeting him the children showed less than usual enthusiasm. - -“They ought to be out of town,” said Briggs. - -Miss Munroe nodded. “Jack doesn’t seem like himself at all,” she said, -“since this heat began. And Dorothy has lost all her spirits.” - -That night at dinner Helen sat alone with her husband. Guy Fullerton -was dining out. For a long time neither spoke. They were becoming used -to silence. - -“I’ve just had a letter from Fanny,” Helen said. “She seems very lonely -at Ashburnham; but I’m glad she has escaped this dreadful heat.” - -“That reminds me,” Briggs remarked. “I think you’d better not wait till -next month before you go up to Waverly. The children will be far better -off up there. This heat may continue all through the month. Can’t you -get away by Saturday?” - -He did not notice that she turned pale. - -“I suppose we could,” she replied. - -“I shall close up the house,” he continued, “and take rooms with Guy at -the club. If I can manage it I’ll go up to Waverly with you for over -Sunday. To-morrow I’ll send Michael there to open the house and get -things ready. His wife had better go with him, too,” he added, as an -afterthought. - -“There’ll be no need of going to all that expense,” said Helen, -flushing. Then she went on, quickly: “Miss Munroe and I can open the -house, and we can get Mary Watson’s daughter to help us.” - -“No,” said Briggs, decisively. “I want the place to be aired and put -in shape before you get there. You’re too tired to look after those -things, anyway, and Miss Munroe has all she can do to take care of the -children.” - -Helen rose from the table, and her husband followed her out of the -room. “I must go right back to the House,” he said. “We shall probably -have a long session to-night; so I sha’n’t be home till late. You -needn’t have anyone wait up for me.” - -Their partings after dinner had lately become very difficult, -involving unnecessary and uncomfortable explanations. Helen had either -to attend to some trifling domestic detail or to hurry upstairs to the -nursery, and Briggs was absorbed in work that called him to his study -or out of the house. They talked a good deal now about matters that -did not relate to themselves. Sometimes it was hard to find a topic. -They were in that most miserable of human situations where, loving -each other, they were able only to cause each other pain. Briggs found -relief in his work; Helen devoted more time to the children. She began -to wonder if she had not neglected them, if she had not left them too -much to their governess. It seemed to her, at times, that they cared as -much for Miss Munroe as for herself. Of course, Miss Munroe was in many -ways valuable, but she was provincial and narrow-minded and she petted -the children too much and gave them sentimental and foolish notions. -Helen dreaded seeming ungrateful, but she suspected that the children -had outgrown their governess. - -With his buoyant nature it was impossible for Douglas Briggs to remain -steadily depressed. There were moments when he felt sure that the -trouble between his wife and himself would suddenly disappear. Some -day, when he returned home, she would meet him in the hall or on the -stairs, and by a look, a gesture, would let him know that she had -forgiven him. Then he would take her in his arms, and all the anguish -of the past few weeks would be over. They would be dearer to each other -on account of it, closer, tenderer companions. She was in the right, -of course, but she would see that he had been forced to do what he had -done; that his sin had not been nearly so great as it seemed to her, -and that he was going to pay for it; that he had paid for it already, -and he would make ample amends in the future. - -Helen Briggs, however, cherished no such illusion. She could see no -way out of the difficulty. It was not merely that her respect for her -husband had gone; she was bitterly disappointed and hurt. She had -decided never to speak to him about Franklin West’s insult, but it -was her husband’s unconscious participation in it that caused her the -deepest humiliation and resentment. On the other hand, the very cruelty -of her sufferings deepened both her pity for her husband and her love. -The thought of leaving him now made her feel faint. She wished to stay -with him and to be more to him than she had ever been. But in his -presence she felt powerless; she could not even seem like herself. -She accused herself of being a depressing influence, of adding to his -burden. - -During the next few days, in spite of the heat that continued to be -severe, Helen worked hard helping to close the house and to prepare the -children’s Summer clothes. Dorothy began to be irritable, and Jack had -developed an affection of the throat that frightened her. The doctors -told her, however, that the boy would be well again after he had been -for a few days in the pure air of Waverly. It was a relief to her to -worry about Jack and to care for him, just as it was a satisfaction to -go to bed exhausted at the end of each day. - -On Friday afternoon Douglas Briggs returned home early. “I sha’n’t -be here for dinner,” he said. “I’m going to a committee meeting at -Aspinwall’s house, and it’ll last till evening, probably. Anyway, he’s -asked me to stay for a stag dinner. His wife’s away, you know.” - -“Aren’t you too busy to go with us to-morrow, Douglas?” Helen asked. -“You’ve not had a minute to yourself this week. Miss Munroe and I can -manage very well. If you like you can send Guy down.” - -Briggs hesitated. “It _is_ a very hard time for me to leave,” -he said, nervously stroking his hair. “I ought to be at the House -to-morrow morning. But I didn’t want you and the children to stay till -Monday. It’s so hot here----” - -“We’ll go on, as we planned, and you can stay here,” Helen interrupted. -She turned away quickly and left him with the feeling that the matter -had been taken out of his hands. This turn of affairs displeased him. -He decided he would go to Waverly anyway. But when he had returned to -the cab waiting at the door he recovered from his resentment. Helen’s -plan was best, after all. In a week or two there would be a lull, -and he could run over to New York and then up the river to Waverly. -Perhaps by that time Helen would feel rested and take a different view -of things. She had been tired and nervous lately. He liked himself for -his leniency toward his wife, and when he reached Aspinwall’s house he -was in the frame of mind that always enabled him to appear at his best, -friendly and frank, but aggressive. - -The next morning Briggs drove with his family to the morning train, -leaving Guy to reply to his letters. When he bade them good-bye he -tried to maintain a jocular air. The children clamored after him from -the open window, and Dorothy’s face gave promise of tears. “Oh, I shall -see you all in a few days,” he said, as he stood on the platform. “That -is, if I hear that Dorothy and Jack are good. I won’t come if they are -not good.” - -“Oh, we’ll be awful good, papa,” said Dorothy, earnestly. - -A thick-set young man, with big spectacles, came hurrying to the train, -carrying a heavy suit-case. Briggs did not recognize him till he was -close at hand. - -“Oh, hello, Farley! Going on this train? That’s fine. You can look -after these people of mine. Helen,” Briggs called through the window, -“here’s Farley. He’s going over, too.” - -“I don’t know that I can get a seat in the car,” Farley panted. - -Briggs turned to the conductor, who stood at the steps. “Oh, I guess -Lawton can fix you up,” he remarked, pleasantly, displaying his genius -for remembering names. - -The conductor brightened. “Oh, that’ll be all right,” he said. “Just -jump in,” he added, to Farley. “There are two or three vacant places, -and I’ll try to get one of the passengers to change, so that you can -sit with the Congressman’s family.” - -Briggs walked forward and stood at the window. “I feel more comfortable -now,” he said to Farley, with a smile. - -The conductor managed to secure the seat beside Helen, and a moment -later the train pulled out of the station. Farley had begun to -entertain Dorothy and Jack, whom he had seen a few times at home and in -the parks. He seemed to know how to approach children; he never talked -down to them; he gave them the feeling that they were meeting him on -equal terms. His honest eyes and his large, smiling mouth at once won -their confidence. - -“I’m just running over for Sunday,” he explained to Helen. “Awful -day to travel, isn’t it? But we’re going to have a pretty important -meeting of our club--the Citizens’ Club, you know. We’re getting after -Rathburn. Know him?” - -“He has been at our house to see Mr. Briggs,” Helen replied. She -remembered Mr. Rathburn as a quiet, and an exceedingly polite man, with -a gray, pointed beard, fond of talking about his hobby, the cultivation -of roses. - -“I think we’ve got him where we want him, now,” Farley continued. “He’s -been pretty foxy, but we’ve caught him napping in that big water-supply -steal. He engineered the whole job. It must have cost the city a -half-million dollars more than it should have cost. They say he pulled -out a hundred thousand for himself. But it’s going to queer him for -good!” - -“Do you mean that you are going to have him prosecuted?” Helen asked. - -Farley could not keep from smiling at the simplicity of the question. -“Hardly that. That would be more than we could hope for. But if we can -only have the thing investigated, and get the people to realize what’s -been done, why, his political career will be over. There’s a whole -gang of ’em in with him; but most of ’em have covered their tracks.” -Farley sighed. “It’s strange,” he said, “how hard it is to rouse public -opinion. Sometimes I believe our people are the most indifferent in the -world. They haven’t any sense of personal responsibility. That’s why we -have so many rascals in public life. If I were going in for rascality,” -he concluded, with a laugh, “I’d become a politician. It’s the safest -and the most profitable way of making money. Big returns and mighty -little risk.” - -Farley apparently did not notice the look of distress in Helen’s eyes. -Encouraged by her questions, he went on to give her an account of the -way in which the club had been founded. “I’d been doing the political -work in New York for the _Gazette_ for three years,” he said; “so -that gave me a chance to see things from the inside. And what I did -see made me so sick that I thought of quitting the business. But one -night I was talking things over with Jimmy Barker. You’ve heard of -him, of course. He made me look at things from another point of view. -Jimmy’s father left him half a million dollars, and Jimmy, instead -of spending it all on himself, is blowing it in on his philanthropic -schemes. Lately he’s been living down on the East Side and working for -a reform in the tenement-house laws. Well, he made me see that, instead -of quitting political work, because the society wasn’t good enough for -me, I ought to stay in it and help to make it a little cleaner, if I -could. So he got me to bring together a lot of fellows that looked at -things as we did and we formed a sort of organization. At first we had -only a few rooms downtown. Now we have a house uptown and a pretty big -membership. It’s all Jimmy’s work. He’s given us a lot of money, and -when we got discouraged he’s kept us going by his enthusiasm--and his -money, too. I never knew such a man; nothing discourages him.” Farley’s -eyes flashed through his big glasses in the glow of talk. Helen -realized for the first time that at moments he was almost handsome. - -“Douglas has often spoken to me about the work of your club,” she -remarked. “He says it is having a great influence in New York.” - -“I wish we could persuade him to come in with us,” Farley said, -wistfully. “I’ve been trying to get him for months. He’s just the kind -of man we need most. You know we’ve been careful to keep absolutely -non-partisan. We have public men from both parties among our members. -It’s been pretty hard keeping ’em together. There are a lot of -hot-heads among reformers, you know,” he went on, smiling. “I suppose -when a man gets a strong bias in any direction it’s apt to throw him -off his equilibrium. But most of our men have seen that partisanship -would be the death of us. Our great point is to keep the city -government out of politics as much as possible. Of course, there’s no -reason why it shouldn’t be, except there seems to be a sort of weakness -in human nature for following a banner and going in crowds.” - -“Then you don’t pay attention to politics outside of New York?” Helen -asked. - -“Only indirectly,” Farley replied. “Some time we hope we can have a -National organization like our city club to look after some of those -rascals down in Washington. But as I was saying,” Farley resumed, -eagerly, “if I could only get Mr. Briggs to join us, then he’d meet our -men, and they’d get to understand him. They don’t understand him now. -They think he’s been an out-and-out machine man. Of course, that’s all -nonsense. I only wish we had more machine men like him.” - -Helen turned her head away. Dorothy and Jack were playing games with -Miss Munroe. When Jack looked up quickly she noticed a little movement -of the head that always reminded her of his father. The first time she -had noticed this resemblance it had given her a thrill of happiness. - -On the arrival of the train in New York Farley helped his friends into -a carriage. “I’m not going to bid you good-bye,” he said. “I’ll take -the elevated and I’ll be at the Grand Central station before you have -time to get there.” - -Helen offered a protest, but Farley smilingly insisted. “It’s on my way -uptown,” he explained. “It won’t be the least trouble.” - -He had charmed Dorothy on the way over from Washington, and for an hour -she had lain asleep in his arms. Now she clamored that he be given a -place in the carriage. - -“I can sit in Mr. Farley’s lap,” she pleaded. - -“No, Dorothy,” said Farley, “I’d like that all right; but the carriage -is crowded already.” - -“Then I’ll go with Mr. Farley,” Dorothy insisted. This compromise, -however, was instantly rejected, and the driver whipped off. When Helen -reached the station Farley had already secured the tickets and the -seats in the parlor car. - -“I wish Mr. Farley was going with us,” said Jack. - -“Oh, do come, please,” Dorothy exclaimed, delighted. “Can’t you come -and live with us like Mr. Fullerton?” - -Farley laughed. - -“Perhaps Mr. Farley will come some day,” said Helen. “Perhaps he will -come with papa.” - -“Oh, good!” Jack shouted. - -“Well, I want Mr. Farley now,” Dorothy pouted. The fatigue of the -journey had begun to tell on her. - -Farley walked down to the car and saw his friends settled in their -places. As the train pulled out of the station he stood on the platform -and watched till it disappeared. Then he sighed and walked slowly back -to the street. How fortunate some men were in this world, he thought. -Douglas Briggs was an example. He had everything that could contribute -to happiness--success, power, money, a happy home, a wife who must -be a perpetual inspiration, and children. Farley cared comparatively -little for money or power; he was content to follow his life in the -world as it had been laid out for him; but sometimes he grew depressed -as he thought that the deeper satisfactions, the love of a wife and of -children, he should probably never know. For the past year this feeling -had become a conviction. He encouraged no morbid sentiment about it, -however. He had plenty of interests and pleasures; his work alone -brought rewards that were worth striving for, and in his friendships, -his interests and in books he found distraction and solace. He was -one of those men who are never tempted to experiment with their -emotions; so he had kept his mind wholesome, and he had never known -the disappointment and the bitterness of those who try to substitute -self-indulgence for happiness. - -Farley himself hardly realized how much his view of life was influenced -by his attitude toward women. He had the exalted view of women that -only those men can take who have kept their lives clean. He had first -become interested in Douglas Briggs through seeing Briggs’s wife. He -thought there must be remarkable qualities in a man who could win the -love of a woman like that. Until within a few months he had seen Helen -only a few times. Now he felt as if he had known her always. He looked -back on himself during the years before he first saw her as if he had -been someone else, with a feeling very like pity. There were also -moments of weakness when he thought with pity of himself as he had been -since knowing her. - -If Farley had realized the misery he had caused Helen Briggs he would -have experienced an agony of regret. On the way to Waverly Helen -kept thinking of her talk with him on the train. The revelation of -his own character that Farley had given made Helen compare him with -her husband. She had never before appreciated the rare qualities -of the journalist, his inflexible honesty, his candor, his generous -admirations, his supreme unselfishness. At the thought of his devotion -to her husband Helen felt her face flush with shame. Douglas, of -course, knew how much Farley admired him; but Douglas was used to -admiration; he had received it all his life. - - - - -XIII - - -After Helen’s departure, Douglas Briggs felt a curious mingling -of relief and depression. It was a relief not to have to face the -constant rebuke that the sight of her gave him; and yet it depressed -him during the day to think that when he returned home he should not -find her there. He realized now many things about himself that he -had been unconscious of before. In the happy time that seemed so far -away now, during the stress of work, how he had loved to think of her -at home there with the children. What a comfort it was just to know -they were there and to feel that they were safe. And then, the walk -home, with the expectation of finding the children and Helen in the -nursery. The glad welcome! Then--but at this point he had to force -himself to think of other things. That happiness could never be the -same because in her eyes he could never be the same man. She must ever -look back on those days with a kind of shame; she must feel that he -had deceived her, that through it all he had been a hypocrite. With -her severe standards she must think that he had never been what she -believed him to be. She would judge him by that perfect father of hers, -by her sturdy older brother, and by the two brothers who had entered -the Church. At other times he would accuse himself of wronging her; -she could not judge him so harshly; she could not put aside altogether -the love she had once had for him. The love she had once had! He would -feel a shock of horror. Why, she must have it still; she had told him -a thousand times that nothing could change her love for him. After the -children came they used to say that much as they loved the children -they loved each other a thousand times more. And how they used to -wonder if other husbands and wives loved as they did. They used to -laugh and say that perhaps to other people they seemed as commonplace -as others did to them. After a time he resolved to discipline himself -when these thoughts came; if he were to indulge them, they would make -life unbearable. He wondered vaguely if she ever had such thoughts now. -Once they used to believe that they often had the same thoughts. In -this way, in spite of his efforts, he found himself going back to his -morbid fancies. Sometimes, on the other hand, he became rebellious and -he pitied himself as a man unjustly and inhumanely treated. No woman -had a right to treat a man like that, a man who had always tried to -be good to her, too. No woman had a right to expect her husband to be -perfect. - -It seemed curious that at this time Douglas Briggs should have found -solace in the companionship of Guy Fullerton. The boy’s eager interest -in life and his simplicity of mind amused and interested the older man. -In spite of his four years of money-spending at Harvard, Guy had not -been spoiled; at moments his ingenuousness was almost childish. Douglas -Briggs found that with Guy he could discuss matters he would shrink -from mentioning in the presence of sophisticated and hardened men. In -Guy, too, he saw many of the qualities that he himself had had as a -boy, though he recognized that long before reaching his secretary’s -age he had outgrown most of them. In his dread of being alone he made -pretexts for keeping the boy with him in his few hours of leisure -during the day. In the late afternoon they would walk from the house to -the club where Briggs would let Guy order the dinner. They had a table -reserved for them in the bay-window of the dining-room, by George, the -fat and pompous head-waiter, whose display of teeth at the appearance -of Douglas Briggs suggested the memory of a long line of tips. After -finishing the meal they would often linger, sipping claret punch which -Briggs allowed himself to encourage Guy to drink. He had begun to feel -a paternal fondness for Guy; he enjoyed formulating before the young -fellow a philosophy of life and offering stray bits of advice. Guy’s -admiration for him stimulated him and, though he would have hated to -acknowledge the fact, it supported him in a good opinion of himself. -If in his talks there were matters that occurred to his mind only to -be immediately suppressed, the reason was not less because he wished -to conceal certain aspects of life from the boy than because he wished -to keep the boy’s admiration untarnished. Occasionally he wondered -if he ought not to do something for Guy, if he were not selfish in -his keeping him in a kind of life that might harm him. If the young -fellow stayed long enough in Washington he would probably become one -of those miserable creatures whose days were spent in hanging on to -the soiled skirts of the Government. It would be a pity to see Guy, for -example, in the army of clerks who, at nine o’clock each day, poured -into the Government offices and streamed out again at four in the -afternoon. Briggs said to himself that he ought to find a chance for -Guy to do work into some sort of independence where he could develop -those qualities of faithfulness and intelligence that were plainly his -inheritance even if they were somewhat obscured by his boyishness. - -After dinner, when there was nothing to call him to the House, Briggs -would occasionally be joined by a politician, or by one of the Army -or Navy men who frequented the club. He dreaded meeting the officers -even more than the politicians. He had grown tired of hearing of the -exploits of the Spanish War, of the controversy between rival Admirals -and of the rare qualities, on the one hand, of this General or that, -and the injustice of the General’s advance over officers who had given -many years of faithful work to the service. The jealousies and the -rivalries among the heroes disgusted him, and the bragging among some -of the veterans gave him a contempt for war. At moments he had a horror -of meeting anyone except the young fellow who kept him from thinking -about himself. He wondered if he had grown suddenly old. The talk of -the club made him feel as if life had become sordid and mean, as if -nothing was ever done from an unselfish motive. In these moods he would -sometimes take Guy with him for a ride in the country on a trolley-car -to Chevy Chase, where they would sit on the porch of the club and watch -the fireflies gleaming over the green sward, or, as oftener happened, -to Cabin John’s, where they amused themselves by studying the crowd. -Cabin John’s used to remind Briggs of his early days in the country -when he attended the church-picnics. He found himself now going back to -those days very often. After all, he reflected, the plain democratic -life was the best. And it was this very kind of life that he had been -striving so desperately to get away from. - -Occasionally during the afternoon Briggs would feel a disgust for -work and would go with Guy to the ball-game. Briggs enjoyed a game -of baseball for its own sake and because it renewed his old boyish -enthusiasm. At college he had been a catcher on his nine and he had -never lost his interest in the game. The crowd, too, entertained him -with its good nature, its amusing remarks to the players, and with its -fitful bursts of rage and scorn against the umpire. Briggs used to say -to Guy that he believed American men were never so happy as when they -were watching a ball-game. “Look at all those fellows,” he would remark -on the days of the big games. “See how contented they are. And what a -harmless pleasure it is, too!” Then, afraid of boring the boy with his -philosophy, Briggs would check himself and devote his attention to the -game. Meanwhile, however, he continued his reflections. Most of these -men were undoubtedly family men; many of them had sent their families -for the hot season away to the country or the seashore. He wondered how -many of them were really happy. Did they miss their wives and their -children as he missed his? Some of them were, of course, glad to be -free and Briggs realized the commonplace thought with astonishment. -There were some men who did not care for family-life, who were unfitted -for it. It had become impossible for him to think of any other kind of -life as endurable. Well, it was good that they could all, the happy and -unhappy, come to a game of baseball and forget there was such a thing -as care in the world. - -While he was alone at night, Briggs suffered most. At times he would -work late in order to exhaust himself; then his brain would become so -excited that he could not sleep for hours. Sometimes he rose and tried -to read; and occasionally, he would fall asleep in the chair. In his -dreams he would wander about the new house, breaking his heart over the -sight of places and things associated with his wife. He often said to -himself that he felt as if he had lost part of himself; he recalled the -remarks he had made to Helen on the night of that wretched party, that -he felt as if he had always been married. He wondered what men had to -live for who did not have wife and children to think of, to give them -incentive for their work. He had always been an optimist and he had -felt a curious surprise when he heard people express a dissatisfaction -with life. Even his trials and his disappointments had brought with -them something stimulating. But now he often sank into despair. - -Guy Fullerton was consoled in his confinement in Washington by the -sense of his importance to his employer and by the letters that he -received from Fanny Wallace. Though an irregular letter-writer, Fanny -was voluminous, and she kept Guy amused with her comments on the -people that she met and the things that she did. Occasionally one -of her letters would contain a reference that would throw Guy into -temporary depression. Douglas Briggs generally knew when this disaster -had occurred, and used to exert himself to rouse the boy, generally -with success. At these times Guy would give expression to a philosophy -regarding woman so pessimistic and cynical that Briggs with difficulty -kept from laughing. In spite of his own troubles, Briggs congratulated -himself that he retained his sense of humor. Once he said to Guy, as -they were drinking at the club: “My dear boy, you mustn’t take life so -seriously.” - -“Well, sir,” Guy replied in a deep breath, “I’m just beginning to find -out how serious it is.” - -“It’s all right to realize how serious it is,” Briggs went on, “but -that’s different from taking it seriously. Don’t let things bother -you too much, that’s what I mean--little things. Just be sure that -everything is coming out all right, and don’t mind the details.” - -Guy shook his head doggedly. “But the details are mighty important, -sometimes, Mr. Briggs.” - -In spite of himself, Briggs sighed. It was much easier to offer -philosophy to this boy than to practise it oneself. The silence that -followed was suddenly broken by Guy’s saying: “Do you believe in early -marriages, Mr. Briggs?” - -The question was received without a smile. “That depends on a good many -considerations,” Briggs replied, slowly. “And it depends chiefly on the -woman. Most people would say that it depended on both the man and the -woman. But it’s the woman that counts first every time.” - -“Well, the man counts for something, doesn’t he?” Guy urged with a -faint smile; but Briggs went on as if he had not been interrupted. - -“The man counts only in relation to the woman. If the woman is all -right, why, there’s no excuse for the man’s not being right.” Briggs -tightly closed his lips. “If he isn’t, it shows there’s something -radically wrong in him. There is no happiness like the happiness of -a youthful marriage founded on love and character; but there is no -Hell so awful as the unhappiness that comes when a marriage like that -strikes disaster.” - -“Well, it’s a lottery, anyway, don’t you think so?” Guy asked, made -somewhat uncomfortable by Douglas Briggs’s intensity, and trying to get -back where the water was not too deep for him. - -“That’s just what it isn’t. The results of any marriage could -be calculated in advance if we only knew how to weigh all the -considerations. When a good woman marries an unprincipled man, misery -is sure to result for her, possibly for both. When a good woman marries -a weak man, well, there’s a chance that she’ll be able to bolster him -up and make a strong character of him.” - -“That’s what I think,” Guy cried, so enthusiastically, that Briggs came -near smiling again. He was tempted to say, “Don’t be so modest, my -boy,” but he checked himself. - -“On general principles,” Briggs resumed quietly, “I suppose the great -danger of an early marriage is that the wife may outgrow the husband, -or, what is far more likely to happen, that the husband will outgrow -the wife. I’ve seen that happen in several cases where the woman has -stayed at home and led a limited life, and the man has gone out into -the world and developed.” - -“Still I believe it’s possible,” Guy went on eagerly, “for the young -people to go on together and share everything. Then I don’t see--” - -“There’s where the trouble starts, my boy. The woman may be willing to -share everything; but the man is willing mighty seldom. If he’s like a -good many men, vain and conceited, he’ll only want to share the good -things, the pleasant things; he’ll keep the unpleasant to himself.” - -“Well, that seems to me pretty fine,” cried Guy, shaking his head. - -“Yes, it sounds so,” Briggs went on, “but it doesn’t work out right.” -Then he checked himself, fearing that the boy would read a personal -application in what he said. He changed the subject abruptly, as he -sometimes did to Guy’s bewilderment. At such moments Guy feared that he -had unconsciously offended his employer. In spite of the companionship -Guy gave the other, there were times when Briggs felt the boy’s -presence to be somewhat inconvenient. He wished to keep from the young -fellow a knowledge of certain business transactions which, as the days -passed, grew to be more and more complicated. He often had to keep -the door closed against Guy when his broker called. Guy, of course, -knew who Balcombe was, the small, keen-eyed, sandy man who frequented -the club; but he did not know that Douglas Briggs, whose speculations -had previously been conservative, had begun to plunge. Briggs tried -to excuse himself for his recklessness on the plea of desperate -remedies; he must get rid of Franklin West and, in order to maintain -his independence, and, to keep afloat, he must at times take risks. -Guy used occasionally to notice a curious elation in his employer’s -manner; it showed itself most conspicuously at the close of the day, -when they sat at dinner; it sometimes caused Briggs to tell Guy to -order something especially good to eat. But even on the days when he -felt depressed, Briggs managed to display an artificial gayety that -deceived the boy. Then he would indulge in extravagance for the purpose -of cheering himself. - -There were moments of solitude, however, when Briggs could not -discipline himself into good humor or take comfort from any sophistry. -Then he used to wonder grimly what the end would be. Suppose everything -went wrong, suppose he should lose the few thousands he had managed to -get together to speculate with? Suppose he should find himself out of -politics, deep in debt and without resources? These thoughts usually -came to him in the middle of the night as he lay in bed, and a cold -perspiration would break out on his forehead. In the early morning, -too, long before it was time to get up, he would lie half-asleep, -suffering from a vague consciousness of profound misery, more terrible -than any suffering he knew in his waking hours. He began to dread -the mornings, and he resolved to try to rouse himself and to escape -the obsession. But, in spite of his resolutions, he would lie in bed, -a helpless prisoner, and as he finally became wide-awake, he would -feel exhausted. For himself he believed that he had no fear; his whole -solicitude was for Helen and the children. He marvelled that he had -never worried about the matter before. He had always felt confident -that he could keep his family in comfort. It was true that he had taken -out a heavy life-insurance policy; but that was a precaution every -sensible family man employed. Already that policy had become a burden; -he dreaded the next payment. - -In his moments of greatest depression, Douglas Briggs used to -accuse himself of having accomplished nothing in his life. Here he -was--forty-two! By this time, he ought to have laid a solid foundation -for the future. And yet he had advanced no farther than the point -he had reached at thirty-six, when first elected to Congress. He -had actually gone back. At thirty-six, he had had at least a clear -record and good prospects. Now his name was smirched, his self-respect -was weakened, and he was committed to a course that involved more -hypocrisy, if not more dishonesty. In the morning he often woke feeling -prematurely old with the horrible sense of being a failure, and with -hardly energy enough to take up his cares. He wondered if many men -suffered as he did, and he decided that it was probably only the -exceptional men who did not; he was probably experiencing the common -lot. Here, indeed, was some comfort offered by his philosophy. - -One morning Briggs found himself face to face with a definite -temptation. There was an easy way out of his difficulties; in fact, -there were a dozen easy ways. There were a dozen men within reach who -would be glad to take his notes, to extend them, and to hold them -indefinitely. In other words, he could realize on them and meet his -obligations, and not only clear himself of pressing debt, but reach -a position where he need not think of his notes again. He would be -obliged to give no pledge, to bind himself by no promises. The chances -were that he should not in the future be called on to do anything that -would definitely violate his conscience. It was this consideration -that caused him to cover his face with his hands and to lean forward -despairingly on his desk. It recalled to him the situation that had -placed him in the power of Franklin West. He rose quickly, feeling the -blood rush to his face, and he said aloud: “By God, I won’t do it!” -Then he seized his hat and walked rapidly out into the street. In the -open air he took deep breaths and he had a curious impulse to thrash -someone. He was like a man trying to control a wild attack of anger. - -Meanwhile, in Waverly, Helen Briggs was suffering as poignantly. -The sight of the place where she had first met the young man who -was to become her husband and where they had known their first -great happiness, added to her misery. The old house, too, brought -back the memories of her childhood, of her saintly old father, her -gentle mother, whose long years of invalidism had only sweetened -her character, her fine older brother, whom she had always regarded -as a second father, and the two boys who were now leading happy and -useful lives ministering to their churches, one in Rochester and one -in Syracuse. Among them all, Douglas had been a sort of hero. To the -two young clergymen he represented all that was best in a career of -public service. On first coming to Waverly, he had brought a letter -of introduction to her father and he had quickly been made a family -friend. His success in the law and in politics made him a marked man -and when Helen’s engagement was announced, it seemed as if everything -pointed to a happy marriage. And now, after years of happiness, the -shock of disappointment had come so suddenly that Helen could hardly -realize it. Often at night it seemed to her that she would wake and -find the trouble had been only a ghastly dream. In the morning she -would go about the house so dispirited that Miss Munroe would ask her -if she were not ill. She began to dread Miss Munroe’s solicitude; -it was terrible to think that someone might discover the secret of -her unhappiness. But she knew she could not hide it always. She had -a feeling that if her brothers were to find it out, all chance of a -reconciliation would be gone. With their stern ideas of rectitude, -they could never forgive Douglas. But, after all, she reflected, her -own ideas were as stern. Sometimes she wondered if she could be wrong, -if her standards were not merely ideal, visionary, the result of her -training at home, in the atmosphere of the church, which stood apart -from real life. But this thought always terrified her and she turned -from it, instinctively feeling that if she were to lose her standards -she should lose her hold on life itself. - -In the old days before their estrangement, Helen had never questioned -her husband’s movements or had doubts in regard to them. She had -trusted him always, as he had trusted her; indeed, the thought of the -possibility of suspicion had not entered her mind. Now she wondered why -he remained away so long from Waverly. Was it really because he had to -be in Washington for business? He had been detained there one Summer -before, by private business, but on Friday of each week he had made the -long and fatiguing journey home. Could it be that he dreaded meeting -her? It was true, she acknowledged, that she dreaded meeting him; but -even more she dreaded his not coming. She suffered cruelly from the -fear that he would become used to being away from her, that in time he -would not miss her. It was only in her more desperate moods that she -accused him of not missing her at all now. - -It was with regard to the children that Helen Briggs felt most concern -for the future, especially with regard to her boy. How could she -bring them up so that they should not fall upon disaster as she and -Douglas had done? If temptation could so overcome Douglas, whom she -had always looked on as unconquerable, what could she expect when Jack -grew up? Already she had often talked with Douglas of the way they -should help Jack to face the trials that boys have to meet. Sometimes -Douglas laughed at her solicitude and said that she’d better not try -to cross her bridges till she came to them. And she reflected, with a -sinking of the heart, even while he was saying that, he knew that his -own character had broken down. But she seldom reached this point in -her speculations; she received a warning of the violence that would -result to her own emotions. Throughout her self-torments, she never let -herself believe the situation seemed hopeless. Something would happen, -she felt sure, that would finally make everything right. But in her -assurances, the mocking spirit of reason ridiculed her hope. - -The practical aspects of her trouble were a constant burden on Helen’s -mind. How could they go on living so extravagantly? Was it not wrong -that she should continue to have the luxuries she was used to having? -For herself she could easily have gone without them; but she wished -to give the children the best that could be bought. They were both -delicate and they often had to be coaxed to eat, and they refused to -eat many of the things that were inexpensive. Helen wondered if she -had not pampered them too much. At times she became nearly distracted -with the problem of living. She tried to console herself by reflecting -that she had two thousand dollars a year of her own and that during the -summer the expenses of the house in Waverly were far less than this -sum. But such sophistry gave her little help; the truth which she must -face was that they were living beyond their means. Someone must suffer -from their dishonesty. Surely Douglas must realize that plain fact. Oh, -how could he have gone on like that, from month to month, from year to -year? And all the while seeming before her the man he had been. That -was the worst thought in the whole matter, the thought of his hypocrisy! - -After a time, Helen resolved to try to be at peace with herself in -regard to the business-affairs of the family until she returned to -town. Then she would discuss the whole matter with Douglas. Of course, -they must give up their New York house. The thought of returning to -it appalled her, but they would probably be obliged to return for a -time, until the election had taken place, at any rate. Then there was -the question of the house in Washington. How could she ever go back to -that? It had already become hateful to her. But if she were to return -to Washington it would be hard for Douglas to move into a more modest -house. At any rate, he would think that the change would injure him. -At this juncture she recognized in him a pride which she had never -suspected before, a false pride that lowered him in her opinion. -Indeed, in all her reasoning she was discovering hidden qualities in -him. How could she ever adjust the old Douglas to the new? - -When these thoughts came it was a comfort to her to accuse herself of -faults and weaknesses. With a relief that seemed like joy she reflected -that in his place she too might have yielded to temptation. But -instantly she felt a stern denial in her consciousness. Still, if she -could not fail just as he had done she might have failed in other ways, -possibly worse ways. Once she thought of going to her older brother and -telling the whole story, to bring to bear on the situation the light -of his common sense. But she could not endure the thought of exposing -Douglas like that even to him; it seemed a betrayal of her wifely -trust. On the other hand, her brother might help Douglas! But she at -once thought of the anger Douglas would feel. No, such a step could -only aggravate the situation. - -In a few days Helen had settled into the monotony of Waverly. The old -friends came to see her; the old country gayeties, however, continued -without her. She devoted herself chiefly to the children, giving Miss -Munroe a holiday of several weeks. She scrupulously wrote to her -husband every day, and he answered as regularly. He said that Congress -would probably not adjourn till late in July, and as he was desperately -driven with work it might be impossible for him to come to Waverly -till the session had ended. It was, in fact, not till the first week -in August that the session closed. Two days later Helen received a -telegram from her husband saying that she might expect him early in -the evening; this was soon followed by another message announcing that -he had been detained in New York. He came late one afternoon; but he -stayed only for the night, returning to New York in the morning. The -work in preparation for the Fall campaign had begun unusually early, -he said. An enormous amount of work had to be done, and he must stay -in town, to be sure it was done right. Helen offered to leave the -children with Miss Munroe and open the New York house for him, but -he refused, insisting that she needed the rest. Besides, he could be -perfectly comfortable at the club. For the next few weeks he would have -to be in consultation with people day and night. He was so busy that -he had been unable to give Guy Fullerton a holiday, or rather, Guy had -refused to take one. He often spoke with praise of Guy’s devotion. - -During the rest of the Summer he ran up to Waverly several times, -rarely staying for more than a day. His visits were painful to them -both, though they delighted the children. When September came Helen -made preparations for her return to New York. She wished to live under -the same roof with her husband, though she might seldom see him. At -times her absence from him, and the strangeness with which they greeted -each other on meeting, terrified her. She would not confess to herself -the fear that he would discover she was not indispensable to him; but -in spite of the late September heat, it was with great relief that, -a week before the nominating convention, she found herself with the -children at the house in New York again. - -The opening of the New York house began the preparations for its -closing. These Briggs observed without comment. At times, when, -following his wife’s point of view, he realized the expense he was -carrying, he felt appalled. He wondered how he had ever dared to -undertake so much; he felt as if he were just emerging from a debauch -of recklessness. What had he been thinking of? What had he expected to -happen? He saw now that he had been relying on chance, like a gambler. - -During the next few weeks Briggs was so busy with his political work -that he practically lived away from home, returning there chiefly -to sleep. Whenever he did pass a part of the day at home, he was -shut up in the library, working with Guy over his mail, or in seeing -callers. He perceived now for the first time how far he had drifted -away from the party-moorings. From all sides he received warnings, -sometimes covert, occasionally frank and threatening, that a determined -opposition was to be made to his renomination. But, the nomination once -secured, he felt sure that he could hold his former supporters and -gain increased strength from the Independents, whom William Farley was -trying to win over. Briggs kept in uninterrupted communication with -Farley; he had begun to find the journalist extremely companionable. -He recalled now with a secret shame that at first he had been -suspicious of Farley, attributing an insidious selfishness to his -motives; but in every emergency, Farley had shown himself to be open -and generous and clean-minded. But it was Farley’s perfect confidence -that most deeply touched Douglas Briggs. Sometimes Briggs wondered -what Helen thought when she saw them working together, with Farley in -a subordinate attitude. With her fine sense of character, a sense he -had never known to err except with regard to himself, she must long ago -have learned to appreciate the journalist’s character. Briggs wondered -if she suspected that he was trying to use Farley. Once the thought -made him boldly accuse himself. But he found a vindication in the -thought that he was fighting his way against odds toward an honorable -goal. Once elected to Congress, he would do everything in his power to -atone for the wrong he had done. His future life would be not merely -an expiation, but a vindication. He assured himself that if he were to -falter now, he would be a coward. He was committed to his course. - -As for Helen, she tried to keep her mind distracted from herself by -the cares of the household, and she worked during most of the time -that she did not spend with the children. Every day she came upon -things with happy associations; once the sight of them would have -given her pleasure; but now it only hurt her. She was constantly -reminded, too, of what she now regarded as her extravagances. Why, -they had been living as if they were millionaires! She blamed herself, -not because she had spent so freely, but because she had not won -her husband’s complete confidence. If she had shown more character, -she argued, would he not have trusted her in everything? Would he -not have kept her informed with regard to his condition? Why had he -treated her, a woman and the mother of children, as if she were a -child to be petted and to be maintained at any sacrifice in luxury? -Sometimes this self-questioning caused her a kind of shame. In her -unhappiness she wondered if he had not despised her for accepting so -much unquestioningly. She understood now why some men regarded women as -monsters of selfishness. Oh, she had been selfish and inconsiderate! -Once she thought of going to Douglas and telling him just how she felt. -But she had not sufficient courage. Besides, she knew that he would -resent her pity for him. Then, too, he might think it was far too late -for her to take that superior attitude. - -Having decided to let Miss Munroe go, Helen dreaded the parting, not -because she found the governess necessary, but because of the scene -that the children would make. She was tempted to ask the girl to leave -without telling the children she was going; but that would be too -cruel, as well as underhanded. She feared, too, that the governess -would tell the children that she intended to leave them. Miss Munroe -had an exalted idea of her own importance, and would wish to make her -going as difficult and as dramatic as possible. So when she gave the -girl the usual notice, she had to be very careful. To her astonishment, -Miss Munroe received it with what seemed like sublime heroism. - -“I knew that things weren’t going right with you, Mrs. Briggs,” she -said, “and that I should have to leave soon. I will look for another -place. Of course,” she went on, her eyes filling with tears, “it will -be hard to give up the children.” - -“I know,” Helen said with a sigh, and at the moment she felt pity for -the girl, and she wondered if she had not been unjust and foolish. But -in future, she reflected, the children would be wholly hers. - -“It’s too bad, isn’t it?” Miss Munroe went on with a brave smile, “to -be with children long enough to feel almost as if they were your own, -and then have to go away from them!” - -Helen Briggs felt as if the muscles in her frame had become rigid. -In spite of herself, her face hardened. “Please don’t tell them you -are going,” she said, trying not to seem severe, and she thought she -detected a look of triumph in the girl’s face. - -“Very well,” said Miss Munroe, tightening her lips. - -“I’ll write to some people that I know in Washington,” Helen resumed, -speaking gently, “and see if they may not have a position for you. -Their children----” - -“Oh, I’d rather not live in Washington again,” Miss Munroe interrupted -with dignity. - -“I thought you liked it,” Helen said with surprise. - -“Not after what I know about it,” Miss Munroe explained, and Helen -flushed deeply. Could it be that this girl was covertly trying to wound -her? She decided to ignore the suspicion; but it made her rise from -her seat to indicate that the interview had ended. - -Two days later the children ran downstairs to their mother, crying -bitterly. It happened that they met the father on the stairs. - -“What’s the matter?” he asked, and Helen, from her room, noticed the -pain in his voice. - -“Miss Munroe is going away,” they both exclaimed together, and Dorothy -added: “She says she’s never coming back again.” - -“An’ she says we can’t come to see her,” Jack cried. - -At sight of Helen in the lower hall, they ran past their father down -the stairs. - -“What does this mean?” Briggs asked angrily over the balusters, -and Helen, unable to control the indignation she felt against the -governess, replied, “I don’t know,” and, putting her arms across the -shoulders of the children, she led them into the room and closed the -door behind her. - -Briggs hesitated for a moment, his face white with anger. He was -tempted to go down the stairs, force open the door of Helen’s room and -give vent to his feelings. But he checked himself. Then he had a second -impulse, and he dashed up the stairs to the nursery. He found Miss -Munroe standing in the middle of the room, in tears. She had evidently -been listening at the half-open door. - -“What have you been saying to those children?” he asked sternly. - -Miss Munroe began to sob. “They asked me this morning if it was true -that I was going away.” Her head began to move convulsively backward -and forward. - -“Who told them you were going away?” - -“I don’t know, sir. I only know that I didn’t. I promised Mrs. Briggs -that I wouldn’t.” - -“But you’ve told some of the servants, haven’t you?” - -“Well, I--I did mention it to----” - -“That’s enough!” Briggs exclaimed. “You ought to have known better.” -He hesitated, with a look of despair in his face. “Well, now that they -know it, we’ll have no peace with the children till you go.” - -Miss Munroe stopped crying. She seemed to grow an inch taller. “I am -ready to leave at once, sir,” she said. - -“Well!” Briggs knotted his forehead in perplexity. After all, the poor -girl had been good to the children. It would be cruel to send her away -like that. But he quailed at the thought of Dorothy’s wailings and -questionings and complaints. - -“We’re going to have a hard time here during the next few weeks,” he -said in a tone that showed the girl his anger had subsided, “and I -simply can’t let things be worse than they’ve got to be. So perhaps the -best thing you can do is to take a vacation before you go for good. You -can tell the children you are coming back, you know. Oh!” he exclaimed, -despairingly, “that won’t do at all.” - -Miss Munroe, with the air of keeping an advantage, stood in silence. - -“I knew that Mrs. Briggs would have worried about that--about your -telling the children,” Briggs went on helplessly. - -“She worries about a great many things,” Miss Munroe remarked with -quiet significance. - -“But, for my sake, Miss Munroe,” Briggs resumed, plainly without having -heard her comment, “if you could take a little vacation soon! That’ll -be the best for all of us. I know how hard it must be for you, and -it will be hard for the children. But, now that the break is to take -place, the sooner the better. I’ll pay you a month ahead, as I know -Mrs. Briggs will do anything she can for you.” - -“Oh, I won’t have any bother about getting another place,” Miss Munroe -said cheerfully. “And I’ll be glad to do everything that will make -things easier for you, sir. I know what a hard time you’ve been having -and, of course, I’ve been with Mrs. Briggs so much, I understand -_her_ pretty well.” - -Briggs stood in silence. He felt as if he had been wounded in some very -sensitive place. What did this girl mean? Was she trying to express -sympathy for him and at the same time stabbing at Helen? While living -with them in the intimacy of the family life, had she been spying on -them and gossiping about them with the servants? - -“I’ll speak to Mrs. Briggs to-day, and she’ll let you know when she -wants you to leave,” he said mechanically, and he walked out of the -room. - -During the rest of the day Briggs suffered from a dull anger, directed -not against the governess, however, but against his wife. If Helen had -only not interfered with his affairs, he assured himself, he would have -worked out of his troubles. Her interference had upset everything, even -the details of the domestic economy. He quickly forgot his resentment -against Miss Munroe; after all, it was natural that the poor girl -should resent being turned away from the family that she had served so -faithfully. She had her little pride, too, in not being a mere servant; -and that pride had probably been wounded. She was so necessary that he -hoped Helen would change her mind about letting her go. He liked the -idea of giving the girl a vacation; after missing her services for a -few weeks, Helen might be glad to take her back. He meant to speak of -the idea to his wife; but in the distraction of his work he forgot it. -After a few days, on observing that Miss Munroe still remained in the -house, he assumed that she was to stay on indefinitely. - - - - -XIV - - -On the morning after the convention Douglas Briggs sat in his study, -looking over his letters. He heard a tap at the door, and Michael -entered with two telegrams. - -“If any callers come,” said Briggs, “take them into the reception room.” - -“Yes, sir.” - -“And give these telegrams to Sam.” - -Michael nodded gravely; but he did not stir. - -“That’s all,” said Briggs, without looking up. - -“It’s glad I am, sir, yer got ahead o’ them div’ls last night,” said -Michael. - -“Thank you, Michael. We had a hard fight.” - -“Sure, that was a fine speech yer made, sir.” - -Briggs raised his head. “I’m glad you heard it.” He glanced sharply at -Michael. “Were you there?” - -“No, sir, but me cousin Ned was, that works for Mr. Barstow over the -way. He told me about it this mornin’, an’ I’ve read it in the mornin’ -papers.” - -“I haven’t had time to look at the papers yet,” Briggs remarked, -absently. - -“Here they are, sir.” - -“All right.” - -Michael kept his position. “Ned said it was fine the way yer drove the -lies down their throats, sir.” - -“Oh, well, I had to get back at ’em somehow,” Briggs replied, -carelessly. - -Michael assumed a more familiar attitude. “Sure, it’s a shame the -things they say about a man when he’s in politics. There was Miles -O’Connor, over in the Ninth Ward, one of the foinest men----” - -“I guess that’ll do, Michael,” Briggs interrupted. “Have those -telegrams sent as soon as you can.” - -Michael hurriedly left the room. “Yes, sir,” he said at the door. - -Briggs passed one hand over his forehead. “God!” he muttered. “I have -to keep up this bluff even before my servants.” Just as he resumed work -he heard Michael’s tap again. “Come in,” he cried, impatiently. - -“Here’s something that just come by messenger, sir,” said Michael. - -“Put it on the table, and don’t interrupt me again till I ring. Keep -any other letters and telegrams till Mr. Fullerton comes down.” - -“Oh, I forgot to tell you, sir,” said Michael. “Mr. West called you up -on the telephone a little while ago.” - -Briggs looked surprised. “Mr. Franklin West?” he asked, with a frown. - -“Yes, sir.” - -“From Washington, do you mean? Why didn’t you let me know?” - -“No, sir, not from Washington. He’s here in town, sir. He told me not -to wake you up.” - -“Where is he?” Briggs asked. - -“He’s stoppin’ at a hotel, sir.” - -Briggs hesitated. “At a hotel?” he repeated. “What did he go to a hotel -for? He always stays here when he comes to town.” - -“He come over last night on the midnight train, sir. Here’s the -telephone number. He said perhaps ye’d be kind enough to call him up -this mornin’ and let him know when it would be most convenient for yer -to see him.” - -“Strange,” Briggs remarked, thoughtfully. Then he turned to Michael. -“Did he say that anyone was with him?” - -Michael shook his head. “He only said he’d wait at the hotel till he -heard from yer, sir.” - -Briggs stood for a moment thinking. Then he said, with two fingers on -his lips: “You tell Sam to drive down right off and bring Mr. West up -here. Tell him to bring Mr. West’s luggage, too, and ask him to say to -Mr. West that there’s a room all ready for him, as usual. This is a -funny time for him to stand on ceremony with me.” - -Michael started to go out; then turned back. “I suppose yer didn’t know -Miss Fanny came last night, sir.” - -“I thought she wasn’t coming till next week.” - -“She arrived last night, sir, at nine o’clock. She sat up for yer, sir, -till she fell asleep in the chair, and Mrs. Briggs made her go to bed.” - -“Good girl,” said Briggs. “I suppose she hasn’t come down yet.” - -“No, sir.” - -A half-hour later Briggs heard the rustle of skirts outside the study -door. Then the door opened softly. He went on busily writing. Light -steps crossed to the chair behind him. - -“Ahem!” - -“Oh, hello, Fanny!” he said, without looking up. - -“How did you know it was me?” cried Fanny, in a tone of disappointment. - -Briggs leaned back in his chair and received an impulsive kiss on the -cheek. “Well, I don’t know anyone else who’d steal in just like that.” - -“Michael told you, didn’t he?” - -“Perhaps.” - -“He didn’t want to let me come in.” Fanny sat on the edge of the desk. -“He said you were busy. You--_busy_!” - -Douglas Briggs smiled. “Well, I don’t seem to be busy whenever you’re -around, do I? Still, I have to do a little work now and then.” - -“I think there’s too much work in the world,” Fanny pouted. “Now -there’s poor Guy. Think how he works!” - -“Guy! Why, at this minute he’s sound asleep, and it’s nearly ten -o’clock.” - -“But think how he worked at that old nomination meeting of yours! He -didn’t get home till nearly morning.” - -“Well, I didn’t, either.” - -“But you’re tough, Uncle Doug; Guy is delicate.” - -“They generally are, at his age,” Briggs acknowledged, dryly, -“especially when they have just come out of college.” - -“I think you’re horrid to say such things about Guy, when he helps you -so, too. I’ve just been up to see him.” - -Briggs sat back in his chair. “W-h-hat!” he exclaimed. - -“Oh, you needn’t be shocked! I just _peeked_ in. He was sound -asleep, with his head resting on one hand, just like this, and the -sweetest little blush on his face, and his hair in the cunningest -little bang on his forehead. I was so relieved about one thing.” - -“What’s that?” - -Fanny looked stealthily around the room. “He doesn’t snore!” she said, -with her hand over her mouth. - -“Oh! But suppose he had snored?” - -Fanny slid from the desk and drew herself up. “Then, of course, I -should have been obliged to--well, to break the----” - -“Do you mean to say there’s an engagement between you two?” - -Fanny held her hand over her uncle’s lips. “’Sh! No, not that. What -would dad say if he heard you? Only he’s been writing me the loveliest -letters this Summer. M’m!” - -“I shall have to congratulate Guy on not snoring. But suppose,” Briggs -continued, confidentially, “suppose I should tell you that sometimes he -did snore?” - -Fanny tossed back her head. “Well, that wouldn’t make any difference, -either. Come to think of it, if Guy had snored this morning, his -snoring would have been nice. Funny about love, isn’t it, Uncle Doug?” -Fanny added, pensively. - -“What is?” - -“It makes everything nice.” - -“In the one you love, you mean?” - -Fanny nodded. “M’m--h’m!” - -“Then you’re really in love with Guy?” - -Fanny danced away. “Oh, I didn’t say that.” - -“Fanny,” said Briggs, gently. - -Fanny edged toward the table. “Well?” She still kept out of reach. - -“Come over here,” Briggs urged. - -Fanny stood at her uncle’s side, with one hand on the desk; Briggs let -his hand rest on hers. “If you and Guy are really in love with each -other, I have a bit of advice to give you.” - -“Oh, you’re going to tell me how foolish it is to get married, aren’t -you? That’s the way married people always talk.” - -Briggs smiled and shook his head. “No, I don’t mean that.” - -“Well? Wait till Guy gets rich, I suppose.” Fanny sighed. “Then I know -I shall die an old maid!” - -“No, I don’t mean that, either.” - -“What do you mean, then?” Fanny said, severely. - -“Make him give up the foolish notion he has of going into politics.” - -“Oh, Uncle Doug!” Fanny exclaimed, reproachfully. - -“Guy is a good, clean-hearted young fellow. You don’t want him to -become cynical and hypocritical and deceitful, do you? You don’t want -him to believe there’s no such thing as unselfishness in the world, -that whenever a man turns his hand he expects to be paid for it ten -times over?” - -Fanny looked with astonishment at her uncle. “Well, what in the world -is the matter with you?” she said, after a moment. - -Briggs patted her hand. “There, there! I won’t preach any more. But I -mean what I say.” - -When Fanny spoke again there were tears in her voice. “Isn’t he a good -secretary?” - -“Oh, yes, good enough.” - -“You’re mad because he’s staying in bed so late.” - -“Nonsense! I told Michael myself not to call him. He’s worked himself -to death during the past few weeks. I had to fight for my renomination, -you know.” - -“You did?” said Fanny, with a change of tone. “Why, I thought you were -the most popular man in New York.” - -“Well, the most popular men have enemies,” Briggs replied, grimly. - -Fanny suddenly became affectionate, almost pathetic. “And I never -congratulated you! I was so sure you’d be nominated--why, I took it as -a matter of course.” - -Briggs looked away. “Yes, you women folks always do,” he said, -bitterly. “It is only the disappointments in life that you don’t take -as matters of course.” - -Fanny clapped her hands. “Uncle Doug, now I know what the trouble is. -You haven’t had any breakfast. Dad’s always as cross as two sticks till -he’s had his.” - -“Yes, I have. I’m tired, that’s all. Now, run along, like a good girl. -I’ve got a lot of work to do.” - -“Oh!” Fanny tossed her head, rose lightly on tiptoe and, swaying back -and forth, started for the door. There she turned. “You forget I’ve had -a birthday since I saw you last,” she said, haughtily. - -Douglas Briggs had begun to write again. “Did you? What was -it--fourteen, fifteen--?” - -Fanny stiffened her fingers and held them before her eyes. “Ugh!” she -exclaimed. - -As she started to open the door she was thrust rudely back. Someone had -pushed the door from the other side. She turned quickly and met the -astonished face of Guy Fullerton. - -“Fanny!” Guy cried, joyously. “When in the world did you get here?” - -Fanny held out both hands. Guy seized them and tried to draw her toward -him. She stopped him with a warning gesture, and glanced at her uncle. - -“Go ahead,” said Douglas Briggs. “I’m not looking.” - -Guy and Fanny embraced silently. - -Fanny glanced at the shoulders bent over the table. “Thank you, sir,” -she said, meekly. - -“Why didn’t you let me know you were coming?” Guy cried, reproachfully. - -“Because I thought I’d give you a surprise, sleepy-head.” - -Briggs turned on his swivel-chair. “I guess you two’d better go into -the other room.” - -“Can’t I do anything for you, sir?” Guy asked. “The correspondence?” - -“No hurry about that. I’ll ring when I need you. Oh, Fanny, you might -ask your aunt to look in here a moment. I want to speak to her.” - -“All right.” Fanny danced radiantly out of the room, followed by Guy. -A moment later Briggs heard her call up the stairs: “Oh, auntie, Uncle -Doug wants you.” - -He listened and heard his wife descending. The sound of her footsteps -gave him a strange feeling of mingled pleasure and discomfort. He -had begun to resent her treatment of him. “Good-morning,” he said, -cheerfully, as she entered. He rose quickly and offered her a chair. - -“Did you wish to see me?” Helen asked, still standing. - -“Yes. There were one or two things I wanted to talk over. Won’t you sit -down?” - -Helen took the seat. “Thank you,” she said. They had become very -ceremonious. - -“How are the children this morning?” - -“I’ve just left them in the nursery. They are perfectly well.” - -“Hasn’t Miss Munroe taken them out yet?” - -Helen met his look. “Miss Munroe is leaving to-day,” she replied. - -“What?” he cried, astonished. - -“I told you several weeks ago that she was going to leave.” - -“But I didn’t think you’d--” Briggs turned away and rested his head on -his hand, with his elbow on the table. “Will you be kind enough to tell -me why you have sent Miss Munroe away?” he asked, in a tone that showed -he was trying to control himself. “She’s been with the children ever -since they were born. You can’t get anyone to fill her place.” - -“I sent her away because we couldn’t afford to keep her,” Helen replied. - -“What do you mean by _we_?” - -“Because _I_ couldn’t afford to keep her, then.” - -“And you think that I don’t count at all!” He laughed bitterly. “Those -children are as much my children as yours, and I propose to have -something to say about the way they are taken care of.” He glanced -angrily at Helen, who remained silent. “You can be pretty exasperating -at times, Helen. What do you propose to do with the children when we go -back to Washington?” - -“I am not going back to Washington,” she replied, in a low voice. - -“What?” he exclaimed in astonishment. - -“I am not going back to Washington.” - -“What do you mean by that?” - -“We can’t afford----” - -“Can’t afford! I’m sick of hearing that expression. You’ve used it a -thousand times in the past six months. You make me feel as if I were a -pauper or a thief.” - -“I was going to say that we couldn’t afford to live in Washington as -we’ve been living,” she continued, as if she had not heard him. “When -you leave here I shall take the children to my place in Waverly and -pass the Winter there.” - -“_My_ place!” he repeated, coldly. He turned away. “Yes, it is -your place.” - -“Did you send for me to speak about the children?” - -“No, I wanted to consult you about the house in Washington. I have a -chance to lease it for two years. Senator Wadsworth is looking for a -place, and he said the other day he’d take the house whenever I wanted -to rent it. I had told him I didn’t feel sure of going back, and, of -course, I knew how you hated the place,” he concluded, harshly. “If you -prefer to live somewhere else, I’m willing.” - -“I have made up my mind not to go back,” said Helen. - -“And may I ask how long you propose to keep away from Washington? Do -you intend to cut yourself off from my political life altogether?” - -“You know why I want to cut myself off from it,” Helen replied, her -voice trembling. - -“I should think I did! You’ve rubbed that in enough. I suppose you -realize what people will say?” - -“There are plenty of Congressmen’s wives who don’t go to Washington -with their husbands.” - -“But you’ve taken part in the life. You’ve been conspicuous.” - -“You can say that I didn’t feel equal to entertaining this Winter, and -I stayed at home to take care of my children. It will be true, too.” - -He looked at her with solicitude in his face. “Do you mean that you are -ill, Helen?” - -“I’m sick. I’m sick of living,” she broke out. “But for the children, I -could wish that I----” - -“Then _I_ don’t count in your feelings or in your life?” He -hesitated, and when he spoke again it was in a tone of patience that -betrayed the restraint he was putting on himself. “Helen, I think I -have been pretty lenient with you so far, and if I let go now and -then you can’t blame me. Since that night in Washington, the night of -your ball, you’ve been a changed woman. You keep the children away -from me as if you were afraid I’d contaminate them. You have cut down -our expenses and forced us all to live as if we were on the verge of -poverty. You’ve made our house as gloomy as a tomb. Now, I warn you, -look out! Do you understand?” - -“Yes.” - -“And you propose to go on in this way?” - -“That is one reason why I have decided not to go to Washington.” - -“I don’t understand you.” - -“Because I saw how unhappy I made you. I thought you would be happier -without me. And I can’t be different--I can’t!” she broke out, -passionately. “I can’t live as we used to live, knowing that the money -I spend----” - -She checked herself. Douglas Briggs waited. “Well?” he said. - -“Knowing where it comes from, Douglas,” she went on, lowering her -voice. He made no comment, and she added, with a change of tone: “I had -hoped things might be different this morning.” - -He looked mystified. “Different?” he repeated. - -“I hoped that you wouldn’t have to go back to Washington--except for -the rest of your present term.” - -“That I shouldn’t get the nomination, do you mean?” Then he laughed. -“You’re a nice wife. I wonder how you’d feel if you knew what the loss -of that nomination would mean to me?” - -“If it meant poverty or humiliation I should have been glad to share it -with you, Douglas.” - -He turned away from her with the impatient movement of his head -that she had so often seen Jack make. “Now, please don’t waste any -heroics on me. But let me tell you one thing, Helen. If I hadn’t been -re-nominated last night I should be a ruined man. Just at present I -haven’t five thousand dollars in the world. I told you last Spring how -much it cost us to live. True, last year I made twice as much as I’d -made the year before; but during the past few months I’ve lost every -cent of it.” - -Helen looked incredulous. Of late she often assumed an expression of -mistrust at his statements that secretly enraged him. “How have you -lost it?” she asked, fixing her eyes on him. - -Briggs shrugged his shoulders. “By trying to make a fortune quick, just -as many another man has done. I took greater risks--that’s all. Perhaps -you’d like to know why I did that? I did it in order to make myself -independent of those men in Washington--the men you’re so down on. I -hoped that I could throw them off and go to you and say that I was -straight.” - -“And you thought that would please me?” Helen asked, in a tone of deep -reproach. - -He drew a long breath. “Well, I don’t know that anything will please -you nowadays, Helen, but I thought it might.” - -“That the money gained by such means----” - -“You don’t mean to say that speculating is dishonest, do you?” he -asked, with a harsh laugh. - -“If the money that you speculated with had been honestly earned it -would be bad enough, but money--Oh, why do you force me to say these -things? You know perfectly well what I think.” - -He turned away, with disappointment and resentment in his face. “I see -that it’s useless to try to please you. Perhaps it’s just as well that -you’re not going to Washington with me.” - -She rose from her seat and started to leave the room; but, on an -impulse, she stopped. “I suppose a woman’s way of looking at these -things is different from a man’s, Douglas. A woman can’t understand how -hard it is for a man--how many temptations he has. Oh, I don’t blame -you, Douglas; your doing all that for me--taking all those risks, and -losing everything--I do appreciate it. But if I could only make you -see that it is all wrong, that I’d love you poor and disappointed, a -thousand times more than successful and----” - -“And dishonest!” he interrupted. “That’s what you were going to -say, isn’t it? Well, I guess it’s impossible for us to agree about -these matters. Anyway, I’ve got the nomination, and that means my -re-election. We’ve got to take things as they come in this world.” - -Helen walked slowly toward the door. - -“Then you’ve made up your mind?” he said, thinking she might weaken. - -“I have made up my mind not to return to Washington,” she replied, -without meeting his look. - -Briggs turned away impatiently. “Very well, then. I’ll take rooms again -at the club.” - -When Helen had closed the door behind her Douglas Briggs sank into his -chair and covered his face with his hands. After his work and worry of -the past few weeks it seemed hard to him that he should be obliged to -go through such a scene with his wife. For a few minutes he tortured -himself with self-pity. He heard a rap at the door; but he paid no -attention. He was in the mood where he wished to speak to no one, to -see no one. - - - - -XV - - -“Uncle Doug!” - -Briggs whirled impatiently in his chair. “Eh?” - -Fanny came forward. “Say, Uncle Doug.” - -“Well, what is it?” - -“What’s the matter?” Fanny asked. - -Briggs frowned. “Matter!” he repeated. “What do you mean?” - -“You know. What’s the matter between auntie and you?” Fanny added, -brightly. “I don’t mind your being cross with me a bit.” - -Briggs softened. “My dear little girl, you mustn’t interfere with -things that don’t concern you.” - -Fanny’s eyes flashed. “Please _don’t_! Besides, they do concern -me. Don’t you suppose I care when I see auntie come out of here with -her face just as white and her eyes looking as if they were going to -pop out of her head?” - -“You see too much, Fanny.” - -“Well, what do you suppose my eyes were made for, anyway?” Fanny cried, -indignantly. “Besides, I didn’t have anything else to do. Guy’d gone -away and left me.” - -“What did he do that for?” - -“Because I told him to.” - -“Have you two been quarreling?” Briggs asked, severely. - -“No, we haven’t,” Fanny replied, with an emphatic toss of her head. “I -told him he’d better go and attend to your business, instead of billing -and cooing with me. There were a lot of people who wanted to see you. -So, as you were busy,” she concluded with importance, “of course Guy -had to represent you.” - -Briggs rose hastily. “Where are they?” he asked. - -As Fanny did not like the tone of the question, she kept her uncle -waiting for a moment. “In the library,” she finally conceded. - -“It’s probably Monahan and his gang,” said Briggs, hurrying out of the -room. “I forgot to ask Michael----” - -“Well, then, tell Guy--” Fanny called after him, but he disappeared -before she had time to finish the sentence. She stood disconsolate -in the middle of the room. “Nobody seems to care for me around here,” -she said. “I’ve a good mind to go home.” Then she turned and saw Guy -Fullerton smiling at her. - -“Hello, Fan!” he said. - -Fanny promptly turned her back on him. - -“Everything seems to be going wrong this morning,” she said. “I almost -wish I hadn’t come.” - -“Oh, you do, do you?” Guy walked to the opposite side of the room, -dropped into a chair and rested his head on his hand. - -“Now, don’t you go and be silly,” cried Fanny, glancing at him over her -shoulder. - -Guy looked relieved. “I thought you were mad with me. Oh, that’s all -right, then. If you could only have some sort of sign to show just -_who_ you’re mad with, you know! Fan,” he went on, softly, “as -long as we’re alone, can’t we--can’t we fix it up? You and--” He -touched his chest with his forefinger. - -Fanny gave a little jump. Her eyes beamed. “Sir,” she cried, “is this a -proposal?” Then she added, in a tone of disappointment: “Does it come -like this?” - -“You know I’ve been awfully fond of you for a long time,” Guy pleaded. - -Fanny smiled into his face. “How long?” - -“Well, since last Winter. Since those days we went skating together.” - -Fanny clasped her hands rapturously. “Weren’t they glorious! Well, I’ll -say one thing for you, you’re a good _skater_.” Then she rolled -her eyes. “But your dancing!” - -“Will you?” said Guy, plaintively. - -Fanny dropped into a chair and let her hands rest in her lap. She grew -very thoughtful. “I’ll think about it,” she said. - -“Think about it!” Guy repeated, derisively. - -Fanny assumed an injured air. “Yes, they always say that in books. I’m -going to do this in the proper way, even if you don’t.” - -Guy looked disconsolate. “Oh, you never take a fellow seriously.” - -“Don’t I?” This time Fanny’s voice had the ring of sincerity. “Well, -what do you want me to do?” - -“Just say we’re engaged, can’t you?” Guy pleaded. - -Fanny rose and drew herself up with dignity. “You must speak to my -father,” she said, with a demure bow. - -“Oh, there you are again! You won’t take me seriously for one -consecutive minute.” - -Fanny clasped her hands again and held them extended before her. “I -have an idea. Let’s pretend that I’m dad. That’ll be great. Now here’s -dad, walking up and down the library. That’s what he always used to do -whenever I got into a scrape and the governess sent me to him.” She -cleared her throat and thrust her hand into her shirt-waist. “Well, -sir?” she said, in a deep voice. - -“Oh, say, now!” Guy exclaimed, in disgust. - -Fanny held her head on one side and made a warning gesture. “Oh, I’m -serious about this. You must answer my questions if you want to please -me. If you don’t, I’ll say ‘No’ outright, and I’ll get Uncle Doug to -discharge you. So you’d better look out, or you’ll lose your job.” - -In spite of himself, Guy smiled. “All right,” he said, to humor her. -“Fire away!” - -Fanny cleared her throat again and threw back her shoulders. “Well, -sir, what can I do for you?” - -Guy tried to mimic her assumed voice. “You can give me your child, sir.” - -Fanny glared at him. “Now you know very well you wouldn’t talk like -that!” she said with disgust in her tone. She shook her head and drew -her lips tightly together. “I guess you don’t know dad. M’m.” - -“Well, what would I say?” - -“Something foolish, I suppose,” Fanny replied, carelessly. “But this -is what you ought to say,” she went on, with elaborate politeness, and -assuming a romantic attitude. “Sir, I love your beautiful daughter, -Miss Fanny, and I ask your permission to make her my wife.” - -Guy groaned, bending forward till his fingers nearly touched the floor. - -“But it takes an awfully fascinating man to talk like that. Now let’s -go on.” Fanny burlesqued her father’s manner again. “So you want to -marry Fanny, do you? Well, since she’s been out of school, you’re about -the tenth man who has asked----” - -“What? Do you mean to say that all last Summer, while I was slaving -down in Washington----?” - -“This time my father would tell you to leave the house,” said Fanny, -haughtily, with a wave of her hand. - -“Now, look here, I don’t like this game,” Guy declared. - -“But I like it. Therefore it goes. Now don’t be a silly boy. You might -as well get used to dad’s ways first as last. Ahem! As I said, you are -the--er--the eleventh. Now, what claim have you on my daughter?” - -Guy seized the chance. “She’s head and ears in love with me,” he cried, -before she had time to stop him. “She can’t live without me.” - -Fanny seized a book and held it in the air. “Do you know what dad would -do if you said that? He’d pack me home to Ashburnham, and I’d have to -stay there all Winter.” - -“I had to tell the truth, didn’t I?” Guy asked, meekly. - -“Well, dad wouldn’t believe you, anyway,” Fanny replied. Her voice -deepened again. “Young man, since you are thinking of getting married, -I presume you are in a position to support a wife. What is your income?” - -Guy looked serious. “I guess I won’t play any more. This is becoming -too personal.” - -Fanny held her hand at her ear. “I didn’t quite catch what you said. -_Five_ thousand?” - -“_One_ thousand, since you’re determined to know, inquisitive; one -thousand and keep,” Guy replied, snappishly. “I don’t even have to pay -my laundry bills. That’s just twenty dollars a week spending money.” - -The light faded from Fanny’s eyes. “And you’ve been sending me all -those flowers on that?” - -“Well, flowers don’t cost so much in Summer. I intended to stop when -the cold weather came.” - -“But, Guy, dear, I thought you got ever so much more than that! You -poor thing! Why, I spend twice as much as that myself, and I’m always -sending home for more.” - -“Well, I can’t help it if I’m not rich,” Guy grumbled, keeping his face -turned from her. - -Fanny inspected him carefully, as if taking an inventory. “Do you know -what dad would do?” she asked. Guy knew that her eyes were on him; but -he refused to look at her. - -“Eh?” he said. - -“If you told him how much you were earning,” Fanny explained. - -“Oh, he’d faint away, I suppose!” - -Fanny shook her head. “No, he wouldn’t,” she replied, sadly. “He’d just -laugh that big laugh of his. He has enormous teeth. Remember ’em? It’s -fascinating to watch ’em. His sense of humor is awful!” - -Guy sighed. “I suppose I might as well give you up,” he said, -remembering vaguely that he had read of a young and interesting lover -who used that speech on a similar occasion. - -“Well, I guess not!” Fanny exclaimed. Then she clasped her hands over -her mouth. “Oh, I s’pose I do kind of like you.” - -“Why don’t you treat me better, then?” he asked pathetically. - -Fanny lowered her head and looked up at him with mournful eyes. “You’re -awfully interesting when you’re sad like this,” she said with satirical -admiration. - -Guy twisted impatiently. “Oh!” he exclaimed. - -Fanny walked toward him and began to play with the buttons on his coat. -“Say, Guy, what did you take this place for--this place with Uncle -Doug?” - -“I thought it would be a good place to see life.” - -“To see life!” Fanny repeated, scornfully. [Illustration: “‘_And -you’ve been sending me all those flowers on that?_’”] - -“M’m--h’m! And to get into politics, perhaps.” - -Fanny burst out laughing. “You! You get into politics?” - -Guy looked injured. “I don’t see anything funny about that.” - -“And do the things that Uncle Doug does?” Fanny cried. - -“Yes,” said Guy, in a loud voice. - -Fanny seized him by both arms. “Now, look here. You’re no more fit for -politics than--well, than dad is, and the mere sight of a politician -makes dad froth at the mouth. Oh, he says awful things about ’em!” - -“Then he hates your uncle, does he?” - -“No, he doesn’t, stupid!” Fanny cried, shaking him. “But he says Uncle -Doug made the greatest mistake of his life when he went into politics. -It spoiled him as a lawyer.” - -“Well, what’s all this got to do with us?” Guy asked, drawing away. - -“_Us!_” Fanny repeated rapturously. “Isn’t that a nice word? Dad -would never let _us_--well, you know--if you were going to stick -to politics, not to mention the twenty a week.” - -“What can I do, then? I’m not clever, like other fellows. Don’t you -suppose I know I’d have lost my position long ago if your uncle wasn’t -the best man in the world?” - -Fanny began to bite the tips of her fingers. “I guess I’ll have to -speak to dad myself,” she said, slowly. “I’ll make him give you a job -in the factory.” - -“In the factory?” Guy exclaimed, horror-stricken. - -Fanny turned upon him indignantly. “Yes. You don’t mean to say! Well, -you’ll have to get over those notions. I suppose you got ’em at -college. Dad’ll make you put on overalls and begin at the bottom. Oh, -dad’s awfully thorough.” - -Guy considered the matter. “How much would he give me?” - -“Lots of fellows begin at three dollars a week,” said Fanny. Guy looked -at her reproachfully. “Perhaps through influence you may be able to -get as much as ten.” Then Fanny went on: “Now, look here. Dad’s always -been sorry that I wasn’t a boy, so that I could take the business, and -all that. But I guess I’ll take it, all the same. Only you’ll be my -representative. See? After you’ve learned how to run things, dad may -put you in charge of the New York office. Won’t it be grand? We’ll -have a box at the opera and we’ll--” Fanny stopped. Her aunt stood at -the door. “Oh, auntie, how much does it cost to keep house in New York?” - -Helen Briggs smiled. “That depends.” - -“On what?” - -“On whether you live in a house or an apartment--on the way you -live--on a thousand things.” - -“To live well, I mean. How much does this house cost a year?” - -“The rent is three thousand.” - -Fanny grew limp. “Ugh!” she cried, shuddering. - -“But of course there are plenty of smaller houses much cheaper,” Helen -added. - -“It’s an awfully expensive place, New York, isn’t it?” said Fanny, with -a plaintive glance at Guy. - -“Yes, awfully,” Helen smiled. - -“It makes Ashburnham seem almost attractive, doesn’t it?” Fanny went on. - -Helen looked up suspiciously. “What do you want to know all these -things for?” - -“Oh!” Fanny turned away inconsequently. Then she faced her aunt again. -“You couldn’t possibly live _well_ on twenty dollars a week, -could you?” - -“No; not possibly,” Helen replied, with a smile. - -“I don’t see how so many people can afford to get married,” said Fanny -ruefully. - - - - -XVI - - -When Douglas Briggs returned to the library he wore the cheerful look -of the man who has just accomplished a difficult task. “Well, I got -those fellows off at last,” he said. - -“Who were they, Uncle Doug?” - -Briggs smiled grimly. “They were gentlemen who are commonly known -as heelers. And they called to let me know that I hadn’t been quite -generous enough to them.” - -Fanny looked mystified. Her eyes blinked. “How generous?” - -“I hadn’t secured enough places for their friends--jobs.” - -Fanny glanced dolefully at Guy. Then her eyes turned toward her -uncle. “It’s awful hard to get a job just now, isn’t it?” she asked, -pathetically. - -“Is it?” said Briggs, in a tone of surprise. “Do you know of anybody -that wants one?” - -“Yes, I do,” Fanny replied. “But he’s going to get it all right,” she -added, with confidence. - -Briggs extended both hands. “If there’s anything I can do--” he said, -with a shrug of the shoulders. - -“No. I guess you have trouble enough. Oh, yes, you can do something -nice--you can let Guy take me out for a drive.” - -“But I’ve got a lot of work this morning,” Guy protested, with a look -in his face that revealed the spirit of the early martyrs. - -Briggs had taken his seat at the desk and had begun to work again. -“Never mind,” he said. “It’ll keep. The drive’ll do you good.” - -Guy hesitated between pleasure and duty. “Oh, well,” he said, glancing -from his employer to his employer’s niece. - -“You come with us, auntie,” Fanny urged, with an air that made Guy’s -coming inevitable. - -“No, I mustn’t,” Helen replied, decidedly. “I have too much to do this -morning.” - -As Fanny turned to the door Michael entered. “Mr. Burrell’s in the -library, sir,” he said to Douglas Briggs. “He didn’t want to disturb -you till he was sure you weren’t busy. His wife is with him, and the -young ladies.” - -“Ugh!” cried Fanny, seizing Guy by the arm. “Let’s get out, quick.” - -Briggs rose. “I’ll go in,” he said, glancing at Helen with resignation -in his tone. “They’ll want to see you, too, Helen. I’ll bring them in -here.” - -Mrs. Briggs turned to Michael. “You might bring some of the sherry, -Michael. Oh, I forgot--they won’t want anything. Never mind. Mr. Briggs -will ring if he wants something for Mr. Burrell. Here they are now.” - -Helen walked forward and received Mrs. Burrell and the three daughters. -Mrs. Burrell was dressed with an elaborate adherence to the fashion -of the hour, which had the effect of making conspicuous her extreme -angularity. Carrie Cora wore a fantastic gown that betrayed fidelity to -the local dressmaker. The two younger girls, however, looked charming -in their pretty, tailor-made suits, plainly expressive of New York. -“This _is_ nice,” said Helen, offering her hand to Mrs. Burrell. -“When did you come to New York?” - -“Just got here this morning,” Mrs. Burrell replied. “You see we didn’t -waste any time coming to see you.” - -“It’s that confounded old law business again, Mrs. Briggs,” Burrell -explained, in his high voice. His spare figure had been almost hidden -by his eldest daughter’s ample proportions. - -“I’ve done my best for you, Mr. Burrell,” Helen explained, smiling. - -Mrs. Burrell raised her hand in a gesture of despair. “Father does -nothing but talk about that case. I declare I’m sick of hearing about -it!” - -Burrell gave Helen a meaning look. “Well, I guess she’d be sicker if I -was to lose my patents,” he said, slowly. “I ain’t countin’ on goin’ to -the poorhouse yet awhile. You’d think, by the way Mrs. Burrell talks, a -little matter of a hundred thousand dollars wasn’t worth fightin’ over.” - -“Does it mean as much as that to you?” asked Douglas Briggs, -astonished. He had never been able to adjust himself to the knowledge -that the little Congressman, so out of place in Washington, was a man -of wealth and, in his own city, of great importance. - -“Well, I should think it did, and more, too,” Burrell replied. “If a -certain friend of mine was to take the case,” he went on, smiling at -Helen and nodding at her husband, “it would be worth a retainin’ fee of -five thousand dollars.” - -Briggs shook his head. “That’s a great temptation. I need the money bad -enough.” - -“Well, then, take the case,” Burrell exclaimed. - -“Oh, for goodness’ sake, do take it, Mr. Briggs!” Mrs. Burrell -interposed. “Father says if it was only in your hands he wouldn’t -worry. Then we’d have some peace in the family.” - -Briggs looked amused. Secretly he enjoyed the flattery of the old -lady’s words. “I’ll tell you what I’ll do. I’ll take it----” - -“Oh, good!” the girls cried, together. - -“--if I’m beaten at the next election.” - -The girls looked at each other with disappointment in their eyes. “Oh!” -they said. - -Briggs put his hand on Burrell’s shoulder. “Can you wait?” - -“Well, the case don’t come on till December,” Burrell replied. “I -guess I could wait all right, only the’ ain’t no chance of you gettin’ -beaten.” - -“Well, I guess we don’t want you to be beaten, Mr. Briggs,” Mrs. -Burrell cried, resentfully. “You’re forgettin’ your manners, father.” - -“Oh, that’s all right,” Briggs exclaimed, patting Burrell on the back. -“No harm done, Mrs. Burrell. This husband of yours overrates me, that’s -all. There are hundreds of men right here in New York who could handle -that case better than I could.” He took the old man affectionately by -the arm. “Look here, Burrell,” he said, confidentially, “don’t you -think we’re in the way of these ladies? They probably have a lot to -talk about that they don’t want us to hear.” - -Burrell understood at once. “I was thinkin’ of that myself,” he replied. - -Mrs. Burrell held up three fingers. “Now, father,” she cried, “you know -all you’ve had already.” - -“My dear lady, don’t you be disagreeable,” said Briggs, smiling. “I -haven’t seen your husband for six months.” - -Mrs. Burrell softened. “Well, just one, father, and put plenty of -soda-water in it.” - -Briggs nodded his acknowledgment of the concession. “There! Come on, -Burrell.” - -As the two men left the room Mrs. Burrell exclaimed: “I declare, Mrs. -Briggs, that husband of yours can just twirl me round his little -finger.” - -“Come over here and sit down, Mrs. Burrell,” Helen said. “You have -something to tell me, haven’t you? I can see it in your face.” - -Mrs. Burrell beamed. “I guess you can see it in Carrie Cora’s face. Eh, -girls?” - -“I should think so!” Emeline and Gladys cried together. - -“It’s true, then? There is something?” Helen asked. - -Carrie Cora’s face flushed violently. “Yes,” the girl replied, lifting -her gloved hand to her forehead. - -“Don’t be a ninny, Carrie Cora!” Mrs. Burrell exclaimed. - -Helen held out her hand. “It’s all settled?” she asked. - -Carrie Cora looked up shyly. “Yes.” Then she cast her eyes down again. - -“I’m so glad, dear,” said Helen, bending forward and kissing her. - -“Well, it was you that did it, Mrs. Briggs!” Mrs. Burrell cried, in a -loud voice, as if to keep the situation from becoming sentimental. “I -might as well give you the credit. That talkin’ to you gave me that -day after your ball just opened my eyes. I suppose I _am_ kind -of a cross old thing, and--well, I didn’t understand Rufus James. The -family’s always been poor and good-for-nothing. But Rufus, he’s got -lots of spunk. Why, at first he wouldn’t come to the house--even when I -said he could. You’d think he was a prince, the way he acted. And he’s -doin’ real well. He’s had a raise in his salary, and he ain’t lettin’ -father do a thing for him.” - -“And is it to be soon?” Helen asked. - -“The third of next month,” Emeline and Gladys cried together. - -“And we want you to come, Mrs. Briggs,” said Carrie Cora, recovering -from her embarrassment. - -“It’s going to be a church affair,” said Mrs. Burrell, severely, -smoothing the front of her dress. This was one of the moments when Mrs. -Burrell betrayed that the possession of plenty of money was still novel -to her. - -“Oh, do come, Mrs. Briggs,” Gladys pleaded. - -“Yes, please,” Emeline echoed. - -Helen hesitated. “I don’t know whether I can.” - -“Oh, promise. Please promise,” Carrie Cora insisted. - -“If I can, I will,” Helen replied, feeling ashamed. She knew that her -husband would not entertain the notion for an instant. - -“And, of course, you’ll stay at our house,” Mrs. Burrell went on. -“We’ve had a wing built on this Winter. It’s just like that wing on -yours in Washington.” - -“And the furniture’s just like yours, too,” said Carrie Cora. “We -got it in Portland. They say it’s real antique. Lots of it has come -from old houses in Portland and from all kinds of queer places in the -country.” - -Mrs. Burrell looked proudly at her eldest daughter. “Ain’t she changed, -though?” she said, glancing at Helen. “You’d hardly know her, would -you? The way she’s brightened up since Rufus James began to come to the -house. Dear me! I used to say to father that I didn’t know what we was -goin’ to do with her.” - -Helen smiled at Carrie Cora. “But we’ve always understood each other, -haven’t we, dear?” - -“Yes, always, Mrs. Briggs,” the girl replied. - -“And what d’you suppose?” Mrs. Burrell went on. “Rufus James didn’t -want Carrie Cora to have any trousseau. He said he didn’t propose to -have people say he was marryin’ her because her father had money. Did -you ever hear anything like that? Father was so mad! But I must say I -kind of liked him for it. But I up and told him I’d attend to all those -things myself, an’ it was none of his business, anyway. That’s what -we’re here in New York for,” she added, lowering her voice as if afraid -of being overheard by the men in the other room. “Father didn’t let -on, but he cares ever so much more about Carrie Cora than for that old -law case he’s always talkin’ about. It’s goin’ to be white satin--the -weddin’ dress--with real Valenceens lace, an’ she’s goin’ to come out -in pearl-colored silk.” Mrs. Burrell stopped at the sound of steps in -the hall. “Oh, here they are back again! It must be almost time for us -to be goin’! We’ve got lots of shoppin’ to do.” - -Douglas Briggs walked over to Carrie Cora. “Well, young lady, I’ve -heard the news,” he said. He placed both hands on the big girl’s head. -“Now, I’m a good deal older than you, and you won’t mind,” he went on, -kissing her between the eyes. “I hope he’s worthy of you, my dear.” - -“I hope I’m worthy of him, Mr. Briggs,” Carrie Cora stammered, through -her embarrassment. At that moment she looked pretty. - -Briggs patted her hand. “My dear child, no man is worth half as much as -a nice girl like you.” - -“Now, don’t you go to spoilin’ my children, Mr. Briggs,” Mrs. Burrell -exclaimed, rising. “Come on, father.” - -Helen rose at the same moment. “But we’ll see you again, of course. -Come to dinner to-night, won’t you?” - -The girls looked delighted. “Oh!” they exclaimed. - -Mrs. Burrell assumed an expression of severity. - -“No, we won’t. You’ve got enough on your hands, with all these -political people pilin’ in on you. I guess I know what it is. We’ll -come to say good-bye, if we can, to-morrow some time. Father says he’s -got to get back Thursday.” - -“But we’d like to have you, really,” said Helen, smiling. - -Mrs. Burrell remained firm. “No. You’re too good. That’s the only -trouble with you. Well, good-bye.” - -“You’ll come to the wedding, won’t you, Mr. Briggs?” said Carrie Cora. - -Briggs waved his hand toward Helen. “Ask the lady,” he said. - -“She said she’d come if she could,” Carrie Cora declared. - -“Well, I’ll come if I can. Good-bye.” - -He followed them to the door, and he had the air of dismissing them -with an almost benign courtesy. When they had disappeared with Helen -his face took on an expression of utter weariness. “What a nuisance!” -he said to himself. “I sha’n’t get a stroke of work done to-day.” He -sat at his desk and pressed his fingers over his eyes. His little -exhibitions of hypocrisy made him very uncomfortable now, chiefly -because he knew that his wife took note of them. After a moment he sat -upright and nerved himself to go on with his work. But he had not been -alone for five minutes when Michael interrupted again. - -“The gentlemen that left a few minutes ago have come back, sir.” - -“They have?” he said, resentfully, as if Michael were to blame. “What -do they want?” - -“They want to speak to you a minute, sir,” the servant replied, in a -defensive voice. - -Briggs uttered an exclamation of impatience. “Show them in here,” he -said, looking down at the pile of letters on his desk. Then he stood -up and waited for his callers. They came in slowly, as if afraid of -treading on one another’s heels; that is, all but one, the youngest and -best dressed, a rather handsome fellow of about twenty-eight. - -“Well, gentlemen?” Briggs remarked, pleasantly. The look of fatigue and -resentment had disappeared from his face. His eye singled out the young -fellow, as if expecting him to speak. But it was the oldest of the -group, a tall, thin man, with a smooth face and heavy, white hair, who -spoke first. He had a deprecating manner, a hoarse voice and a faint -brogue. - -“We’ve come back to have another little talk with you, Mr. Briggs,” he -said. - -“All right, Mr. Monahan. Sit down, gentlemen, won’t you?” They all -glanced at the chairs and remained standing. - -“We didn’t know just what reply to make to your remarks a few minutes -ago till we put our heads together,” Monahan continued. - -“Well, what decision have you come to?” Briggs asked, cheerfully. - -Monahan hesitated. “Well, the fact is----” - -The young fellow broke in. “We’re not satisfied,” he said, fiercely. -“We think you ought to make us a more definite promise.” - -“That’s it,” Monahan cried, for an instant growing bolder. - -They scowled at one another. - -Mr. Briggs directed his look toward the young man. “I think I made no -promise to you, Mr. Ferris,” he said, in a low voice. - -“That’s just the trouble,” Ferris exclaimed. “We worked hard for you -last night, and now we don’t propose to be put off with any vague -talk.” His lip curled scornfully and showed fine, white teeth. - -“You’re a little indefinite yourself, now, Mr. Ferris.” - -“Well, then, I won’t be,” Ferris cried. “We nominated and elected you -two years ago, and you went back on us.” - -“How was that?” Briggs said, as if merely curious. His manner seemed to -exasperate Ferris. - -“You didn’t do a thing for us. We asked you for places, and you let ’em -all go to the Civil Service men.” - -“I had to observe the law,” Briggs answered, in the tone he had used -before. - -“Aw!” Ferris exchanged glances with his companions. “You know just as -well as I do that you could have given those places to the men that had -worked for you. But we’ll say nothing about that just now,” he went -on, extending his right hand, with the palm turned toward the floor. -“That’s off. We would have paid you back all right last night if Mr. -Stone hadn’t promised you’d stand by us. He smoothed it over, and he -said you realized your mistake, and all that.” - -“That’s right, he did,” Monahan corroborated, huskily. - -“He said you told him yourself,” cried one of the others, a -sallow-faced man with thin, black hair. - -“I did? When was that, Mr. Long?” - -“Down in Washington,” Long replied. “The night you were having a -blow-out.” - -For a moment Douglas Briggs was silent. “I don’t remember ever having -made such a promise,” he replied, thoughtfully. - -Ferris laughed bitterly. “Listen to that, will you?” - -“I should have no right to make any such promise,” Briggs continued. -“And I can only repeat what I said a few moments ago. I’ve pledged -myself to support the Civil Service. I told you that last night.” - -“Oh, what did that amount to?” said Ferris, with disgust. - -“That was just a bluff,” Long exclaimed. - -Briggs smiled. “If you believe that was a bluff, I can’t see why you -should consider my promise worth anything.” - -“Well, there are five of us here,” said Ferris, in a surly tone. - -“I see. Witnesses!” Briggs shrugged his shoulders. “I’ll tell you what -I will do for you. If any places come my way that aren’t covered by the -Civil Service, you shall have them.” - -Ferris looked at Briggs with open contempt. “We might as well tell you, -sir, we’re not satisfied with the way you’ve treated us. An’ with your -record, you’ve got no right to put on any high an’ mighty airs.” - -Monahan turned to remonstrate with Ferris. - -“What do you mean by that?” said Briggs, looking sternly at the young -fellow. - -Monahan extended his hand toward Briggs. “He’s just talkin’ a little -wild, that’s all,” he said, bowing and gesticulating. “He don’t mean -anything. We wanted to let you know how we felt. We didn’t quite -explain that a few moments ago.” - -“I understand very well how you gentlemen feel, and I’d help you if -I could. I only wish I could make you see that I can’t do what’s -impossible.” - -Monahan started for the door, followed by the others, one of whom -stumbled over a piece of furniture. “Think it over, sir, think it -over,” he said, bowing and holding his cap in both hands. - -“I can promise to do that,” Briggs replied. - -For several moments after his visitors left Briggs stood motionless -at his table. He appreciated the full significance of the opposition -to him within his own party; it might mean his defeat; so far back as -the previous Spring Stone had foreseen this situation. But he said to -himself that he could not have acted differently. He had done his best -to serve the party in all legitimate ways; but those heelers cared -only for their own selfish interests. Then he realized bitterly that -he had made the mistake of trying to play a double game: he had been -a straddler. If he had followed a straight course, if he had acted on -his convictions, he might now have the satisfaction of feeling that -he had been too good for his party. It was chiefly in order to atone -to his own conscience for the dishonest work he had done that he had -refused to cater to the lower elements of the party. Now he saw that -his scrupulousness was less an expression of honesty than of pride. -He was in one of those moods when he judged himself far more harshly -than he would have judged another man in his own position, when he lost -faith in the sincerity of any of his motives. However, he thought, now -he had taken his stand he could maintain it. Those fellows would give -him a hard fight; but he was ready for it. His resentment was aroused; -he returned to his desk with new energy, as if the contest were already -begun. - -A few minutes later Michael entered with a letter. “Sam just brought -this, sir,” he said, and left the room. - -Briggs glanced at the address and recognized Franklin West’s -handwriting. He tore open the letter hastily. He had a feeling that it -might contain disagreeable news. His eyes ran swiftly over the lines. - -“Your man has come just as I am leaving for Boston. Sorry I can’t go -back with him. I came over to New York for only a few hours. But I’ll -be back in three or four days, when, of course, I shall give myself the -pleasure of seeing you. Congratulations on your nomination, if you will -accept congratulations on a dead sure thing.” - -For a moment Briggs had a sensation of chill. It was like a -premonition. Was it possible that Franklin West was going back on him, -too? But he put the thought aside as absurd. It would not have occurred -to him if he were not tired out and if he had not had that interview -with the heelers. Still, it was odd that West should have hurried -through New York without calling. It would have been simple and natural -for him to stop for breakfast at the house where he had so often -received hospitality. Still, Briggs thought, philosophically, it was a -relief not to be obliged to see him. - -For the rest of the morning, however, he felt uncomfortable. At -luncheon he had an impulse to speak of West to his wife, but he checked -it. He found it hard to start any new subject with her now. - - - - -XVII - - -Two days later, while Douglas Briggs was smoking his after-dinner cigar -in the library and chatting with Fanny Wallace, whose presence in the -house greatly relieved the embarrassment of his strained relations with -his wife, Michael entered and announced Mr. Farley. “There are two -gentlemen with him, sir,” said Michael, “Mr. De Witt and Mr. Saunders.” - -Briggs flushed. “Ah!” he said, as if the callers had suddenly assumed -importance in his eyes. - -“Where are they?” he asked, rising hastily. - -“In the study, sir.” - -“All right. I’ll go in.” - -“Give my love to that nice Mr. Farley,” Fanny called after him. - -As Briggs entered the room Farley rose with the boyish embarrassment -of manner that years of newspaper work had not changed. He introduced -his friends. De Witt, a tall, slim young man, with a sweeping brown -mustache and a long, well-cut face, took his host’s hand smilingly. -Saunders, shorter, smooth-faced and keen-eyed, glanced at Briggs with a -look not altogether free from suspicion. In Saunders Briggs recognized -a type of political reformer that always made him nervous. - -“De Witt and Saunders are of the Citizens’ Club,” Farley explained. -“In fact, we’re all of the Citizens’ Club,” he added, with the air of -making a joke. - -“I’m very glad to see you, gentlemen. Won’t you sit down? I caught a -glimpse of you at the reporters’ table at the caucus the other night, -Farley.” - -“Hot time, wasn’t it?” - -Briggs took from the table a box of cigars, which he offered to his -callers. De Witt and Saunders shook their heads and mumbled thanks. -Farley took a cigar and smoked with his host. - -“Well, Congressman,” said Farley, “we haven’t come merely to take up -your time.” - -Briggs smiled and nodded. - -“We’ve come to ask you some questions,” Farley continued. - -“You always were great on questions, Farley,” said Briggs, with a -laugh. - -“We’ve been having a racket over you down at the Citizens’ Club,” -Farley began, and Briggs glanced smilingly at De Witt and Saunders. - -“Farley has made the racket,” Saunders interposed. - -“I’ve been trying to persuade those fellows that you’re a much -misunderstood man,” said Farley, his manner growing more earnest. - -“So we’ve come here to try to understand you, Congressman,” De Witt -explained, amiably. - -Douglas Briggs continued to look amused. “Anything I can do, -gentlemen,” he said, with an encouraging gesture. - -“I know I needn’t tell you that I’ve always believed in you, -Congressman,” Farley remarked. - -“You’ve been a good friend, Farley. I’ve always appreciated that.” - -Farley leaned back in his chair. “The fellows have been--well, bothered -by those stories the papers have been publishing about you. It’s -because they don’t know you. They don’t know, as I do, that you’re -incapable of any dirty work.” - -“Thank you, Farley,” said Briggs, in a low voice. - -“Well, matters came to a head last night at the club when we talked -over your renomination. To be perfectly frank, a good many of our men -thought Williams was going to get the nomination, and, if he had got -it, we were going to make him our candidate, too.” - -Douglas Briggs laughed. “You _are_ frank, Farley. So, now that I -have the nomination, you’re all at sea. Is that the idea?” - -“We can’t stand the opposition candidate!” said De Witt. - -Saunders shook his head. “No; Bruce is too much for our stomachs. He’s -out of the question altogether.” - -“So we’ll have to choose between endorsing you or putting up a -candidate of our own,” Farley went on. “In fact, that is what most of -the men want to do.” - -“You want to help to elect Bruce, you mean?” said Briggs, pleasantly. - -“That’s what it would amount to,” De Witt acknowledged. - -Briggs hesitated. “Gentlemen, you are placing me in a very delicate -position,” he said at last. “What can I do?” - -“You can give my friends here some assurances, Congressman,” said -Farley. - -“What assurances?” - -“In the first place, you can give us your word that those stories in -the opposition papers are false.” - -Briggs rose slowly from his seat. His face grew pale. After a long -silence, he said: “Farley, do you remember what I said to you last -Spring, when you asked me to deny those stories? I said they were too -contemptible to be noticed!” - -Farley looked disappointed. “Then you won’t help us? You won’t help me -in the fight I’ve been making for you?” - -“Gentlemen,” Douglas Briggs went on, speaking slowly and impressively, -“I know perfectly well what you are driving at, and I’m going to try -to meet you halfway. But I’m a man as well as a politician, and you -can’t blame me if I resent being placed on the rack like a criminal. -However, I appreciate your motives in coming here, and I’m grateful -to Farley for all he’s done for me. Let me say this, once for all: If -I am elected I shall go back to Congress with clean hands and with a -clear conscience, ready to do my duty wherever I see it. Within the -past few months my relations with Franklin West have been the subject -of newspaper talk. West has been my personal friend. I have trusted -him and respected him. Lately I have discovered that he is a scoundrel. -He is coming here this morning, and I shall give myself the pleasure of -telling him so. Now, gentlemen, if you honor me with an endorsement, -I pledge my word that you will find me in perfect sympathy with the -work you’re doing.” He stopped, his lips tightening. “I confess that I -shouldn’t have the courage to say these things, to humble myself like -this, but for this good fellow here. I only wish there were more like -him.” - -Farley smiled. “Well, Congressman, I knew you’d see through West some -day.” - -“Now, gentlemen, you have asked me for some assurances,” Briggs -continued. “I might as well tell you frankly that I can only give you -the assurance of my good faith, of my honesty of intention. I’ve made -blunders in my career so far that I shall regret to my dying day. I’ve -been the target of the sensational newspapers; but I don’t mind that. -Many of the stories printed about me, I can honestly say, have been -absolute calumnies. Some of the censure has been deserved. I suppose -that the lesson of politics can’t be learned in a day. At any rate, -it has taken me several bitter years to learn it, and I’m not sure -that I’ve learned it all yet. But no matter how great my mistakes have -been, in my heart I’ve always been in sympathy with clean politics. -You know as well as I do that for the past few years I’ve been getting -farther and farther away from my party. The other night I secured my -nomination in the teeth of pretty strenuous opposition. Just now I have -reason to believe that in the coming campaign I shall have to meet as -enemies men who have been my strongest friends. As you probably know, a -good many of my East Side supporters have gone back on me. This means -a big loss. Even with the strength you might give me, my election -would be doubtful. So, if you support me, you’ll gain very little for -yourselves, I can tell you that. We might as well look the situation in -the face, you know.” - -“Well, sir, the more enemies you make among the machine men the more -willing we are to stand by you, Congressman,” said Farley. “The harder -the fight the better we like it.” - -“That’s very consoling, Farley. Only you fellows had better go slow -before you decide to try to whitewash me. To tell the truth, I don’t -feel quite fit for your company. I’m not good enough for you. I’ve -been a good deal of a machine man myself, you know.” - -Farley laughed. “That’s all right. We haven’t any objections to the -machine. We only object to the men who are running it just at present.” - -“I don’t think it’s necessary to keep you on the rack any longer,” said -De Witt, rising. - -The others rose too. - -“Thank you,” said Briggs, with a smile. “Will any of you gentlemen have -a--? I always hesitate in asking any members of the Citizens’ Club.” - -“No, thank you,” said Saunders. “Too early in the morning.” - -The others shook their heads. - -“You’ll probably hear from us before long,” said Farley, at the door. - - - - -XVIII - - -The next morning after breakfast Helen Briggs followed her husband into -the study. “I want to speak to you, Douglas,” she said. - -“Well?” He looked embarrassed, as he always did now on finding himself -alone with her. - -“It is about this house,” she went on. “Have you done anything about -renting it this Winter?” - -“No,” he replied, betraying a little impatience. “I’ve had other things -to think about. Besides, I shall be over here now and then.” - -“But it would hardly pay to keep the house open for that,” she -insisted, gently. “Besides, it would be gloomy for you here----” - -“Alone?” he said, sharply, looking up at her. “Yes,” he repeated, -dryly, “it would be lonely.” He lifted his hand to his head. “I suppose -you’re right about that,” he sighed. “I’ll speak to an agent to-morrow. -We can doubtless rent it furnished. Still, it’s a little late in the -season,” he concluded, vaguely. - -“I shall want to have some of our things sent to Waverly,” she said. “I -thought I would begin to get them together to-day.” - -“Oh, don’t begin to break up till we’re ready to get out of here!” he -exclaimed. “Wait till after the election. Besides, I expect Franklin -West over in a few days, and I don’t want him to come into an empty -house.” He was glad of the chance to mention West’s coming in this -indirect way. He kept his eyes turned from his wife. - -After a moment of silence she said, in a low voice: “He is coming here?” - -He gave her a quick glance. “Yes; why not?” - -She moved slightly, but she did not answer. She grew slightly paler. - -“I know you don’t like him,” he went on, angry with himself for taking -an apologetic attitude, “but surely you won’t object to his staying -here a day or two. You’ve never objected before.” - -“I didn’t know him then as I do now,” she said. - -“What do you mean by that?” he asked, angrily. Then, when he saw that -she had no reply to make, he went on, in a more conciliatory tone: -“It will be impossible for me to avoid asking him. You know perfectly -well----” - -The blood had rushed to her face. “If he comes, Douglas,” she said, “I -can’t stay here.” - -He walked swiftly toward her and rested his hand on one of the chairs. -His eyes shone. “I’ve stood enough of this behavior from you, Helen, -and now I’m going to put my foot down. You sha’n’t stir out of this -house. You’ll stay here, and you’ll receive Franklin West as you -receive all my other friends. He knows you’re here, and I don’t propose -to allow him to be insulted by your leaving. Do you understand?” - -Helen bowed. “Perfectly,” she said, in a whisper. - -“Then you’ll do as I say?” - -“No,” she replied, quietly. “I’ll go. I’ll leave this very morning.” - -“Then if you leave,” he said, “you’ll leave for good.” - -“As you please.” Helen turned and walked slowly toward the door. He -watched her angrily. As she opened the door she leaned against it -heavily and caught her breath in a sob. - -He stepped forward quickly and took her in his arms. “Helen,” he cried, -brokenly, “I didn’t mean that! I didn’t know what I was saying! It’s -because I love you that I’m so harsh with you. Can’t you see I’ve been -in hell ever since this trouble began? Everything I’ve done has been -done for you. I’ve made mistakes. I’ve done wrong. I’ve got into a -terrible mess. But God knows I want to get out of it; and I will get -out of it, if you’ll only have patience. I hate that man West as much -as you do. But I can’t throw him down now. It would mean ruin for me. -Only listen to reason, won’t you? Besides, you haven’t anything against -West. Hasn’t he always treated you civilly?” He hesitated, watching the -tears that ran down her cheeks. “Well, hasn’t he? Answer me, Helen.” - -She drew herself away from him. She had a sudden temptation to tell him -the whole truth. It seemed for an instant as if this avowal might clear -up the whole trouble between them. Then she thought of what the other -consequences might be, and she checked herself. “I can’t tell you, -Douglas. You must not ask me to meet him again. I can’t look him in the -face. The mere sight of him terrifies me.” - -He looked helplessly at her, thinking that he understood the full -meaning of her words. Then he turned away. “I never thought I should -drag you into this, Helen,” he said, bitterly. “I--I don’t blame you. -Of course, I know it is all my fault.” - -“Then why not undo this fault?” she cried. “Why not----?” - -He held out his hand despairingly. “Don’t!” he exclaimed. “You don’t -understand. You can’t. You women never can.” - -She dried her eyes and was about to leave the room. “Since you are -determined not to have him here,” her husband remarked, with a -resumption of reproach in his tone, “I’ll not ask him to stay. I’ll -offer some excuse.” - -During the rest of the day they did not refer to West again. The next -morning Briggs looked for a letter from him from Boston, but none came. -Two days later he received a brief note that West had dictated to his -stenographer in Washington. Pressing business had called him home; he -had not even stopped over in New York. So that scene with Helen might -have been avoided, after all, Briggs thought, with a sigh. He tried -to forget about the episode, however, and during the next few days -the pressure of campaign work absorbed him. The Citizens’ Club had -endorsed his candidacy, and their support, he believed, would more -than counterbalance the opposition within his own party. During the -day he either received the crowds of importunate visitors, chiefly -constituents with axes to grind, who seemed to think his time belonged -to them, or he was working up the speeches that he was to deliver at -night. He had long before ceased to write out what he intended to say; -a few notes written on a card gave him all the cues he needed. He -spent considerable time, however, in poring over statistics and over -newspapers, from which he culled most of his material. - -One morning, about two weeks before the election was to be held, -Michael appeared in the library with a card and the announcement that -the lady was waiting in the reception room. - -“Miss Wing!” said Briggs, absently. “Where have I seen that name? What -can she want with me?” Then his face brightened. “Oh, yes, I remember.” -He looked serious again. “Why should she come here, to take up my time? -I don’t believe I--Well, show her in, Michael,” he said, impatiently. - -Miss Wing wore one of her most extravagant frocks. When Douglas Briggs -offered his hand and greeted her, her face grew radiant. - -“How good of you to remember me, Congressman. But then it’s part of -your business to remember people, isn’t it?” she said, archly. - -“It’s pretty hard work sometimes. But I remember you perfectly.” - -“That’s very flattering, I’m sure.” Miss Wing sank into the seat Briggs -had placed for her. “Well, Congressman, I’ve come on a disagreeable -errand.” - -“I’m sorry to hear that,” said Briggs, with a smile. - -“But with the best intentions in the world,” Miss Wing hastened to -explain. - -“That makes it all right, then.” - -“It’s about--Well, I suppose I might come to the point at once. It’s -connected with the Transcontinental Railway.” - -“M’m! Aren’t your readers tired of hearing about that?” - -Miss Wing shook her head. “Not when there are new and exciting -developments,” she said, insinuatingly. - -“Such as what?” - -Miss Wing waited for a moment. “Well, thus far the papers have spared -Mrs. Briggs.” - -“Mrs. Briggs? What has Mrs. Briggs to do with that railroad?” In spite -of his effort to keep his self-control, Douglas Briggs betrayed anger -in his voice. - -“Simply this,” Miss Wing went on, coolly. “I warn you it’s very -unpleasant. But I--I consider it my duty to tell you.” - -“Go ahead, then.” - -Miss Wing fell into a dramatic attitude, her right hand extended and -resting on her parasol. “I happen to know that Mr. Franklin West has -taken advantage of his hold on you to make love to your wife.” - -Briggs rose from his seat. “This is the worst yet,” he said, in a low -voice. - -Miss Wing lifted her eyebrows. “You don’t believe it?” - -“Of course I don’t,” he replied, contemptuously. - -“But I saw him with my own eyes. You’re still incredulous, aren’t -you? It was the night of your ball in Washington. Mr. West was with -Mrs. Briggs in the library. I saw him threaten her, and I saw that -she was frightened. Knowing your relations--excuse me, but I must be -frank--knowing your relations, it wasn’t hard for me to understand what -he was saying.” - -Briggs looked angrily at his visitor. “Why have you come to me with -this vile story?” he cried. - -Miss Wing met his looks without flinching. “In the first place, because -I thought you ought to know it.” - -“That was why you waited for six months to tell me?” he said, -scornfully. - -“No. I waited because of my second reason. I knew that if you were -nominated again the information would be more valuable to me. There!” - -“How, more valuable?” - -“You public men are so dull at times! It’s simply that I--well, I don’t -want to publish the story, though it is a beautiful story. It’s not -only a splendid sensation, but it’s a touch of romance in your stupid -politics.” - -“You want me to pay you not to publish the story--is that it?” - -Miss Wing grew serious. “Exactly!” - -Briggs smiled coldly. “Well, you’ve come to the wrong man. I’ve done -a good many things in my career that I regret, but I’ve never yet -submitted to blackmail.” - -“That’s a hard word, Mr. Briggs.” Miss Wing glared at Briggs, but he -made no comment. “You prefer, then, to have your wife’s name disgraced, -perhaps?” she said. - -“I tell you the whole story is a lie!” - -“You believe that I’ve made it up, do you?” - -Briggs laughed contemptuously. “Put any construction on my words that -you please,” and he jammed his hand over the bell on the table beside -him. “But let me tell you this, once for all: Not to protect my wife or -myself will I be cajoled into paying one cent. Publish your article. Do -all the mischief you can!” - -Miss Wing rose indignantly. “I’ll queer your election for you!” she -cried, as Michael entered. - -“Show this lady out, Michael,” said Briggs, quietly. - - - - -XIX - - -For the next ten minutes Douglas Briggs paced his study. He kept -repeating to himself that what that woman had said was impossible; -she had come simply to blackmail him; she had supposed him to be an -easy mark. But it was strange that Helen’s discovery of his relations -with West should have followed so closely the night of the ball in -Washington. Could West have been so cowardly as to expose him to her? -It flashed upon Briggs that on the very morning after the ball he had -found Helen reading his scrapbooks. Why had she done that? What had -been a merely commonplace incident now seemed significant. Was she -searching those files for support of West’s charges? The idea seemed -too hideous, too monstrous. For a moment Briggs had a sensation of -having been accused of a crime of which he was innocent. Then he called -himself a fool. West had very little respect for women, but he was -altogether too experienced, too much a man of the world, to insult a -woman like Helen. - -The only sensible course to pursue was to ignore Miss Wing altogether. -If she started the story about him it would merely add one more to the -scandals already in circulation. Thus far they did not appear to hurt -him very much. The chances were, however, that the woman would not dare -to carry out her threat. Besides, Briggs thought with satisfaction, the -increased severity of the libel laws was making newspapers more careful -of what they said, even about men running for office. He was himself -used to hearing similar stories about his colleagues in Washington, -and he paid little attention to them. As for Helen, he decided that he -would not degrade his wife even by mentioning the matter to her. He -returned to his work, however, with bitterness in his mind, and when, -an hour later, Helen entered the room, he looked up quickly and said: - -“Oh, there’s something I want to ask you.” - -He dropped his pen and scanned her face, letting his chin rest on his -hands. “Why is it that you were so dead set against having Franklin -West come here the other day?” - -She waited, as if carefully preparing an answer. “I would rather not -speak of that again, Douglas,” she said. - -“But I want to speak of it,” he insisted. “And I want you to speak of -it in plain language. You needn’t be afraid of wounding me. Was it -because of my connection with him in that railroad business?” - -He saw her face flush. Her hand twitched at her belt. “I never liked -him,” she said. “I told you that.” - -“Oh!” he cried, impatiently, “this isn’t a question of your liking -him or disliking him. You dislike a good many people.” She looked at -him reproachfully. “You know perfectly well you do, even if you don’t -say so. Don’t you suppose I can tell?” He felt suddenly ashamed, and -he checked himself. “Excuse me, Helen,” he said. “I didn’t mean to be -disagreeable; but I want you to be open with me in this matter. What’s -your reason for saying you’d leave here if he came to stay?” - -“Don’t, Douglas!” Helen’s eyes filled with tears. “Please don’t ask me. -It’s better that you shouldn’t. I’ve tried, oh, I’ve----” - -“There _is_ a reason, then,” he declared, with grim triumph. -“Now, I’m going to find out what it is,” he added, with determination. - -She sank helplessly to the couch. He leaned forward and kept his eyes -fixed on her. “Well,” he said, “I’m waiting.” - -“The last time he was at our house in Washington he--he insulted me.” - -Briggs started back, as if someone had aimed a blow at him. “He -insulted you?” he cried, incredulously. “This must be some fancy of -yours. West is the most courteous, the most suave--he’s _too_ -suave. What did he say?” - -“He said that he was in love with me, he said that he’d been in love -with me for years. He said that was why he’d helped you so much. When I -tried to call the servants he said they were his servants, in his pay, -that you were in his pay--” Helen dropped her head on the couch. Her -lips trembled. - -Her husband looked at her, dazed. “The scoundrel!” he exclaimed, under -his breath. - -“Perhaps now you can understand why I loathe him so. I always knew what -he was. I’ve always been afraid of him.” - -Briggs grew suddenly angry. “Why didn’t you speak of this before? Why -didn’t you?” He clasped his hands over his face. “God!” he exclaimed. - -“I couldn’t. He said it would ruin you.” - -“Ruin me!” Briggs repeated, savagely. Then he looked pityingly at his -wife. “And you’ve kept silent all these months just to protect me?” He -turned away. “I might have known what this life would lead to,” he went -on, as if speaking to himself. “I’ve dragged myself through the gutter, -and I’ve dragged my family with me.” - -Helen rose from the couch. - -“You ought to have told me,” he went on, this time without reproach. -“That would have been the only fair thing to do. But it isn’t too -late,” he concluded, grimly. - -A look of alarm appeared in her face. “What do you mean, Douglas?” - -“Oh, I don’t mean that I intend to kill him,” he replied, with a scorn -that was plainly directed against himself. “We can get along without -any heroics.” - -“What--?” She looked at him with the helplessness of a woman in such a -situation. Then she walked toward him. “Please let it all go, Douglas,” -she said. “No harm has been done--to me, I mean. Don’t, don’t----” - -“Don’t make a scandal? No, I won’t. I promise you that. You’ve suffered -enough out of this thing.” He had an impulse to go forward and embrace -her, but a fear of appearing too spectacular checked him. He had the -Anglo-Saxon’s horror of acting up to a situation. Besides, in her -manner there was something that stung his pride. He could more easily -have borne reproaches. - -When she had left the room he asked himself what he could do. He felt -as helpless as his wife had been a few moments before. Of course, he -would break with West; but this contingency did not affect the real -question between them. He might thrash the fellow; but even that would -be a poor satisfaction. He clearly saw that in this matter there could -be no such thing for him as satisfaction. He alone was to blame; he had -brought the shame on himself by introducing to his wife a man for whom -no honest man or woman could feel respect. He must take his medicine, -bitter as it was. - -The medicine grew more bitter as the days passed and he did nothing. -West, he felt sure, would never enter his house again. When they did -meet it would be in Washington, where he would let the fellow know -that their business deals were at an end. There was no reason why they -should not end now; he had done the work, and he had received his pay, -he thought, with self-disgust. In future he should keep himself out of -any such complications. West had taught him a lesson that would keep -him straight for the rest of his life. - -Two days before the election Michael announced a visitor. When Douglas -Briggs heard the name the expression of his face changed so completely -that it found a reflection in Michael’s face. - -“Where is he?” Briggs asked. - -“In the drawing-room, sir. Shall I ask him to step in here?” - -“No.” Briggs adjusted the collar of his coat. “I’ll go in there,” he -said. - -As he was about to leave the room he met his wife, entering from -the hall. She looked as if she were about to faint. “I saw him as I -came down the stairs,” she said. She laid her hand on her husband’s -shoulder. “Douglas, you won’t be foolish, will you?” - -He drew her hand away. She noticed that his arm was quivering. “Don’t -be afraid,” he replied, impatiently. “I’ll make short work of him, -and there’ll be no scene. Think of his coming here!” he added, with a -bitter laugh. - -She followed him into the hall. When he entered the drawing-room he -closed the door behind him. West was standing in front of the mantel; -he wore a long frock coat, and a pair of yellow gloves hung from one -hand. On seeing Briggs he came forward, smiling, and offering his hand. - -“Glad to catch you in,” he said. “I came over in a tremendous hurry. -I----” - -He stopped. Briggs stood in front of him, looking him sharply in the -face, with hands clasped behind his back. - -“West!” - -Franklin West let his hand drop. His eyes showed astonishment. “What’s -the matter?” he gasped. - -Briggs went on, in a lower voice: “West, I have something to say to -you, and I might as well say it without any preliminaries. I want to -tell you that you’re a blackguard.” - -“What!” West exclaimed. - -“I have heard from my wife how you insulted her at our house last -Spring.” - -“_Insulted_ her? It’s--it’s a mistake. I never----” - -Briggs drew nearer West. He looked dangerous. “No. There’s no mistake. -My wife isn’t in the habit of lying. Now, I have just one thing to say -to you. That is, get out of here. Don’t ever show yourself in my house -again. If you do, by God, you’ll pay for it!” - -West had partly recovered from his bewilderment. “You must be crazy!” -he said. - -“I shall be if you don’t take yourself out of my sight pretty quick.” - -“You mean to throw me over, then?” - -“Yes, you and your whole gang. I’ve had enough of you. You thought you -owned me, didn’t you?” - -West did not flinch. “It’s war between us, then; is it?” he said. - -“Call it what you please, but get out!” - -West smiled. “Very well, then. I think we understand each other. Now -that you’ve got your nomination again you believe you’re strong enough -to stand up against us. After we’ve made you, you’re going to knife us. -And you make your wife the cloak, the pretext--just as you’ve used her -all along!” - -Douglas seized West by the throat and hurled him to the floor. - -The door opened, and Helen stood on the threshold, her face white, her -figure trembling. “Douglas!” she whispered. - -Briggs released his hold and stood up. “Excuse me,” he said, glancing -at his wife. “I forgot myself.” He glanced at the prostrate figure. -“Get out!” - -West rose, his face flushed with anger. He walked slowly toward the -door. Then he turned. “You’ll pay for this!” he said. - - - - -XX - - -On the night of the election Farley stood at the telephone in Douglas -Briggs’s library. “Oh, hello! hello!” he called. “Yes, this is Mr. -Briggs’s house. Yes, Congressman Briggs. What?” He glanced at Guy, who -sat at the table in the centre of the room. “They’ve shut me off!” he -said, disgusted. He rang impatiently. Then he rang again. “Hello! Is -this Central? Well, I want Central. Who are you? No, I rang off long -ago. Well then, ring off, can’t you?” He turned toward Guy. “Damn that -girl!” Then an exclamation in the telephone caused him to say, hastily, -“Oh, excuse me.” He smiled at Guy. “Telephones are very corrupting -things, aren’t they? What?” he continued, with his lips at the -transmitter. “What’s that about manners? Oh, I _never_ had any? -Excuse me, but I’m nervous. Yes, nervous. Well, give me the number, -won’t you? 9-0-7 Spring. Oh, I beg your pardon, I thought you were -Central.” He turned from the transmitter. “I’ve offended her again. -What? Yes. Well, excuse me, please. Well, I’ll try. Thank you. Thank -heaven, she’s rung off! Women ought never to be allowed to get near -telephones.” He rang again. “Is this Central? Oh, yes, thanks. 9-0-7 -Spring, please. Now for a wait!” He leaned weakly against the wall. - -Guy rose quickly. “Here, let me hold it for you awhile. You take a -rest.” - -“Thanks.” Farley sank into Guy’s chair. “I’ve spent most of the day at -that ’phone,” he said, with a long sigh. - -“Yes, waiting,” Guy was saying. “Eh? What a very fresh young person -that is, Farley. Yes,” he exclaimed, snappishly, “9-0-7. Yes,” he -repeated, loudly, “Spring. Who do you want, Farley?” - -Farley stood up. “Give it to me.” As Guy returned to his seat, Farley -cried: “Hello! Is Harlowe there? Yes, J. B. Harlowe, your political -man. Well, ask him to come to the ’phone. Just listen to the hum -of that office, will you?” he said, dreamily. “I can hear the old -ticker going tick, tick, tick, tick, tick. The boys must be hustling -to-night.” - -Guy, who had taken his place at the desk again, rested his head on both -hands. “You love newspaper work, don’t you, Farley?” - -“I love it and I hate it. I wish I’d never gone into it, and I couldn’t -be happy out of it. It’s got into my blood, I suppose. They say it -always does if you stay in it long enough. I--Oh, hello, Harlowe! -Well, how goes it? Any returns down there? We haven’t heard a word -for an hour. Pretty quiet? Yes, this is just the time! What district? -235? Good! Funny we don’t hear. Oh, yes; just come in. We’ll get it -by messenger, I suppose. We’re ahead by 235 in the Ninth District, -Guy. What’s that?” Farley listened intently. “Well, I can tell you -this--you’ll waste your time if you send a man up here. Congressman -Briggs is asleep at this minute, and we don’t propose to wake him -up. He’s nearly dead. He’s been rushing it without a break since the -campaign opened. Seven speeches last night! Think of that! Eh? No, we -don’t propose to deny the story. We’ve had a string of reporters here -all day long, and we’ve steered them all off. They haven’t even seen -Briggs.” He burst out laughing. Then he suddenly became serious. “All -right. That’s the way to talk to ’em. Call me up if you get anything -important.” - -“What story?” Guy asked, when Farley had rung off. - -“That nasty lie published in the _Chronicle_ this morning,” Farley -replied, dropping into a big chair near the desk. - -“Mrs. Briggs hasn’t seen it yet,” said Guy. “I hope she won’t hear -anything while she’s dining down at the hotel. I told Fanny and her -father to be careful.” - -Farley sighed. “Well, I suppose she must find out some time. You know, -down in Washington they’ve connected her name with that fellow West’s -for a long time. The idiots!” - -“You could see from the way she acted whenever he was around that she -hated him,” said Guy, with disgust in his voice. - -“Oh, they’ll say anything about a woman as soon as she becomes -conspicuous,” Farley replied, with the older man’s philosophy. - -“But weren’t they clever to spring that story on the very day of the -election?” Guy went on. “Look here. See what the _Evening Signal_ -says: - - “There is no doubt that the sensational story published in the - morning papers that Congressman Briggs has had a split with his former - backer because of an alleged insult to his wife, and was using the - Citizens’ Club as a catspaw, has cost him thousands of votes. The - reference to Mrs. Briggs may be set down as pure falsehood, introduced - to give romantic color to the story. But there is no doubt that - personal reasons of considerable interest led Congressman Briggs to - seek support of the very men who, till the present campaign, had been - his bitterest opponents.” - -Farley’s eyes flashed. “That’s a damn lie!” - -“Of course it is,” Guy exclaimed. “But I only hope all the men at the -Citizens’ Club will think so.” - -The door was thrown open, and Briggs entered. His face was pale; his -eyes looked inflamed. “Well, boys, how are things going?” - -“You got up too soon,” Farley replied. “Everything’s quiet.” - -“No news?” - -“The Ninth District has gone for you by 235,” said Farley. - -Briggs lifted his eyebrows. “Two thirty-five? Is that all? I thought -we were sure of five hundred at least. Oh, well!” - -“Things ought to begin to hum soon,” said Guy, rising to give up the -seat at the desk. As Briggs took the chair, Michael appeared at the -door. - -“There’s a messenger outside with a letter, sir. He says he was told to -give it to you yourself, and to wait for an answer.” - -“Tell him to come in. You’d better take a rest, Farley,” said Briggs. -“Don’t you newspaper men ever get tired?” - -Farley smiled. “Not when there’s a little excitement in the air.” - -A moment later a messenger followed Michael into the room. He was a -man of nearly forty, and his uniform gave him an air of youth that his -deeply lined face and his figure denied. He looked about aimlessly. - -“Congressman Briggs?” he said. - -“Yes.” Briggs extended his hand. - -“Hello! from the Citizens’ Club,” he exclaimed, as he looked at the -envelope. “What’s this?” He glanced over the letter. “It’s from -Griswold. Listen to this, will you? ‘We have been talking over that -outrageous libel about you that appeared in the _Chronicle_ this -morning, and we think that you ought to take some notice of it. It is -too serious to be passed over. We hear that it also appeared in the -papers in Boston, Chicago and Washington.’ Here, you read the rest, -Farley.” - -Farley read, with Guy looking over his shoulder. When he had finished, -he passed the letter back to Briggs. No one spoke. - -At last Farley glanced at the uniformed figure. “The messenger is -waiting,” he said to Briggs. - -Briggs swung in his chair and faced the desk. “Sit down here, Guy, and -write what I dictate. ‘Frazer Griswold, Esquire, the Citizens’ Club, -Fifth Avenue, New York. My dear Griswold: I see nothing in the article -you mention that requires a reply. If I knew the writer, I’d pay him -the compliment of thrashing him within an inch of his life.’ Give that -to the stenographer. Get her to run it off on the typewriter, and I’ll -sign it.” - -“Respectfully yours?” Guy asked, busily writing. - -Douglas Briggs smiled faintly. “Yes, very respectfully.” - -As Guy left the room, Farley asked: “Any idea who did it, Mr. Briggs? -Someone down in Washington, of course.” - -“I think I know who did it,” Briggs replied, quietly. - -“Who?” - -“No one we can get back at.” - -“A woman?” - -Briggs ran his fingers through his hair. He took a long breath. “Yes,” -he said, wearily. “Don’t you remember Miss Wing? She was at my wife’s -ball last Spring.” - -“Yes,” Farley replied. “She was disgruntled because she’d been put into -a side room for supper with the rest of us newspaper people. Can that -have been the reason?” - -“No; she had a better reason. But that supper arrangement was a -blunder, wasn’t it? I’ve heard from that a dozen times since. And Mrs. -Briggs and I knew nothing about it till the supper was all over.” - -“But she was a friend of West’s,” Farley went on. “He came to her -rescue at the ball, I remember. He used to put himself out to do her -favors.” - -“Yes, it’s one of his principles to be particularly civil to newspaper -people. I’ve often heard him say that. But she’s gone back on him. -She throws him down as hard in this article as she does me. Oh, well,” -Briggs added, stretching out his arms, “I sometimes think that these -things, instead of hurting a man, really do him good.” - -“That’s pretty cynical, isn’t it?” said Farley, smiling. “It’s a little -hard on the rest of us in the newspaper line, too.” - -Briggs rose and began to pace the room. “I’m out of sorts now, Farley. -Don’t mind what I say. Have you fellows had anything to eat?” he asked, -stopping suddenly. - -“We had something brought in,” said Guy, returning with the typewritten -letter. “Didn’t have time to go out. Will you sign this?” - -“Don’t you think you’d better get something?” Farley asked. - -Douglas Briggs let the pen fall from his fingers. “No, I have no -appetite.” Guy gave the messenger the letter and followed him out of -the room. “We’re helter-skelter here now, aren’t we? Well, to-morrow -will be our last day in this old place.” - -“You’re giving it up for good, then?” Farley asked. - -“Yes, if we can get rid of it. But we haven’t had an offer for it yet. -Too bad!” he added, with a sigh. - -Farley looked surprised. “Then you don’t want to go?” - -Douglas Briggs hesitated. “Some of the happiest days of my life have -been spent here,” he said at last, “and some of the unhappiest, too,” -he added, turning his head away. “When I came into this house I felt I -had reached success. What fools we all are! Here I’ve been working for -years among big interests, and what thought do you suppose has been in -my mind all the time? To please my wife, to get money to surround her -with beautiful things, to place her in a beautiful house, to give her -beautiful dresses to wear. Bah!” - -“Well, that isn’t altogether a bad ambition,” said Farley, cheerfully. - -Briggs looked up quickly. “When you’ve got a wife who’s above all these -fripperies! Isn’t it?” - -“But I always think of you as one of the happiest married men I know,” -said Farley. He began to glance over some papers he had taken from the -desk. - -“I ought to be. I should be if I weren’t a fool.” He hesitated. “I -went into my wife’s room the other day while the maids were packing her -clothes and I saw a little sealskin coat that I gave her years ago. The -sight of that coat brought tears to my eyes. Ever since we were married -I’d been telling her that she must have a sealskin. That represented -my idea of luxury. It seemed to us then like a romantic dream. Well, I -made a little money and I blew it all on that coat. She’s kept it -ever since.” - -Farley was sitting motionless. “That’s a very pretty story,” he said. - -Briggs raised his hand warningly. “But it marked my first step in the -wrong direction. All those luxuries, instead of bringing me nearer my -wife, have taken me away from her. Sometimes I----” - -They heard a voice in the hall and the sound of a girl’s laughter. -Briggs stopped speaking and listened. A moment later Fanny Wallace ran -in, followed by her aunt, her father and Guy Fullerton. - -“Here we are at last!” said Fanny. “Missed us?” she went on, and she -gave her uncle a kiss on the chin. “Oh, we’ve had the loveliest dinner! -Terrapin and mushrooms and venison and--you should have seen dad when -he looked over the bill! Now, aren’t you sorry you didn’t come?” she -asked, turning to Guy. - -“I was very sorry before you went,” Guy replied. - -“What did _you_ have, Uncle Doug?” - -“I didn’t have anything.” - -Fanny stood still. “What?” - -Helen interposed, as she was about to unpin her hat: “But I told Martha -to have some dinner for you.” - -“I told her that I was going out, but I fell asleep,” Briggs explained. - -“I’ll see about something.” Helen Briggs removed her hat and pinned her -veil on it. - -Briggs shook his head. “No. I couldn’t eat now,” he said, with a scowl -of exhaustion. - -Helen looked alarmed. “Aren’t you well?” she asked. - -“Perfectly. Don’t worry about me. I’ll take a biscuit and a glass of -wine if I need anything. And if I’m elected we’ll all go out and blow -ourselves to a supper.” - -Fanny’s eyes shone. “At the Waldorf-Astoria? Good! We’ll have some -lobster Newburg.” - -Jonathan Wallace was drawing off his thick gloves. “Well, everything -looks cheerful for you, they say,” he remarked to Briggs. “I met -Harris, that political friend of yours, and he told me you were going -to have a big majority.” - -“Oh, Harris always was an optimist,” said Briggs. - -“And dad made him furious,” Fanny cried. “He told him that every time a -friend of his went into politics he felt like saying, ‘There’s another -good man gone wrong!’ and he said that if you got completely snowed -under it would be the best thing that could happen to you.” - -Briggs smiled. “And what did Harris say to that?” - -“He didn’t say anything. He just looked. Well, I’m going down stairs to -see if I can’t get something to eat for this gentleman. I’m going to -make him eat something. Think of his going without any dinner while we -were gorging! Want to come and help, Guy?” - -“Take too long.” - -Fanny looked injured. “Why, there isn’t anything for you to do here.” - -“Well, there will be soon,” Guy replied. - -“Then Uncle Doug can send for you--or Mr. Farley.” Fanny seized Guy by -the shoulders and pushed him out of the room. “Won’t you, Mr. Farley?” -she cried, from the hall. - -“All right,” Farley replied, smiling. - -“I think I’ll go up and take a nap,” said Wallace. “This New York pace -is a little too much for me.” - -As Helen busied herself about the room the telephone rang. Farley -answered. “Hello!” he cried. “Who is it? Citizens’ Club? All right. -I’ll wait. Oh, hello, Gilchrist! Yes, this is Mr. Briggs’s house. We’ve -sent the reply by messenger. He says the libel isn’t worth replying to. -I might have told you that.” He listened for a few moments. Then he -turned to Briggs. “Great excitement over that matter down at the club. -They want me to come down.” - -“Go along, then.” - -“All right. I’ll be down in fifteen minutes,” said Farley, into the -telephone. As he hung up the receiver he remarked: “I’ll make short -work of them. Good-night, Mrs. Briggs,” he called from the hall. -“I’ll see you soon again, though. Perhaps I’ll bring you news of your -husband’s election.” - - - - -XXI - - -Helen gathered the wraps she had thrown on the couch and started to -leave the room. When she stood at the door her husband said: - -“Are you going upstairs?” - -“Yes; I’m tired,” she replied, without looking round. She stood, -however, as if expecting him to speak again. - -“You--you won’t wait till the returns come in?” - -She turned slightly. “I’ll come down again,” she replied, glancing at -him for an instant. - -Briggs walked toward her. “We’ve been such strangers in the past few -weeks,” he said, gently, “that I should think you might take advantage -of this chance for a chat.” - -Helen dropped her wraps on a chair. “I will stay if you wish.” - -“If I wish!” he repeated, with quiet bitterness. “I thought perhaps -you’d like to stay. You do everything nowadays with the air of a -martyr, Helen.” - -“I sha’n’t trouble you much longer, Douglas,” she said, lowering her -eyes. - -“Then there is no way of our coming to an understanding?” - -She kept her eyes from him. “We understand each other very well now, I -think.” - -“Now!” he repeated. Helen started to take up the wraps again. He held -out his hand. “Wait a minute. I didn’t detain you to pick a quarrel. I -wanted to make one last appeal to you.” - -“For what?” she asked. - -“I can’t stand living like this any longer,” he went on, desperately, -throwing off all self-restraint. “I can’t stand the thought of going -back to Washington without you. I’m lonely. I’ve been lonely for -months. You know that as well as I do.” - -She hesitated, trying to control herself. Then she said, without a -trace of feeling in her voice: “You have your work. You have as much as -I have.” - -“You treat me as if you had no regard, no respect, for me. You make me -feel like a criminal. I thought when I threw that man West over----” - -She looked him straight in the face. “But why did you do it? Not -because he was what you knew him to be, but because he had insulted me. -That’s what I can’t forget. All these years you knew what he was.” - -They stood looking at each other. “And I was just as bad as he was,” he -said, in a low voice. “You mean that, don’t you?” - -Helen turned away. “I didn’t say that.” - -“And is there nothing I can do to make things right between us?” - -“Perhaps, in time, I shall feel different, Douglas.” - -He smiled bitterly. “I hope that God isn’t as merciless as good women -are!” he said. - -She showed resentment at once. “I am not merciless, but I can’t go -back to that place to be pointed at, as I should be--to have my name -connected with that man’s--” Her voice broke. - -“What do you mean?” he asked. - -“I mean that I have read the article that was published this morning,” -she went on, more calmly. “I heard some people at the hotel speak of it -while we were waiting to go out into the dining-room. They thought I -couldn’t hear them, but I did hear--every word. They laughed, and they -said there was a good deal more behind it than the paper said. I knew -what that meant. When they went out I looked at the paper on a file. -And yet you can ask me to go back to Washington after that?” she said, -with reproach and shame in her voice. - -Briggs grew pale. “I hoped you might not hear of it,” he said. “I’m -sorry, Helen.” - -She hesitated, but she resolutely kept her face turned from him. Then -she gathered her wraps again and left the room. - -For a few moments after she disappeared Douglas Briggs stood -motionless. Then he sank into the seat beside the desk. Until now he -had believed that a reconciliation with his wife was sure to come in -time. Now the situation seemed hopeless. He had lost her. This last -humiliation made it impossible for her ever to respect him again. -In spite of his resolutions of the past few months, he felt that he -deserved his punishment. He had not only blighted his own happiness, -he had ruined hers. That was the cruelest pain of all. Now he felt, -with a bitterness deeper than he had ever known, that without her love, -without her sympathy and companionship, life had nothing that could -give him satisfaction. Why should he go on working? Why not give up his -ambitions and his aspirations? They had brought him only disappointment -and suffering. - - - - -XXII - - -“Just as I was leaving I met a messenger-boy with these returns. I -opened the envelope.” - -Douglas Briggs started. Farley’s cheerful and businesslike voice had -given him a sensation of alarm. - -“Oh, is that you, Farley?” he said. “All right,” he went on, vaguely. -Then he glanced at the yellow paper in Farley’s hand. “What does it -say?” - -“The returns that we received over the wire from the Ninth District -were wrong. They got mixed down at the _Gazette_ office.” - -“How was that?” Briggs’s voice showed that he was still bewildered. - -“The majority of 235 was not for you.” - -The full significance of the remark slowly made its way into Douglas -Briggs’s mind. “Ah!” He shrugged his shoulders. “That’s a bad sign, -isn’t it?” - -“Very bad. I knew they’d been spending money up there.” - -Briggs sat back in his chair. He had recovered himself now. “Well, they -would have spent more than we could; so, perhaps, it’s just as well -that we didn’t spend any.” - -Farley looked thoughtful. “I think I’ll let those fellows rip,” he -said, slowly. “I’ll stay here and watch out for developments.” - -“Don’t do it, Farley,” said Briggs, wearily. “It isn’t worth while.” - -Farley looked astonished. “Not worth while?” he repeated. - -“No. I don’t care whether I’m licked or not. In fact, I think I’d -rather be licked.” - -Farley looked sharply at Briggs. “You’re tired out, I guess,” he said. - -“Yes, I’m mentally, physically, morally exhausted,” Briggs replied, -passing his hand across his eyes. “Nothing seems worth while to me--not -even success. Strange, isn’t it? I’ve staked everything on this -election to-night, and if I’m beaten, my political career is done for. -And yet I don’t care.” - -“But you won’t be beaten,” Farley insisted, with a laugh. - -Briggs made a gesture of impatience. “Don’t be too sure of that. -To tell the truth, Farley, I’ve felt all along that the fight was -hopeless. But I’ve tried to keep a stiff upper lip. I didn’t want you -fellows to know how discouraged I was. Look here, Farley, I’m sick of -this. If I’m snowed under, I’ll only get what I deserve.” - -“You’re pretty tired, Congressman,” said Farley, with anxiety in his -face. He had seen men break down before under the strain of a political -campaign. - -“When a man has to go through life without any self-respect he’s apt to -get pretty tired of himself. And when he has a wife who knows what he -is!” Briggs threw back his head and laughed. “God! I suppose there are -thousands of men right here in New York who are like that. Their wives -know they’re blackguards, and they know they know it!” - -The two men sat in silence. The look of worry was deepening in Farley’s -face. - -“Farley,” Briggs suddenly asked, “how old are you?” - -“Thirty-five.” - -“How does it happen that you aren’t married?” - -Farley smiled and flushed. “Oh, I’ve had other things to think of,” he -said, evasively. - -Douglas Briggs looked at him for a moment. “Do you mean that you’ve -never been in love?” - -“No, I didn’t mean that,” Farley replied, walking to the desk and -looking down at some papers, with both hands resting on the edge. - -“Then you have been?” - -Farley did not stir. “Yes,” he replied. - -“Seriously?” - -Farley nodded. - -“What was the matter?” - -Farley flushed again, and smiled faintly. “I couldn’t get her!” - -“Someone else?” - -“H’m, m’m.” - -Briggs looked at Farley for a long time. “And she knows about it?” he -asked, gently. - -“I think so. I don’t know,” said Farley, turning away and leaning -against the desk with his back toward Briggs. - -For several moments neither spoke. They heard the clock tick. - -“I suppose there is some sort of justice in this world,” Briggs -remarked, with a sigh, “but it’s pretty hard to see it sometimes.” - -“I’ve thought of that myself,” Farley replied, dryly. - -“But I’m beginning to find out one thing, Farley. The Almighty often -likes to give us what we deserve by letting us have the things we want.” - -“Sometimes He gives us more than we deserve,” said Farley, in a low -voice. - -“Well, if a man gets it in the neck, it’s something to be able to stand -up against it. And no matter how much you’ve had to take, Farley, you -can have the satisfaction of knowing what you are.” - -“That’s a pretty poor satisfaction,” Farley replied, with a laugh. - -“Perhaps you’ll care more about it when I tell you what it has done for -me. There are two people who have completely changed my views of life -lately. One is my wife. You are the other one.” - -Farley looked up for the first time during the talk. “I?” he said, in -surprise. - -Briggs nodded. “Till I began to know you, I didn’t believe that there -were men in the world like you. I had always acted from selfish motives -and I supposed that everyone did.” - -“Oh, no,” Farley protested. - -Briggs lifted his hand. “Don’t contradict me. I know what I’m talking -about. You think all those reform measures I worked so hard for last -year--you think they were unselfish. Well, so they were, in one -respect: I didn’t get any money out of them. But they were really -selfish. I backed them--well, I suppose because I wanted to live up to -the good opinion my wife had of me, and I wanted to justify myself for -other things I had done.” Briggs rose from the chair and met Farley’s -startled look. “Would you like to know why I say these things to you? -It’s simply because I can’t stand playing a part any longer. I’m a -blackguard, Farley. I’m as vile as any of those fellows in Washington -you’ve been fighting against for years. All that woman said in her -article is practically true.” - -“What?” Farley exclaimed, incredulously. - -“I was hand in glove with that fellow West till I discovered that he -had been making love to Mrs. Briggs. If I hadn’t found him out, I -shouldn’t have had the moral courage to throw him over. Go and tell -that, if you like, to your friends at the Citizens’ Club.” - -“Oh, this is impossible!” said Farley, with distress in his eyes. - -“I don’t wonder you think so,” Briggs replied, smiling faintly. For -several moments they stood without speaking. Farley showed in his face -that he was running rapidly over everything in the past. The puzzled -expression gave place to a look of disappointment and pain. - -“Does Mrs. Briggs know of this?” he asked. - -“Yes.” - -“And she--?” He stopped. - -“I don’t wonder that you can’t say it, Farley. No, she hasn’t forgiven -me. She never will. Now what do you propose to do about it?” - -Farley did not stir. His face grew pale. “Nothing,” he said at last. - -“Of course, I can’t expect to have your confidence again,” Briggs went -on, in a low voice. - -“Why not? It seems to me you have a greater claim on it now than ever.” - -“Do you mean to say that you can have any respect for me after what -I’ve told you?” Briggs asked. - -“I know enough about public life to realize what the temptation must -have been. And then, I can’t see what you’ve gained by it.” - -Douglas Briggs lowered his head. “Thank you, Farley.” After a moment, -he said: “And are you doing all this for my sake or for--?” - -Farley turned away with a smile. “Well, partly for your sake,” he -replied. - -At that moment Fanny darted into the room, followed by Guy. “It’s all -ready, Uncle Doug!” - -“What is?” - -“Why, the supper. I got it all up myself--the loveliest scrambled eggs, -with tomatoes and some chicken salad and coffee and--well, you’ll see. -Now please go down.” - -“All right. You’re a good girl, Fanny. But I must have told you that -before.” - -Farley left the room with Briggs. “I’ll take a cab down to the club,” -he said in the hall. - -“And tell them just as much as you like,” Briggs remarked. - -“Trust me for that,” said Farley. - - - - -XXIII - - -Fanny looked after the disappearing figures. “They seem kind of -worried, don’t they?” she said to Guy. - -“Oh, you’re always imagining things,” Guy replied, with masculine -impatience. - -“You say that just because I’m so much cleverer than you are. At school -the girls used to call me the barometer. I could always tell just how -they felt.” - -“Well, if you only knew how I felt at this moment!” Guy exclaimed, -ruefully. - -Fanny seized both his hands. “Are your hands feverish and clammy? And -do you feel cold chills running down your back? That’s the way they -feel in novels.” She began to jump up and down, as she always did in -moments of excitement. “Now, what are you going to say? Tell me, quick. -He’ll be here in two minutes. He said he was coming right down. ’Sh! -Here he comes now.” - -“This is the most infernal town,” cried Jonathan Wallace, pulling down -his cuffs. “If I lived here I’d go crazy from insomnia.” He looked down -at Fanny with the resentful air that even the best of fathers sometimes -like to assume with their children. “Didn’t you say someone wanted to -see me?” - -“Yes,” Fanny replied, with a nervous laugh. Then she added, -satirically, patting Guy on the back: “This gentleman. I think I’ll get -away. Bye-bye, little one.” She danced out of the room, waving her hand -to the young fellow, who stood, awkward and flushed, trying to think of -something to say. - -“Well, sir?” Jonathan Wallace walked toward Guy with his right hand -thrust into his coat front. At that moment he appeared especially -formidable. Guy noticed that his red face, with its large, hooked nose, -made him look curiously like a parrot. - -“Well--er--you--that is--” Guy began. Then he lapsed into silence. “I -wanted to ask you something,” he blurted out. - -Wallace cleared his throat; a faint twinkle appeared in his left eye. -“Well, what is it?” - -“The fact is, sir, I want to ask--well, to ask a favor of you.” -Perspiration stood on Guy’s forehead. - -“Young man, I hope you haven’t got into any money difficulties? Well, I -shouldn’t be surprised if you had. In this political business of yours, -you people seem to do nothing but spend money. By Jove! I sometimes -think it would pay the country to rent out the Government to a firm of -contractors. Well, what is it? Don’t be afraid of me; I’m not half so -bad as I sound. If you’ve got into trouble, perhaps I can help you out.” - -“Thank you, sir, you’re very kind,” Guy replied. “I appreciate it. But -it isn’t that.” - -“Oh, isn’t it?” Wallace said, in a tone of relief. “Well, that’s all -right, then.” He acted as if the interview were ended. He had the air -of thinking Guy no longer remained in the room. - -Guy laughed awkwardly, as if to emphasize his presence. “It’s something -a good deal more serious.” - -“Oho!” Wallace looked interested. - -“It isn’t your money I’m after. It’s Fanny.” - -“Fanny! My little Fanny?” asked Wallace, in a tone of amusement and -surprise. - -“Yes, sir, your little Fanny,” Guy replied, boldly. “I’m in love with -her.” - -“Well, that’s not anything remarkable, after all,” said Wallace. “I -believe most of the boys down home are. She always was a great hand for -the boys. They like her easy way with them, I suppose. Well, I’m very -glad you like Fanny. I’m sure it’s a compliment to the whole family. -You must see a lot of pretty girls during the Winter.” - -“But I want to marry her,” Guy insisted. He did not like the old -gentleman’s manner, and yet, oddly enough, it reminded him of Fanny’s. - -“Oh, you do, do you?” Wallace held his right hand over his lips. “Well, -that’s a pretty serious matter, isn’t it? I thought perhaps you were -just feeling your way round. Lots of boys down home like to talk to me -about Fanny. They’re just trying to get the lay of the land, I suppose. -But I generally laugh at ’em, an’ I tell ’em she’s hardly out of her -pinafores yet. You see, by the time she gets through college----” - -“Through college?” Guy gasped. - -Wallace gave the young fellow a severe look. “Yes. Why not? Don’t you -believe in college education for women? Well, I declare, you college -fellows are pretty selfish! You get plenty of education yourselves, but -you----” - -“Oh, I don’t care anything about that,” Guy interrupted. “Let them have -all the education they want. But Fanny doesn’t want to go to college. -She only wants----” - -“Eh? What did you say she wanted?” Wallace asked, shrewdly. - -“She wants me,” said Guy, with as much modesty as he could display. - -“Oh, she does, does she? How do you know that?” - -Guy was very modest now. “Because she told me so.” - -“M’m!” said Wallace. The old gentleman’s mouth grew tight again. Then -he said, with a sly glance at Guy: “How much money have you got?” - -“I beg your pardon, sir,” Guy explained, helplessly, his face turning -scarlet. - -“What’s your income? Are you prepared to support a wife?” - -“I--I expect to be--in time.” - -Wallace smiled, smoothing his thick, white hair. “Well, Fanny was never -much of a hand to wait for anything, I can tell you that. How much -money do you make?” - -Guy shifted his position. “Well, not much at present. In fact, it is -hardly worth speaking of.” - -“Any prospects?” Wallace persisted, mercilessly. - -“I don’t exactly know,” Guy replied, feeling that things were going -very badly. - -“You don’t know whether you have any prospects or not?” Wallace -exclaimed. - -“The fact is----” - -“Eh?” - -“My affairs are rather mixed up just now.” - -Wallace looked indignant. “And yet you want to marry my daughter! Well, -I like your nerve, young man!” - -Fanny suddenly stood between them. She had evidently been listening -at the door. “That’s just what I like, too, dad. But it doesn’t seem -to be cutting any ice now.” Then she turned to Guy. “I’m ashamed of -you! After all our practicing, too! Now look here, dad,” she went on, -putting her hand on her father’s shoulder. “I can’t live without Guy.” -She whispered to the young fellow: “See how much better I do it.” “In -fact,” she went on, in a loud voice and with a languishing glance, “I -should die without him.” - -Wallace pulled down his waistcoat. “Well, go ahead and die!” he said, -doggedly. “It would be money saved for me.” - -Fanny’s face assumed a look of reproach. “Isn’t it awful to hear a -father talk like that? Now, dad, you’ve always blamed me for not being -a boy, though everybody knows boys are the most expensive things. Think -of the money they spend in college, and all it costs to get ’em out of -scrapes! Now, here’s a son for you all ready-made, with his wild oats -sown and ready to buckle down to hard work.” - -“Look here,” said Wallace. “What does all this mean, anyway?” - -“It means,” said Fanny, imitating her father’s tone, “it means that -you’ve got to give this young man a job.” - -“What?” - -“You’ve got to give him a job!” Fanny repeated, loudly. - -“A job?” Wallace echoed, still mystified. - -Fanny nodded vigorously. “M’m--h’m!” - -“Where?” Wallace asked, glancing vaguely round the room, as if -searching for a spot where Guy might be safely employed. - -“In the factory,” said Fanny, decisively. - -Wallace pointed toward Guy, who stood looking helpless and foolish. He -felt as children do when their mothers discuss in their presence their -appearance and their infantile diseases. “What? Him?” Wallace asked. - -“Yes, _him_,” Fanny declared, resentfully. “Now don’t you go and -make fun of your future son-in-law, dad.” - -Wallace was still struggling with astonishment, either real or assumed. -“In the factory?” - -“Yes,” said Fanny, lifting her eyebrows. - -Wallace faced Guy. “You’re willing to soil those white hands of yours, -sir?” - -Guy laughed and blushed, instinctively putting his hands behind him. -“Oh, yes,” he replied. “Glad of the chance.” - -Wallace still appeared incredulous. “And take ten dollars a week for -the first year?” - -Fanny dashed toward Guy and threw her arm protectingly across his -shoulders. “What?” she exclaimed, indignantly. “My precious! Ten -dollars a week!” - -“I’ll take anything you think I’m worth, sir,” said Guy, over her head. - -“With his intellect, and all he learned at Harvard!” Fanny protested. -“Never, dad! You must give him twenty-five, or I’ll cast you off!” - -“If you show that there’s any good stuff in you, I may give you fifteen -after three months,” said Wallace. - -“Thank you, sir,” said Guy, humbly. - -Fanny dropped her arm, clasped her hands and, with lowered head, she -walked toward her father. “Will you give us your blessing, sir?” she -asked. - -“I’ll send you to bed if you don’t behave yourself,” Wallace replied. -Then he went on, with a warning gesture: “And let me tell you one -thing. There’s to be no engagement between you two people for a year. -Do you understand that?” - -Fanny looked crestfallen, but in a moment she brightened. Guy bowed -respectfully. He seemed glad to accept any terms that would secure -Fanny for him. He hadn’t expected such luck as this. - -“Perhaps it’s just as well,” said Fanny philosophically, as her father -started to leave the room. “He couldn’t afford to buy a ring, anyway.” - - - - -XXIV - - -As soon as Wallace had closed the door, Fanny leaped into Guy’s arms. - -“Oh, you were perfect!” she cried. “I’m glad you didn’t do as we -practised, after all.” - -Guy kissed her rapturously. “Oh, Fan, I hope you won’t get sick of me!” -he said. - -The telephone rang, and Fanny had to postpone her reply. “There, go and -attend to business,” she said, giving Guy a push. She watched him as he -held the receiver at his ear. - -“Hello! Yes. Oh, Farley. What? Mr. Briggs is still downstairs. 500? -Well, that looks bad, doesn’t it? Do you mean to say they think he’s--? -Oh, impossible!” - -“What’s impossible?” Fanny cried. - -Guy listened intently, ignoring her. “No. I think you’d better come -here. He’ll want you. I’ll tell him.” - -“Tell him what?” said Fanny. - -“Good-bye.” Guy rang off. - -“Why don’t you answer me? Tell him what?” Fanny heard footsteps in the -hall. - -“Well, my dear,” said Douglas Briggs, opening the door, “I feel a good -deal better.” - -Fanny held her finger at her lips. “’Sh! Guy has something to tell.” - -Briggs observed that Guy was waiting for a chance to speak. “News?” he -asked, nervously. - -Guy nodded. “They say down at the Citizens’ Club that things are -looking rather bad.” - -Briggs looked steadily at the boy. “Who told you?” - -“Farley,” Guy replied. - -“Ah!” Briggs sank into a chair. “If Farley is losing courage--! Well, -never mind.” - -“But you aren’t beaten yet, Uncle Doug,” Fanny exclaimed, resolutely. - -“What difference does it make--now or two years from now? It’s only a -question of time.” - -Michael tapped on the door and entered with the soft step of one -bearing important news. “A boy just come in with this telegram, sir.” - -“Open it, Guy,” said Briggs. - -Guy tore the envelope. “These are the figures Farley gave me,” he -said. He passed the telegram to Briggs. - -“It’s all up with me!” said Briggs, just as Helen appeared. - -“But they haven’t heard yet from the Nineteenth District,” Guy -interposed. “We can count on a two-hundred majority there.” - -“No; West has spent more money there than anywhere else. I shall be -surprised if--” Briggs stopped at the sound of the telephone bell. Guy -darted for the receiver. - -“Oh, hello, hello! Is that you, Farley? What? Oh, Bradley. This isn’t -the Citizens’ Club, then? Oh, the _Gazette_! No, Farley isn’t -here, but he’ll be here in a minute. He’s tearing over from the club in -a cab. What district? The Nineteenth? We’ve been waiting for that. How -many?” - -Guy listened; they all listened. “Well, good-bye. Thank you. Good-bye. -I’ll tell him.” Guy turned from the telephone and faced the others. - -“For goodness’ sake, speak!” cried Fanny. - -Guy’s mouth twitched. “I guess it’s all over, Mr. Briggs.” - -“How much majority in the Nineteenth?” Briggs asked. - -“Over three hundred against us.” - -Briggs drew a long breath. “I’m snowed under, buried! This is the last -of me! Oh, well!” - -Fanny burst out crying. “I think it’s a shame, and the awful things -you see in Washington who go to Congress year after year, till they’re -ready to drop!” She started to leave the room. Guy started in pursuit -with the hope of comforting her. At the door she met Farley, entering. - -“Hello, what’s the matter, Miss Fanny?” he asked. - -“Oh, go and find out!” cried Fanny, dashing into the hall and up the -stairs, leaving Guy disconsolate in the hall. - -“Come in, Farley,” said Briggs. - -“You’ve heard the news, then?” Farley asked. - -“Yes.” - -“They told me just as I was getting into the cab.” Farley smiled at -Helen. “Well, we made a good fight, Mrs. Briggs. Too bad all our work -was thrown away!” - -“It wasn’t, Farley. That is, yours wasn’t,” said Briggs. “And before -you and my wife, I can say what I shouldn’t dare to say to anyone else. -I’m glad I’m beaten. I’m glad to be out of it. Of course, I am out of -it now for good. After such a crushing defeat and with my record, I can -never get back.” He saw that Farley was about to protest. “Oh, don’t, -Farley! Even if I could I don’t want to. I feel as if all my energy and -ambition were gone.” - -“They’ll come back after you’ve got rested,” Farley remarked. “You’re -only tired out. You’ve been working on your nerves for weeks. Now I’m -going to say good-night.” He offered his hand to Helen. “Good-night, -Mrs. Briggs.” - -“Good-night,” said Helen. - -Farley stepped back to let Michael speak to Briggs. - -“There’s a gentleman in the reception room, sir, that wants to see you. -He says he comes from the _Chronicle_.” - -Douglas Briggs looked at the card. His lip curled. “From the -_Chronicle_?” he said, contemptuously. “Well, we mustn’t refuse -the _Chronicle_. I suppose he’s come to see how I’ve taken my -defeat.” He rose, adjusted his frock coat and threw back his shoulders. -“You stay here, Farley, till I come back,” he said. - -“All right.” Michael followed Briggs from the room, leaving Farley and -Helen together. - -“Mr. Briggs will be all right after he’s had a rest from the strain,” -said Farley. - -“I hope so,” Helen sighed. “It’s a relief that it’s over--such a -relief.” - -“And of course,” Farley went on, “Mr. Briggs will change his mind about -going out of politics.” - -“Do you think so?” Helen betrayed surprise in her tone. - -“We need men like him in Washington.” - -Helen did not speak. She held her head down. - -“Mrs. Briggs!” - -Helen kept her face hidden. - -“I hope you’ll pardon me if I speak of something--something that -is--well, that concerns you very closely. I do it only because I -believe in Mr. Briggs, and because I care for his future and for his -happiness, and for yours, if you’ll let me say so.” - -“Thank you, Mr. Farley,” said Helen, softly. “You’ve been very good to -Douglas. He has often spoken of all you’ve done.” - -“Oh, that’s nothing. But--he has told me all about that man West.” - -Helen looked up, startled. - -“He hasn’t spared himself. He has even made the case out worse than it -is.” - -“He has told you?” Helen repeated. - -Farley nodded. - -“Of his own accord?” - -“Yes.” - -“And you still--? You----?” - -“Yes, I believe in him. I believe he has been punished for whatever -wrong he has done. And I can’t see why a man’s whole future should be -spoiled because he has made a mistake at the start. There are plenty of -men in public life who have made mistakes like his--men who were young -and inexperienced. Some of them have since done fine work.” - -“Why have you spoken to me about this, Mr. Farley?” - -“Because--well, because I know--that is, I suspect, from what Mr. -Briggs has said, that you’re not in sympathy with his public life.” - -“That is true. I haven’t been, lately.” - -“And I thought perhaps if you looked at things a little differently----” - -“I shouldn’t be so harsh?” Helen interrupted, her face flushing. “That -is what you mean, Mr. Farley, isn’t it?” - -“No, not that,” Farley replied, growing more embarrassed. “I thought -perhaps you’d help him to get back where he belongs, that’s all. It’s -going to be a hard fight. Most men wouldn’t have the nerve to make it. -But he has, if you’ll help him.” - -Helen’s eyes filled with tears. “You make me ashamed, Mr. Farley. If -you can forgive him, after all you’ve done for him----” - -Farley laughed. “Oh, I haven’t done half so much as you think, Mrs. -Briggs. I’ll feel repaid if you’ll only make him see that he ought -to stay in the fight.” He heard steps in the hall and Briggs’s voice -speaking to the reporter. A few moments later, Briggs entered, looking -more cheerful. - -“Well, it wasn’t half so bad as I thought. Nice fellow. One of those -young college men. He was so ashamed of his assignment I had hard work -to put him at his ease.” - -Farley offered his hand. - -“Now I must be off, Mrs. Briggs.” - -“Come in to-morrow, Farley,” said Briggs. “I want to have a talk with -you.” - - - - -XXV - - -When Farley had left the room Briggs sank on the couch. Now that he -was alone with Helen, all his buoyancy disappeared. His face looked -haggard; the hard lines around his mouth deepened. - -Helen rose and sat beside him. “Douglas,” she said. - -He did not reply. - -“I couldn’t say anything while they were here,” Helen went on, “but I’m -sorry. Perhaps it’s all for the best.” - -He drew away from her. “All for the best!” he repeated, hopelessly. -“That’s a poor consolation. Do you know what it means to me? It means -that I’ve lost my chance of redeeming myself. That’s the only reason -why I wanted to be elected. I was sincere when I said I was sick of the -life. But I thought if I could only go back there as an honest man and -keep straight, then I could come to you and tell you I’d tried to make -up for what I had done.” - -“I understand that, Douglas,” Helen replied. “But it is all right now.” - -“How is it all right?” - -“With me, I mean. I love you all the more because you’ve failed.” - -He leaned forward, with his hands between his knees. “When I -have nothing to offer you, Helen,” he said, “not even a clean -reputation--when I’m ruined and disgraced, with hardly a dollar in the -world?” - -“You aren’t ruined and disgraced. It’s foolish to speak so. You’re -only forty-two. Why, you’re just beginning, Douglas! And there’s my -property, Douglas, my two thousand a year. That will be something to -start on. And you have your practice.” - -“We’ll have to give up this house,” he said, almost in a whisper. - -Helen lifted her head. Her eyes shone. “What difference does it make, -Douglas? I can be happy with you anywhere.” - -For a moment he sat without moving. Then he let his hand rest on hers. -Suddenly he lifted her hand and pressed it to his lips. He rose quickly -and walked to the back of the room, where he stood trying to control -himself. At last he said: - -“I don’t deserve to have you, Helen.” - -“And there’s Mr. Burrell, Douglas. There’s his law case.” - -“True. I had forgotten about that. Oh, I guess I’ve some fight left in -me, dear.” He walked back and sat beside her. “Only--I need you now -more than ever.” - -“And I’m going to be more to you, Douglas. I’ve just been talking -with Mr. Farley. He has made me see things so differently! I’ve been -selfish, Douglas, and--and harsh with you. I’ve never taken enough -interest in your work. I’ve allowed you to bear all the burdens. -That’s why I lost your confidence. But in future we’re going to share -everything, aren’t we? And one thing, dear, you aren’t going to give -up ever. You’ll stay in politics, and we’ll go back to Washington some -day.” - -Briggs looked away and smiled. - -“Ah, I know when I’ve had enough,” he replied, shaking his head. - -“No. You haven’t had enough. You’ll have to go back, to please me.” - -He turned to her again and looked into her face. Then he took her in -his arms and drew her close to him. - - - - -XXVI - - -The next day Douglas Briggs received a large number of telegrams; but -only one contained a message that interested him: “Coming down with -wife and two girls to get you to take that law case.” He passed the -yellow slip to his wife. “Well, that looks promising, doesn’t it?” he -said. - -The following morning the family arrived. “It seems awful, coming away -without Carrie Cora,” said Mrs. Burrell. “I declare I didn’t hardly -have the courage to set out. I said to Father--” Here the old lady -glanced quickly at her daughter and then at her husband and Douglas -Briggs. She hesitated. Then she ran over to where Helen was sitting and -whispered in her ear. - -“Oh!” Helen exclaimed, laughing and flushing. “Isn’t that splendid?” - -“Well, we’re all feelin’ kind of happy,” said Burrell, and the girls -turned quickly to the window, while their mother held a whispered -conversation with her hostess. Finally, she said aloud: “An’ now I want -to have a good talk with you alone. I don’t want pa or the girls or -even you, Mr. Briggs, to hear one word.” - -“All right,” said Briggs, cheerfully, and he pretended to dash for the -door. - -“Well, ain’t he wonderful?” exclaimed Mrs. Burrell. “I knew he’d be -just like that. He’s always the same, ain’t he?” - -“Well, you didn’t think that such a little thing as an election was -going to put me out, did you?” Briggs asked. - -“The children are upstairs,” Helen explained, “in the library.” - -“I’ll take them up,” said Briggs quickly, “and then Burrell and I will -go where we can have a talk and a little--” He looked mockingly at Mrs. -Burrell. “Oh, I forgot.” - -“Go ahead!” the old woman cried with a wave of the hand. “I feel so -happy that I can’t oppose anybody anything. I kind of think I’ve done -too much opposin’ in my life.” - -As soon as the door had closed behind the others, Mrs. Burrell embraced -Helen wildly, the tears filling her eyes. “I declare I did feel sorry -for your husband’s failin’ in re-election. I did want him to succeed -so. Father says I’m altogether too ambitious for other people. He says -I’m the one that made him run for Congress. Well, he was mighty glad -not to be up again. But ain’t it wonderful about Carrie Cora? When I -think of the way I treated that girl I almost feel as if I’d die of -shame. An’ it’s you that kept me from makin’ a fool of myself and from -spoilin’ her chances of bein’ happy. An’ if she ain’t the happiest -thing! An’ Rufus! Well since they got married, he ain’t hardly let her -out of his sight except when he’s away to work. Father’s thinkin’ of -settin’ him up in business of his own. I guess he’ll be a rich man some -day, from what father says. That only shows you never can tell. But -he gives all the credit to Carrie Cora. He says if he didn’t have her -he wouldn’t take the trouble to go on workin’. He says queer things -sometimes. He’s kind of notional, I guess.” Mrs. Burrell hesitated, -drawing a deep breath. “But that ain’t what I come to talk to you -about, though the two girls say I’m runnin’ on about Carrie Cora all -the time. They pretend to be jealous; but they’re just as fond of her -as they can be. And as for pa! Why, he spends most of his evenin’s -down there. They’ve got a lovely home. I wish you could see their -parlor carpet. But I guess I’ve told you about it. Well, pa spends most -of his evenin’s with them, smokin’ an’ talkin’. I tell him they must -be awful sick of havin’ him. Well”--Mrs. Burrell gasped, and a fine -perspiration broke out on her cheeks--“where am I? I do get mixed up so -lately. Oh, yes. The girls. Well, now that Carrie Cora’s all settled, -the girls are just crazy to get away again. They were dreadfully -disappointed in their first Winter in Washington; and they are crazy -to go back there with you. Now, what do you think?” Mrs. Burrell -exclaimed, her face flushing violently. - -“With me?” Helen said, in astonishment. - -Mrs. Burrell nodded. “Now, I wouldn’t ’ave heard of it if pa--well, pa -knows everything--well, if pa hadn’t told me Mr. Briggs--well, that -he was in some trouble about money. There, I suppose you’ll think I’m -awful!” - -“Oh, no,” Helen protested, feeling her own face flush. - -“Pa just adores Mr. Briggs, an’ he’d like nothin’ better than to help -him out. Well, we talked it over--you see,” Mrs. Burrell went on, -twisting in her seat, “when the two girls went to the Misses Parlins’ -school here, we paid a thousand dollars a piece for ’em. An’ then the -extras amounted to a lot more, drivin’, and the theatre, and all that. -They used to go to the theatre every week. It must have been comical to -see ’em walkin’ down the aisle, two by two. Emmeline used to write to -us about it. She hated it. Well, I guess pa spent most five thousand -dollars on the girls that year they were here in New York. But we -didn’t mind, as long as they was happy. But the trouble was they wasn’t -happy. They didn’t have hardly a minute to themselves. They didn’t feel -free. That’s it. Now, if they was with you, it would be different. -They’d meet all the lovely people you know. That is, if you’re goin’ to -go back to Washington?” Mrs. Burrell asked with swift acuteness. - -“Yes, I shall go back,” Helen replied, flushing. - -“And you’ll be in that lovely home again?” Mrs. Burrell asked, giving -Helen a sharp look. - -“No. That has been leased already,” Helen replied, without flinching. -“We shall take another house--a smaller one.” - -Mrs. Burrell looked embarrassed. “When pa heard the news”--Mrs. Burrell -impressively lowered her voice--“about the election, I mean, he just -jumped up an’ down. You know he thinks Mr. Briggs ought to be the -greatest lawyer in the country at this minute. He hopes he’ll keep out -of politics after he finishes this term in Congress.” - -Helen sighed. “But it’s hard, beginning all over again,” she said -politely. - -“Well, pa says,” Mrs. Burrell went on with a knowing look, “that if he -takes his patent-cases he’ll have enough to keep him busy for a whole -year, possibly two years. Ain’t that splendid? An’ it seemed kind of -like Providence, the whole thing, for us. If you only would take the -girls,” Mrs. Burrell pleaded. - -“And what will _you_ do?” Helen asked with a smile. - -“Well, I’ll stay home, just where I belong, as father’s always sayin’. -I guess I can be more comfortable there than anywhere else. We’ve got -a new furnace, an’ we’ve had the sittin’-room fixed over, and it does -seem a shame to shut up that big lovely house again. Why, how the sun -does stream into our sittin’-room windows! They’re the old-fashioned -kind, you know; they run way down to the floor. Father’ll have to -be down in Washington part of the time, of course, an’ he can be -comfortable at the hotel, especially if the girls are within reach. But -I’m determined to stay near Carrie Cora.” - -Helen Briggs was so startled by Mrs. Burrell’s proposition that the -thought of it made her abstracted. As the old lady rattled on about her -own affairs, she noticed Helen’s abstraction. Suddenly she stopped, -and, folding her hands in her lap, she exclaimed: “I suppose you think -I’m awful!” - -Helen smiled and shook her head. “Why should I think you are awful, -Mrs. Burrell?” - -“Oh, forcin’ my children on you,” the old lady replied, with a -helplessness that made Helen speak out frankly. - -“It may be that we shall be glad to take the girls. It may be -Providential for us. We need money now more than we’ve ever needed it.” - -“Well, we’ve got plenty of _that_!” Mrs. Burrell exclaimed with a -nervous laugh. “I tell father----” - -“And if Douglas is willing,” Helen Briggs went on, “if he’s willing -that I should take the responsibility----” - -At that moment Douglas Briggs returned with the old gentleman, whose -face was shining with happiness. - -“Well, mother, I feel as if a big load was taken off my mind.” - -“Oh, Mr. Briggs,” the old lady broke out, “I knew a talk with you would -make my husband feel right. He’s been groanin’ all Summer because he -couldn’t get at you. He ain’t no hand at writin’ letters, an’ I jest -wouldn’t let him go down to Washington while the weather was so hot. It -was bad enough down to Auburn, though, as I tell everybody at home, no -matter how hot it is, there’s always a cool spot in our house. You see, -I keep the house closed all day long jest so’s the heat can’t get in.” -Mrs. Burrell began to laugh. “Father often takes his paper an’ goes -down cellar. He says it’s as good as goin’ into an ice-house. But I’m -awful afraid he’ll catch his death of cold, an’ I know it’s bad for his -rheumatism.” - -By this time Burrell had sunk into one of the big chairs and was -waiting patiently for his wife to cease. - -“Well, ma,” he finally interrupted, “suppose you let me get a word in. -Mr. Briggs is goin’ to take the case, an’ he’s goin’ to look after all -my business here in New York. He says he ain’t competent to do it, an’ -he says I ain’t got no right to put so much trust in him. He says he -ain’t nothin’ but a tricky politician. I s’pose the truth is, he feels -kind of too stuck up to get down to every-day business.” - -They all laughed, and Mrs. Burrell exclaimed: “Well, stuck up is about -the last thing I’d ever think of you, Mr. Briggs. Now if you’d ’a’ -said that about some of those other politicians we used to see down to -Washington, Alpheus!” - -Mrs. Burrell looked from her husband to her hostess, and then at -Douglas Briggs. “Well, if you two men have finished your business, I -s’pose we’ve got to go.” She turned appealingly to Helen, as if hoping -to be urged to stay. - -“This time you’ll have to come to dinner,” said Helen. - -“Oh, that’s all arranged,” said Briggs easily. “They’re coming -to-night.” As Mrs. Burrell was about to protest, he held up his hands. -“Now, don’t say a word. Everything’s settled!” - -Mrs. Burrell looked at Helen with a comic expression of despair. “Well, -I think it’s a shame!” she said, her face shining with pleasure. - -“Now I’ll go and get those girls of yours,” said Briggs, walking -into the hall. “I left them romping with the children. I thought the -children would tear them to pieces.” - -When the Burrells had left, Helen walked into the library with her -husband. Her face looked puzzled. - -“Did Mr. Burrell talk with you about the girls?” she asked. - -Briggs sank heavily into a chair. “Yes, he told me all about it. He -seemed a good deal ashamed. Poor old man! And yet I could see that he -was making them an excuse for offering me more money.” - -“He’s been offering you money, then?” Helen asked, her face growing -slightly paler. - -“Oh, yes. He wants to pay me absurdly for taking that law-case and -looking after his affairs here. There’s really a good deal to be -done; but he won’t be satisfied unless I agree to fleece him,” Briggs -concluded with a laugh. - -For several moments they sat in silence. Then Briggs broke out: “He’s -been fooled so often, he says I’m the only man in the world he can -trust. I felt like a hypocrite, Helen. Honestly, I thought of asking -him to go to you and to get you to tell him all about me. I didn’t have -the nerve to tell him the truth myself. It would have been easier,” he -added whimsically, “to put that on you.” - -“I shouldn’t have found it very hard, Douglas,” she said with a smile. - -“You wouldn’t?” - -She shook her head. “And I’m afraid you’re growing morbid about the -past, dear. It’s over, and why think about it?” - -“I have to think about it now and then,” he said grimly. He pressed -his hand against his forehead. “Of course, I know what you mean. I -ought to think about the future--and I do--I think of it--well, most of -the time.” He rose nervously and began to walk up and down the room. -“Somehow those people make me realize what we’re up against.” - -“It would help us out if we were to have the girls with us in -Washington,” said Helen conservatively. - -An expression of annoyance and disgust appeared in his face. “But why -should we have our home invaded like that? Why should you have to--?” -He turned away angrily. - -“I shouldn’t mind, dear. It really would make things easier for me.” - -“Easier?” - -Helen bowed her head. “We could have more servants. And I should--I -should worry less about the expense.” - -“Oh, but Helen, our privacy--our privacy--” he pleaded. - -“I know. But we shall appreciate it all the more when”--she smiled -faintly--“when we’ve earned it.” - -He sighed heavily. “Well, we haven’t had much privacy in the last -few years, have we? It’s almost as if we’d been living in the public -square,” he added bitterly. - -They agreed not to discuss the matter again for a few hours. “If you -like you can take a week or so to think it over,” said Briggs, and from -his tone his wife knew that he wished her to agree. - -“It seems too good a chance to lose,” she said. “And the girls are nice -girls, too,” she went on, to encourage him. - -He made a wry face, and walked over and kissed her. “Let us not decide -for a few days anyway.” - -Nevertheless, as he went down town that day Douglas Briggs felt more -encouraged than he had been for many months. - -At any rate, Burrell would put him in the way of having a little money; -during the past few weeks he had been so straitened that he hardly -knew where to turn. He considered himself reduced to an extremity when -he began seriously to think of appealing to his wife. He was glad -to be able to assure himself it was not pride that made the thought -of appealing to her distressing; it was the fear that she should be -worried by discovering he was so harassed; like a woman, the solution -would seem to her far more serious than it really was. Even now, he -told himself that he must be careful in talking over the taking into -the family of the two girls; he must not let her realize what an -immense help the money would be to them. - -That night when he returned home, he found Helen already dressed for -dinner. He noticed that she looked unusually happy. - -“Douglas,” she said. - -“Well?” - -“Why didn’t you tell me how pressed you were for money?” - -He looked at her with astonishment in his face. “What?” he exclaimed, -and in the exclamation he was conscious of the continuation of his -old habit of deceit. He tried to atone for it in his consciousness by -saying: “Well, dear, you are a wonder. What did I say this morning?” - -“It wasn’t what you said. It was your being willing to consider the -proposition at all. Now, of course, we must take the girls. I’ve -thought it all over, and I’ve even decided which rooms to give them.” - -He walked toward her and kissed her. “It will only be for one Winter, -dear,” he said, assuming, in spite of the humility he felt, his usual -attitude of superiority. “By that time I’ll be established in practice -again and we’ll have all the money we want.” - -She drew away from him, and he knew that in some subtle way he had -pained her. He could not clearly divine that she felt there was -something remotely wrong, almost criminal, in his assuming money could -be so easily earned. But it must have been some vague sense of her -feeling that prompted him to add: “I’ll have to work like the devil, -dear. But it will be worth fighting for.” He sighed heavily. “And then -when we get the money,” he went on whimsically, “we’ll be in a position -to laugh at the people we’re afraid of now. We’ll go and live plainly -in the country as soon as we can afford to pretend that we’re poor.” - -She shook her head. “You wouldn’t be happy, Douglas,” she said simply, -and he felt a pang. It was as if her look had penetrated his inner -consciousness. “We must go on as we’ve begun.” - -He knew that what she meant was wholly in unison with his own thought; -but, for an instant, he felt the sinister interpretation; it was almost -like a judgment on him. But he quickly recognized his injustice, and he -walked over to her and placed both hands on her shoulders. “Do you love -me, Helen?” he asked, looking into her eyes. - -“Yes, Douglas,” she replied, and he detected the note of pain in her -voice. She leaned toward him. “I love you always, Douglas, always.” - -He held her closely in his arms. “My poor little wife,” he said, but he -hardly knew why he should have felt pathos in the situation. - -She drew away from him and he saw the tears in her eyes. - -“I’m a hard man to live with in some ways, Helen,” he said with a -sincerity that astonished him. It made her respond at once. - -“Oh, no, Douglas!” she exclaimed, in a clear voice, that told him she -had recovered from her little emotional attack and had become her -wholesome self again. With his habit of generalizing he instantly -reflected that it must be a terrible thing for a man to live with an -emotional woman. - -That night it was arranged that the Burrell girls, instead of going -home with their father and mother, should go to Mrs. Briggs for the -Winter. Burrell insisted upon putting the matter on the most rigid -business basis, and offered Helen Briggs a recompense in money that she -considered wholly out of proportion to what was just. Briggs maintained -in the discussion an air of jocular remoteness and, in spite of Helen’s -objection, Burrell established his own conditions. When they had -finally left the house, Briggs tried to give the matter a comic aspect -by telling his wife that he knew the old lady expected her to get -husbands for the two girls. “I suppose we’ll have the house filled with -young scamps of fortune-hunters,” he said. “You’ll have a fine time -chaperoning the poor girls.” - -Helen knew that he was trying to hide the chagrin he felt. “I really -sha’n’t mind, Douglas,” and she was sorry she could not tell him in -words how happy it made her to be able to help him. But she had to be -careful now not to hurt the pride that she could see quivering beneath -his air of humorous indifference. - -Two days later the girls came to the house to stay until their friends -should go to Washington. Briggs wrote to an agent, and a month later -he was established with his family in a house that would have seemed -ideally comfortable but for the taste of luxury his own house in -Washington had given him. Briggs saw that his fears regarding the -Burrell girls had been unnecessary. Toward Helen they maintained an -air of worshipful devotion that greatly amused him, and they seemed -to enjoy being with the children, too. He saw that, in spite of their -acquired worldly air, they were really simple country girls, easily -abashed and genuinely simple and kind. He grew interested in them and -he began to wonder, as he often did in the case of unattached girls, -if he could not help them to find husbands. It was a pleasure to him -to come home and to hear from Helen about her outings or her calls -with the girls during the day. He realized with astonishment that till -now Helen had led a rather restricted life, and that he had taken an -unconsciously scornful interest in the things she did. At dinner he -really enjoyed hearing the girls talk about the people they had met -during the day, about the art-exhibits and the teas they had been at, -and about the books they had read and the plays they had seen or the -operas they had heard. The comments of his wife regarding the books and -the plays and the operas surprised him, and made him realize that she -lived in a world from which he was shut out. He had been accusing her -world of narrowness, but in reality the narrowness existed chiefly in -his own mind. At moments he felt a kind of jealousy of her; at other -times he was ashamed of the superior attitude he had taken toward -her, and he wondered if she had recognized it. The thought of the -possibility that she had known of it all along gave a sudden pause to -his consciousness like a symptom of sickness. - -Briggs took an impersonal interest in his new humility, as he did in -everything that related to the workings of his own mind. As far as -he could follow them, he assured himself that he had always wished -to understand his own nature just as it was, without any self-praise -or palliation; and yet he had begun to make a complete revision of -his opinion of himself. He wondered how far the change could be due -to the change that he felt in the attitude toward him of other men. -Hitherto, among men he had always been treated with consideration; now -he knew himself to be regarded as a man who, if he had not failed, had -not quite succeeded, and, if he had not been smirched in character, -was still marked with the suspicion of taint. Most of all he dreaded -betraying in his manner his knowledge of this change. He had seen so -many men betray the consciousness of their own weakness. Especially he -tried to avoid giving the least suggestion of bravado. He reflected -on the fickleness of good opinion; he had basked in the sunshine of -good opinion all his life; when it was withdrawn he felt chilled and -depressed. It was when he met some of the men who had treated him with -special deference and who now addressed him with easy equality or -with indifference, or, as occasionally happened, with cold formality, -that he felt most deeply his humiliation. But at these times he felt -a swift reaction that found expression in a stubborn assertion of -courage. After all, he reflected grimly, it paid to be on the level. -The important thing was not to be contemptuous to slights, but to be so -established in the sense of being right, that slights could not wound. -He saw now that his previous attitude toward life had been false and -unstable; it had never been established on rock-bottom. - -In his humiliation, it was a comfort to know that there were two people -in the world who knew him just as he was. Those others who despised -him, believed he was worse than he could possibly have been. His wife -and William Farley believed in him and counted on him. To Mr. Farley, -whom he saw every day, he confided nearly all his affairs. Once he had -prided himself on standing alone, trusting no one; now it helped him -to place his perplexities before that quiet and shrewd intelligence. -Once he urged Farley to study law and go into partnership with him, -and he laughed when the journalist held up his hand in protest. He -envied Farley’s unswerving devotion to ideals of service that were so -like his own in his best moods, and so unlike most of the realities -that he achieved. It was Mr. Farley’s advice that made him decide, -after his return to New York, to keep out of active politics for a -couple of years. He needed time for readjustment, he said jocosely to -himself. In two years he would be ready to make a fresh start. They -would be hard years, for already he missed the excitement and the -sense of being associated in the large interests that politics had -given him. Meanwhile, he kept assuring himself that he was young; a -man’s best work in life was done after his fortieth year. Already, as -he had observed with pleasure and hope, some of the newspapers were -lamenting his withdrawal from politics, and were referring to some of -his past services, from which he had expected no return. Here, too, he -found material for his philosophy. There were men in political life who -did practically nothing for which they could claim honorable credit, -and who were constantly engaged in schemes either for defrauding the -government or for using their opportunities for private gain. So far as -he could see they suffered neither from remorse or lack of self-respect -or from the resentment of their constituents. But he was not one of -them. It was clear to him now that he must keep straight or take his -medicine, and he assured himself that he had already had medicine -enough. - - - - - ISSUED MONTHLY ON THE 15TH. - - [Illustration: THE SMART SET - A MAGAZINE OF CLEVERNESS] - - =Yearly Subscription, $3.00.= =Single Copies, 25c.= - - -The sub-title, “=A MAGAZINE OF CLEVERNESS=,” suggests the aims of -“THE SMART SET.” It appeals to everyone who wishes to be entertained. -=Nowadays, more people wish to be amused than instructed.= Each -number contains a complete story, equal in style and literary merit -to the modern $1.50 book; also many short stories, poems and bright -miscellany. There are 160 pages of reading matter in each issue. “THE -SMART SET” is a departure from the stereotyped character of current -magazines. - -=Upon receipt of 25 cents, a copy of the current number will be sent -post paid.= - - - ESS ESS PUBLISHING CO., - 452 Fifth Ave., New York. - 90-93 Fleet St., London, E. 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Barry</p> -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and -most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms -of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online -at <a href="https://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a>. If you -are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws of the -country where you are located before using this eBook. -</div> - -<p style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:1em; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Title: The Congressman’s Wife, a Story of American Politics</p> -<p style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Author: John D. Barry</p> -<p style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Illustrator: Rollin G. Kirby</p> -<p style='display:block; text-indent:0; margin:1em 0'>Release Date: February 7, 2022 [eBook #67352]</p> -<p style='display:block; text-indent:0; margin:1em 0'>Language: English</p> - <p style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em; text-align:left'>Produced by: Carlos Colon, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.)</p> -<div style='margin-top:2em; margin-bottom:4em'>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE CONGRESSMAN’S WIFE, A STORY OF AMERICAN POLITICS ***</div> - - -<p class="center p0"><big>THE CONGRESSMAN’S WIFE</big></p> -<hr class="chap" /> -<div class="chapter"> - -<p class="center p0 p2"><span class="figcenter" id="img001"> - <img src="images/i001.jpg" class="w75" alt="We’ve come back to have another little talk with -you, Mr. Briggs." /> -</span></p> -<p class="center caption">“‘<em>We’ve come back to have another little talk with -you, <abbr title="Mister">Mr.</abbr> Briggs.</em>’”<br /></p> - -</div> -<hr class="chap" /> -<div class="chapter"> -<h1><big> The<br /> - Congressman’s<br /> - Wife</big></h1> - -<p class="center p0"><big><em>A Story of American Politics</em></big></p> - -<p class="center p0">BY</p> - -<p class="center p0"><big>JOHN D. BARRY</big></p> - -<p class="center p0"><small>AUTHOR OF<br /> - “<span class="smcap">A Daughter of Thespis</span>,” Etc.</small></p> - -<p class="center p0">ILLUSTRATED BY ROLLIN G. KIRBY</p> - -<p class="center p0 p2"><span class="figcenter" id="img002"> - <img src="images/i002.jpg" class="w10" alt="Decorative image" /> -</span></p> - -<p class="center p0 p2"> 1903<br /> - The Smart Set Publishing <abbr title="Company">Co.</abbr> <br /> - NEW YORK LONDON -</p> -</div> -<hr class="chap" /> -<div class="chapter"> - -<table class="autotable bl br"> -<tr class="bt"> -<td class="tdc"> -COPYRIGHTED -</td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td class="tdc"> -1900, by -</td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td class="tdc"> -ESS ESS -</td> -</tr> -<tr class="bb"> -<td class="tdc"> -PUBLISHING CO. -</td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td class="tdc"> -COPYRIGHTED -</td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td class="tdc"> -1903, by -</td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td class="tdc"> -THE SMART SET -</td> -</tr> -<tr class="bb"> -<td class="tdc"> -PUBLISHING CO. -</td> -</tr> -<tr class="bb"> -<td class="tdc"><em>First Printing Sept.</em> -</td> -</tr> -</table> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 class="nobreak" id="Preface">Preface</h2> -</div> -<hr class="r5" /> - -<p>In this story my aim has not been primarily to depict conditions in -American politics. This work has already been done far better than I -could do it by several writers, among others, by <abbr title="Mister">Mr.</abbr> Brand Whitlock, -whose novel, “The Thirteenth District,” shows a remarkable insight and -fidelity. I have merely used a familiar condition for the purpose of -tracing some of its purely social and human complications. The contrast -between the standards a man may follow in public life or in business -and those he maintains at home, with his wife and children, seemed to -me to afford material worth the attention of the story-writer.</p> - -<p class="right"> - J. D. B. -</p> - -<div class="blockquot"> - -<p><em>July, 1903.</em></p> -</div> -<hr class="chap" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p class="blockquot p0">“<em>Naught’s gained, all’s spent,<br /> - When our desire is got without content.</em>”</p> -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_15">[Pg 15]</span> - -</div> -<hr class="chap" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 class="nobreak" id="THE_CONGRESSMANS_WIFE">THE CONGRESSMAN’S WIFE</h2> -</div> - - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 class="nobreak" id="I">I</h2> -</div> - - -<p>“Yes, Washington is never finer than now.” The white-haired Senator -stood at the top of the steps of the Capitol and looked benignly across -the city. The air was heavy with the rich odor of Spring. The trees -were putting out their tender green leaves.</p> - -<p>Douglas Briggs nodded. “It will be fine for a few weeks. Then we shall -have to send our families away,” he said, adding quickly, with a glance -at the Capitol, “that is, if they keep us here.”</p> - -<p>“It soon becomes unbearable, the heat,” the old gentleman agreed. “We -always try to get away before June. I suppose you have to be careful -about your little ones.”</p> - -<p>“Yes; and then Mrs. Briggs is rather run down, I think. It has been a -hard Winter for her—so much entertaining.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_16">[Pg 16]</span></p> - -<p>“It’s wonderful how they stand it,” the Senator said, musingly. A -delicate moisture had broken out on his smooth, fine face. “But I -sometimes think the women bear it better than the men. When I first -came here I went about a good deal. But that was more than a quarter -of a century ago. The life was simpler then; though, coming from the -country as I did, it seemed gay enough. There’s poor Braddon from -Kentucky. You knew him, of course. I went down to his funeral the -other day. It was this infernal entertaining that killed him—too -many dinners. The last time I talked with him he told me he had eaten -twenty-three public dinners in something less than three weeks. The -wonder is that it doesn’t kill more of them. I suppose it does—only we -say they died of something else.” He looked curiously at Briggs through -his big gold-framed spectacles. “How do you stand it?” he asked. -Without waiting for a reply, he went on: “But you youngsters don’t mind -those things as we old fellows do.”</p> - -<p>Douglas Briggs laughed. “Oh, I’m not so young, Senator. I turned forty -more than two years ago.”</p> - -<p>“But you look very young,” the Senator insisted,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_17">[Pg 17]</span> amiably. “And I’m -always hearing of you at the great dinners. I see your speeches in the -newspapers.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, I <em>speak</em> at the dinners,” Briggs replied, smiling, “but I -don’t eat at them.”</p> - -<p>“No?” the old gentleman asked, softly.</p> - -<p>“That is, I never think of eating all they put before me. If I did, I -should have shared Braddon’s fate long ago. My first Winter of public -dinners gave me a fierce attack of gout. Now when I dine out I taste -the soup and I eat the roast and the salad. The rest of the dinner I -pass by.”</p> - -<p>The Senator’s eyes twinkled. “Very sensible, very sensible,” he said. -He patted Briggs on the shoulder with the kindly patronage of the older -man. “That’s why you keep your color and your clear eye. That’s right. -That’s right.” He shook his head and his face wrinkled with pleasure. -“I only wish we had a few more sensible young fellows like you in -Congress.”</p> - -<p>They clasped hands at the foot of the steep flight of steps. “I hope we -shall see you to-night,” said Briggs.</p> - -<p>The Senator shook his head. “Oh, no; those dissipations aren’t for us. -We keep away from<span class="pagenum" id="Page_18">[Pg 18]</span> crowds. But we’d like to see your new house,” he -added, pleasantly. “My wife and I will look in some afternoon.”</p> - -<p>Douglas Briggs walked down the street with a glow of amusement and -pleasure. He felt proud of his friendship with one of the oldest and -most distinguished Senators in Washington. He had reached the age, -too, when he enjoyed being treated like a young man; it gave him -reassurance. As he passed Congressman Burton’s house he noticed a line -of carriages extending far up the street. Then he remembered that the -Burtons were having a reception. “I ought to have asked Helen to go,” -he thought. Then he was glad he had not asked her. She would need all -her strength for the night; he had been putting too many burdens on -her, of late.</p> - -<p>This afternoon he was in one of his moods of fine physical -exhilaration. He had had an exciting day in the House; but now he -turned from all thought of care and looked forward with a boy’s -delight to the evening. His wife had asked a few people to dinner to -celebrate their establishment in their new house, and for the reception -that would follow she had invited nearly everyone in Washington that -they knew. As he approached<span class="pagenum" id="Page_19">[Pg 19]</span> the house he viewed it with a glow of -satisfaction. He had secured one of the most desirable corner lots in -Washington, and Hanscomb, whom he considered the best architect in the -country, had built on it a structure that Briggs proudly considered an -ornament to the city. It would be associated with him as other houses -were associated with men conspicuous in Washington life.</p> - -<p>On the sidewalk Michael, the servant whom Douglas Briggs had employed -ever since becoming a house-holder in Washington, was supervising the -arranging of the carpet on the steps and the hanging of the awning.</p> - -<p>“Well, Michael, how goes it?” Briggs asked, pleasantly.</p> - -<p>“All right, sir. The back of the work is broken,” Michael replied, with -a grin. He brushed down his thick red hair and rubbed his hand over the -perspiration on his forehead.</p> - -<p>“Have those men come from the caterer’s?”</p> - -<p>“The naygurs, sir? They arrived an hour ago, an’ ye’d think they owned -the place.”</p> - -<p>“Well, let them own it while they’re here,” said Briggs, severely, -apprehensive of Michael’s great fault, a fondness for interfering with -other servants and making trouble.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_20">[Pg 20]</span></p> - -<p>“Div’l the word I’ve had with ’em, sir!” Michael exclaimed with a look -of scorn.</p> - -<p>“Very well!” Briggs commented, severely. He was fond of Michael, whom -he knew he could trust; but he had to be severe with the fellow.</p> - -<p>When Briggs entered, a young girl met him in the hall. “Oh, here you -are! I’ve been watching for you all the afternoon. Why didn’t you come -home before, you naughty man?”</p> - -<p>She put her arms on his shoulders, and he bent forward to be kissed. “I -couldn’t,” Briggs explained; “I’ve been too busy.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, Guy,” the girl cried, running to the broad staircase at the back -of the hall, “Uncle Doug has come.” She turned swiftly to her uncle. -“Oh, you should have seen us work this afternoon, Guy and me! We’ve -been helping Mrs. Farnsworth with the flowers. I’ve decorated the -dining-room all myself.” She seized Douglas Briggs by the arm and tried -to drag him with her. “Come along and see.”</p> - -<p>He drew his arm away gently. “I mustn’t now, Fanny. I’ll see it -by-and-by. I ought to get ready for dinner. Where’s your aunt?”</p> - -<p>“Aunt Helen’s in the drawing-room. She has a caller, I think.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_21">[Pg 21]</span></p> - -<p>Briggs frowned. “Hasn’t she taken a rest?”</p> - -<p>Fanny shook her head and looked serious. “I tried to make her, but she -wouldn’t. She said there were too many things to do. But Guy and I were -attending to everything,” she concluded, with importance.</p> - -<p>Briggs turned away and smiled. “Children awake?” he asked, as he -removed his coat.</p> - -<p>“M’m—h’m. Been playing all the afternoon. Miss Munroe’s been a brick. -As soon as she got Jack quiet she came down and helped Guy and me -decorate the ballroom. Oh, we had the loveliest——”</p> - -<p>Briggs had turned away absent-mindedly and started up the stairs. As he -passed the door of the drawing-room he heard a rustle of skirts, and a -sharp voice exclaimed:</p> - -<p>“Why, there’s your husband now!”</p> - -<p>He stopped and turned back. “Oh, Mrs. Burrell, how do you do?” he -said, abruptly. He extended his hand, and the old lady grasped it with -enthusiasm.</p> - -<p>“I’ve been all over your house,” she said.</p> - -<p>“It’s simply the loveliest place I’ve ever seen. I’ve just been telling -your wife,” she went on,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_22">[Pg 22]</span> “that I don’t see how Paradise can be any -better than this.”</p> - -<p>Briggs smiled. Then he turned to his wife and kissed her on the cheek.</p> - -<p>“Well, it does me good to see you do that!” Mrs. Burrell declared. -“It’s the only real home-like thing I’ve seen since I come to -Washington.” She took a long breath. “I was saying to <abbr title="Mister">Mr.</abbr> Burrell -yesterday that if we didn’t know you and Mrs. Briggs we’d think there -was no such thing as home life in Washington.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, there’s a lot of it,” Briggs asserted, jocularly. “Only they keep -it dark.”</p> - -<p>“It seems to me there’s nothing but wire-pulling, wire-pulling, -everybody trying to get ahead of everybody else. It makes me sick. -Still, I suppose I’m doing a little of that myself just now,” she went -on, with a nervous laugh. “What do you suppose I come here for to-day, -<abbr title="Mister">Mr.</abbr> Briggs? I ought to be ashamed bothering your wife just when she’s -going to have a big party. But I knew it would just break my girls’ -hearts if they didn’t come to-night. So I’ve asked if I couldn’t bring -’em.”</p> - -<p>“Quite right, quite right,” said Briggs, cheerfully, but with the -absent look still in his eyes.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_23">[Pg 23]</span></p> - -<p>Mrs. Burrell was a large woman with hair that had turned to a color -approximating drab and giving a suggestion of thinness belied by the -mass at the back. She had a sharp nose and gray eyes, none the less -keen because they were faded with years and from wearing glasses. Her -skin, which seemed to have been tightly drawn across her face, bagged -heavily under the eyes and dropped at the corners of the disappointed -and complaining mouth. Douglas Briggs suspected that at the time of -her marriage she had been a typical New England old maid. If she had -been more correct in her speech he would have marked her for a former -school-teacher. As she talked it amused him to note the flashes of -brightness in her eyes behind the black-rimmed glasses from which was -suspended a gold chain, a touch of elegance which harmonized perfectly -with the whole eccentric figure. Briggs felt sorry for her and he felt -glad for her: she was enjoying Washington without realizing how much -passing enjoyment she gave to the people she met.</p> - -<p>“It was a mistake, their not receiving cards,” Helen Briggs explained. -“I know their names were on the list.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, those mistakes are always happening,”<span class="pagenum" id="Page_24">[Pg 24]</span> Mrs. Burrell replied, -greatly relieved now that she had got what she wanted. “Why, when we -had our coming-out party for our oldest girl there was at least three -families in Auburn that wouldn’t look at me. How I happened to forget -to invite ’em I couldn’t understand, to save my life. But I didn’t try -to explain. It was no use. I just let it go.”</p> - -<p>Douglas Briggs sighed. Mrs. Burrell represented the type of woman -before whom he had most difficulty in maintaining his air of -confidential friendliness. For her husband, the shrewd old business -man from Maine, who was serving his first term in Congress, he felt a -genuine liking. His weariness at this moment prompted him to make one -of his pleasant speeches. When most bored he always tried hardest to -be agreeable. “There was no need of your asking for invitations for -to-night,” he said. “We hope you know us well enough to bring your -daughters without invitations.”</p> - -<p>Mrs. Burrell softened. Her sharp little gray eyes grew moist. “Well, I -think you’re just as good as you can be,” she said. She looked vaguely -about, as if not knowing what to say. “Well, it <em>is</em> lovely!” she -went on. “It’s splendid having<span class="pagenum" id="Page_25">[Pg 25]</span> these big entries. They’re just as good -as rooms. And those lovely tapestries on the wall downstairs—where in -the world did you get ’em?”</p> - -<p>“They were bought for us by a dealer in New York,” Briggs explained, -patiently. He wondered how long Mrs. Burrell could stand without -moving. At that moment the old lady turned and offered her hand to -Helen.</p> - -<p>“Well, good-bye again. The girls will be waiting for me at the hotel. I -guess they’ll be glad.”</p> - -<p>As soon as Mrs. Burrell started down the stairs Douglas Briggs turned -to his wife. “You must be tired, dear,” he said. “You ought to have -been resting this afternoon.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, no. I’m not tired, really.” She let him take her hand and she -smiled back into his face.</p> - -<p>“What is it?” she asked.</p> - -<p>“Nothing.” He pressed her hand more tightly. “Only I’m glad to see you -again, that’s all.”</p> - -<p>He placed his left hand on her forehead and drew her head back. Then he -kissed her on the lips.</p> - -<p>She drew away from him with a smile. “We haven’t much time. We have a -great many things to do yet.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_26">[Pg 26]</span></p> - -<p>“I must take a peep at the children,” he said. “I wonder if they’re -asleep yet.”</p> - -<p>“I think Miss Munroe is giving them their supper.”</p> - -<p>The children, who had recognized the footsteps, were at the door to -meet them. Dorothy, a fat, laughing girl of seven, ran forward and -threw herself into her father’s arms, and Jack, two years younger, -trotted after her.</p> - -<p>“Oh, you big girl!” Briggs exclaimed, “you’ll take all my breath away.”</p> - -<p>She kissed him again and again, laughing as his mustache tickled her -face. Jack was tugging at her skirts, trying to pull her down.</p> - -<p>“Let me! Let me!” he insisted.</p> - -<p>Briggs placed Dorothy on the floor and took up the boy. “How are you -to-day, sonny?” he asked, as he let the thick, yellow curls fall over -his eyes.</p> - -<p>“All right,” Jack replied, contentedly.</p> - -<p>“Been a good boy?”</p> - -<p>Jack looked wistfully at the governess, a young woman with black hair, -a bad complexion and a disappointed face, that always suggested to -Briggs a baffled motherliness. He pitied all people over twenty-five -who were not married. He valued<span class="pagenum" id="Page_27">[Pg 27]</span> Miss Munroe, but he often told her -that she had no business taking care of other people’s children; she -ought to be taking care of her own.</p> - -<p>“No, he hasn’t!” shouted Dorothy. “He broke his whip, and when Miss -Munroe took it away from him he cried and kicked.”</p> - -<p>“Oh—h—h!” said Jack’s father, reproachfully.</p> - -<p>“Well, it was my whip,” Jack insisted.</p> - -<p>“It’s all right,” Miss Munroe interrupted. “He said he was sorry.”</p> - -<p>Briggs walked into the nursery with Jack on his shoulder. Jack, who at -once forgot his momentary disgrace, clung to his father’s thick hair.</p> - -<p>“Ow, you rascal, let go!” said Briggs. He sank slowly into a chair, and -lifting the boy high in his arms, deposited him on his knee. Dorothy -followed and climbed up on the other knee. She placed a forefinger -between her teeth and looked admiringly at her father.</p> - -<p>“Papa, is the President coming to-night?” she asked.</p> - -<p>Douglas Briggs took her hand and drew the finger out of her mouth. -“I’ve told you not to do that, dear,” he said.</p> - -<p>She jumped and pressed her head against her father’s coat. “Well, is -he?”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_28">[Pg 28]</span></p> - -<p>“I think not,” Briggs replied, with a smile. “I’m not sure that we’ve -invited him.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, how mean!”</p> - -<p>“He doesn’t go to parties,” Jack scornfully explained, with superior -intelligence.</p> - -<p>“Well, he has parties himself,” Dorothy insisted, indignantly.</p> - -<p>Briggs extended his hand between them. “There, there; that’ll do. Never -mind about the President.”</p> - -<p>“You’re going to be President some day, aren’t you, papa?” Jack -ventured, with confidence. “Only I’d rather live here than in the White -House.”</p> - -<p>“They say the White House isn’t healthy,” said Dorothy, repeating a -remark she had heard over the stairs.</p> - -<p>“Well, papa, when you live in the White House can’t we come and stay in -this house when we want to?” asked Jack.</p> - -<p>Helen Briggs, who had been discussing with Miss Munroe a detail of -the decoration for the evening, joined the group. “Jack thinks we’ll -have to move from this place to the White House,” said Briggs. “He’s -worried.”</p> - -<p>Helen smiled. “It’s time for Jack to go to bed.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_29">[Pg 29]</span></p> - -<p>“Oh, no. Just another minute longer,” Jack pleaded.</p> - -<p>“I must go and dress,” said Briggs. “Now, chicks, climb down.” They -obeyed promptly, but turned and made a simultaneous attack upon him. -He endured their caresses for a moment; then he cried: “Now, that’s -enough, I think.” He rose quietly and kissed them. “Go to sleep like -good children,” he said.</p> - -<p>On the way to their room Helen remarked: “Jack is getting so lively -Miss Munroe hardly knows what to do with him.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, he’ll be all right,” said Douglas. “I like to see a boy with some -spirit in him.”</p> - -<p>An hour later Douglas Briggs entered the dining-room, followed by his -wife. Fanny Wallace was already there, talking with Guy Fullerton.</p> - -<p>“How do I look?” Fanny cried to her aunt, catching up her long gown. -“Isn’t it perfectly beautiful? Don’t you just love those fleecy things? -Won’t dad be proud of his daughter?”</p> - -<p>“You look very well, dear,” said Helen, conservatively.</p> - -<p>“Well, you’re kind of nice yourself,” Fanny remarked. “And doesn’t the -gentleman look<span class="pagenum" id="Page_30">[Pg 30]</span> grand?” she added, to her uncle. “Only,” she went on, -giving him a little push, “you mustn’t let yourself get so fat.” Then -she glanced at Guy. “Do you suppose he’ll be like that when he’s forty?”</p> - -<p>“I’ve had a list of guests prepared for the newspaper people,” said -Guy to Douglas Briggs. He liked to ignore Fanny’s jokes when they -reflected on his personal appearance. “It’ll save a lot of time. And -I’ve arranged to have them take supper in a room by themselves. They’ll -like that better.”</p> - -<p>Briggs, however, had turned to the servant, who had just come into the -room. “Take the men up to the big room over the front door, Michael. -That’ll be the best place,” he went on, to his wife. “And have you -arranged about their hats and coats?”</p> - -<p>“I’ve attended to all that, sir,” Guy said, eagerly.</p> - -<p>Briggs looked relieved. “Well, I guess we needn’t worry.”</p> - -<p>Helen glanced up into his face. “I’m not going to worry,” she said, -with a smile.</p> - -<p>“Is the Secretary of State really coming?” Fanny asked.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_31">[Pg 31]</span></p> - -<p>“I believe so,” her aunt replied.</p> - -<p>“If he speaks to me I shall faint away. Ugh!” The girl walked over to -Guy Fullerton. “You’ll have to do all the talking if you sit near me. I -shall be too scared to say a word. This is my first dinner, you know.”</p> - -<p>“You poor thing!” Guy began; but Fanny cut him short.</p> - -<p>“Don’t make stupid jokes, sir!”</p> - -<p>Helen Briggs turned to the girl. “I’m only afraid you’ll talk too much, -Fanny.”</p> - -<p>“If she does, we’ll send her from the table,” said Briggs.</p> - -<p>Fanny wrinkled her nose at her uncle. “That funny little Frenchman’s to -sit on my left,” she said, turning to Guy. “Oh, I won’t do a thing to -him!”</p> - -<p>“I want you to be particularly nice to young Clinton, of the British -Embassy,” Briggs replied. “He’s a first-rate fellow, but very shy. I -think perhaps you’ll amuse him.”</p> - -<p>Guy at once looked uncomfortable. Fanny observed him, and laughed. “I -expect to have a lovely time,” she said, casting down her eyes demurely.</p> - -<p>“Who’s going to take you out?” Briggs<span class="pagenum" id="Page_32">[Pg 32]</span> asked, glancing first at Fanny -and then at Guy.</p> - -<p>“<abbr title="Mister">Mr.</abbr> West,” Guy promptly replied.</p> - -<p>Briggs looked puzzled. “What did you put her with him for?”</p> - -<p>Fanny smiled knowingly. “Perhaps because he thought I’d be out of -danger,” she said demurely.</p> - -<p>Briggs turned away impatiently. “Well, don’t you dare to flirt with -him, Fanny. He’s really dangerous.”</p> - -<p>Guy’s face looked anxious. “It isn’t too late to change the -arrangement,” he said, wistfully, and they all laughed.</p> - -<p>“Is it true that <abbr title="Mister">Mr.</abbr> West is so wicked, Uncle Doug?” Fanny asked. “The -newspapers say awful things about him.”</p> - -<p>“Well, the newspapers say awful things about everybody. They say awful -things about me.”</p> - -<p>“Then they tell great big lies,” Fanny cried, rushing forward and -throwing her arms around her uncle’s neck.</p> - -<p>“Fanny,” Mrs. Briggs remonstrated, “you’ll get your dress all ruffled.”</p> - -<p>“Well, never mind,” said Fanny, philosophically, and she smiled at her -uncle. “I’d just like<span class="pagenum" id="Page_33">[Pg 33]</span> to meet someone that had been talking about you.”</p> - -<p>“Gee, it’s a good thing you aren’t a man,” Guy remarked with a shake of -his head.</p> - -<p>“Won’t she be a terrible little boss when she gets married?” Briggs -exclaimed, with a knowing look at the young fellow.</p> - -<p>“I’m going to be just like Auntie,” said Fanny, and Briggs laughed -aloud.</p> - -<p>“Then you’ll have to begin to change mighty quick.”</p> - -<p>The door-bell rang and a few moments later the first guest appeared -in the drawing-room. During the next few moments several other guests -arrived and Fanny was kept busy helping her aunt to keep them amused -until dinner was announced. The announcement was delayed by the -tardiness of the Secretary of State, who was known for his punctuality -in business and for his indifference and unpunctuality in social -matters. When, finally, the great man entered, walking quickly but -maintaining, nevertheless, an air of deliberateness and suavity, Fanny -breathed a sigh of relief. She turned to Franklin West, who had taken -his place beside her.</p> - -<p>“I’m starving,” she said.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_34">[Pg 34]</span></p> - -<p>“You poor child.” He looked down at her with his fine dark eyes.</p> - -<p>“And yet I’m terribly frightened.”</p> - -<p>“At what?” he said with a smile.</p> - -<p>“Oh, all these wonderful men with their queer wives. Why do great men -marry such funny women, do you suppose?”</p> - -<p>“Be careful, little girl,” West whispered.</p> - -<p>Fanny shrugged her shoulders. “I’m not very diplomatic, am I?”</p> - -<p>“Perhaps you’ll learn to be as you grow older,” he said, smiling again. -“Diplomacy usually comes with age. It’s only the very young who can -afford to be frank. It’s one of the graces of youth.”</p> - -<p>Fanny flushed. “I believe you are making fun of me, <abbr title="Mister">Mr.</abbr> West.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, no,” West replied, gallantly. “I’m merely telling you the truth.”</p> - -<p>The butler had entered and announced dinner and the procession was -about to start for the dining-room. “Don’t you think this is positively -<em>languishing</em>, <abbr title="Mister">Mr.</abbr> West?” said Fanny, as she took the arm offered -her, and when he laughed aloud, she went on: “It’s been the dream of -my life to go to a dinner-party.” She sighed deeply. “And<span class="pagenum" id="Page_35">[Pg 35]</span> yet there’s -something sad when your dream is realized, isn’t there?”</p> - -<p>“Well, I must say you’re complimentary, Miss Fanny,” West exclaimed.</p> - -<p>“Oh, I didn’t mean that. I didn’t mean anything personal to <em>you</em>.”</p> - -<p>“What did you mean then?”</p> - -<p>“Well, I guess I mean that there won’t ever be any first dinner-party -for me again. I’m just foolish, that’s all.”</p> - -<p>After helping Fanny in her seat, West took his place beside her. He had -been bored on learning that this child was to be his table companion; -now he felt somewhat amused.</p> - -<p>“I can’t say that any of my dreams have been realized,” he remarked, -unfolding his napkin.</p> - -<p>“You poor thing!” Fanny cried. Then she looked searchingly at his face. -“You don’t show any very great disappointment.”</p> - -<p>Fanny glanced quickly around the table: many of the faces were partly -concealed from her by the masses of roses and ferns in the centre. -There was Guy, talking with that queer little woman from the Argentine -Republic, the wife of an under-secretary or something. Fanny wondered -vaguely how she had happened to be invited. Oh,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_36">[Pg 36]</span> she was supposed to be -intellectual or literary or something like that. Then Fanny smiled at -the thought of the way poor Guy would be bored. Suddenly she turned to -Franklin West.</p> - -<p>“Who do you think is the prettiest woman here?”</p> - -<p>“The prettiest woman?” West repeated, gallantly, emphasizing the noun. -“Well, I don’t think I should have to hesitate long about that.”</p> - -<p>“Well, who?”</p> - -<p>“Mrs. Douglas Briggs, of course.”</p> - -<p>Fanny’s eyes rested affectionately on her aunt. “Of course,” she -agreed. “But somehow,” she went on, “I never think about Auntie as -pretty. I just think of her as good. I don’t believe she ever had a -mean thought or did a mean thing in her life. Don’t you think she’s -perfectly lovely?” she asked, inconsistently. Fanny looked up into -West’s face and noticed that it had flushed deeply.</p> - -<p>“Yes, she is perfectly lovely,” he repeated in a low voice.</p> - -<p>“Now, if I were a man I’d fall head over heels in love with her.”</p> - -<p>“And then what would happen?” West asked, without taking his eyes off -Mrs. Briggs’s face.</p> - -<p>“Why, I’d marry her, of course.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_37">[Pg 37]</span></p> - -<p>“And what would become of <abbr title="Mister">Mr.</abbr> Briggs?”</p> - -<p>“Uncle Doug?” Fanny asked in surprise. “Oh, I’d have fallen in love -long before he came along.”</p> - -<p>“But suppose you’d fallen in love after he came along?”</p> - -<p>Fanny wrinkled her nose. “I don’t like to suppose unpleasant things,” -she replied. “Anyway, there’s only one man in the world good enough for -her.”</p> - -<p>“Who’s that?”</p> - -<p>“The man that she married, of course,” Fanny exclaimed.</p> - -<p>The dinner proved to be a perfect success. When the great men at the -table learned that it was Fanny Wallace’s first dinner-party they -paid her such attention that she let herself go completely and kept -them laughing by her naïve impertinences. The sight of young Clinton -gave Guy Fullerton deep relief; he knew that the blotched-faced, thin -and anæmic Englishman, with the ponderous manner of the embryonic -statesman, would appeal only to Fanny’s sense of humor. Fanny, indeed, -was the centre of interest throughout the dinner; even the great men’s -wives petted her. When the ladies left the table to go<span class="pagenum" id="Page_38">[Pg 38]</span> into the -drawing-room Helen had a chance to whisper to her: “My dear, you’ve -been splendid. I sha’n’t dare give any more dinner-parties without you.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, aren’t they lovely?” Fanny cried, rolling her eyes. “Only I talked -so much I forgot all about eating anything. I’m actually hungry.”</p> - -<p>The guests for the reception began to arrive shortly after nine -o’clock. Long before this hour, however, the sidewalk near the house -was crowded with curiosity-seekers, in which the colored population of -Washington was numerously represented. Guy hurried from point to point, -giving directions to the servants, offering greetings, and showing his -fine, white teeth in frank, boyish enjoyment of his importance. As the -newspaper people came, he exaggerated his cordiality; some of the men -he addressed by their first names. “You’ll find the list of guests all -ready for you, old man,” he remarked, placing his hand on the shoulder -of one of them, “in the little room just leading off the dining-room. -Down there. And there’s everything else you can want, there at the -sideboard,” he added, significantly, with the consciousness of being -very much a man of the world. “I knew you newspaper people would like -to have a place to yourselves.”</p> -<hr class="chap" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_39">[Pg 39]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="II">II</h2> -</div> - - -<p>“Well, I guess I <em>am</em> mad! I’ve never been treated so in all my -life!”</p> - -<p>Miss Beatrice Wing swept indignantly down the stairs into the -conservatory. The interior of the house, planned after the Colonial -fashion, was filled with surprising little flights of steps and with -delightful irregularities.</p> - -<p>“Still, it was a very good supper,” said Mrs. McShane behind her. She -kept hesitating before the younger woman’s elaborate train. Her voice -was one of those plaintive little pipes that belong to many small and -timid women. Compared with Miss Wing and her radiant millinery, she -seemed shriveled and impoverished.</p> - -<p>“Oh, what difference does it make, anyway?” This time the voice -was loud and sonorous. It came from William Farley, Washington -correspondent of the New York <em>Gazette</em>, a thick-set man with -a face that was boyish in spite of the fine web<span class="pagenum" id="Page_40">[Pg 40]</span> of wrinkles around -each eye. He looked the personification of amiability, and was plainly -amused by the young woman’s indignation.</p> - -<p>Miss Wing sank into one of the wicker seats and proceeded to fan -herself vigorously, throwing back her head and letting the light flash -from the gems on her round, white neck. “Well, I believe in standing on -your dignity.”</p> - -<p>“I didn’t know we had any,” said Farley, with a laugh.</p> - -<p>Miss Wing turned to a young woman who was extravagantly dressed in a -gray-flowered silk, and who had just followed Mrs. McShane down the -steps. “Listen to that, will you, Emily? I once heard Mrs. Briggs say -that she hated newspaper people,” she added, to the group.</p> - -<p>Farley looked down from the head of the steps and smiled pleasantly. -“That doesn’t sound like Mrs. Briggs!”</p> - -<p>Miss Wing sat bolt upright and let her fan drop into her lap. “Well, if -I had known we were going to be shoved off for supper to a side room -like that, I’d never have come. I didn’t come as a reporter, anyway.”</p> - -<p>“What did you come as?” Farley asked, as he slowly descended the -stairs, brushing against<span class="pagenum" id="Page_41">[Pg 41]</span> the tall palms on either side. From the other -rooms music came faintly, mingled with talk and laughter.</p> - -<p>“I came as a friend of Congressman Briggs,” Miss Wing replied, with -spirit.</p> - -<p>Farley took a seat at a small table beside the miniature fountain. In -the little stream that ran through the grass goldfish were nervously -darting. “Wasn’t the invitation sent to the office?” He drew out some -sheets of paper and proceeded to make notes. He had the air of not -taking the discussion seriously. More important affairs were on his -mind.</p> - -<p>“No matter. It was addressed to me personally.” Miss Wing turned for -corroboration to Emily Moore, who had sunk into the seat near her.</p> - -<p>“So was mine,” Miss Moore echoed.</p> - -<p>Farley smiled, without glancing up from his writing. “How about yours, -Mrs. McShane?”</p> - -<p>Mrs. McShane, who always looked frightened, seemed at this moment -painfully conscious of the shabbiness of her black silk gown. But she -managed to reply: “I found mine in my letter-box this afternoon.”</p> - -<p>“It had been sent to the paper, of course,” Farley<span class="pagenum" id="Page_42">[Pg 42]</span> remarked, -decisively, as if expecting no answer.</p> - -<p>Mrs. McShane nodded. “I’ve never done anything like this before. I -do the temperance column in the Saturday paper, and the news of the -churches.”</p> - -<p>The young women exchanged glances.</p> - -<p>“Oh, well,” Farley remarked, cheerfully, “these ladies will help you -out. I’m relying on them for the dresses myself.”</p> - -<p>Miss Wing and Miss Moore rose and walked to the farthest corner of -the conservatory. By some physical expression they seemed to wish to -indicate that a marked difference existed between themselves and the -shabby, careworn little figure in black.</p> - -<p>Mrs. McShane looked relieved. Her face brightened. “It’s a beautiful -reception, isn’t it?” she said to Farley, in an awe-stricken voice.</p> - -<p>Farley looked vaguely about the room, as if making an estimate. “Yes,” -he said, slowly. “It must have cost Briggs a tidy bit of money.”</p> - -<p>Mrs. McShane opened wide her eyes. “And the champagne!” she whispered.</p> - -<p>Miss Wing, who had started to walk slowly back to the table, exclaimed -to her companion:</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_43">[Pg 43]</span></p> - -<p>“And we didn’t have a chance to see anything!”</p> - -<p>“Oh, well, you can go in after they’ve finished,” Farley remarked, -good-naturedly.</p> - -<p>Miss Wing assumed an air of decision. “I shall complain to Congressman -Briggs of the way we’ve been treated.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, let him alone,” said Farley. “He’s got enough on his mind. -Besides, in our business it doesn’t pay to be ruffled by little things.”</p> - -<p>“Well, I don’t see why newspaper work should prevent us from keeping -our self-respect!” Miss Wing exclaimed, excitedly. “To be treated like -a lot of servants!”</p> - -<p>“Or like people who have forced themselves in, without being invited!” -Miss Moore added.</p> - -<p>Farley, however, kept on writing. “To do newspaper work,” he commented, -with exasperating coolness, “you mustn’t have any feelings.”</p> - -<p>“The people you meet certainly don’t!” snapped Miss Moore.</p> - -<p>Miss Wing turned in the direction of the drawing-room, where, from the -sound of voices, most of the guests seemed to be gathering. “Well, I’d -like to know who these people are, that they presume to treat us so,” -she said, speaking in a loud<span class="pagenum" id="Page_44">[Pg 44]</span> voice, as if she wished to be overheard. -“Who is Mrs. Briggs, anyway? And who are all this rag-and-bobtail? The -Wings of Virginia have something back of them. They haven’t got their -respectability from political trickery, anyway.”</p> - -<p>Mrs. McShane, who had been sitting, with bewilderment in her eyes, as -if hardly knowing what to do, suddenly appealed to Farley. “I’ve got to -get my copy in by one o’clock at the latest,” she said in a whisper. -“It must be nearly twelve now.”</p> - -<p>“Come and get down to work, then, before anyone comes in here,” Farley -replied. “I suppose you have the list of guests that young Fullerton -passed round?”</p> - -<p>As Mrs. McShane and Farley bent over the table, the butler entered, -bearing a tray covered with cups of coffee. Mrs. McShane and Farley -took coffee, which they sipped as they worked. The others refused it. -As Farley took his cup he said, “Good-evening, Michael,” and the man -smiled and replied, “Good-evening, sir.”</p> - -<p>“I feel like tearing up my list,” said Miss Wing, as she held the -printed slip in her gloved hand. “I see,” she went on, addressing Miss -Moore, “they’ve got the Westmorelands down.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_45">[Pg 45]</span> Is Lady Westmoreland -here?” she asked, as Michael was about to ascend the steps.</p> - -<p>“She’s been here, ma’am, but she went away before supper.”</p> - -<p>Miss Wing’s lip curled. “Oh, well, they <em>got</em> her, didn’t they?” -Before Michael had time to vanish she cried: “And is Stone here?”</p> - -<p>“Who, ma’am?” the servant asked, turning again. His manner subtly -conveyed resentment and dislike.</p> - -<p>Miss Wing repeated: “<em><abbr title="Mister">Mr.</abbr></em> Stone.”</p> - -<p>“He’s in the drawing-room, ma’am; I just saw him in there.”</p> - -<p>Miss Wing turned to her companion. “Just think of their having Stone -here! Suppose we go and see if we can find him? I’d like to see how -he looks in society. I shouldn’t be surprised to find him in his -shirt sleeves. Well, Congressman Briggs knows which side his bread is -buttered on. He keeps solid with the Boss.”</p> - -<p>Farley stopped work for a moment. “I wonder who prepared this list!” he -said to Mrs. McShane. “Good idea!”</p> - -<p>“How do you happen to be doing society work, <abbr title="Mister">Mr.</abbr> Farley?” the old woman -asked.</p> - -<p>Farley smiled. “Well, it is rather out of my<span class="pagenum" id="Page_46">[Pg 46]</span> line, I must admit. If I -had to do this sort of thing very much I’d quit the business. But our -little Miss Carey is sick, and she was afraid she’d lose her job if she -didn’t cover this.”</p> - -<p>The wistful look deepened in Mrs. McShane’s face. “So you said you’d -do it! You must have a kind heart, <abbr title="Mister">Mr.</abbr> Farley. Oh, I wish they’d give -a description of the dresses with the list of guests!” she added, -despairingly. “It would save us a lot of bother.”</p> - -<p>“I’ve a good mind to fake my stuff about the frocks,” Miss Wing -interposed.</p> - -<p>Mrs. McShane looked shocked. “But suppose your managing editor should -find it out?”</p> - -<p>“Pooh! What do editors know about frocks?” Miss Wing spoke with a fine -superiority. “I’ve noticed that they always like my faked things best, -anyway.”</p> - -<p>“You have a wonderful imagination, dear,” Miss Moore remarked, -admiringly.</p> - -<p>“Well, I don’t know how I’d ever get through my articles if I didn’t. -The last time I went over to New York I called on all the leading -women tailors and dressmakers, and I couldn’t get a thing out of them, -and the next day I had to write five thousand words on the new Spring -fashions.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_47">[Pg 47]</span></p> - -<p>Miss Moore rolled her eyes. “What in the world did you do?” she said, -with an affectation of voice and manner that suggested years of -practice.</p> - -<p>Miss Wing smiled. “Well,” she replied, after a moment, “I had a -perfectly beautiful time writing that article. I made up everything in -it. I prophesied the most extraordinary changes in women’s clothes. And -do you know, some of them have really come about since! I suppose some -of the other papers copied my stuff. And then, I actually invented some -new materials!”</p> - -<p>The pupils of Miss Moore’s eyes expanded in admiration. “I wish I had -your nerve!” she said, earnestly.</p> - -<p>Under the warmth of flattery Miss Wing began to brighten. “And what do -you suppose happened?” she said, exultantly. “The paper had a whole -raft of letters asking where those materials could be bought. One -woman out in Ohio declared she’d been in New York, and she’d hunted -everywhere to get the embossed silk that I’d described.”</p> - -<p>Farley smiled grimly. “That woman’s going to get along in the world,” -he muttered to Mrs. McShane. “In five years she’ll be a notorious<span class="pagenum" id="Page_48">[Pg 48]</span> -lobbyist, with a hundred thousand dollars in the bank.”</p> - -<p>By this time Miss Wing had tired of the isolation of the conservatory. -The interest of the evening was plainly centred in the drawing-room. -“Come, dear,” she said, drawing her arm around Miss Moore’s, “let’s -walk about and get a look at the people.”</p> - -<p>As the two women started to mount the steps they were met by Franklin -West, whose smiling face suddenly lost and resumed its radiance as -his eyes caught sight of them. The effect was not unlike that of the -winking of an electric light. The women either did not observe, or they -deliberately ignored the effect upon him of the encounter, or possibly -they misinterpreted it. At any rate, it made no appreciable diminution -of their own expression of pleasure.</p> - -<p>Miss Wing extended her hand. “Why, how do you do, <abbr title="Mister">Mr.</abbr> West?” Miss Moore -only smiled; in the presence of her companion she seemed instinctively -to reduce herself to a subordinate position.</p> - -<p>Franklin West took the gloved hand, that gave a pressure somewhat -more prolonged than the conventional greeting. “I’m delighted to -see you<span class="pagenum" id="Page_49">[Pg 49]</span> here,” he said, the radiance of his smile once more firmly -established. His face, Miss Wing noticed, was unusually flushed. She -suspected that he was ill at ease. As he spoke he showed his large -white teeth, and his brown eyes, that would have been handsome but -for their complete lack of candor, wore a friendly glow. Miss Wing -considered West one of the most baffling men in Washington, and one -of the most fascinating. His features were strong and bold; his chin -would have been disagreeably prominent but for the good offices of his -thick black mustache, which created a pleasant regularity of outline. -His complexion was singularly clear for a man’s, and he had noticeably -long and beautiful hands. Miss Wing had often wondered how old he was. -He might have been forty; he might have been fifty; he could easily -have passed for a man of thirty-five. His was plainly one of those -natures that turn a smiling front on life. In fact, Franklin West had -long since definitely formulated an agreeable system of philosophy: -he liked to say that it was far better for a man not to try to adjust -circumstances to himself, but to adjust himself to circumstances; -that, after all, was the only true secret of living, especially—but -he usually made this comment to<span class="pagenum" id="Page_50">[Pg 50]</span> himself alone—of living in a city -like Washington. At this moment he was adjusting himself to a most -unpleasant circumstance, for in his attitude toward women he had a few -decided prejudices, one of the strongest of which was typified by the -Washington woman correspondent.</p> - -<p>“Where are you going?” he asked, when he had offered his hand to Miss -Moore, vainly searching for her name in the catalogue of newspaper -acquaintances. These newspaper people were great bores; but he must be -civil to them.</p> - -<p>“Well, we felt like going home,” Miss Wing pouted. “But now that you’re -here, perhaps we’ll stay.”</p> - -<p>West looked at her with an expression of exaggerated solicitude. -“What’s the matter?” he asked.</p> - -<p>“We’ve been neglected—shamefully,” Miss Wing replied.</p> - -<p>“They put us in a side-room,” Miss Moore interposed, “with the -reporters.”</p> - -<p>“It’s a mistake, of course,” West remarked. “Mrs. Briggs will be very -sorry when she hears about it. Have you been through the rooms?”</p> - -<p>Miss Wing shook her head. “We haven’t been anywhere,” she said, -plaintively.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_51">[Pg 51]</span></p> - -<p>“Then let me take you into the drawing-room. Mrs. Briggs is——”</p> - -<p>“She’s always near where you are, <abbr title="Mister">Mr.</abbr> West,” Miss Wing interrupted, -with a malicious smile. “I feel as if I had no right to appropriate -you.” She glanced affectionately at her companion. “Shall we go, dear, -or shall we send him back to our hostess?”</p> - -<p>“I think we ought to send him back,” Miss Moore replied, taking her cue.</p> - -<p>Miss Wing turned to West, her face shining with generosity. “So run -along. We’ll be generous—for once.”</p> - -<p>For a moment West looked confused. Then he recovered himself. “I -certainly do admire Mrs. Briggs, but that doesn’t keep me—” he assumed -his most intense look—“from admiring others.”</p> - -<p>Miss Wing threw back her fine shoulders. “Oh, if you’re going to pay -<em>compliments</em>, we’ll certainly keep you. Come along, dear.”</p> -<hr class="chap" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_52">[Pg 52]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="III">III</h2> -</div> - - -<p>The departure of the two women with West gave Mrs. McShane and Farley a -chance to work rapidly for several moments. Mrs. McShane, whose years -of experience had not developed speed in writing, kept glancing every -now and then at Farley in admiration of his skill. He was evidently -preparing a general description of the evening, which promised to be -remembered, according to Mrs. McShane’s report, “as one of the most -brilliant events in a Washington Winter remarkable for the brilliancy -of its entertainments.” The old woman had read that phrase somewhere, -and she had already used it several times, each time with a growing -fear of detection by her editors. But for such sonorous phrases she -would have had some difficulty in continuing her newspaper work. During -one of her pauses Farley remarked, pleasantly:</p> - -<p>“Inspiration given out, Mrs. McShane?”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_53">[Pg 53]</span></p> - -<p>“Oh, if I could only compose like you, <abbr title="Mister">Mr.</abbr> Farley!” she replied, -enviously.</p> - -<p>Farley laughed. “I guess you’ll be all right,” he said.</p> - -<p>“Sometimes I think I oughtn’t ever to have gone into newspaper work,” -the old woman went on, pathetically. “I don’t know enough.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, you don’t have to know anything to do this kind of work,” said -Farley. Then he felt sorry. He looked up quickly, but Mrs. McShane had -apparently noticed nothing in the remark to wound her feelings.</p> - -<p>“Perhaps I can help you,” Farley went on, in a kindly tone. “I’ve been -trying to do my article in a different way from the usual society -article. I should think people would get sick of reading the same old -things about the entertainments here. Besides, this party is given more -to show off Briggs’s house than anything else; so I’ve been giving -up a lot of space to a description of the place itself. It’s one of -Hanscomb’s houses, you know—that big Boston architect, who’s been -getting such a lot of advertising lately. He’s one of the best men in -his line we’ve ever had. He’s modeled it on the Colonial style, which -is fashionable again. I know a little something about architecture.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_54">[Pg 54]</span> I -studied it once for six months in New York, before I began newspaper -work. So I’m sort of spreading myself. Now, you might do something like -that.”</p> - -<p>“But that wouldn’t be fair to you, <abbr title="Mister">Mr.</abbr> Farley,” said the old woman.</p> - -<p>“No, I don’t mean that,” Farley went on. “You might make a lot out of -the floral decorations and the color scheme in the rooms. People like -to hear about those things. Didn’t you notice how the library was in -Empire——?”</p> - -<p>The old woman shook her head. “Oh, I don’t understand about these -things,” she interrupted. “I don’t know enough.”</p> - -<p>Farley laughed again. “Well, I’ll tell you. You see, in the first -place, Briggs didn’t have a professional decorator, as so many people -do nowadays. This place doesn’t look like a professional decorator’s -house, does it? Do you know why? Simply because Briggs has a wife whose -taste is the very best in the world.” Farley’s face brightened; his -eyes shone. “You know Mrs. Briggs, don’t you?”</p> - -<p>“Yes; I was sent to interview her once. She wouldn’t let me interview -her, but she was so nice about it I couldn’t help liking her.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_55">[Pg 55]</span></p> - -<p>“Ah, she’s fine to everyone!” Farley exclaimed, enthusiastically. “I -never knew anyone to meet her without—” He checked himself suddenly, -and his face flushed. “But we must get down to work. Look here. You’ve -been over the house, haven’t you? Well, I’ll describe the principal -features as quickly as I can, and you can work ’em up.”</p> - -<p>“But how about your own article?” Mrs. McShane inquired, anxiously.</p> - -<p>“Oh, that’ll be all right. I’ve got it half-done already.”</p> - -<p>For several moments Farley talked rapidly and Mrs. McShane took notes. -She kept looking up at him in awe of his skill in observation. What -a mind he must have, to be able to see so much at a glance! When, at -last, she took a moment to offer a compliment, he replied, with a smile:</p> - -<p>“Oh, this isn’t the result of my looking the place over to-night,” he -said. “I know Mrs. Briggs a little, and I’ve talked the house over with -her many times. In fact, I’ve had a hand in it myself.”</p> - -<p>As he spoke Farley turned at the sound of a footstep on the stairs. His -face brightened, and he started to rise from his seat.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_56">[Pg 56]</span></p> - -<p>“Good-evening, Congressman,” he said.</p> - -<p>Douglas Briggs walked quickly down the steps. The exhilaration of the -evening made him appear at his best. His gray eye was clear, and his -brown hair, and lighter mustache, closely trimmed to his lip, gave him -a look of youth.</p> - -<p>“Oh, hello, Farley!” he said; “what are you doing here?” Then he -observed the little woman at the table. “Why, bless my soul! Mrs. -McShane, I’m delighted to see you.” He grasped Mrs. McShane’s hand -cordially; then he turned, smiling at Farley.</p> - -<p>“Great night for you, Congressman,” said the journalist.</p> - -<p>Briggs shook his head deprecatingly. “For Mrs. Briggs, you mean. This -is her blow-out.”</p> - -<p>Mrs. McShane gathered courage to speak. “And she’s looking beautiful -to-night, sir,” she said in a half-whisper.</p> - -<p>Briggs let his hand rest affectionately on the old woman’s arm. “My -dear lady,” he said, in the confidential manner that had won friends -for him all through life, “between you and me, she’s the prettiest -woman in Washington. But you mustn’t put that in the paper.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_57">[Pg 57]</span></p> - -<p>Mrs. McShane glowed. “I won’t, sir; but it’s true, just the same.”</p> - -<p>Briggs glanced from Mrs. McShane to Farley and again at Mrs. McShane. -“What are you two people doing in here, all alone?” he asked, in the -tone of the host who catches his guests moping.</p> - -<p>“We’re trying to get some notes together,” Farley explained. “But we’re -all at sea about the dresses,” he added, with a smile.</p> - -<p>The music had just ceased, and they heard a rustle of skirts in the -next room. Suddenly Fanny Wallace stood among the palms. As she was -looking back over her shoulder she did not observe the group in the -conservatory.</p> - -<p>“Isn’t it good to get out of the crowd?” she said, when Guy Fullerton -had come up to her. Suddenly she turned and glanced through the palm -leaves. “Oh, I didn’t know anyone was here!”</p> - -<p>“You’re just the person we’re looking for, my dear,” Douglas Briggs -exclaimed. “This is Fanny Wallace, my wife’s niece, Mrs. McShane. -She’ll take you through the rooms. She knows all about the pretty -frocks. It’s all she thinks about.”</p> - -<p>Fanny looked reproachfully at Briggs. Then<span class="pagenum" id="Page_58">[Pg 58]</span> she darted toward the old -woman. “Oh, Mrs. McShane, I want you to see Mrs. Senator Aspinwall’s -dress before she leaves. It’s gorgeous.” She turned to the youth, -who had dropped into conversation with Farley, and seized him by -the coat-sleeve. “Mrs. McShane, this is <abbr title="Mister">Mr.</abbr> Fullerton,” she said, -impressively, “<abbr title="Mister">Mr.</abbr> Guy Fullerton. He’s a very important young man,” -she went on. “He’s my uncle’s secretary. Think of that! <em>You</em> can -come, too, infant, if you like,” she concluded, with a change of tone. -“You need to learn something about frocks.”</p> - -<p>The young man laughed good-humoredly and followed Fanny, who -had unceremoniously taken Mrs. McShane by the arm. As they were -disappearing, Farley called out: “I’ll rely on you, Mrs. McShane.”</p> - -<p>Fanny replied for the old woman. “We’ll be in the conservatory in half -an hour with yards of description. Oh, this is lovely!” she exclaimed, -with a little jump. “I always wanted to be a newspaper woman.”</p> - -<p>As soon as they were alone Farley walked toward Douglas Briggs. “This -is a good chance for me to ask you something, sir,” he said.</p> - -<p>Briggs smiled. “Have a cigar first, won’t you?<span class="pagenum" id="Page_59">[Pg 59]</span> Oh, I forgot. I -promised Mrs. Briggs there should be no smoking here. We might go out -on the balcony or up to the smoking-room.”</p> - -<p>Farley shook his head. “Thanks; no. I won’t smoke just now. And I won’t -detain you more than a minute.” He hesitated. “What I’m going to ask -seems a little like a violation of hospitality,” he remarked, with a -look of embarrassment.</p> - -<p>“My dear fellow, there’s no such thing as a violation of hospitality in -the case of a man in public life,” said Briggs, pleasantly.</p> - -<p>“Well, it’s simply this: We want to deny the story about you that’s -going all over Washington. It hasn’t got into the papers yet, but -I happen to know that the New York <em>Chronicle</em> has it, and is -thinking of publishing it.”</p> - -<p>Briggs looked grave. In repose his face took on years; the lines around -the mouth deepened, and the eyes grew tired and dull. “What story?”</p> - -<p>“Why, the story that you are in that Transcontinental Railway deal.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, that!” Briggs threw back his head and laughed, but with a -suggestion of bitterness. “Why, to my certain knowledge, they’ve been -saying that about me for the past five years—ever<span class="pagenum" id="Page_60">[Pg 60]</span> since I entered -Congress. In fact, there’s hardly been a big political steal that I -haven’t been in.”</p> - -<p>“But the <em>Chronicle</em> people are pretty strong, you know,” Farley -insisted.</p> - -<p>“I don’t give a snap of my finger for them.”</p> - -<p>“Then you won’t let me deny the story for you?” There was a ring of -disappointment in Farley’s voice.</p> - -<p>For a moment Briggs did not speak. Then he said, slowly: “Farley, I -know you mean all right, and I know you’d like to do me a good turn. -You <em>Gazette</em> people have been mighty good friends to me. You’ve -stood by me when I had almost no other friends on the independent -press; in fact, no friends.”</p> - -<p>Farley’s brow knotted. “But if you’ll only let us show there’s nothing -in the story!”</p> - -<p>Briggs shook his head. “No, not one word! I discovered before I’d -been in public life three months it was simply a waste of time to -deny campaign stories. When a man goes into politics,” he concluded, -bitterly, “he makes himself the target of all the blackguards in the -country.”</p> - -<p>“But, Congressman,” Farley pleaded, “just a word would be enough.”</p> - -<p>“No. I’m older than you are, and I know<span class="pagenum" id="Page_61">[Pg 61]</span> what I’m talking about. I care -so little about this particular story that I made a point of getting -Franklin West to come here to-night. He’s the man, you know, who’s -supposed to be at the bottom of that railroad scandal.”</p> - -<p>“There’s not another man in your position who’d dare to take the bull -by the horns like that,” said Farley, his brow clearing.</p> - -<p>“I assure you,” Briggs replied, reassuming his confidential manner, -“it’s the only way of treating the bull.”</p> - -<p>Farley held out his hand. “I’m glad to have had this little talk with -you, Congressman.”</p> - -<p>Briggs took the hand firmly. “Look in on me at the House to-morrow; I -may have something for you.”</p> - -<p>“Thank you,” said Farley, as he ascended the steps.</p> -<hr class="chap" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_62">[Pg 62]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="IV">IV</h2> -</div> - - -<p>Douglas Briggs stood motionless. His face was hot; he could feel his -pulse beating in his temples. Sometimes he wondered if he betrayed the -fever that the mere mention of that railroad and the scandals connected -with it always caused him. The music had begun again, and he could hear -the dancers and the loud talk, broken by laughter. Some of the voices -he recognized, among them Fanny’s and Guy Fullerton’s. His wife’s voice -he could not hear. He started at the sound of a quick footfall. When -he looked up Franklin West’s white teeth were gleaming at him from the -head of the stairs.</p> - -<p>“Oh, here you are!” said West. “I’ve been trying to get a chance to -speak to you all evening.” He looked hard at Briggs, and the smile -faded. “Anything the matter?”</p> - -<p>Briggs drew his arm away and West let his hand drop to his side. “Yes. -Farley, of the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_63">[Pg 63]</span> New York <em>Gazette</em>—you know him, don’t you? I’ve -just been having a talk with him—he says the <em>Chronicle</em> is -getting ready to jump on me.”</p> - -<p>West lifted his brows with a nice imitation of surprise. “About what?”</p> - -<p>“About our precious railroad business, of course.”</p> - -<p>West looked relieved. “They can’t hurt you,” he said, contemptuously.</p> - -<p>“I’m not so sure about that. A paper like the <em>Chronicle</em> carries -weight. It’s not like the small fry that have been knifing me lately.”</p> - -<p>West turned quickly. This time he betrayed a suggestion of genuine -feeling. “But, my dear man, what can they say?”</p> - -<p>“They can say what all Washington is saying,” Briggs replied, fiercely. -“They can say I’ve taken money to push that bill through the House. -They can queer my re-election.”</p> - -<p>West drew out a silver-ornamented cigar-case and offered it to Briggs. -“You have a very bald way of expressing yourself sometimes. Have one?”</p> - -<p>Briggs lifted his hand in refusal, with a suggestion of disgust and -impatience. West deliberately<span class="pagenum" id="Page_64">[Pg 64]</span> lighted his cigar, puffed it, and then -looked closely at the burning end. “Taking money,” he repeated, as -if addressing the cigar—“that’s a very disagreeable expression! It -isn’t,” he added, with a laugh, “it isn’t professional.” He waited as -if expecting to receive a reply from Briggs. Then he asked, with a lift -of his eyebrows: “Besides, why shouldn’t you?”</p> - -<p>“Why shouldn’t I what?”</p> - -<p>“Why shouldn’t you take money for the work you’ve done? You earned it.”</p> - -<p>Briggs rose from his seat. His face clouded. “Then why should I lie -about it every time the subject is mentioned? Why should I try to -bamboozle that decent young fellow who was in this room a moment ago? -He believes in me. He believes that I’m an honest man, a statesman, a -patriot. He believes that I think of nothing, care for nothing, work -for nothing, but the welfare of the people who elected me.”</p> - -<p>West smiled. “He must be an awful ass!” he remarked, quietly.</p> - -<p>In spite of his disgust Briggs gave a short laugh. “He—oh, well!” He -turned away as if the sight of West had become suddenly obnoxious. -“Have you ever believed in anyone in<span class="pagenum" id="Page_65">[Pg 65]</span> your life, West?” he asked, -keeping his face averted.</p> - -<p>“Oh, yes,” West replied. “In you, for example. I believed in you the -first time I saw you. I knew you were going to get there.”</p> - -<p>Briggs looked at him as if examining a curiosity. “That was why you -helped me?”</p> - -<p>“Certainly,” West acknowledged, with a resumption of his large smile.</p> - -<p>“You knew that some time I’d be useful to you?”</p> - -<p>“You’re brutal now, Briggs.”</p> - -<p>“Perhaps I am.”</p> - -<p>“One doesn’t refer in that way to any service, however slight,” West -remarked, in the soft voice of conscious politeness.</p> - -<p>“True,” Briggs replied, bitterly. “But you must admit the payment has -been rather hard.”</p> - -<p>“Most people wouldn’t think so. When you came to me, five years ago, -you were on the verge of bankruptcy, and you hadn’t even begun to make -your reputation.” West looked at Briggs to observe the effect of his -words. Then he continued, with a wave of his hand: “And now see what -you are! You’ve made a big name. You’re a power. You have all the -swells in Washington at your<span class="pagenum" id="Page_66">[Pg 66]</span> parties. If you had gone under, five -years ago, you never could have retrieved yourself. You know that as -well as I do.”</p> - -<p>“And how much satisfaction do you suppose my success has given me?” -Briggs exclaimed. “Since I began to prosper here I’ve not had one -really happy moment.”</p> - -<p>West laughed.</p> - -<p>“You don’t believe that?”</p> - -<p>“Of course I don’t. You’re blue, that’s all. That newspaper man has -hurt your feelings. That’s your only fault, Briggs—you’re too easily -hurt. You want to have everybody’s good opinion.”</p> - -<p>“I could get along with my own,” Briggs replied, quietly.</p> - -<p>“By helping to put that bill through the House you’re doing the country -a thousand times more good than you’ve ever accomplished through those -reform schemes of yours. You aren’t practical enough, Briggs. Solid -facts are good enough for me.”</p> - -<p>“I’ve observed that,” said Briggs, without a change of expression.</p> - -<p>“But I’ll tell you what you can do,” West went on, ignoring his host’s -manner, “since that conscience<span class="pagenum" id="Page_67">[Pg 67]</span> of yours is bothering you so much. You -can vote against the bill. That’s what I wanted to speak to you about. -It would be a very good move just now.”</p> - -<p>Briggs looked interested. “How vote against it?” he said, wrinkling his -forehead.</p> - -<p>“Simply vote,” West replied, with a smile and a wave of the hand.</p> - -<p>“After all the work I’ve done for it?” Briggs asked, in astonishment.</p> - -<p>“Who’s to know about that? If you like you can get up in the House and -explain why you’ve changed your mind.”</p> - -<p>“<em>Speak</em> against it, too?” Briggs could not resist the temptation -to lure West on. The revelation of the workings of this man’s mind had -a fascination for him; they were strangely free from any relation to -the principles which he had always believed in, if he had not always -practised them.</p> - -<p>“Yes. That will turn the tables on the papers that have been attacking -you. It will make you seem like a martyr, too. It’s worth thousands of -votes to you.”</p> - -<p>Briggs walked slowly across the conservatory. His curiosity had -suddenly changed to strong temptation. After all, the scheme was -practicable.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_68">[Pg 68]</span> It was merely another expression of the deceit he had -been practising for years. In spite of his confidence in his safety, -it would be wise for him to take every precaution to protect his -reputation. The attacks on his character by the opposition papers would -probably grow more violent as the time for his re-election approached. -But at the thought of getting up in the House and attacking the bill he -had worked for, of making himself an object of contempt to the very men -who were his partners in the deal, he turned sick. “No, thank you,” he -said, suddenly. “I may have done worse things, but I couldn’t do that!” -For a moment, in spite of the sordid quality of his motive, he had the -delicious exhilaration of feeling that he had resisted a temptation.</p> - -<p>West shrugged his shoulders. “It’s what Aspinwall has done over and -over again in the Senate. It doesn’t seem to hurt him. He’s one of the -most popular men in the country—and the biggest fraud,” he added, with -a laugh.</p> - -<p>Briggs had begun to pace the narrow walk of the conservatory. He -stopped as if on impulse. “West!” he said.</p> - -<p>West looked up in surprise. “Well?”</p> - -<p>“I have something to say to you. I’ll stand by<span class="pagenum" id="Page_69">[Pg 69]</span> you in this railroad -business till it goes through. I’ll vote for the bill, because I’ve -pledged myself to it. You can get along without my vote, I know. The -bill is sure to pass. But if there’s any odium to be attached to me for -supporting it, I’ll take the consequences.”</p> - -<p>“Oh! I thought you were a little nervous about your election, that’s -all,” West remarked, carelessly.</p> - -<p>The lines running from the corners of Briggs’s mouth deepened. “I’ve -lied pretty constantly so far, and I suppose I’ll go on lying till the -deal goes through.”</p> - -<p>“That won’t be till the next session. We never can bring it up before -adjournment.”</p> - -<p>Briggs apparently did not hear this speech. “But remember one thing,” -he went on, as if continuing his previous remark, “it’s the last -official work you need expect me to do for you. Any personal service -I shall be only too glad to do. Whatever your motives may have been, -you stood by me when I needed a friend. You made my career possible. -I should be an ingrate to forget that. But we’re quits. In future, I -propose to keep my hands free.”</p> - -<p>West rose from his seat and walked toward<span class="pagenum" id="Page_70">[Pg 70]</span> Briggs. His face betrayed -that he was trying to hide a feeling of amusement. These spasms of -virtue on the part of Briggs always gave him a pleasant feeling of -superiority. “My dear fellow,” he said, laying his hand on Briggs’s -shoulder, “you’ve been a brick through the whole business. Stand by me -till the bill goes through. That’s all we expect. Only don’t try to be -too ideal, you know,” he urged, gently. “Ideals are very pretty things, -but they won’t work in practical politics. If the Government were -run by ideals it wouldn’t last six months. Legislation’s a business, -like everything else that brings in money, and the shrewdest men are -going to get the biggest returns. Think of all the men we’ve known -who’ve been sent home from Washington simply because they’ve been -over-zealous! But I must hurry back to the drawing-room. I’m in the -clutches of two newspaper women. I only broke away for a moment on a -pretext. I’ll see you later in the evening.”</p> - -<p>Briggs watched West disappear. Then he sank on the wicker seat again. -This interview was only one of many similar talks he had had with -the lobbyist; but each new encounter had the result of heaping fresh -humiliation on him. He had<span class="pagenum" id="Page_71">[Pg 71]</span> always disliked West. The first time that -he met the fellow he had felt an instinctive mistrust of him. Now the -dislike had become so bitter that he could hardly keep from showing it. -Sometimes, indeed, he did not try to hide it, and it seemed as if West -only pretended that he did not observe it; or as if, indeed, it only -amused him. Briggs recalled, with helpless misery, the steps by which -he had bound himself to one of those men who used their knowledge of -the law to spread corruption in politics. He had come to Washington -full of ambition and eager for reform, with an inspiring sense that he -had been chosen to be a leader in a great work. Soon he discovered how -small an influence he was able to exert. After a few months, however, -his personal qualities, his faculty of putting himself on confidential -terms with people, made friends for him even in the opposition party. -The first time he spoke in the House, his remarks, faltering and -vague, had made a poor impression. At that trying moment his ease and -eloquence had left him. For several months he was too discouraged to -try again. He found it easy, as many another man had done, to drift -with the political tide. One day, however, he suddenly lost his -self-consciousness in a debate<span class="pagenum" id="Page_72">[Pg 72]</span> on a pension bill in which he had been -taking a deep interest. He threw himself into it with vehemence, making -two speeches that were reproduced in part by nearly all the big papers -in the country. Those speeches gave him a national reputation. The -leaders in Congress took an interest in him; their wives discovered -that Mrs. Briggs was worth knowing. He felt more pride in his wife’s -success than in his own. He became dissatisfied with his hotel rooms -and took a house that proved to be nearly twice as expensive as he -thought it could possibly be. In return for hospitalities he had to -give elaborate entertainments. His wife remonstrated; he reassured her, -and she trusted him. At the end of the year he owed fifteen thousand -dollars.</p> - -<p>It was then that he had first met Franklin West. He recalled now with -shame his own ingenuous dealings with the lobbyist. In spite of his -misgivings, he had accepted the fellow’s offer of help; he had placed -himself under such obligations that only two courses were open to him, -both, as it seemed, dishonorable—to go into bankruptcy and to ruin -his future career, or to become West’s agent, his tool. At the time, -he thought he was making a choice between two evils, and he tried<span class="pagenum" id="Page_73">[Pg 73]</span> to -justify himself by the exigencies of the situation and by the plea that -his public services more than justified his course. After all, if the -Government did not pay its legislators enough to enable them to live as -they must live in Washington, it was only fair that the matter should -be squared. But it was only in his worst moments that he resorted to -this argument.</p> - -<p>Like most buoyant natures, Douglas Briggs often had sudden attacks -of depression. His talk with Farley, followed by the interview with -Franklin West, had taken away all his enthusiasm. Farley, he thought -bitterly, had just said that this was a great night for him. Yes, it -was a great night. It advertised him before the country as one of -the most successful men in Washington and one of the richest men in -Congress. What if the papers did ask where he got his money? They were -always asking such questions about public men. He need have no fear of -them. It was from himself that his punishment must come.</p> - -<p>The opening of the new house, this magnificent ball—what real -satisfaction could it give him? He could not feel even the elation of -victory. He had won no victory. This ball, this house, stood for his -defeat, his failure, for the failure that<span class="pagenum" id="Page_74">[Pg 74]</span> meant a life of deceit, of -concealment, of covert hypocrisy. Even from the woman he loved beyond -the hope of salvation he must hide his real self. He must let her -think he was someone else, the man she wished him to be, the man she -had tried to make him. Their children, too, would be taught by her, he -would teach them himself, to honor him. They would learn the principles -by which he must be judged.</p> -<hr class="chap" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_75">[Pg 75]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="V">V</h2> -</div> - - -<p>“What’s the matter, dear?”</p> - -<p>Douglas Briggs looked up quickly. “Oh, is that you, Helen?” He smiled -into his wife’s face and took her hand. In spite of her matronly figure -Helen Briggs did not look her thirty-five years. She had the bright -eyes and the fresh coloring of a girl.</p> - -<p>“I stole away just for a minute,” she said. “I got so tired of smiling.”</p> - -<p>“So did I. Come over here and let me kiss the tired place.” She -took a seat beside her husband and turned her cheek toward him, -with the amused patience of the married woman who has ceased to be -demonstrative. “I know the feeling,” said her husband, with his fingers -at the corners of his mouth. “Muscles in here.”</p> - -<p>Helen sighed. “Horrid, isn’t it?”</p> - -<p>“Well, it’s all part of the game, I suppose. Whew!”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_76">[Pg 76]</span></p> - -<p>“What was that for?” she asked, quickly.</p> - -<p>Briggs patted her hand. “Nothing, dear, nothing. They say it’s a great -success.”</p> - -<p>“I was frightened about the supper; but everything has gone off well.”</p> - -<p>Briggs looked into his wife’s face. “Helen, sometimes I wonder what -would become of me if it weren’t for you.”</p> - -<p>“What a foolish thing to say, Douglas!”</p> - -<p>“Someone told me to-night that I’d been successful here in Washington -because I had such a popular wife. I guess there was a good deal of -truth in that.”</p> - -<p>She drew her hand away and let it rest on her lap. “Nonsense! You’ve -succeeded because you’ve worked hard, and because you’ve had the -courage of your convictions.”</p> - -<p>“Oh!” In the dim light she could not see the change of expression in -his face.</p> - -<p>“And I suppose you’ve had a little ability, too,” she conceded, with a -smile.</p> - -<p>For a moment they sat in silence.</p> - -<p>“Helen!” he said.</p> - -<p>“Well?”</p> - -<p>“Sometimes I feel as if I hadn’t a shred of character left, as if I -couldn’t stand this political<span class="pagenum" id="Page_77">[Pg 77]</span> life any longer, with its insincerities, -its intrigues, its indecencies. Now, these people here to-night—what -do they care about us? Nothing. They come here, and they eat and drink -and dance, and then they go away and blacken my character.”</p> - -<p>She turned quickly, with astonishment in her face. “Why, Douglas!”</p> - -<p>“I shouldn’t talk like this, dear, especially at this time, when you -have so much on your mind.” He took her hand again and held it tightly. -“Helen, do you ever wonder if it’s worth while—all this?”</p> - -<p>“This display, do you mean?”</p> - -<p>“Yes; this society business. I’m sick of it. Sometimes it makes -me—well, it makes me long for those old days in Waverly, when we were -so happy together. Even if we were poor we had each other, didn’t we?”</p> - -<p>“Yes.”</p> - -<p>“And we had our ambitions and our foolish aspirations. They helped to -make us happy.”</p> - -<p>She drew closer to him. “But they weren’t foolish, Douglas. That is, -yours weren’t. And think how you’ve realized all you hoped for already!”</p> - -<p>Douglas Briggs drew a long breath. “Yes,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_78">[Pg 78]</span> I’ve got what I wanted. But -the reality is considerably different from what I thought it was going -to be. I suppose that’s true of nearly every kind of success. We have -to pay for it some way. Why, Helen, there are whole days when you and I -don’t have five minutes together!”</p> - -<p>“That’s because you have so much to do, dear. I used to mind it at -first. But then I saw it couldn’t be helped.”</p> - -<p>“And you’ve been too good to complain. I’ve understood that all along.”</p> - -<p>“I didn’t want to stand in the way of your work, Douglas. I could -afford to make a few sacrifices, after all you’d done for me.”</p> - -<p>“Never mind. Just as soon as I can break away from Washington we’ll -have a good long holiday. If Congress doesn’t hang on till Summer, -perhaps we can take a little trip abroad. We’ll go to Scotland and hunt -up those people of yours that your father was always talking about. -Then we’ll run over to Paris and perhaps see a bit of Switzerland. -We’ll send the children with Miss Munroe to Waverly and then we’ll -pretend we’re on our honeymoon again. You need the rest and the change -as much as I do, dear—more. We’ll forget about everything that -has<span class="pagenum" id="Page_79">[Pg 79]</span> bothered us since we began to be prosperous. We’ll be boy and -girl again, Helen. Why, we haven’t grown a day older since we were -married—in our feelings, I mean—and to me you’re just as young and as -pretty as you were that afternoon in your father’s study when I told -you I couldn’t get along without you.”</p> - -<p>She had allowed her head to rest on his shoulder. “Douglas!” she -whispered. “Don’t be so silly.”</p> - -<p>He bent forward and kissed her on the forehead. “And do you remember -what you said when I told you that?”</p> - -<p>“What did I say?” she asked, with a smile.</p> - -<p>“You said you’d rather be poor with me than the richest woman in -the world without me. You were a very romantic little girl in those -days, weren’t you? And then I made up my mind to make a great place -for you. That’s the only real happiness that has come out of my luck -here, Helen—seeing you respected and admired by these great people in -Washington, the famous men we used to talk about and wonder if we’d -ever know.” He stopped; then he went on, in a lower voice: “Some of -them I know a little too well now. Oh, ho!” he sighed, “I’m afraid I’m<span class="pagenum" id="Page_80">[Pg 80]</span> -growing pessimistic. It can’t be I’m getting old without realizing it. -See these two lines that are coming on my forehead. They grow deeper -and deeper with every session of Congress.”</p> - -<p>“They’ll go away when you take your vacation, Douglas,” she said, -reassuringly.</p> - -<p>“And you haven’t a line in your face, dear,” he said, looking at her -with a husband’s proprietary pride.</p> - -<p>She shook her head. “Oh, yes, around the eyes. They’re plain enough -when I’m tired.”</p> - -<p>“No matter, you always look the same to me. I sha’n’t ever see ’em,” -he went on, exultingly. Then he sighed again. “What a fine thing it -would be if we could give our poor brains a vacation, if we could only -stop thinking for a few weeks! But for some of us the waking up would -be—well, it wouldn’t be cheerful. Helen, the other night I dreamed -that we were back in the little cottage in Waverly, where we lived -during the first year of our marriage. I could see the old-fashioned -kitchen stove and the queer little furniture, and your father’s -portrait over the mantel in the parlor. It all seemed so cheerful -and restful and happy and innocent. There you were, in that pretty -little house dress you used to wear—the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_81">[Pg 81]</span> one I liked, you know, with -the little flowers worked in it. We were just two youngsters again, -and it seemed good to be there with you all alone. Then I woke up, -and a thousand worries began to buzz around my head like an army of -mosquitoes, and I had that awful sinking of the heart that you feel -after you come back from a pleasant dream and have to face reality -again.”</p> - -<p>“You mustn’t think of those things, Douglas.”</p> - -<p>“Mustn’t think of them? Why, they’re the things that keep me happy. If -I didn’t think about those days and expect to live them over again some -time, I believe I’d lose courage.”</p> - -<p>“No, you wouldn’t, Douglas. You just imagine that.”</p> - -<p>He laughed, patting her arm. “My dear practical little wife, what a -help you are! Do you know, I feel as if I had always been married. I -was thinking of that the other day. I can’t think of myself any more as -not married. I can’t think of myself as apart from you. Have you ever -felt that way?”</p> - -<p>She looked into his face and smiled.</p> - -<p>“Ever since the very first day we became engaged,” she said, and he -leaned forward and started to clasp her in his arms, when they heard<span class="pagenum" id="Page_82">[Pg 82]</span> -a rustle of leaves behind them. Instinctively they drew away from each -other. Then they heard Fanny Wallace exclaim:</p> - -<p>“Oh, here they are!”</p> - -<p>Fanny was out of breath, and young Fullerton was waving his -handkerchief before his face. They had evidently been dancing -desperately.</p> - -<p>“Oh, Auntie,” the girl panted, after a moment, “the great Mrs. -Senator Aspinwall is going, and she’s looking around for you, to say -good-night. What in the world are you doing here?”</p> - -<p>“<abbr title="Mister">Mr.</abbr> Stone is moping in the drawing-room, sir,” said Guy, respectfully. -“He looks as if he wanted to eat somebody’s head off.”</p> - -<p>Briggs smiled and passed his hand over his face. “I don’t believe Stone -enjoys parties. He feels more at home at his club. I suppose we ought -to go, Helen.” He rose wearily and stretched out his arms. “What a bore -it is!” he said. “I suppose we’ll have to stop and speak to some of -those people in the ballroom,” he whispered, noticing a group that had -just come downstairs.</p> - -<p>As soon as they had left the conservatory Fanny turned to her -companion. “Uncle and Auntie are just like lovers, aren’t they? Do you<span class="pagenum" id="Page_83">[Pg 83]</span> -suppose you’ll be like that when you’ve been married ten years?”</p> - -<p>Guy lost no time in seizing the advantage. “That’ll depend a good deal -on you,” he said, insinuatingly.</p> - -<p>Fanny drew back from him and tried to look taller. “What a horrid thing -to say! You make me very uncomfortable when you talk like that.” But -she could not maintain a severe demeanor for more than a moment. “Isn’t -it beautiful to be allowed to stay up just as late as you please!” she -exclaimed, rapturously. “It makes me feel really grown. It’s almost as -good as wearing long dresses. Just listen to that music, will you?” -She struck an attitude, her arms extended. “Want to try?” she asked, -holding her hands toward the young fellow.</p> - -<p>He fairly dived into her arms, and they swung about together, brushing -against the palm leaves and breathing hard. Suddenly she thrust him -back from her and continued alone.</p> - -<p>“You haven’t improved a bit. Oh-h-h!”</p> - -<p>From the waltz Fanny broke into a Spanish dance she had learned -at school, using her fan with a skill that caused Guy to applaud -enthusiastically. “Oh, isn’t it great!” she cried. “I<span class="pagenum" id="Page_84">[Pg 84]</span> could dance like -this all night. Look out! Don’t get in my way and spoil it!” While in -the midst of one of her most elaborate effects, she suddenly stopped. A -voice had just exclaimed:</p> - -<p>“What in the world are you two people doing?”</p> - -<p>Fanny turned and confronted a large, smooth-faced, white-haired old -gentleman, who was looking down in astonishment from the head of the -steps.</p> - -<p>“Oh, is that you, dad?” she said, tossing back her hair. “I’m just -practising being in society. How d’you like it?” Then she went on, -glancing at Guy: “Oh, you haven’t met dad, have you? Well, this is -<em>It</em>, dad—<abbr title="Mister">Mr.</abbr> Fullerton, <abbr title="Mister">Mr.</abbr> Guy Fullerton.”</p> - -<p>Jonathan Wallace walked deliberately down the steps and offered Guy his -hand. “How do you do, sir?” he said, with ponderous gravity.</p> - -<p>Before Guy had a chance to speak Fanny broke in: “<abbr title="Mister">Mr.</abbr> Fullerton’s -the young man I’ve been writing to you about—the one that’s been so -attentive this Winter. Here, come and let me fix that tie of yours.” -She gave her father’s tie a deft twist and patted the broad shoulders.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_85">[Pg 85]</span> -“There! That’s better. Now they’d never know you come from the country.”</p> - -<p>Wallace turned to Guy. The expression in his flushed face began to -soften. “You mustn’t mind <em>her</em>,” he said, quietly. “She’s always -letting her tongue run away with her. We let her talk to keep her out -of worse mischief.”</p> - -<p>Fanny walked over to Guy, who looked as if he were trying hard to -think of something worth saying. “Well, you <em>have</em> been paying -me attentions, haven’t you, Guy?” she said, her voice growing tender -as she finished the question. Then she triumphantly exclaimed to her -father: “Now!”</p> - -<p>Guy was plainly embarrassed. He tried to assume a careless air. “Oh, -yes, I’ve been giving Miss Fanny all my spare time,” he replied, -entering into the joke.</p> - -<p>The face of Jonathan Wallace grew severe again. “You could find better -use for your time, I haven’t a doubt,” he said, without looking at -the young fellow. “Well, sis, I’m going home. I’ve had enough of this -rabble. I’ve rubbed up against politicians enough in the past half-hour -to make me hate my country. To hear ’em talk you’d think the country’d -been invented to support<span class="pagenum" id="Page_86">[Pg 86]</span> their families. This is the most selfish -town I’ve ever been in. It’s every man for himself and nobody for his -neighbor.”</p> - -<p>“There is a lot of wire-pulling going on here, that’s true, sir,” said -Guy.</p> - -<p>“Wire-pulling!” Wallace’s face expressed a profound scorn. “There was -a fellow in the other room mistook me for the Secretary of State, and -he buttonholed me for half an hour, talking about the benefit he could -confer on the country by being made Minister to Austria. Minister to -Austria! I wouldn’t give him a job as an errand boy in my factory.”</p> - -<p>Fanny threw her arms around her father’s neck. “Poor old dad! he does -have such a hard time whenever he comes to Washington. Don’t you, dad?”</p> - -<p>She drew her hands away and danced behind Wallace’s broad back, -jumping on her toes and smiling satirically over his shoulder at young -Fullerton, who had assumed his gravest expression.</p> - -<p>“Then there’s another fellow,” Wallace went on, addressing the boy, -“who’s been trying to work me because I am related to Briggs’s wife. I -forget what he wanted, now. Some job in New York. If I had to stay in -this town ten days at a<span class="pagenum" id="Page_87">[Pg 87]</span> stretch I’d lose my reason. Talk about serving -the country! Rifling the country is what those fellows are doing. If I -had the power I’d clap the whole gang of ’em in jail.”</p> - -<p>“Dad, you are very cross to-night,” said Fanny, decidedly. “You’d -better go home. Think how I feel, having you talk like that before this -rising young politician.”</p> - -<p>“Well, sir, if you intend to make a politician of yourself I’m sorry -for you. I’m going, sis.”</p> - -<p>Fanny seized him by the lapel of his coat and kissed him twice. “All -right. Get your beauty sleep,” she said, protectingly. “Good-night. And -be sure to put on your scarf and turn up the collar of your coat. I’ll -go down to the hotel and take breakfast with you to-morrow if I wake up -in time.”</p> - -<p>“Better be sensible and stay in bed,” Wallace grumbled.</p> - -<p>“Good-night,” Fanny repeated.</p> - -<p>Wallace bowed to Guy. “Good-night, sir,” he said, as he turned to go -out.</p> - -<p>“Isn’t he a lovely father?” said Fanny. “Oh, you needn’t be afraid -of him. I just do this to him,” she exclaimed, twirling her little -finger—“except—oh,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_88">[Pg 88]</span> I know when to let him alone. Sometimes he’s -dangerous. Oh, here comes Aunt Helen and that horrid <abbr title="Mister">Mr.</abbr> West. What do -you suppose would happen if <abbr title="Mister">Mr.</abbr> West took his smile off? D’you suppose -there’d be anything left?”</p> - -<p>Helen Briggs looked surprised at seeing the girl. “Your uncle told me -you had gone away with Mrs. McShane, Fanny,” she said.</p> - -<p>“Oh, she found Madame Alphonsine, the dressmaker,” Fanny replied. “So I -wasn’t any use.”</p> - -<p>West glanced significantly at the young people. “I hope we aren’t -interrupting a <em xml:lang="fr" lang="fr">tête-à-tête</em>,” he said, with exaggerated -politeness.</p> - -<p>Guy tried to assume a careless air. “Oh, not at all, not at all,” he -said, grandly. He objected to West’s amiable air of patronage.</p> - -<p>“Let’s go into the ballroom, Guy,” Fanny whispered.</p> - -<p>Guy hesitated. He looked wistfully at Helen. “Can I do anything for -you, Mrs. Briggs?”</p> - -<p>Helen shook her head. “Just amuse yourself, that’s all.”</p> - -<p>Fanny seized the boy by the arm and drew him toward the steps.</p> - -<p>“Guy’s always trying to earn his salary. I<span class="pagenum" id="Page_89">[Pg 89]</span> never knew anyone that -worried so much about it.”</p> - -<p>West took a seat on the wicker divan beside Helen. “He’s an exception -here in Washington, then, isn’t he?” he remarked.</p> - -<p>“He’s a good, conscientious boy. I sometimes wonder if this Washington -life isn’t hurting him.”</p> - -<p>“There’s so much wickedness here, do you mean?”</p> - -<p>“So much wasting time,” Helen replied, seriously.</p> - -<p>West drew one of the palm leaves between his fingers. “Don’t you think -you are—well, just a little too scrupulous about these matters?” he -asked, keeping his eyes turned from Helen’s face.</p> - -<p>Helen laughed. “That’s what Douglas is always saying. You aren’t going -to blame me, too, are you?”</p> - -<p>West let the palm spring back from his hand. He tried to look serious. -“I should be the last man in the world to blame you for anything, Mrs. -Briggs,” he said, softly. “I admire you too much as you are.”</p> - -<p>Helen took her fan from her lap. He could see that her face had -flushed. “Aren’t we complimentary<span class="pagenum" id="Page_90">[Pg 90]</span> to-night!” she said, with a smile. -“Do you often say things like that?”</p> - -<p>“No. I’m not much of a hand at paying compliments.” West leaned -back and took a long breath. “Besides, it would be very hard to pay -compliments to a woman like you.” He leaned forward and allowed both -his hands to fall to his knees. “Do you know why?” he went on. “Because -you are one of the few women I’ve met whom I really respect. I pay you -the compliment,” he laughed, “of telling you nothing but the truth.”</p> - -<p>“That’s the best compliment any woman could be paid, isn’t it?” said -Helen, fanning herself nervously.</p> - -<p>West leaned toward her. “But there are some things I have never quite -dared to tell you,” he remarked, in a low voice and with a smiling lift -of the eyebrows. “I’ve never dared, because—well, perhaps they would -be too interesting. There are some things, you know, that it’s very -hard for a man to say to a woman, especially to a woman like you.”</p> - -<p>“They are usually the things that are better left unsaid, aren’t they?” -Helen remarked, quietly.</p> - -<p>“Perhaps.” He spoke slowly, as if trying to<span class="pagenum" id="Page_91">[Pg 91]</span> keep his voice steady. -“But sometimes it is almost as hard not to say them. It isn’t always -necessary to put them into words, you know. They say themselves in a -thousand ways—in a look, a tone of the voice, in the lightest touch of -the hand.”</p> - -<p>Helen sat suddenly upright. “You are in a very sentimental mood -to-night, aren’t you, <abbr title="Mister">Mr.</abbr> West? I’m prepared to receive all kinds of -confidences.” Her assumption of gayety was betrayed by the expression -of her eyes.</p> - -<p>“I was going to tell you something,” West acknowledged. “I think I will -tell you. I’m in love. I’m in love with the most fascinating woman in -Washington.”</p> - -<p>“We all know who that is,” said Helen, smiling. “But aren’t you afraid -of the Senator? They say he’s a wonderful shot.”</p> - -<p>West looked injured. “You’re laughing at me now, aren’t you?”</p> - -<p>“It’s very hard to take you seriously sometimes, <abbr title="Mister">Mr.</abbr> West.”</p> - -<p>West apparently did not notice the suggestion of satire in Helen’s -voice. He did show impatience, however, at the interruption that took -place as soon as Helen had spoken.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_92">[Pg 92]</span></p> - -<p>“Here she is! Everybody is looking for you, Auntie! Uncle Douglas is -out on the terrace with <abbr title="Mister">Mr.</abbr> Stone, and there’s a whole raft of people -waiting to say good-night in the drawing-room and in the hall.”</p> - -<p>Fanny Wallace made a pretty picture as she stood half-hidden by the -foliage. Her faithful attendant waited in the background.</p> - -<p>Helen rose and turned to West, who offered his arm. “Shall we go? I’m -afraid I’m behaving very badly to-night,” she said.</p> -<hr class="chap" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_93">[Pg 93]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="VI">VI</h2> -</div> - - -<p>In the drawing-room Douglas Briggs found Stone standing disconsolate in -a corner. The Boss was plainly out of his element. The politicians who -stood near him either had no personal acquaintance with him or belonged -to the opposition party. One of these, indeed, the white-haired Senator -from Virginia, had recently made a bitter attack on him in a magazine -article. It was the first attack that had persuaded Stone to break -silence under censure, and the bitterness of his reply showed how -deeply he had been hurt. He seemed now to be ostentatiously unconscious -of his enemy’s presence; but when the host appeared his face assumed a -look of intense relief.</p> - -<p>“I’ve been looking all over the place for you,” said Briggs, fibbing, -as he often did, to cover a momentary embarrassment. The presence of -Jim Stone in his house on so conspicuous an occasion, had caused him -considerable perturbation.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_94">[Pg 94]</span> He knew, however, that the Boss had come -out of personal friendliness and as a mark of special favor.</p> - -<p>Stone had no small-talk, and stood in silence waiting for Briggs to -make a statement that might lead up to a discussion of their mutual -interests.</p> - -<p>“Have you seen my wife?” Briggs asked, glancing vaguely about the room, -though he knew perfectly well she had gone back to the conservatory -with West. A few moments before Helen had mentioned that Stone had -shaken hands with her, without, however, entering into conversation.</p> - -<p>“Yes, I saw her when I came in,” the Boss replied, indifferently. The -animated scene in which he found himself evidently annoyed him.</p> - -<p>“Suppose we walk out on the balcony,” said Briggs, desperately. Stone -nodded, and they slowly made their way through the crowd, Stone -without speaking and looking straight ahead, and Briggs exchanging a -few smiling words with those of his guests whom he could remember by -name. At his wife’s parties he frequently sustained long conversations -with people whom he could not remember to have seen before, but whom -he impressed by his interest and friendliness. It was this faculty of -being agreeable that<span class="pagenum" id="Page_95">[Pg 95]</span> made enthusiastic young girls say of him: “When -he is talking with you, you feel that you’re the only person in the -world he cares anything about.”</p> - -<p>His natural keenness and his long experience with men of Stone’s type -made it plain to Briggs that the Boss had in mind something that he -wished to discuss. He decided to give Stone an opening.</p> - -<p>“I see by the papers to-night that you’re leaving town to-morrow.”</p> - -<p>“Yes; I shall take the noon train,” Stone replied, dropping into a seat -where he could look down the wide avenue. The air was warm and heavy, -and the electric light fell in soft showers through the foliage of the -trees. Hansom cabs and coupés were passing along the asphalt pavement. -Around the canopy leading across the sidewalk to the front door the -group of unwearied curiosity-seekers watched the departing guests. -Stone observed these details as if they had no interest for him. He had -the curious eyes of the man who seems to be always looking within.</p> - -<p>“I must be getting over to New York myself pretty soon,” Briggs -remarked, tentatively.</p> - -<p>“You’ll find some people there who’ll be glad to<span class="pagenum" id="Page_96">[Pg 96]</span> see you.” For the -first time in their talk Stone showed interest. “The boys would like to -talk over a few matters with you. They don’t like the way things are -going lately.”</p> - -<p>“I’m sorry to hear that,” said Briggs, quietly.</p> - -<p>“They think you’re going back on ’em.”</p> - -<p>For a moment they listened to the clatter of the horses’ hoofs in the -street. Then Briggs asked: “What has given them that impression?”</p> - -<p>“Well, they say you’re getting too high and mighty for ’em. You ain’t -looking out for their interests. They say you’ve been making altogether -too many concessions to the kid-glove fellows.” Now that Stone had -escaped from the drawing-room he was limbering up, getting back his -usual confidence and his air of authority.</p> - -<p>“I don’t believe I quite know just what they mean by that,” Briggs -said, with a laugh.</p> - -<p>“Oh, I guess you do,” Stone went on, easily. “That is, you will,” -he explained, suddenly realizing that he was a guest talking to his -host, “if you take a little time to think it over. I knew what they -meant, and I’d been thinking pretty much the same things myself. The -only trouble with you, Briggs, is, you’re too easy. You don’t<span class="pagenum" id="Page_97">[Pg 97]</span> seem to -remember that we’re not in politics for our health. Those fellows think -we ought to do all our work for glory. They’ve got plenty of money -themselves, and they believe we ought to get along without any.”</p> - -<p>“I suppose there’s some truth in that,” Briggs acknowledged.</p> - -<p>“But don’t you let them fool you,” Stone went on. “They’re in the game -for what they can make, just as you and I are. Bah, I know ’em. When -they want anything from me they come and fawn and lick my boots, just -as the dirtiest of my heelers do. Then, when they find I won’t budge, -they call me a thief and a scoundrel. I’ve observed, though, that in -spite of being the most abused man in the country I manage to run -things pretty much as I choose. Now you take warning by me. I can see -plain enough that you are getting farther and farther away from the -party. If you don’t look out you’ll find yourself high and dry. If you -lost your grip on the machine, d’you suppose the kid-glove crowd would -have any use for you? Not a bit of it.”</p> - -<p>Briggs kept silence for a moment. In the presence of this man he -felt curiously helpless. Whatever might be said against Stone as a -public influence,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_98">[Pg 98]</span> there was no doubt that he was a man of force and -self-confidence.</p> - -<p>“Still,” Briggs said at last, “I’ve got to stand by my convictions, <abbr title="Mister">Mr.</abbr> -Stone.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, keep your convictions! But don’t let them make you forget you’re -here in Washington because your party sent you here. Now, if you -do what your party wants you’ll be all right. If you pull off your -renomination next Fall you’ll have to do something for the boys. They -won’t have any more shilly-shallying. I know that, because I’ve heard -them say so.”</p> - -<p>Briggs smiled grimly. “Well, sir, I must say I appreciate your -frankness.”</p> - -<p>Now that Stone had delivered his warning, the significance of which he -knew Briggs would fully appreciate, his manner softened. “I say these -things to you because I like you. You’re a credit to the machine. -You’ve done mighty well here for a young man. Only don’t forget that it -was the machine that made you. That’s the point. Well, it’s about time -for me to be going. You’ve got a fine place here. By Jove! I envy you -myself.”</p> - -<p>Douglas Briggs did not stir. He was thinking hard. The loss of -his renomination in the Autumn<span class="pagenum" id="Page_99">[Pg 99]</span> had not occurred to him even as a -possibility. He had believed that, with Stone’s support, he was firmly -established in New York.</p> - -<p>“It’s very early yet, <abbr title="Mister">Mr.</abbr> Stone,” he remarked, absently, following his -guest back into the house.</p> -<hr class="chap" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_100">[Pg 100]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="VII">VII</h2> -</div> - - -<p>As this evening marked her first “grown-up party,” Fanny Wallace had -entered with delight into the festivities. She had danced nearly all -the dances, most of them with Guy Fullerton, who stood at the door of -the ballroom and watched her hungrily while she was waltzing with other -men. Now she was exhausted, but, in spite of her aunt’s hint, repeated -several times, determined not to go to bed. “Let’s go where we can -be alone,” she said to Guy. “Then you can fan me till I get a little -breath, and entertain me. I’ve done so much talking ever since we got -acquainted I actually don’t know whether you can talk or not.”</p> - -<p>Guy, who liked her little jokes, even when they were directed against -himself, agreed enthusiastically. They passed from room to room, only -to find a group of people in each.</p> - -<p>“I don’t suppose there’s any use in trying the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_101">[Pg 101]</span> library,” said Fanny at -last, with a sigh. “But perhaps no one’s there. It’s about time people -were going home, anyway,” she added, tartly.</p> - -<p>On entering the library she uttered a cry of delight. “Not a soul!” she -exclaimed. “Isn’t all this leather furniture nice? I just love green -leather. I made Auntie promise that she’d have it. Here, you fix this -big chair for me, and bring up that foot-rest. Yes, that’s it. Oh, I do -wish they wouldn’t make furniture so <em>tall</em>. There, that’s lovely! -Now you can sit on that chair—yes, that one, and don’t bring it too -near, please. That’s right.” She sank back luxuriously and folded her -hands in her lap. “Now you can tell me—let me see, what can you tell -me? Oh, talk to me about your life at Harvard. You haven’t told me half -enough about that.”</p> - -<p>“Well, there isn’t much to tell,” said Guy, with a smile, as he stroked -his thick, blond hair.</p> - -<p>“There isn’t? Well, you ought to be ashamed to say so. Did you work -<em>very</em> hard?”</p> - -<p>“Well, not <em>very</em>,” Guy replied, with an amused glance from his -blue eyes.</p> - -<p>“What did you do, then?”</p> - -<p>“Oh, I did lots of things.”</p> - -<p>“Such as what?”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_102">[Pg 102]</span></p> - -<p>“Well, the best thing I did was to make the first ten of the Pudding.”</p> - -<p>“What!” Fanny sat bolt upright.</p> - -<p>“Yes. I made the first ten of the Pudding,” Guy explained, modestly. -“Great, wasn’t it?”</p> - -<p>“What in the world are you talking about? Is it possible you’re guying -me? Well, I’m ashamed. I didn’t think you’d try anything like that on -me!”</p> - -<p>“Oh!” Guy’s face lighted up. “I thought you knew what that meant. -Please excuse me. Why, I wouldn’t guy you for anything in the world. -The Pudding’s one of our crack societies, that’s all, and the men are -elected in batches of ten. It’s a great compliment to be on the first -ten. I was awfully proud of it.”</p> - -<p>Fanny looked humbled. “I’m just a country girl, after all,” she -acknowledged. “And you’re the first Harvard man I’ve ever known. -There!” Suddenly she resumed her usual manner. “Now, don’t you take -me down like that again, Guy Fullerton. If you do I’ll—Well, tell me -about your old society.”</p> - -<p>Guy controlled an impulse to rush over and kiss her. He never loved her -so much as when she bullied him like that, especially if her bullying,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_103">[Pg 103]</span> -as often happened, followed a moment of contrition or self-abasement.</p> - -<p>“Well, it’s all right as a society. The best men in the class belong to -it—that is,” Guy explained, with a blush, “a lot of the fellows are -perfectly fine. Oh, I wish you could have come to my class day!” he -broke out. “A lot of us, together in the gym—that is, the——”</p> - -<p>“Oh, I guess I know what the <em>gymnasium</em> is!” Fanny snapped. “I -suppose you had heaps of girls there!”</p> - -<p>“Oh, yes; heaps!” Guy continued, innocently. “All the fellows said that -we had the prettiest——”</p> - -<p>“Stop!”</p> - -<p>Guy stopped, astonished.</p> - -<p>“I don’t want to hear about your pretty girls.” Fanny turned her head -away, and Guy hesitated. Then she gave him a sidelong glance and one of -her most amiable smiles.</p> - -<p>“Well, never mind,” she conceded. “Tell me about it—girls and all. You -didn’t really care much for any of ’em, did you?”</p> - -<p>Guy met her look with a smile. “Well, I thought I did at the time, but -I’ve changed my mind since.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_104">[Pg 104]</span></p> - -<p>Fanny kicked out her feet. “Oh, the poor things!” she exclaimed. “I -suppose you made ’em think you’d never forget ’em. Well, anyhow there’s -<em>one</em> girl that’s on to you.” She clapped her hand to her mouth. -“Oh, I’m glad dad didn’t hear me say that. He says if I don’t stop -talking slang he’ll cut off my allowance. Well, now go on. Tell me some -more about the Pudding. Why, of course, the <em>Hasty</em> Pudding. I -once went with Aunt Helen to some theatricals they gave in New York. -That was three years ago. Did you ever take part in their theatricals?”</p> - -<p>Guy fairly beamed. “Did I? I was the <em>Princess</em> in ‘The Princess -and the Dwarf.’”</p> - -<p>“A girl’s part!” cried Fanny, with a woman’s horror at discovering even -a remote suggestion of effeminacy in a man she likes.</p> - -<p>“Yes; why not? It was great sport.”</p> - -<p>“But why didn’t they let you be a man?”</p> - -<p>“Oh, they said I’d do better for a girl,” Guy replied, flushing. “You -see, with my smooth face I could make up to look like a girl easily -enough.”</p> - -<p>“It must have been kind of fun,” Fanny acknowledged. Then she asked: -“Did you wear——?—did you?”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_105">[Pg 105]</span></p> - -<p>Guy nodded. “It was awful getting ’em on. They made me hold my breath -till I thought I’d nearly die. Then two of the fellows fastened ’em. I -didn’t draw a comfortable breath the whole evening. Gee! It was fierce.”</p> - -<p>Fanny clapped her hands. “Oh, how I wish I could have seen you!”</p> - -<p>“I’ve got some of the pictures,” Guy remarked, tentatively.</p> - -<p>“Here?” Fanny exclaimed.</p> - -<p>“They’re up in my trunk somewhere.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, you mean thing! You’ve had ’em all this time and never showed ’em -to me! Well, that’s just like a man! And you might have known I’d have -given anything to see ’em.”</p> - -<p>“Well, I’ll bring ’em down to-morrow,” Guy promised.</p> - -<p>“And what else did you do in your old club?”</p> - -<p>“Oh, we used to have all kinds of sport,” Guy replied, feeling the -difficulty of explaining to the feminine mind matters exclusively -masculine.</p> - -<p>“And didn’t you do any work at all in college?” Fanny cried, -petulantly, with the exaction of serious accomplishment that all women -make from men.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_106">[Pg 106]</span></p> - -<p>“Ye-e-s,” Guy replied. “I used to work pretty hard at examination -times. But I wasn’t a grind, you know,” he added, quickly, as if -defending himself from a reproach.</p> - -<p>“What’s a grind?”</p> - -<p>“Why, a fellow that does nothing but study—just grubs. It’s awful to -be like that!”</p> - -<p>Fanny sat upright again.</p> - -<p>“Well, I declare!” she said. Then she sighed. “You’re the funniest -thing!”</p> - -<p>“There were some fellows I knew,” Guy conceded, “who could do a lot of -work and yet go in for all the society things; but they were wonders. -I never pretended to be much at study, you know. If I got through my -‘exams’ by the skin of my teeth I considered myself lucky.”</p> - -<p>Fanny looked at him thoughtfully. “Well, you’re kind of a nice boy, -just the same.” She cuddled in the corner of the chair and crossed her -arms, her hands clasping her shoulders. “I never was much at lessons -myself,” she admitted. Then she turned quickly toward the door. -“<em>’Sh!</em> I see some people coming.”</p> - -<p>From the hall they heard a woman’s voice. “Well, I declare! I feel -played out. I’ve done nothing but bump against people all the evening;<span class="pagenum" id="Page_107">[Pg 107]</span> -all kinds of people, too. I never saw so many nationalities in all my -life.”</p> - -<p>“It’s Mrs. Burrell,” Fanny whispered. “You know her, don’t you?—that -queer old woman from Maine, with the three daughters. Let’s go out.”</p> - -<p>Mrs. Burrell had entered the room, and started on discovering Guy. -Fanny was hidden behind the back of her chair. “Excuse me, if we’re -intruding,” she said to Guy, with effusive politeness and a bow that -somehow suggested an intended curtsey.</p> - -<p>Fanny lifted her head like a Jack-in-the-box. “Oh, not at all, Mrs. -Burrell. How d’you do?”</p> - -<p>The old woman started. “How you scared me!”</p> - -<p>Three young girls had come into the room, followed by a youth whose -deep black and carefully curled mustache at once revealed his race. A -shriveled little man with thin white hair and beardless, wrinkled face, -enlivened by a pair of keen eyes, walked loosely behind.</p> - -<p>Fanny nodded to the girls and rose from her seat. The Frenchman greeted -her with an elaborate bow. Guy looked uncomfortable, but Fanny did -not try to relieve his embarrassment<span class="pagenum" id="Page_108">[Pg 108]</span> by introducing him. It was Mrs. -Burrell who broke the silence.</p> - -<p>“Ain’t it fine here to-night?” she said. “Well, Washington’s a -wonderful place! Here’s Emeline’s been speakin’ French to Musseer de -Lange on one side, and Gladys has been talking German to—” She looked -round at the girls. “Where is he?” she asked.</p> - -<p>“I think we have lost ’eem in the crowd,” the Frenchman explained, with -a look of distress on his face. He had evidently been having a hard -time.</p> - -<p>“I guess Gladys’s German was too much for him,” said the tallest and -the least pretty of the girls.</p> - -<p>“I’ve asked you not to say things like that, Carrie Cora,” said Mrs. -Burrell.</p> - -<p>The old gentleman, who had been looking with a dazed expression at the -book-shelves and at the etchings on the walls, now spoke for the first -time, turning, with a smile, to Fanny.</p> - -<p>“Carrie Cora an’ I are the plain ones of the family,” he said. “English -is good enough for us.”</p> - -<p>Mrs. Burrell sank into one of the leather chairs. “Well, it’s kind of a -relief to get out of<span class="pagenum" id="Page_109">[Pg 109]</span> that crowd. You go over there, Emeline, an’ go on -talkin’ French with musseer.”</p> - -<p>The look of distress deepened in the face of the Frenchman, who, -however, made a place for the girl.</p> - -<p>Fanny had edged toward Guy. “Let’s get away,” she whispered. “We -haven’t had more than ten minutes alone the whole evening.”</p> - -<p>Guy’s face brightened. “I don’t believe there’s anyone in the -conservatory.”</p> - -<p>As Fanny started for the door she asked: “Aren’t you girls dancing?”</p> - -<p>Mrs. Burrell answered for them: “I’ve been urgin’ them, but they won’t.”</p> - -<p>“I don’t know how,” the eldest girl explained, with a note of -resentment in her voice, which her mother at once detected.</p> - -<p>“I should think you’d be ashamed to say so, Carrie Cora, after all them -lessons last Winter.”</p> - -<p>“It’s too hot in there,” said Gladys, who, being the prettiest, -evidently considered that she need not try very hard to be amiable.</p> - -<p>“Well, good-bye,” said Fanny, unceremoniously. “Come on, Guy.”</p> - -<p>Mrs. Burrell followed the slim figure with an envious look in her eyes. -“Ain’t she the bright<span class="pagenum" id="Page_110">[Pg 110]</span> little thing?” she remarked, addressing her -husband. “I wish our girls was more like her. She’ll marry someone ’way -up. You see if she don’t.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, I guess our girls can hold their own against anyone, Sarah,” -Burrell replied.</p> - -<p>“Well, I’m sure they’ve had advantages enough,” Mrs. Burrell grumbled. -“I don’t see why they don’t get more attention, though.”</p> - -<p>Burrell’s eyes sparkled with irritation. “Well, they get attention -enough when they’re to home. That’s where they ought to be.”</p> - -<p>“I just hate to hear you talk like that, father. You don’t seem to have -no ambition for the children.”</p> - -<p>“I’ve brought ’em up respectable, an’ I’ve given ’em enough to eat -an’ drink, an’ I’ve expected ’em to marry decent fellers in their own -station in life. I married a farmer’s daughter, an’ I ain’t had no call -to regret it; an’ what’s good enough for me is good enough for them.”</p> - -<p>Mrs. Burrell refused to be mollified by the compliment. “Well, times -are changed since then, an’ I guess I ain’t a-goin’ to have those -girls’ education wasted. What did we come here to Washington for, -anyway?”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_111">[Pg 111]</span></p> - -<p>“Well, that’s the very question I’ve been askin’ myself ever since we -landed here. What in hell did we come here for? I wish I’d stayed down -in Maine, where I belong. I’m somebody down there. But here the’ ain’t -hardly anybody thinks I’m worth speakin’ to. There’s not a man here -that’s asked me to have a drink with him to-night.”</p> - -<p>Mrs. Burrell rose from her seat with quiet dignity. “If you’re goin’ to -begin to talk like that,” she said, in a low voice, “I’m goin’ home. -I declare, these parties are only an aggravation, anyway. Come on, -girls.” She walked toward the little Frenchman and offered her hand. -“Good-night, musseer,” she said, with a large smile.</p> - -<p>The Frenchman bowed low again. “Good-night, madame.” He touched the -tips of her fingers with his small, gloved hand.</p> - -<p>“I don’t believe I like those Frenchmen,” whispered Mrs. Burrell, as -the family started to leave the room. “You never can tell whether -they’re laughin’ at you or not.”</p> - -<p>“I guess nearly everybody’s beginning to go,” said Carrie Cora, -briskly. “Let’s hurry up, or they’ll think we want to be put out. Oh, -say, look out there, will you? There’s that <abbr title="Mister">Mr.</abbr> West,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_112">[Pg 112]</span> that they say is -so attentive to Mrs. Briggs. He’s been drinking champagne and punch all -the evening. See how red his face is!”</p> - -<p>“Hold your tongue, Carrie Cora,” said Burrell.</p> - -<p>“And talking with Mrs. Briggs, too,” cried the youngest daughter. “Here -they come. Let’s get out of the way. They’ll think we’re spying on -them.”</p> -<hr class="chap" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_113">[Pg 113]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="VIII">VIII</h2> -</div> - - -<p>The Burrells came face to face with their hostess in the wide hall. -“I wondered what had happened to you,” said Helen, leaving West, who -strolled into the billiard-room, and joining the group. “Have the girls -been enjoying themselves?” she asked, turning, with a smile, from the -mother to the three daughters.</p> - -<p>“Oh, yes, we’ve all been having a lovely time!” Mrs. Burrell replied, -her eyes shining with enthusiasm.</p> - -<p>“Oh, yes, lovely!” the girls cried together.</p> - -<p>“Of course,” Mrs. Burrell went on, with a wistful look, “after my -daughters get better acquainted they’ll have more partners.”</p> - -<p>“Ma!” exclaimed Carrie Cora.</p> - -<p>“But let me introduce you to some of the gentlemen,” said Helen, -solicitously. “We’ll go back into the drawing-room.”</p> - -<p>“No,” Burrell interposed. “We must go<span class="pagenum" id="Page_114">[Pg 114]</span> home. We ought to have gone long -ago. I’m sorry not to have had a chance to talk with your husband about -that law case of mine, Mrs. Briggs.”</p> - -<p>“I’ll speak to him about it, <abbr title="Mister">Mr.</abbr> Burrell,” said Helen. “Now that -Congress is nearly ready to adjourn, he’ll have more time. Is it to -come before the New York courts?”</p> - -<p>The old man nodded. “Those New York men have infringed on my patents, -confound ’em! Mrs. Briggs, there ain’t anybody else I’d trust as I do -your husband. He’s been a brick to me ever since I come here. He’s the -only one of the big fellows in Congress that’s taken any notice of me, -an’ I guess I appreciate it. An’ the girls, they think you’re just -perfect.”</p> - -<p>“I’m only sorry I couldn’t do more for you, <abbr title="Mister">Mr.</abbr> Burrell,” said Helen, -with a smile.</p> - -<p>Mrs. Burrell led the way toward the staircase, the others following, -with the exception of Carrie Cora.</p> - -<p>“Oh, Mrs. Briggs!” the girl exclaimed, impulsively, “I have something -to tell you. But I—I mustn’t stay a minute.”</p> - -<p>“What is it, dear?”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_115">[Pg 115]</span></p> - -<p>“He’s come to Washington,” Carrie Cora whispered. “He got here this -morning.”</p> - -<p>“Why didn’t you bring him to-night?”</p> - -<p>“I wanted to,” Carrie Cora replied, breathlessly. “I wanted him to meet -you. I’ve told him so much about you, and what a help you’ve been to -me. But I was afraid of ma. She was furious when he came to the hotel. -He sent his card up, just as bold, and ma didn’t want to let me go down -to see him. But I did. And oh, he’s—he’s just as handsome as ever!”</p> - -<p>She turned her face away, to hide the tears in her eyes.</p> - -<p>“My poor girl,” said Helen, taking her hand.</p> - -<p>It was at an afternoon tea that the strange girl had confided to Helen -Briggs the story of her baffled love-affair. Since that time Helen had -often thought of it with a pity none the less real because it had the -relief of amusement.</p> - -<p>“And he wanted me to go right out, just as I was, and get married. He -said he’d call a carriage.”</p> - -<p>“I’m glad you didn’t, dear,” said Helen, trying to keep from smiling.</p> - -<p>“I think I would have gone—only I just had my every-day dress on, and -I looked horrid! It<span class="pagenum" id="Page_116">[Pg 116]</span> seemed so foolish to go like that. And now I’m -sorry I didn’t. I never shall have the courage again.”</p> - -<p>“You’re sorry?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, because ma says that I’m not to see him any more. She made an -awful fuss. That’s what I wanted to speak to you about. Won’t you -please talk to ma? He’s just as good as he can be, and even if he isn’t -very successful he earns enough for two. That’s all I care about.”</p> - -<p>“But what can I say to your mother, dear? I don’t even know him.”</p> - -<p>Carrie Cora looked down and began to rub the carpet with her foot. -“Well, ma thinks everything of you, and if you’d just—just ask her to -let him come to see me, that would be something. I’m sure she’ll like -him when she understands him better. Pa likes him, but pa is afraid to -oppose ma in anything, except when he gets roused.”</p> - -<p>Helen patted the girl’s hand affectionately. “Well, dear, I’ll go to -see your mother to-morrow. I’ll take her out for a drive. Then we can -have a good talk together.”</p> - -<p>Carrie Cora impulsively threw her arms around Helen’s neck. “Oh, Mrs. -Briggs!” she cried. Then she drew back, ashamed. “It’s silly of me<span class="pagenum" id="Page_117">[Pg 117]</span> to -act like this, isn’t it, before all these people? But I must go now. -They’ll wonder what has happened to me. Good-night, dear Mrs. Briggs.”</p> - -<p>During Helen’s talk with the girl Franklin West had appeared at the -back of the hall with M. de Lange, whom he seemed to know. As soon as -the girl disappeared the two men walked toward Helen.</p> - -<p>The Frenchman drew his heels together and made another of his low -bows, which West observed with the amused superiority of the American, -scornful of decorative politeness.</p> - -<p>“I have been waiting to say good-night, madame. Your reception, it is -most beautiful! The flowers, the pretty women! Ah, you Americans, you -are wonderful!”</p> - -<p>West interposed coolly: “Well, we do things in pretty good style over -here, that’s a fact.”</p> - -<p>M. de Lange looked bewildered. Then his face shone.</p> - -<p>“Ah, yes. It is—it is <em xml:lang="fr" lang="fr">superbe</em>. Such beautiful <em xml:lang="fr" lang="fr">toilettes</em>! -And your women—they are so many—so——”</p> - -<p>West threw back his head. “Yes, we certainly have a great many,” he -said, with a laugh.</p> - -<p>The bewildered look returned to the Frenchman’s<span class="pagenum" id="Page_118">[Pg 118]</span> face. “So many—so -beautiful, I mean, so charming. And so many kinds! So different! Your -Washington—it is a marvel.”</p> - -<p>Helen extended her hand.</p> - -<p>“You are very good to say so. But I’m sorry you’re leaving.”</p> - -<p>“<em xml:lang="fr" lang="fr">Au revoir</em>, madame.” He glanced at West and bowed once more. -“<span xml:lang="fr" lang="fr">Monsieur</span>!”</p> - -<p>West looked relieved. “Perhaps now we can have a moment together,” he -said to Helen. “I have something to say to you. Will you come into the -library?”</p> - -<p>Helen hesitated. “But only for a moment,” she said. When she had -entered the room and taken a seat she asked, in a matter-of-fact tone: -“What is it?”</p> - -<p>“A few moments ago you told me that you weren’t able to make me out,” -West said, slowly.</p> - -<p>Helen smiled good-humoredly. “Not quite that, I think. I hadn’t tried -<em>very</em> hard.”</p> - -<p>“You said you didn’t understand what kind of man I really was.”</p> - -<p>Helen moved uneasily. “I really think I ought to go back. You must tell -me these things some other time.”</p> - -<p>“Wait a minute. I may not have another<span class="pagenum" id="Page_119">[Pg 119]</span> chance to see you alone -to-night. There is something I must say to you now.”</p> - -<p>Helen drew a long breath and turned slightly paler.</p> - -<p>“I must tell you what it means to me to be near you.”</p> - -<p>Helen kept her eyes turned from him. “I don’t understand you,” she -said, quietly.</p> - -<p>West let his hand rest on her arm. “You don’t understand?”</p> - -<p>Helen turned and faced him. “No,” she replied, coldly.</p> - -<p>“Do you mean that you haven’t understood all along how I felt toward -you?” For a moment they faced each other in silence.</p> - -<p>“Please take your hand off my arm,” said Helen.</p> - -<p>“Why don’t you answer?” West insisted.</p> - -<p>Helen drew her arm away.</p> - -<p>“Because, as I have told you before, there are some things that are -better not said.”</p> - -<p>“Then you’ve known?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, I’ve known.” Helen did not flinch. “I’ve suspected.”</p> - -<p>“Why have you allowed me to come here, then?”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_120">[Pg 120]</span></p> - -<p>“Because,” Helen replied, slowly, as if measuring her words, “I thought -you would never dare to speak to me as you’ve just done. And if you go -on I shall have to call my husband. Before that becomes necessary I -must ask you to leave here.”</p> - -<p>West assumed an attitude of contemptuous indifference. “Thank you, but -I prefer to stay.”</p> - -<p>“You will not go?”</p> - -<p>West folded his arms. “No.”</p> - -<p>Helen turned toward the electric bell.</p> - -<p>“Don’t touch that bell,” said West, authoritatively.</p> - -<p>She faced him as if fascinated. He could hear her breathe. “Now, you -won’t call the servants, and you won’t tell your husband anything about -this conversation. In the first place, your servants are really my -servants.”</p> - -<p>Helen shrank back. “Oh!” she said.</p> - -<p>“They are paid with my money,” West went on, with a grim smile. “So I -think I may call them mine.”</p> - -<p>“How contemptible of you!”</p> - -<p>West lifted his shoulders. “Well, perhaps I am contemptible. It all -depends on the point of view, I suppose. Now, you don’t consider your<span class="pagenum" id="Page_121">[Pg 121]</span> -husband contemptible, and yet he’s worse than I am. I don’t pretend to -be any better than I am.”</p> - -<p>“I’ll let you say these things to his face,” Helen replied, starting to -leave the room.</p> - -<p>West stood between her and the door. “If you make a scene here, Mrs. -Briggs, you’ll simply disgrace yourself and you’ll ruin your husband. -Can’t you see what you’re doing? Your husband has been in my pay ever -since he came to Washington. But for me, do you suppose you could live -in all this luxury? Why, this very ball to-night has cost more than -half his salary. All those stories that they tell about him are true, -do you understand?—only they’re not half as bad as the stories I could -tell. If the whole truth were known he’d be held up before all the -country as a thief and a hypocrite. But for me he’d be a petty country -lawyer in the backwoods that you came from. I gave him his chance; -I’ve made him what he is. I’ve favored him more than anyone else in -his position since he came here, for your sake, because I loved you. -He knew that, and he’s been playing on the knowledge.” He released her -hands. “I hope you’re satisfied now.”</p> - -<p>Helen sank weakly into a chair.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_122">[Pg 122]</span></p> - -<p>“Shall I ring for your husband, Mrs. Briggs?” West asked, with -satirical politeness.</p> - -<p>Douglas Briggs, who had just learned from Fanny that his wife was in -the library, happened to be outside, in the hall. He overheard West’s -last remark.</p> - -<p>“Ring for me!” he repeated, as he entered the room. “What’s the matter?”</p> - -<p>“Mrs. Briggs is feeling a little faint, I think,” said West, with -perfect composure. “So I suggested that we send for you.”</p> - -<p>“Are you ill, Helen?” Briggs asked, anxiously.</p> - -<p>“No. It’s—it’s nothing. If you will take me out on the balcony I shall -feel better.” Helen passed her hand over her forehead. “It’s so close -here.”</p> - -<p>Briggs passed his arm around his wife’s waist and walked slowly toward -the door. As he left the room he turned. “Make yourself at home, West,” -he said.</p> - -<p>When they reached the balcony Helen let her hand rest on the rail and -drew a long breath. “It was so dreadfully hot in there!” she said, with -a twinge of conscience at the covert deceit. But she felt she must keep -the cause of her agitation from her husband; at any rate, until she had time to think -and to decide what to do. If she were to speak now of the insult she -had received, she felt sure that nothing would keep Douglas from -attacking West and driving him from the house. She must do everything -she could to prevent a scandal.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_123">[Pg 123]</span></p> - -<p class="center p0 p2"><span class="figcenter" id="img003"> - <img src="images/i003.jpg" class="w75" alt="I don’t pretend to be any better than I -am." /> -</span></p> -<p class="center caption">“‘<em>I don’t pretend to be any better than I -am.</em>’”<br /></p> - -<p>“We’ll have to send you back to Waverly, dear, and get some more color -into those cheeks of yours.” Briggs took his wife’s hand. “Why, you’re -trembling!” he said.</p> - -<p>“Oh, it’s nothing, dear, nothing. I shall feel perfectly well in a -minute.” She let him draw her close to him, and they stood together in -silence. “We must go back, Douglas. Some of the people must be looking -for us. I’m all right now.”</p> - -<p>“If you feel faint again let me know, or go out of that hot -drawing-room,” he said. “I’ll keep an eye on you, anyway.”</p> -<hr class="chap" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_124">[Pg 124]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="IX">IX</h2> -</div> - - -<p>It was nearly three o’clock before the last guest left. The flowers in -the deserted rooms had drooped and faded; even the lights seemed to -have dimmed. The house wore an air of melancholy. Fanny and Guy came -from the dining-room, where they had eaten a second supper.</p> - -<p>“I wonder where Aunt and Uncle are?” she said. “Doesn’t it seem -ghostly?” She yawned, covering her cheeks with both hands. “Ugh! I -guess they’re in the library.”</p> - -<p>Helen Briggs was seated in one of the big easy-chairs, her head thrown -back and her eyes closed. Her husband sat beside her, looking down at -her face.</p> - -<p>“Flirting, as usual!” said Fanny. Then she added: “Well, wasn’t it -grand?”</p> - -<p>“Better go to bed,” said Briggs, sleepily.</p> - -<p>Helen half-opened her eyes. “I’m glad you had a good time, dear.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_125">[Pg 125]</span></p> - -<p>“Everybody seemed pleased,” said Guy, with a glance at Douglas. He -liked to look at things from the professional point of view.</p> - -<p>“Fanny, do go to bed,” Helen insisted.</p> - -<p>“All right,” Fanny assented, meekly. She kissed Helen; then she kissed -her uncle. She approached Guy Fullerton on tiptoe and held her hand -high in the air. “Good-night, sir,” she said, softly.</p> - -<p>A half-hour later the house was in darkness, save for a light in -the library, where Douglas Briggs sat writing. After an evening of -excitement he never could rest, and he found that some quiet work -soothed his nerves. He was one of those men who seemed to thrive with -very little rest; he had often worked all night, not even lying down, -without showing in his face the next day a trace of the vigil.</p> - -<p>Helen had gone to her room, but not to sleep. She changed her ball -dress for a loose gown, and letting her hair fall over her shoulders, -she sat for a long time thinking. Should she tell Douglas? A disclosure -might lead to serious consequences. It would not only break the -business relations between Douglas and West, but it would also involve -her husband in a bitter personal quarrel.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_126">[Pg 126]</span> For the present she resolved -to keep her secret. As for the charge West had made against Douglas, -that was merely another of the calumnies circulated about him since -he had begun to be successful in Washington. Why was it that one man -could not prosper without exciting the hatred and the envy of so many -other men? Douglas, she felt sure, had never done anything to injure -anyone. His success had been won by his own abilities and industry. -He had worked harder than any other man in Washington. She knew that -herself, and she had often heard it remarked by others. She recalled -all the unselfish work he had done in Congress, the bills he had -toiled for with no purpose beyond that of doing good. Everything he -undertook seemed to succeed. Helen had never thought much about the -way in which he had made his money. It had come to him along with his -successes. She knew that he had lately had good fortune in some land -speculations near Washington; but that was perfectly legitimate, and -it was merely another evidence of his shrewdness. There were plenty of -Congressmen in Washington who remained poor simply because they had not -her husband’s business resources and enterprise. When finally she<span class="pagenum" id="Page_127">[Pg 127]</span> went -to bed, however, she had a vague sense of discomfort that could not be -attributed to the agitation caused by her interview with Franklin West. -She did not like even the thought of questioning her husband about his -ways of making money. She had never doubted him before. Why should she -doubt him now?</p> - -<p>The next day Helen rose at noon with a splitting headache. She rang the -bell, and when the maid appeared, bearing breakfast on a tray, Fanny -came, too. Fanny’s cheeks were flushed and her eyes were bright.</p> - -<p>“What do you suppose I’ve been doing? I’ve been taking breakfast -down at the hotel with dad. Then I made him go out with me and buy -me a lot of things. So I’ve had a profitable morning. Half a dozen -lace handkerchiefs, a silk scarf and a <em>beautiful</em> tailor-made -coat. It’s going to be a dream. I went to the place you like so -much—Broadhurst’s. I wish you could have heard what they said about my -figure. And when I got back everybody was asleep except Uncle Doug. I -shouldn’t wonder if he sat up all night, though he declared he didn’t. -Here, I’ll fix that tray, Mary. You go down. Let me pour the tea, -Auntie. There are two black lines around your<span class="pagenum" id="Page_128">[Pg 128]</span> eyes. They make you look -so interesting! I guess you’re kind of tired.”</p> - -<p>“Yes, I am,” Helen acknowledged.</p> - -<p>“All right, drink this and you’ll feel better. Why don’t you stay in -bed?”</p> - -<p>“I mustn’t. I promised that I’d take Mrs. Burrell for a drive this -afternoon. I told one of the girls.”</p> - -<p>“More missionary work, I suppose. Auntie, if you don’t stop driving -round with old frumps like that, I won’t recognize you on the street. -Well, I guess I’ll go for a bicycle ride with Guy. He’s been promising -to take me out to Chevy Chase for a long time. Don’t you think it would -be proper?”</p> - -<p>“Can’t you get someone to go with you?” Helen asked, sipping her tea -and wondering why she could not shake off, even for a moment, the -thought of Franklin West’s remarks the night before.</p> - -<p>“I suppose I could get Mrs. Simpson. She’s always glad to have someone -to ride with her.”</p> - -<p>“Do that, then,” said Helen.</p> - -<p>Fanny sighed. “What an awful thing to have to be so proper in this -world!”</p> - -<p>When Helen had dressed she went up to the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_129">[Pg 129]</span> nursery, where she found -Dorothy and Jack eating dinner. They seemed to be always eating. They -jumped from their seats and clung around her. They wore their heavy -street clothes and their thick boots.</p> - -<p>“I was going to take them out before dinner,” Miss Munroe explained, -“but it seemed damp. So I thought I’d wait till the afternoon.”</p> - -<p>“Are you going out, mamma?” Jack asked, clutching at Helen’s dress.</p> - -<p>“Yes, by-and-by,” Helen replied, patiently.</p> - -<p>Dorothy immediately became plaintive. “Oh, can’t we go with you?”</p> - -<p>“Not to-day, dear. I’m going to take Mrs. Burrell for a drive.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, shoot Mrs. Burrell!” Dorothy cried.</p> - -<p>“Dorothy!” said Miss Munroe, reproachfully. Miss Munroe often wondered -where the children learned their naughty words. They seemed to absorb -them from the air. Sometimes she was afraid their parents would think -they had learned them from her.</p> - -<p>“Papa came up before he went out,” said Jack. “He says he’s going to -buy me a sword.”</p> - -<p>“Papa is always buying things for Jack!” Dorothy, with a little -encouragement, would<span class="pagenum" id="Page_130">[Pg 130]</span> soon have burst into tears. Helen saw that the -child was nervous from her morning in the house.</p> - -<p>“Take them out as soon as they have finished eating,” she said to Miss -Munroe.</p> - -<p>As Helen descended the stairs she met Fanny and Guy just about to start -out on their wheels. “I’ve telephoned Mrs. Simpson, and she’s going. -She wants us to lunch with her. You don’t mind, do you, dear?” Fanny -asked, solicitously, eager to seem important. “If you do, I’ll stay.”</p> - -<p>Helen shook her head. “No, your uncle won’t be here, and I’ll lunch -late. So go and have a good time.”</p> - -<p>On the table of the library Helen found a pile of New York and -Washington morning papers. She glanced at them to see what they had to -say about the ball. Some of the New York papers made brief reference to -it; one, the most sensational, published a long account. The Washington -papers gave it considerable space. Just as she was turning a page of -the New York <em>Chronicle</em>, Helen caught her husband’s name in one -of the editorial columns. She turned back and read the paragraph:</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_131">[Pg 131]</span></p><div class="blockquot"> - -<p>“Last night in Washington Congressman Douglas Briggs, of New York, -gave a ball to celebrate the opening of his new house. It is said that -the house alone cost twenty-five thousand dollars. It is furnished in -a style that only a rich man could afford. Six years ago Congressman -Briggs went to Washington without a dollar, to devote himself to -political affairs, practically abandoning his growing law-practice. He -has apparently found politics profitable. Funny world!”</p> -</div> - -<p>Helen read the paragraph rapidly; then she read it more slowly. On -finishing, she sat motionless for a few moments. Finally, she placed -the paper carefully on the top of the pile. She rose and walked to the -window. She heard Miss Munroe come downstairs with the children. She -had an impulse to go out into the hall and bid them good-bye, but she -checked it; she wished to speak to no one for a few moments.</p> - -<p>She went back to the table and read the paragraph again. Then she -placed the paper in the centre of the pile. She would not allow herself -to think why she did that. She heard a servant pass through the hall, -and she called that she would have luncheon served in an hour. During -the interval she busied herself feverishly, but she<span class="pagenum" id="Page_132">[Pg 132]</span> could not keep -from thinking about that paragraph. Of course, Douglas would see it. -Perhaps he had seen it already. She remembered now that Guy usually -clipped from the papers all references to her husband. He had left the -papers on the table to look them over on his return with Fanny. The -clippings he pasted in the big black scrapbooks that Douglas kept on -one of the lower shelves, under his law-books. She was tempted to look -through these scrapbooks now to see if they contained any references -like the one she had just read. But she felt ashamed.</p> - -<p>After luncheon Helen drove to The Shoreham, where the Burrells had -lived since coming to Washington. Carrie Cora was the first to receive -her. “I’ve had the hardest work keeping ma at home,” she said. “I -didn’t want to let her know I knew you were coming. That would have -spoiled everything. It’s just lovely of you to come! Gladys and Emeline -have gone to the Philharmonic concert, and pa’s up to the House.”</p> - -<p>Mrs. Burrell presently made a vociferous entrance. She was one of those -women who do everything noisily. “Well, if this isn’t good of you, to -come just after that party of yours! I should think you’d be all beat -out.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_133">[Pg 133]</span></p> - -<p>“I’ve come to take you for a drive,” Helen explained.</p> - -<p>Mrs. Burrell slapped her dress with both hands. It was a shimmering -brown silk of fashionable cut, that looked somehow as if it did not -belong to her.</p> - -<p>“I don’t believe I’m fit,” she said.</p> - -<p>“Oh, yes, you are, ma,” Carrie Cora urged. “Please go.”</p> - -<p>“We’ll go out into the country somewhere,” said Helen.</p> - -<p>“So it don’t make any difference what you wear,” Carrie Cora chimed in.</p> - -<p>Mrs. Burrell looked relieved. “I just hate to keep changing. It seems -to me we do nothing here in Washington but dress, dress. I get so sick -of it! That’s the worst of living in these hotels. You never feel at -home.”</p> - -<p>After starting with the old lady, Helen Briggs hesitated to broach the -subject of Carrie Cora’s love affair. A remark she made soon after they -had settled down into conversation unexpectedly relieved her of the -necessity.</p> - -<p>“I hope Carrie Cora doesn’t mind being left alone in the apartment,” -she said.</p> - -<p>“Oh, Lor’, no,” Mrs. Burrell replied. “I’ve<span class="pagenum" id="Page_134">[Pg 134]</span> never seen anyone like -her. She just loves to be alone. She’s always been queer about that, -and lately she’s been queerer than ever. She don’t seem to take an -interest in anything. Now, last night, she’d never have gone with us -but for you. She hates parties; but she thinks everything of you.” Mrs. -Burrell drew nearer Helen. “She’s in love,” she whispered.</p> - -<p>Helen smiled. “There isn’t any great harm in that.”</p> - -<p>“There wouldn’t be,” Mrs. Burrell agreed, “if the young man belonged to -her station in life. But he don’t. He ain’t got a cent to his name.”</p> - -<p>“I’m sorry to hear that. But isn’t there anything else against -him?—besides his being poor, I mean.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, I guess he’s <em>good</em> enough,” Mrs. Burrell acknowledged, -grudgingly. “I never heard anything against him. His name is Rufus -James,” she added, as if this fact in some way explained his condition. -“He’s here in Washington now.” Her lips tightened as she looked at -Helen with an expression that said: “Think of that!”</p> - -<p>As Helen said nothing, Mrs. Burrell went on: “Of course, he come just -because she was here.”</p> - -<p>“He must be very fond of her,” Helen ventured<span class="pagenum" id="Page_135">[Pg 135]</span> to remark. “But I don’t -wonder; Carrie Cora is a very fine girl.”</p> - -<p>“She <em>is</em> a fine girl. I declare to goodness I wish she wouldn’t -keep her light under a bushel. She does make me so mad! She could have -gone to the best teachers down to Boston or anywhere. Father even -offered to send her to Europe. She said she’d rather stay at home and -do housework. She’s a splendid housekeeper. I sometimes think that’s -what Rufus James wants to marry her for.”</p> - -<p>“Well, that’s a great compliment to Carrie Cora,” Helen laughed. “It -seems to me a pretty good reason for marrying, too.”</p> - -<p>“And have her go off and live in some tumble-down place in Auburn!” -Mrs. Burrell exclaimed, in horror.</p> - -<p>“But perhaps that’s the only way she could be happy,” Helen insisted, -gently. “Carrie Cora’s naturally domestic. I can see that.”</p> - -<p>Mrs. Burrell sighed. “And I always wanted to make something of her! I’m -sure her father’s spent money enough.”</p> - -<p>“But if she makes a good wife and mother—that will be enough, won’t -it? Besides, is Rufus James so very poor?”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_136">[Pg 136]</span></p> - -<p>“I don’t believe he makes more than a thousand dollars a year.”</p> - -<p>“That’s just what Douglas was earning when we became engaged,” said -Helen.</p> - -<p>“What?” Mrs. Burrell looked startled. “Well, I declare!” she said.</p> - -<p>“Douglas was teaching school then at Waverly, where we lived. They paid -him only six hundred a year; and he made the rest by writing for the -newspapers. At the same time he studied law.”</p> - -<p>“Well, he <em>was</em> smart. I don’t wonder he’s so successful.”</p> - -<p>“We had to wait three years before we could marry. That seemed a long -time.”</p> - -<p>Mrs. Burrell sighed. “It must have been hard.”</p> - -<p>Helen at once pressed the point. “How long has Carrie Cora been -waiting?” she asked.</p> - -<p>“Oh, they’re not <em>engaged</em>,” Mrs. Burrell replied, reproachfully, -as if this fact threw Carrie Cora’s case out of the discussion.</p> - -<p>“But how long have they been fond of each other?”</p> - -<p>“Well, as soon as I found it out I did my best to stop it,” said Mrs. -Burrell, as if flaunting a<span class="pagenum" id="Page_137">[Pg 137]</span> generous act. “I just told him he wasn’t to -come to the house any more. That was more’n two years ago.”</p> - -<p>“So they haven’t seen anything of each other since?”</p> - -<p>“Oh, yes, they have. Indeed they have. That girl’s just as obstinate. -She’s her father all over. I’ve said that to my husband a thousand -times since this trouble come on us. It’s spoiled our Winter here. That -girl’s a damper on everything. I kind of thought when she come down -here she’d get over it. But, as I was saying, she used to meet him -’round places in Auburn, mostly at Emily Farnsworth’s. Emily always was -a great friend of Carrie Cora’s. I used to like Emily real well. Now we -don’t speak.” Mrs. Burrell pressed her lips together again, and tears -stood in her eyes.</p> - -<p>“Those things are always unfortunate,” said Helen, sympathetically.</p> - -<p>Mrs. Burrell clutched her by the arm. “There he is now!” she said, -“over there. See that slim young man with the derby hat?”</p> - -<p>“Who?” Helen asked, mystified.</p> - -<p>“Why, Rufus James himself.”</p> - -<p>The young man saw that he was observed, and<span class="pagenum" id="Page_138">[Pg 138]</span> looked at the two women -with surprise in his face. Then his face darkened and he flushed and -turned his head quickly away.</p> - -<p>“He reco’nized me,” Mrs. Burrell exclaimed. “You could see that plain -enough. And he never had the politeness to lift his hat.”</p> - -<p>“Can you blame him?” Helen asked, with a faint smile.</p> - -<p>It was Mrs. Burrell who flushed now.</p> - -<p>“He’s good-looking, isn’t he?” Helen went on. She was secretly pleased -by the young man’s show of spirit.</p> - -<p>Mrs. Burrell remained silent for several minutes. Helen waited. “Oh, I -know you think I’m as hard as a rock,” she blurted out at last. “Just -because——”</p> - -<p>“Oh, no,” Helen interposed, quickly.</p> - -<p>Mrs. Burrell grew humble. “Do you think I ought to have let him come?” -she asked. “To the house, I mean?”</p> - -<p>“It’s always a pity when those things have to go on outside the house.”</p> - -<p>“So <abbr title="Mister">Mr.</abbr> Dyer said. He’s our minister. He talked to me just as you’ve -been talking. But I suppose I’m obstinate myself. Still, I’ve always -tried to do right by that girl.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_139">[Pg 139]</span></p> - -<p>“I’m sure you have.”</p> - -<p>They fell into silence again. They had reached the country, and soft -breezes blew across their faces, bearing the scent of apple blossoms.</p> - -<p>“You ain’t said much,” Mrs. Burrell began, “but I can just <em>feel</em> -what you think. You think I ain’t done right. Oh, don’t! I know just -how you feel. You think I’ve been throwing that girl in temptation’s -way. But I guess I know Carrie Cora better’n anyone else. And Rufus -James is an honorable young man. He’s always had a good reputation in -Auburn. Oh, dear!”</p> - -<p>The tears ran down her withered cheeks. “I’d like to go home,” she said -to Helen. “I don’t feel a bit well. Perhaps my husband will be home. -I want to have a talk with him.” Helen spoke to the driver and they -turned back toward the city. “I’m an awful fool,” Mrs. Burrell went on. -“And don’t you go and blame yourself for anything I’ve said or done. -I’ve known all along that I wasn’t doin’ right, but it was just that -pride of mine kept me from acknowledgin’ it.” She dried her eyes and -sank back in the seat. Suddenly she sat bolt upright. “D’you suppose -Rufus James would come to dinner to-night if I asked him?” she said.</p> -<hr class="chap" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_140">[Pg 140]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="X">X</h2> -</div> - - -<p>Helen Briggs felt uncomfortable on leaving Mrs. Burrell. It was true -that she had not introduced the subject of Carrie Cora’s love affair, -but her conscience troubled her, nevertheless. She did not like -interfering in other people’s business. However, victory had probably -been won for the girl, unless something should change her mother’s -mind. A resentful word, a disagreeable look on Carrie Cora’s part, -might shatter the possibility of a lifetime of happiness. On the other -hand, Helen argued, Mrs. Burrell might have been justified in opposing -her daughter. In spite of her own experience, Helen had grown sceptical -with regard to marriage. Many marriages among her friends had begun -with every promise of happiness and had been either disappointments or -complete failures. So often, she had observed, love seemed to be only -an expression of egotism, that soon betrayed itself in selfishness or -resentment or bitterness.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_141">[Pg 141]</span></p> - -<p>On reaching home Helen found the house deserted save by the servants. -On the way she had observed the plain and patient Miss Munroe with -the children in the Park. She went into the library to get something -to read, and her eye fell on the black scrapbooks. Without realizing -that she had for hours been resisting the temptation to examine them, -she quickly drew one out from the shelf and placed it on her husband’s -desk. It happened to be the newest, and it was only half-filled with -newspaper clippings. With a nervous impulse she placed it back on -the shelf and took the volume at the opposite end of the row. On the -fly-leaf she read, in her husband’s handwriting: “My first speeches -in Congress.” Most of these had been clipped from the Congressional -reports, and many of them she had read. She turned the pages quickly, -stopping here and there to read a personal paragraph of praise or -criticism. One paragraph contained this statement:</p> - -<div class="blockquot"> - -<p>“It is a satisfaction to see that in Douglas Briggs New York has at -last sent a man to Congress who gives promise of taking a conspicuous -position before the country. Briggs is impulsive, even hot-headed, and -consequently injudicious,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_142">[Pg 142]</span> and his faults would be serious in a man -of greater age and experience. But he has decided force of character, -invincible determination, remarkable insight into public affairs and -an inexhaustible capacity for work. He is sure to cut a great figure -if his party stands by him. His danger lies in the chance of his -becoming too big a man to be held in check by the party management. He -has already overridden several party measures and taken leadership in -pushing reforms that are distinctly opposed to the party’s policy.”</p> -</div> - -<p>Helen had an impulse to kiss the paper on which these words were -printed. But she checked it and turned the leaves more quickly, letting -her eye run down each column. For more than an hour she pored over -the volumes. When she had glanced over the first three she noticed -a change in the tone of the comments. They began to be sarcastic; -they pointed out several inconsistencies in her husband’s course. One -paper published in parallel columns quotations from his speeches, -contradicting each other. Then followed open charges of corruption -against him in connection with a railroad bill then under consideration -in Congress. As she read, Helen grew faint. How<span class="pagenum" id="Page_143">[Pg 143]</span> did it happen that she -had neither seen nor heard of this article? Why hadn’t Douglas spoken -of it to her? Why had he not come out with a public denial, or sued the -paper for libel? Then she said to herself that she was foolish to ask -these questions. Attacks of this kind were made every day on public -men; the higher their position the more bitter the enemies they made.</p> - -<p>She heard a sound at the front door, and she started. It was probably -Douglas returning early from the House. She was tempted to put the book -quickly back in its place; but she sat without moving, waiting for him -to come in. He walked up the stairs, however. She rose with a sigh of -relief and, closing the book, left it on the table. She made a quiet -resolve that she would never tell him of the thoughts that had passed -through her mind. She would try never to think of them again. She was -ashamed of having thought of them at all.</p> - -<p>Douglas Briggs stopped on the upper landing and called, “Helen!” Then -he looked down. “Oh, there you are,” he said. He descended quickly, -and she met him in the hall. “Rested?” he said, taking her hand and -pressing it against his cheek.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_144">[Pg 144]</span></p> - -<p>“Yes, dear.” Then she suddenly put both her hands on his head -and kissed him twice. “I’m glad you came back early,” she said. -“Everybody’s out, and I’ve been feeling lonely.”</p> - -<p>She returned to the library, and he followed. “I’ve been looking over -your scrapbooks,” she said.</p> - -<p>“Couldn’t you find anything more interesting?” He dropped into a seat -near the table and ran his fingers through his hair. “We’ve been having -a great fight to-day. Aspinwall’s new tariff schedule. If I’d known I -was going to make a speech I’d have asked you to come. Have you seen -the notices of our ball last night in the papers?”</p> - -<p>Helen nodded.</p> - -<p>“The <em>Star</em> gave us a great send-off. They treated me as if I were -a millionaire.” Douglas Briggs sighed. “I wish I were.”</p> - -<p>“That reminds me, Douglas,” said Helen. “I want to ask you something.” -She was astonished at her own boldness. She felt as if she were -speaking at the bidding of someone else. She thought of her resolution, -but she felt powerless to keep it.</p> - -<p>Briggs looked up. “Well?” Helen did<span class="pagenum" id="Page_145">[Pg 145]</span> not answer at once, and he added: -“What is it?”</p> - -<p>“Since last night,” she began, slowly, seeming to hear her voice in -another part of the room, “I’ve been wondering if we weren’t living -very extravagantly.”</p> - -<p>He looked at her in surprise. Then the expression in his face softened. -“I shouldn’t worry about that, dear, if I were you. There’s no need of -it.”</p> - -<p>“Douglas!” she said.</p> - -<p>“Eh?” He observed her sharply.</p> - -<p>“How much do you make in a year?”</p> - -<p>Briggs smiled and frowned at the same moment. “What?” he said, with -astonishment, “how much do I make?”</p> - -<p>“Yes. What’s your income? What was it last year? Please tell me. I have -a reason for asking.”</p> - -<p>Briggs looked vaguely around the room. “’Pon my word, I don’t believe I -know myself.”</p> - -<p>“Can’t you estimate?”</p> - -<p>“I suppose I could,” Briggs replied, with a note of irritation in his -voice. “But what do you want to know for?”</p> - -<p>“I think I ought to know.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_146">[Pg 146]</span></p> - -<p>“Don’t you have everything you want?” he asked, inconsequently.</p> - -<p>“Yes.”</p> - -<p>“Have I stinted you in anything?”</p> - -<p>“No, Douglas, never. You’ve been perfect. No woman ever had a more -generous husband.”</p> - -<p>Briggs thrust his hands into his pockets and burlesqued an attitude -of extreme self-satisfaction. “There! Then there’s nothing more to be -said, since I’m such a paragon.”</p> - -<p>“But I want to know, really,” Helen insisted. For the first time she -had known him she suspected that he was not quite sincere. And yet she -could not believe that he was capable of acting with her—with anyone.</p> - -<p>Briggs turned quickly. “I told you I didn’t know myself.”</p> - -<p>“But I’m serious about this,” Helen went on. “Now, your salary is five -thousand, isn’t it?”</p> - -<p>“M’m—h’m!”</p> - -<p>“And the property Aunt Lena left me—how much does that bring in?”</p> - -<p>Briggs lifted his shoulders. “Last year it brought in only two -thousand. We might have got more out of it——”</p> - -<p>“Please don’t reproach me about that. You<span class="pagenum" id="Page_147">[Pg 147]</span> know how much I want to keep -it safe for the children!”</p> - -<p>“Well, if that isn’t just like a woman!” Briggs retorted, laughing. -“When she might have more for the children!”</p> - -<p>“Or nothing at all,” Helen remarked, quietly.</p> - -<p>Briggs drew his hands from his pockets and sat erect. “Helen,” he said, -leaning toward his wife, “if you weren’t a woman you’d be a parson, -like your father and your two younger brothers. It’s in your blood.”</p> - -<p>Helen ignored the remark. “That makes seven thousand, doesn’t it?”</p> - -<p>“But I never touch <em>that</em> money. I add it to the principal.”</p> - -<p>“So we have only five thousand to live on!” Helen exclaimed, in a -startled voice.</p> - -<p>Her husband smiled with patient superiority. “No, no! Now you talk as -if you were a millionaire’s daughter. How much did your father live on, -I’d like to know?”</p> - -<p>“Eighteen hundred a year.”</p> - -<p>“Well, I dare say he was just as happy on that as we are on——” He -stopped, looking at her with an expression in his eyes that she had -never seen there before.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_148">[Pg 148]</span></p> - -<p>“On what?” she asked, quietly.</p> - -<p>“On what we spend,” he replied.</p> - -<p>“The ball we gave last night must have cost at least eighteen hundred,” -Helen persisted.</p> - -<p>“Well, I guess we’re good for it,” Briggs replied, complacently.</p> - -<p>Helen lost control of herself. “That’s what I can’t understand,” she -cried, excitedly. “How are we good for it?”</p> - -<p>Douglas Briggs rose and walked slowly toward his wife. He laid his hand -gently on her shoulder. “My dear child, that’s not a nice way to speak -to your husband!”</p> - -<p>“Please don’t call me your dear child again, Douglas. Now, I have a -reason for asking these questions, and I want you to give me direct -answers.”</p> - -<p>Briggs let his hand drop. Helen rose and walked to the edge of the desk.</p> - -<p>“I think you must be ill, dear,” he said, looking at her solicitously.</p> - -<p>She tried to keep the tears from her voice. “I shall be, unless you -tell me the truth.”</p> - -<p>Douglas Briggs kept his eyes on her for a long time. She turned from -him. “Do you mean<span class="pagenum" id="Page_149">[Pg 149]</span> that you want to know whether I am an honest man or -not?” he asked, in a low voice.</p> - -<p>“I have never questioned your honesty, Douglas.”</p> - -<p>He hesitated. “I will tell you the truth,” he said, as if he had just -passed through a struggle. “Last year I must have spent nearly thirty -thousand dollars. It was all I had. At the end of the year I was five -thousand dollars in debt. That has since been paid.”</p> - -<p>“How did you make that money?” she asked, facing him.</p> - -<p>Briggs looked down at the table. His eyes wandered over his papers and -over the black scrapbook. “That’s a cruel question for a wife to ask -her husband,” he remarked at last.</p> - -<p>“Not when she knows he will be able to answer it,” Helen said, firmly.</p> - -<p>“Well, I—I made it mostly through my law practice.”</p> - -<p>Helen began to breathe quickly. “But I heard you say the other day -that since you came to Washington you had been forced to give up your -practice.”</p> - -<p>“So I have—very largely, almost wholly, in fact,” he replied, growing -impatient again. “But<span class="pagenum" id="Page_150">[Pg 150]</span> there are some interests that I have to look out -for here.”</p> - -<p>“Such as what?”</p> - -<p>“Well, there’s the—there are some railroad interests.”</p> - -<p>“Some railroad interests!” Helen repeated, blankly.</p> - -<p>“Yes.”</p> - -<p>“The railroad that <abbr title="Mister">Mr.</abbr> West is concerned in, do you mean?”</p> - -<p>“Why, yes. You know that perfectly well. I’ve been associated with that -railroad for years, in one way or another.”</p> - -<p>“That’s the road that receives so much favor from the Government, isn’t -it?”</p> - -<p>“Oh, that’s mere gossip. There’s no such thing.”</p> - -<p>Helen looked straight into her husband’s face. Her figure had become -rigid. “What do you do for the railroad, Douglas?”</p> - -<p>His eyes flashed; his nostrils turned white. “You’re going too far, -Helen,” he cried.</p> - -<p>She did not stir. “I have a right to ask these questions,” she -continued, keeping her voice low. “Oh, I know you consider that I can’t -understand these things. You acknowledge that you receive<span class="pagenum" id="Page_151">[Pg 151]</span> thousands of -dollars a year from that railroad—five times as much as your salary.”</p> - -<p>“I made no such acknowledgment,” Briggs replied, angrily.</p> - -<p>“But it’s true; you know it’s true, Douglas. You can’t deny it.”</p> - -<p>“I won’t take the trouble to deny it, since you evidently want to -believe it.”</p> - -<p>“And you know you don’t give the road an hour a day of your time.”</p> - -<p>His lips curled. “My dear girl, lawyers aren’t paid by the hour, like -your seamstresses.”</p> - -<p>“And the railroad’s regular attorney is <abbr title="Mister">Mr.</abbr> West,” Helen went on. “You -know that.”</p> - -<p>“Well, West does all the dirty work,” he said, with a laugh.</p> - -<p>“And what do you do, Douglas?” She hesitated. “Answer me, Douglas—what -do you do?”</p> - -<p>“Wait a minute,” he said, in a low voice. He raised his hand. “I warn -you that you are interfering with matters that don’t concern you, that -you can’t even comprehend. You are doing it at your peril.”</p> - -<p>“What do you do for that company?” she repeated.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_152">[Pg 152]</span></p> - -<p>He extended both hands in a gesture of deprecation. “I simply look -after its interests in the House. There’s the truth, now. It’s -perfectly legitimate. There are plenty of men who do the same thing for -other corporations—men in big positions.”</p> - -<p>Her face grew pale and she swayed forward slightly. Then she stood -erect and her eyes filled with tears. “Oh, Douglas!” she said.</p> -<hr class="chap" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_153">[Pg 153]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="XI">XI</h2> -</div> - - -<p>On the morning after the reception Franklin West sat at his desk in -his office in the Belmore Building. His head was bowed over a mass of -type-written sheets. He paid little attention to them, however. He -found it hard to work this morning. He was thinking, with considerable -disgust, that he had made himself ridiculous the night before. He had, -moreover, made a misstep that might lead to serious consequences.</p> - -<p>Yes, he had certainly been a great ass. He had spoken to Mrs. Briggs -in a way he would never have thought of speaking if he had been in -his senses. However, now that the mischief was done, he must consider -how to meet the consequences. What would the consequences be? Would -she tell her husband? The answer to that question depended wholly on -whether she believed the charge he had made against her husband’s -integrity. West knew well enough that Mrs. Briggs<span class="pagenum" id="Page_154">[Pg 154]</span> had an absolute -belief in her husband, and this knowledge had often caused him a -contemptuous bitterness. Why should a man like Briggs be allowed to -deceive such a woman as that? If Mrs. Briggs still kept her faith in -her husband, there was no reason why she should not reveal the episode -of the previous night—none except the woman’s natural fear of creating -a scandal. This motive might be strong enough to keep her silent. -But, of course, he could never enter her house again. He might, it is -true—and the thought gave him a momentary relief—he might write her -an apology, and explain his behavior on the plea of his condition. -But that would be too humiliating, and it might give Briggs a hold -on him that would be decidedly disagreeable, and lead to disastrous -consequences. However, this expedient he could try as a final resort. -It was, of course, possible that Mrs. Briggs would believe what he -had said, or would make an investigation that would bring the truth -home to her. Here was an interesting problem. Once convinced that her -husband was a hypocrite, that he had made his money by means that she -considered dishonest, would she still respect and love him?</p> - -<p>West took a satisfaction in thinking that if he<span class="pagenum" id="Page_155">[Pg 155]</span> had made himself -ridiculous, he might have at least ruined the happiness of the woman -who had repulsed him, and of the man for whom he had a covert hatred, -caused partly by jealousy, partly by an instinctive consciousness of -Briggs’s dislike, and partly by that natural aversion which all men -have for those associated with them in dealings that degrade them in -their own esteem.</p> - -<p>The green door leading into the adjoining room opened, and the office -boy entered. “There’s a lady to see you, sir,” he said.</p> - -<p>Franklin West looked up. “Who is she?”</p> - -<p>“She told me just to say a lady wanted to see you.”</p> - -<p>“All right.” West rose slowly and left the room. A moment later he was -greeting Miss Beatrice Wing.</p> - -<p>“This is an unexpected pleasure,” he said, with his large smile.</p> - -<p>Miss Wing was radiant in a new Spring frock, a tight-fitting blue serge -suit, with a large hat, trimmed with blue flowers, resting jauntily on -her auburn hair.</p> - -<p>“I don’t often come out so early,” she replied, “especially after such -late hours.” She looked as if she had had the night’s rest of a child.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_156">[Pg 156]</span></p> - -<p>“Come into my office, won’t you?” West led the way, and Miss Wing -followed, suggesting by her walk the steps of a dancer. As she passed -the clerks glanced up and smiled covertly at one another. When she had -seated herself she looked at West for a moment without speaking, her -face bright with good humor.</p> - -<p>“I’ve come on a funny errand,” she said at last, rubbing her left arm -with her gloved hand.</p> - -<p>“That’s interesting,” said West, cheerfully.</p> - -<p>“I want you to do something for me.”</p> - -<p>The smile disappeared from his face, but swiftly returned. West rarely -suffered more than a momentary eclipse. At this moment, however, his -instinct warned him of danger. “I shall be only too glad,” he began, -but Miss Wing cut him short.</p> - -<p>“I want,” she said, waving one hand with the air of making a joke, “I -want to place my services at your feet.”</p> - -<p>West continued to smile. “What do you mean?” he asked.</p> - -<p>“I want you to give me something to do. I want you to give me a share -in your enterprises. I know I can be useful to you.”</p> - -<p>“But what about your own work—your newspaper work?”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_157">[Pg 157]</span></p> - -<p>Miss Wing snapped her gloved fingers. “What does that amount to? Why, -it hardly pays for my frocks. And to tell the truth,” she went on, her -manner growing more familiar, “I’m not at all clever at it. My editor -has to rewrite nearly everything I send him. By nature I’m a business -woman. Society reporting bores me. I like larger interests. That’s what -I came to Washington for.”</p> - -<p>West showed that he was growing interested by slightly closing his left -eye. This gave him a curiously sinister expression, which Miss Wing -observed. “You want to do some political work—is that the idea?” he -asked.</p> - -<p>Miss Wing sank back in her chair. “I want to get a little power if I -can, and to use it for my own advantage. Now, there’s frankness for -you. But I’m only a beginner. I’m just getting my start.”</p> - -<p>West cleared his throat. “Since you’re so frank, Miss Wing,” he said, -pleasantly, “perhaps you’ll tell me just what you have in mind.”</p> - -<p>On being confronted with this question Miss Wing flushed. “I think you -know perfectly well what I mean. I’ve told you that I want you to let -me into your schemes.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_158">[Pg 158]</span></p> - -<p>West shrugged his shoulders; his face became almost sad. “I haven’t any -schemes of that sort,” he said, softly.</p> - -<p>Miss Wing laughed outright. “You haven’t any interest in railroad -legislation?” she asked, with a lift of the eyebrows.</p> - -<p>“It is true that I’m employed by a railroad. But as you aren’t a -lawyer, I don’t see how you could help me.”</p> - -<p>Miss Wing looked at him for a long time, her smile hardening. “I’m -surprised that you should treat me like this.” Then her face softened. -“I’m a little hurt, too.”</p> - -<p>“You wanted me to be frank,” West replied, gently.</p> - -<p>Miss Wing hesitated. When she spoke it was with a complete change -of tone. “There’s really no use beating about the bush any longer. -Everybody in Washington knows what you do for that railroad. Everybody -knows that last year you spent more than a hundred thousand dollars -for it—right here in this city. And everybody knows that Congressman -Briggs is your tool. He is helping you push the bill through the House. -But everybody doesn’t know one other fact that I know.” She held her -head high and looked at<span class="pagenum" id="Page_159">[Pg 159]</span> West defiantly. She flushed, and the flowers -in her hat trembled.</p> - -<p>“What may that be?” he asked, quietly.</p> - -<p>She sank back in her seat and smiled. “If I were to publish an -article,” she went on, “showing that you had not only bribed -Congressman Briggs, but had taken advantage of your hold on him to make -love to his wife, that would make a dreadful scandal, wouldn’t it?”</p> - -<p>West did not stir. He seemed even to control his breath. “I don’t know -what you are talking about,” he said, in a low voice.</p> - -<p>Miss Wing smiled and watched him. She admired a man who could take -things so coolly. “I’ve suspected for a long time,” she explained, -lightly, “and when I saw you drinking all that punch last night, I knew -you were losing your head. Wasn’t it strong? I just sipped it. That -was enough. Oh, you <em>were</em> amusing! You entertained me all the -evening.”</p> - -<p>West looked at her without a change of expression. He was thinking -how pleasant it would be to take her by the throat and choke out her -silvery laugh. “You followed me about, then?” he asked.</p> - -<p>Miss Wing looked injured. “Oh, dear, no—nothing<span class="pagenum" id="Page_160">[Pg 160]</span> so vulgar. But I saw -it all by the merest chance. I happened to be standing near the library -door at just the right angle. I saw you threaten Mrs. Briggs. There was -no need of hearing what you said. It was all as plain as daylight. Now, -what do you propose to do about it?”</p> - -<p>West roused himself. “Do you realize,” he said, “that if you were to -start a story of that sort no one in Washington would believe you?”</p> - -<p>Miss Wing looked hurt. “Then you want me to publish the article?” she -said, reproachfully. “How unkind of you!”</p> - -<p>“Do as you please about that. It won’t be the first libel that has been -printed about me.”</p> - -<p>“Perhaps you would prefer that I should inform <abbr title="Mister">Mr.</abbr> Briggs of what I saw -last night,” she said. “That would be less public, wouldn’t it?”</p> - -<p>“Tell him,” West replied, with a yawn, “and you’ll get turned out of -the house for your trouble. Besides, Mrs. Briggs would deny the story. -Then where would you be? No, my dear lady, you’ve made a false start. -You’ll have to try your game on a younger hand. I’ve been in Washington -too long to be afraid of a woman like you.” The smile had completely -faded from his face. He looked like a different man, and much older. -“Only, if I<span class="pagenum" id="Page_161">[Pg 161]</span> were you,” he went on, “I wouldn’t make the mistake of -bothering Congressman Briggs. That might be disastrous to your career -here.”</p> - -<p class="center p0 p2"><span class="figcenter" id="img004"> - <img src="images/i004.jpg" class="w75" alt="I shall give you a few days to think the matter -over." /> -</span></p> -<p class="center caption">“‘<em>I shall give you a few days to think the matter -over.</em>’”<br /></p> - -<p>Miss Wing rose from her seat. “Thanks for your advice; it’s so -disinterested,” she said, with a bitter smile. “But I shall give you a -few days to think the matter over. The article will keep. In case you -should wish to write me——”</p> - -<p>“I know the address,” West interrupted. “Going?” Miss Wing stood at -the green door. The toss of her head conveyed anger, resentment and -disappointment. “If I were you I’d stick to newspaper work,” West -called after her. “It pays best in the end.”</p> -<hr class="chap" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_162">[Pg 162]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="XII">XII</h2> -</div> - - -<p>A week later the mild Spring weather changed to heat that suggested -Midsummer. The Potomac flats sent up odors that made people talk about -malaria and the importance of getting out of town. Congress gave no -sign of adjourning, however. The House was choked with business; -important bills were under consideration and equally important bills -lay waiting to be brought up. It looked now as if the session might -last till July.</p> - -<p>The heat, combined with a peremptory order from Ashburnham, had -persuaded Fanny Wallace that she must leave for home. She was not -altogether sorry to go; since the night of the ball, an atmosphere -of gloom seemed to envelop the Briggs household. It affected even -Guy, who, however, attributed it to pressure of business. When Fanny -complained of it, Guy would close his lips impatiently and say, “Well, -<abbr title="Mister">Mr.</abbr> Briggs is up to his neck.” At last Fanny ordered him to<span class="pagenum" id="Page_163">[Pg 163]</span> stop using -that expression. “You have such a horrid trick of saying the same -things over and over again,” she cried one day, and when he looked -depressed, she tried to apologize by adding:</p> - -<p>“I suppose that’s because you’ve got such a limited vocabulary.”</p> - -<p>“A man don’t need to know as many words as a woman,” Guy retorted, and -he further exasperated Fanny by refusing to explain what he meant.</p> - -<p>“I intend mighty quick to go to a place,” Fanny exclaimed, “where my -conversation will be appreciated. At any rate,” she added, “I’ll go -where people aren’t afraid to smile once in a while.”</p> - -<p>By the time she did leave, however, she and Guy had quarreled and had -been reconciled again many times. They parted with the understanding -that if Guy could be spared for a week or two, Fanny should go -to Ashburnham for a vacation. But on this subject Guy remained -conservative to the end. “If Congress holds out all Summer,” he said -grimly, “I’ll have to stay here. I can’t leave the Congressmen alone.”</p> - -<p>“Great company <em>you</em> are,” Fanny maliciously commented, as Guy -stepped off the train. But<span class="pagenum" id="Page_164">[Pg 164]</span> she atoned by smiling at him ravishingly -from the car window, and kissing the tips of her fingers.</p> - -<p>One hot afternoon, a few days later, as Douglas Briggs was walking -slowly home, he met Miss Munroe and her little charges. Dorothy and -Jack were walking listlessly, their faces pale, their eyes tired. Even -Miss Munroe’s face lacked its expression of patient placidity. On -meeting him the children showed less than usual enthusiasm.</p> - -<p>“They ought to be out of town,” said Briggs.</p> - -<p>Miss Munroe nodded. “Jack doesn’t seem like himself at all,” she said, -“since this heat began. And Dorothy has lost all her spirits.”</p> - -<p>That night at dinner Helen sat alone with her husband. Guy Fullerton -was dining out. For a long time neither spoke. They were becoming used -to silence.</p> - -<p>“I’ve just had a letter from Fanny,” Helen said. “She seems very lonely -at Ashburnham; but I’m glad she has escaped this dreadful heat.”</p> - -<p>“That reminds me,” Briggs remarked. “I think you’d better not wait till -next month before you go up to Waverly. The children will be far better -off up there. This heat may continue all through the month. Can’t you -get away by Saturday?”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_165">[Pg 165]</span></p> - -<p>He did not notice that she turned pale.</p> - -<p>“I suppose we could,” she replied.</p> - -<p>“I shall close up the house,” he continued, “and take rooms with Guy at -the club. If I can manage it I’ll go up to Waverly with you for over -Sunday. To-morrow I’ll send Michael there to open the house and get -things ready. His wife had better go with him, too,” he added, as an -afterthought.</p> - -<p>“There’ll be no need of going to all that expense,” said Helen, -flushing. Then she went on, quickly: “Miss Munroe and I can open the -house, and we can get Mary Watson’s daughter to help us.”</p> - -<p>“No,” said Briggs, decisively. “I want the place to be aired and put -in shape before you get there. You’re too tired to look after those -things, anyway, and Miss Munroe has all she can do to take care of the -children.”</p> - -<p>Helen rose from the table, and her husband followed her out of the -room. “I must go right back to the House,” he said. “We shall probably -have a long session to-night; so I sha’n’t be home till late. You -needn’t have anyone wait up for me.”</p> - -<p>Their partings after dinner had lately become<span class="pagenum" id="Page_166">[Pg 166]</span> very difficult, -involving unnecessary and uncomfortable explanations. Helen had either -to attend to some trifling domestic detail or to hurry upstairs to the -nursery, and Briggs was absorbed in work that called him to his study -or out of the house. They talked a good deal now about matters that -did not relate to themselves. Sometimes it was hard to find a topic. -They were in that most miserable of human situations where, loving -each other, they were able only to cause each other pain. Briggs found -relief in his work; Helen devoted more time to the children. She began -to wonder if she had not neglected them, if she had not left them too -much to their governess. It seemed to her, at times, that they cared as -much for Miss Munroe as for herself. Of course, Miss Munroe was in many -ways valuable, but she was provincial and narrow-minded and she petted -the children too much and gave them sentimental and foolish notions. -Helen dreaded seeming ungrateful, but she suspected that the children -had outgrown their governess.</p> - -<p>With his buoyant nature it was impossible for Douglas Briggs to remain -steadily depressed. There were moments when he felt sure that the -trouble between his wife and himself would suddenly<span class="pagenum" id="Page_167">[Pg 167]</span> disappear. Some -day, when he returned home, she would meet him in the hall or on the -stairs, and by a look, a gesture, would let him know that she had -forgiven him. Then he would take her in his arms, and all the anguish -of the past few weeks would be over. They would be dearer to each other -on account of it, closer, tenderer companions. She was in the right, -of course, but she would see that he had been forced to do what he had -done; that his sin had not been nearly so great as it seemed to her, -and that he was going to pay for it; that he had paid for it already, -and he would make ample amends in the future.</p> - -<p>Helen Briggs, however, cherished no such illusion. She could see no -way out of the difficulty. It was not merely that her respect for her -husband had gone; she was bitterly disappointed and hurt. She had -decided never to speak to him about Franklin West’s insult, but it -was her husband’s unconscious participation in it that caused her the -deepest humiliation and resentment. On the other hand, the very cruelty -of her sufferings deepened both her pity for her husband and her love. -The thought of leaving him now made her feel faint. She wished to stay -with him and to be more to<span class="pagenum" id="Page_168">[Pg 168]</span> him than she had ever been. But in his -presence she felt powerless; she could not even seem like herself. -She accused herself of being a depressing influence, of adding to his -burden.</p> - -<p>During the next few days, in spite of the heat that continued to be -severe, Helen worked hard helping to close the house and to prepare the -children’s Summer clothes. Dorothy began to be irritable, and Jack had -developed an affection of the throat that frightened her. The doctors -told her, however, that the boy would be well again after he had been -for a few days in the pure air of Waverly. It was a relief to her to -worry about Jack and to care for him, just as it was a satisfaction to -go to bed exhausted at the end of each day.</p> - -<p>On Friday afternoon Douglas Briggs returned home early. “I sha’n’t -be here for dinner,” he said. “I’m going to a committee meeting at -Aspinwall’s house, and it’ll last till evening, probably. Anyway, he’s -asked me to stay for a stag dinner. His wife’s away, you know.”</p> - -<p>“Aren’t you too busy to go with us to-morrow, Douglas?” Helen asked. -“You’ve not had a minute to yourself this week. Miss Munroe and I can -manage very well. If you like you can send Guy down.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_169">[Pg 169]</span></p> - -<p>Briggs hesitated. “It <em>is</em> a very hard time for me to leave,” -he said, nervously stroking his hair. “I ought to be at the House -to-morrow morning. But I didn’t want you and the children to stay till -Monday. It’s so hot here——”</p> - -<p>“We’ll go on, as we planned, and you can stay here,” Helen interrupted. -She turned away quickly and left him with the feeling that the matter -had been taken out of his hands. This turn of affairs displeased him. -He decided he would go to Waverly anyway. But when he had returned to -the cab waiting at the door he recovered from his resentment. Helen’s -plan was best, after all. In a week or two there would be a lull, -and he could run over to New York and then up the river to Waverly. -Perhaps by that time Helen would feel rested and take a different view -of things. She had been tired and nervous lately. He liked himself for -his leniency toward his wife, and when he reached Aspinwall’s house he -was in the frame of mind that always enabled him to appear at his best, -friendly and frank, but aggressive.</p> - -<p>The next morning Briggs drove with his family to the morning train, -leaving Guy to reply to his letters. When he bade them good-bye he -tried<span class="pagenum" id="Page_170">[Pg 170]</span> to maintain a jocular air. The children clamored after him from -the open window, and Dorothy’s face gave promise of tears. “Oh, I shall -see you all in a few days,” he said, as he stood on the platform. “That -is, if I hear that Dorothy and Jack are good. I won’t come if they are -not good.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, we’ll be awful good, papa,” said Dorothy, earnestly.</p> - -<p>A thick-set young man, with big spectacles, came hurrying to the train, -carrying a heavy suit-case. Briggs did not recognize him till he was -close at hand.</p> - -<p>“Oh, hello, Farley! Going on this train? That’s fine. You can look -after these people of mine. Helen,” Briggs called through the window, -“here’s Farley. He’s going over, too.”</p> - -<p>“I don’t know that I can get a seat in the car,” Farley panted.</p> - -<p>Briggs turned to the conductor, who stood at the steps. “Oh, I guess -Lawton can fix you up,” he remarked, pleasantly, displaying his genius -for remembering names.</p> - -<p>The conductor brightened. “Oh, that’ll be all right,” he said. “Just -jump in,” he added, to Farley. “There are two or three vacant places,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_171">[Pg 171]</span> -and I’ll try to get one of the passengers to change, so that you can -sit with the Congressman’s family.”</p> - -<p>Briggs walked forward and stood at the window. “I feel more comfortable -now,” he said to Farley, with a smile.</p> - -<p>The conductor managed to secure the seat beside Helen, and a moment -later the train pulled out of the station. Farley had begun to -entertain Dorothy and Jack, whom he had seen a few times at home and in -the parks. He seemed to know how to approach children; he never talked -down to them; he gave them the feeling that they were meeting him on -equal terms. His honest eyes and his large, smiling mouth at once won -their confidence.</p> - -<p>“I’m just running over for Sunday,” he explained to Helen. “Awful -day to travel, isn’t it? But we’re going to have a pretty important -meeting of our club—the Citizens’ Club, you know. We’re getting after -Rathburn. Know him?”</p> - -<p>“He has been at our house to see <abbr title="Mister">Mr.</abbr> Briggs,” Helen replied. She -remembered <abbr title="Mister">Mr.</abbr> Rathburn as a quiet, and an exceedingly polite man, with -a gray, pointed beard, fond of talking about his hobby, the cultivation -of roses.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_172">[Pg 172]</span></p> - -<p>“I think we’ve got him where we want him, now,” Farley continued. “He’s -been pretty foxy, but we’ve caught him napping in that big water-supply -steal. He engineered the whole job. It must have cost the city a -half-million dollars more than it should have cost. They say he pulled -out a hundred thousand for himself. But it’s going to queer him for -good!”</p> - -<p>“Do you mean that you are going to have him prosecuted?” Helen asked.</p> - -<p>Farley could not keep from smiling at the simplicity of the question. -“Hardly that. That would be more than we could hope for. But if we can -only have the thing investigated, and get the people to realize what’s -been done, why, his political career will be over. There’s a whole -gang of ’em in with him; but most of ’em have covered their tracks.” -Farley sighed. “It’s strange,” he said, “how hard it is to rouse public -opinion. Sometimes I believe our people are the most indifferent in the -world. They haven’t any sense of personal responsibility. That’s why we -have so many rascals in public life. If I were going in for rascality,” -he concluded, with a laugh, “I’d become a politician. It’s the safest -and the most<span class="pagenum" id="Page_173">[Pg 173]</span> profitable way of making money. Big returns and mighty -little risk.”</p> - -<p>Farley apparently did not notice the look of distress in Helen’s eyes. -Encouraged by her questions, he went on to give her an account of the -way in which the club had been founded. “I’d been doing the political -work in New York for the <em>Gazette</em> for three years,” he said; “so -that gave me a chance to see things from the inside. And what I did -see made me so sick that I thought of quitting the business. But one -night I was talking things over with Jimmy Barker. You’ve heard of -him, of course. He made me look at things from another point of view. -Jimmy’s father left him half a million dollars, and Jimmy, instead -of spending it all on himself, is blowing it in on his philanthropic -schemes. Lately he’s been living down on the East Side and working for -a reform in the tenement-house laws. Well, he made me see that, instead -of quitting political work, because the society wasn’t good enough for -me, I ought to stay in it and help to make it a little cleaner, if I -could. So he got me to bring together a lot of fellows that looked at -things as we did and we formed a sort of organization. At first we had -only a few rooms downtown. Now<span class="pagenum" id="Page_174">[Pg 174]</span> we have a house uptown and a pretty big -membership. It’s all Jimmy’s work. He’s given us a lot of money, and -when we got discouraged he’s kept us going by his enthusiasm—and his -money, too. I never knew such a man; nothing discourages him.” Farley’s -eyes flashed through his big glasses in the glow of talk. Helen -realized for the first time that at moments he was almost handsome.</p> - -<p>“Douglas has often spoken to me about the work of your club,” she -remarked. “He says it is having a great influence in New York.”</p> - -<p>“I wish we could persuade him to come in with us,” Farley said, -wistfully. “I’ve been trying to get him for months. He’s just the kind -of man we need most. You know we’ve been careful to keep absolutely -non-partisan. We have public men from both parties among our members. -It’s been pretty hard keeping ’em together. There are a lot of -hot-heads among reformers, you know,” he went on, smiling. “I suppose -when a man gets a strong bias in any direction it’s apt to throw him -off his equilibrium. But most of our men have seen that partisanship -would be the death of us. Our great point is to keep the city -government out of politics as much as possible. Of<span class="pagenum" id="Page_175">[Pg 175]</span> course, there’s no -reason why it shouldn’t be, except there seems to be a sort of weakness -in human nature for following a banner and going in crowds.”</p> - -<p>“Then you don’t pay attention to politics outside of New York?” Helen -asked.</p> - -<p>“Only indirectly,” Farley replied. “Some time we hope we can have a -National organization like our city club to look after some of those -rascals down in Washington. But as I was saying,” Farley resumed, -eagerly, “if I could only get <abbr title="Mister">Mr.</abbr> Briggs to join us, then he’d meet our -men, and they’d get to understand him. They don’t understand him now. -They think he’s been an out-and-out machine man. Of course, that’s all -nonsense. I only wish we had more machine men like him.”</p> - -<p>Helen turned her head away. Dorothy and Jack were playing games with -Miss Munroe. When Jack looked up quickly she noticed a little movement -of the head that always reminded her of his father. The first time she -had noticed this resemblance it had given her a thrill of happiness.</p> - -<p>On the arrival of the train in New York Farley helped his friends into -a carriage. “I’m not going to bid you good-bye,” he said. “I’ll take -the elevated<span class="pagenum" id="Page_176">[Pg 176]</span> and I’ll be at the Grand Central station before you have -time to get there.”</p> - -<p>Helen offered a protest, but Farley smilingly insisted. “It’s on my way -uptown,” he explained. “It won’t be the least trouble.”</p> - -<p>He had charmed Dorothy on the way over from Washington, and for an hour -she had lain asleep in his arms. Now she clamored that he be given a -place in the carriage.</p> - -<p>“I can sit in <abbr title="Mister">Mr.</abbr> Farley’s lap,” she pleaded.</p> - -<p>“No, Dorothy,” said Farley, “I’d like that all right; but the carriage -is crowded already.”</p> - -<p>“Then I’ll go with <abbr title="Mister">Mr.</abbr> Farley,” Dorothy insisted. This compromise, -however, was instantly rejected, and the driver whipped off. When Helen -reached the station Farley had already secured the tickets and the -seats in the parlor car.</p> - -<p>“I wish <abbr title="Mister">Mr.</abbr> Farley was going with us,” said Jack.</p> - -<p>“Oh, do come, please,” Dorothy exclaimed, delighted. “Can’t you come -and live with us like <abbr title="Mister">Mr.</abbr> Fullerton?”</p> - -<p>Farley laughed.</p> - -<p>“Perhaps <abbr title="Mister">Mr.</abbr> Farley will come some day,” said Helen. “Perhaps he will -come with papa.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, good!” Jack shouted.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_177">[Pg 177]</span></p> - -<p>“Well, I want <abbr title="Mister">Mr.</abbr> Farley now,” Dorothy pouted. The fatigue of the -journey had begun to tell on her.</p> - -<p>Farley walked down to the car and saw his friends settled in their -places. As the train pulled out of the station he stood on the platform -and watched till it disappeared. Then he sighed and walked slowly back -to the street. How fortunate some men were in this world, he thought. -Douglas Briggs was an example. He had everything that could contribute -to happiness—success, power, money, a happy home, a wife who must -be a perpetual inspiration, and children. Farley cared comparatively -little for money or power; he was content to follow his life in the -world as it had been laid out for him; but sometimes he grew depressed -as he thought that the deeper satisfactions, the love of a wife and of -children, he should probably never know. For the past year this feeling -had become a conviction. He encouraged no morbid sentiment about it, -however. He had plenty of interests and pleasures; his work alone -brought rewards that were worth striving for, and in his friendships, -his interests and in books he found distraction and solace. He was -one of those men who are never tempted to experiment with their<span class="pagenum" id="Page_178">[Pg 178]</span> -emotions; so he had kept his mind wholesome, and he had never known -the disappointment and the bitterness of those who try to substitute -self-indulgence for happiness.</p> - -<p>Farley himself hardly realized how much his view of life was influenced -by his attitude toward women. He had the exalted view of women that -only those men can take who have kept their lives clean. He had first -become interested in Douglas Briggs through seeing Briggs’s wife. He -thought there must be remarkable qualities in a man who could win the -love of a woman like that. Until within a few months he had seen Helen -only a few times. Now he felt as if he had known her always. He looked -back on himself during the years before he first saw her as if he had -been someone else, with a feeling very like pity. There were also -moments of weakness when he thought with pity of himself as he had been -since knowing her.</p> - -<p>If Farley had realized the misery he had caused Helen Briggs he would -have experienced an agony of regret. On the way to Waverly Helen -kept thinking of her talk with him on the train. The revelation of -his own character that Farley had given made Helen compare him with -her husband.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_179">[Pg 179]</span> She had never before appreciated the rare qualities -of the journalist, his inflexible honesty, his candor, his generous -admirations, his supreme unselfishness. At the thought of his devotion -to her husband Helen felt her face flush with shame. Douglas, of -course, knew how much Farley admired him; but Douglas was used to -admiration; he had received it all his life.</p> -<hr class="chap" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_180">[Pg 180]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="XIII">XIII</h2> -</div> - - -<p>After Helen’s departure, Douglas Briggs felt a curious mingling -of relief and depression. It was a relief not to have to face the -constant rebuke that the sight of her gave him; and yet it depressed -him during the day to think that when he returned home he should not -find her there. He realized now many things about himself that he -had been unconscious of before. In the happy time that seemed so far -away now, during the stress of work, how he had loved to think of her -at home there with the children. What a comfort it was just to know -they were there and to feel that they were safe. And then, the walk -home, with the expectation of finding the children and Helen in the -nursery. The glad welcome! Then—but at this point he had to force -himself to think of other things. That happiness could never be the -same because in her eyes he could never be the same man. She must ever -look back on those<span class="pagenum" id="Page_181">[Pg 181]</span> days with a kind of shame; she must feel that he -had deceived her, that through it all he had been a hypocrite. With -her severe standards she must think that he had never been what she -believed him to be. She would judge him by that perfect father of hers, -by her sturdy older brother, and by the two brothers who had entered -the Church. At other times he would accuse himself of wronging her; -she could not judge him so harshly; she could not put aside altogether -the love she had once had for him. The love she had once had! He would -feel a shock of horror. Why, she must have it still; she had told him -a thousand times that nothing could change her love for him. After the -children came they used to say that much as they loved the children -they loved each other a thousand times more. And how they used to -wonder if other husbands and wives loved as they did. They used to -laugh and say that perhaps to other people they seemed as commonplace -as others did to them. After a time he resolved to discipline himself -when these thoughts came; if he were to indulge them, they would make -life unbearable. He wondered vaguely if she ever had such thoughts now. -Once they used to believe that they often had the same thoughts. In -this way, in<span class="pagenum" id="Page_182">[Pg 182]</span> spite of his efforts, he found himself going back to his -morbid fancies. Sometimes, on the other hand, he became rebellious and -he pitied himself as a man unjustly and inhumanely treated. No woman -had a right to treat a man like that, a man who had always tried to -be good to her, too. No woman had a right to expect her husband to be -perfect.</p> - -<p>It seemed curious that at this time Douglas Briggs should have found -solace in the companionship of Guy Fullerton. The boy’s eager interest -in life and his simplicity of mind amused and interested the older man. -In spite of his four years of money-spending at Harvard, Guy had not -been spoiled; at moments his ingenuousness was almost childish. Douglas -Briggs found that with Guy he could discuss matters he would shrink -from mentioning in the presence of sophisticated and hardened men. In -Guy, too, he saw many of the qualities that he himself had had as a -boy, though he recognized that long before reaching his secretary’s -age he had outgrown most of them. In his dread of being alone he made -pretexts for keeping the boy with him in his few hours of leisure -during the day. In the late afternoon they would walk from the house to -the club<span class="pagenum" id="Page_183">[Pg 183]</span> where Briggs would let Guy order the dinner. They had a table -reserved for them in the bay-window of the dining-room, by George, the -fat and pompous head-waiter, whose display of teeth at the appearance -of Douglas Briggs suggested the memory of a long line of tips. After -finishing the meal they would often linger, sipping claret punch which -Briggs allowed himself to encourage Guy to drink. He had begun to feel -a paternal fondness for Guy; he enjoyed formulating before the young -fellow a philosophy of life and offering stray bits of advice. Guy’s -admiration for him stimulated him and, though he would have hated to -acknowledge the fact, it supported him in a good opinion of himself. -If in his talks there were matters that occurred to his mind only to -be immediately suppressed, the reason was not less because he wished -to conceal certain aspects of life from the boy than because he wished -to keep the boy’s admiration untarnished. Occasionally he wondered -if he ought not to do something for Guy, if he were not selfish in -his keeping him in a kind of life that might harm him. If the young -fellow stayed long enough in Washington he would probably become one -of those miserable creatures whose days were spent in hanging on to<span class="pagenum" id="Page_184">[Pg 184]</span> -the soiled skirts of the Government. It would be a pity to see Guy, for -example, in the army of clerks who, at nine o’clock each day, poured -into the Government offices and streamed out again at four in the -afternoon. Briggs said to himself that he ought to find a chance for -Guy to do work into some sort of independence where he could develop -those qualities of faithfulness and intelligence that were plainly his -inheritance even if they were somewhat obscured by his boyishness.</p> - -<p>After dinner, when there was nothing to call him to the House, Briggs -would occasionally be joined by a politician, or by one of the Army -or Navy men who frequented the club. He dreaded meeting the officers -even more than the politicians. He had grown tired of hearing of the -exploits of the Spanish War, of the controversy between rival Admirals -and of the rare qualities, on the one hand, of this General or that, -and the injustice of the General’s advance over officers who had given -many years of faithful work to the service. The jealousies and the -rivalries among the heroes disgusted him, and the bragging among some -of the veterans gave him a contempt for war. At moments he had a horror -of meeting anyone except the young fellow who kept him from thinking<span class="pagenum" id="Page_185">[Pg 185]</span> -about himself. He wondered if he had grown suddenly old. The talk of -the club made him feel as if life had become sordid and mean, as if -nothing was ever done from an unselfish motive. In these moods he would -sometimes take Guy with him for a ride in the country on a trolley-car -to Chevy Chase, where they would sit on the porch of the club and watch -the fireflies gleaming over the green sward, or, as oftener happened, -to Cabin John’s, where they amused themselves by studying the crowd. -Cabin John’s used to remind Briggs of his early days in the country -when he attended the church-picnics. He found himself now going back to -those days very often. After all, he reflected, the plain democratic -life was the best. And it was this very kind of life that he had been -striving so desperately to get away from.</p> - -<p>Occasionally during the afternoon Briggs would feel a disgust for -work and would go with Guy to the ball-game. Briggs enjoyed a game -of baseball for its own sake and because it renewed his old boyish -enthusiasm. At college he had been a catcher on his nine and he had -never lost his interest in the game. The crowd, too, entertained him -with its good nature, its amusing remarks to the players, and with its -fitful bursts of rage and<span class="pagenum" id="Page_186">[Pg 186]</span> scorn against the umpire. Briggs used to say -to Guy that he believed American men were never so happy as when they -were watching a ball-game. “Look at all those fellows,” he would remark -on the days of the big games. “See how contented they are. And what a -harmless pleasure it is, too!” Then, afraid of boring the boy with his -philosophy, Briggs would check himself and devote his attention to the -game. Meanwhile, however, he continued his reflections. Most of these -men were undoubtedly family men; many of them had sent their families -for the hot season away to the country or the seashore. He wondered how -many of them were really happy. Did they miss their wives and their -children as he missed his? Some of them were, of course, glad to be -free and Briggs realized the commonplace thought with astonishment. -There were some men who did not care for family-life, who were unfitted -for it. It had become impossible for him to think of any other kind of -life as endurable. Well, it was good that they could all, the happy and -unhappy, come to a game of baseball and forget there was such a thing -as care in the world.</p> - -<p>While he was alone at night, Briggs suffered most. At times he would -work late in order to<span class="pagenum" id="Page_187">[Pg 187]</span> exhaust himself; then his brain would become so -excited that he could not sleep for hours. Sometimes he rose and tried -to read; and occasionally, he would fall asleep in the chair. In his -dreams he would wander about the new house, breaking his heart over the -sight of places and things associated with his wife. He often said to -himself that he felt as if he had lost part of himself; he recalled the -remarks he had made to Helen on the night of that wretched party, that -he felt as if he had always been married. He wondered what men had to -live for who did not have wife and children to think of, to give them -incentive for their work. He had always been an optimist and he had -felt a curious surprise when he heard people express a dissatisfaction -with life. Even his trials and his disappointments had brought with -them something stimulating. But now he often sank into despair.</p> - -<p>Guy Fullerton was consoled in his confinement in Washington by the -sense of his importance to his employer and by the letters that he -received from Fanny Wallace. Though an irregular letter-writer, Fanny -was voluminous, and she kept Guy amused with her comments on the -people that she met and the things that she did. Occasionally<span class="pagenum" id="Page_188">[Pg 188]</span> one -of her letters would contain a reference that would throw Guy into -temporary depression. Douglas Briggs generally knew when this disaster -had occurred, and used to exert himself to rouse the boy, generally -with success. At these times Guy would give expression to a philosophy -regarding woman so pessimistic and cynical that Briggs with difficulty -kept from laughing. In spite of his own troubles, Briggs congratulated -himself that he retained his sense of humor. Once he said to Guy, as -they were drinking at the club: “My dear boy, you mustn’t take life so -seriously.”</p> - -<p>“Well, sir,” Guy replied in a deep breath, “I’m just beginning to find -out how serious it is.”</p> - -<p>“It’s all right to realize how serious it is,” Briggs went on, “but -that’s different from taking it seriously. Don’t let things bother -you too much, that’s what I mean—little things. Just be sure that -everything is coming out all right, and don’t mind the details.”</p> - -<p>Guy shook his head doggedly. “But the details are mighty important, -sometimes, <abbr title="Mister">Mr.</abbr> Briggs.”</p> - -<p>In spite of himself, Briggs sighed. It was much easier to offer -philosophy to this boy than to practise it oneself. The silence that -followed<span class="pagenum" id="Page_189">[Pg 189]</span> was suddenly broken by Guy’s saying: “Do you believe in early -marriages, <abbr title="Mister">Mr.</abbr> Briggs?”</p> - -<p>The question was received without a smile. “That depends on a good many -considerations,” Briggs replied, slowly. “And it depends chiefly on the -woman. Most people would say that it depended on both the man and the -woman. But it’s the woman that counts first every time.”</p> - -<p>“Well, the man counts for something, doesn’t he?” Guy urged with a -faint smile; but Briggs went on as if he had not been interrupted.</p> - -<p>“The man counts only in relation to the woman. If the woman is all -right, why, there’s no excuse for the man’s not being right.” Briggs -tightly closed his lips. “If he isn’t, it shows there’s something -radically wrong in him. There is no happiness like the happiness of -a youthful marriage founded on love and character; but there is no -Hell so awful as the unhappiness that comes when a marriage like that -strikes disaster.”</p> - -<p>“Well, it’s a lottery, anyway, don’t you think so?” Guy asked, made -somewhat uncomfortable by Douglas Briggs’s intensity, and trying to get -back where the water was not too deep for him.</p> - -<p>“That’s just what it isn’t. The results of any marriage could -be calculated in advance if we only<span class="pagenum" id="Page_190">[Pg 190]</span> knew how to weigh all the -considerations. When a good woman marries an unprincipled man, misery -is sure to result for her, possibly for both. When a good woman marries -a weak man, well, there’s a chance that she’ll be able to bolster him -up and make a strong character of him.”</p> - -<p>“That’s what I think,” Guy cried, so enthusiastically, that Briggs came -near smiling again. He was tempted to say, “Don’t be so modest, my -boy,” but he checked himself.</p> - -<p>“On general principles,” Briggs resumed quietly, “I suppose the great -danger of an early marriage is that the wife may outgrow the husband, -or, what is far more likely to happen, that the husband will outgrow -the wife. I’ve seen that happen in several cases where the woman has -stayed at home and led a limited life, and the man has gone out into -the world and developed.”</p> - -<p>“Still I believe it’s possible,” Guy went on eagerly, “for the young -people to go on together and share everything. Then I don’t see—”</p> - -<p>“There’s where the trouble starts, my boy. The woman may be willing to -share everything; but the man is willing mighty seldom. If he’s like a -good many men, vain and conceited, he’ll only<span class="pagenum" id="Page_191">[Pg 191]</span> want to share the good -things, the pleasant things; he’ll keep the unpleasant to himself.”</p> - -<p>“Well, that seems to me pretty fine,” cried Guy, shaking his head.</p> - -<p>“Yes, it sounds so,” Briggs went on, “but it doesn’t work out right.” -Then he checked himself, fearing that the boy would read a personal -application in what he said. He changed the subject abruptly, as he -sometimes did to Guy’s bewilderment. At such moments Guy feared that he -had unconsciously offended his employer. In spite of the companionship -Guy gave the other, there were times when Briggs felt the boy’s -presence to be somewhat inconvenient. He wished to keep from the young -fellow a knowledge of certain business transactions which, as the days -passed, grew to be more and more complicated. He often had to keep -the door closed against Guy when his broker called. Guy, of course, -knew who Balcombe was, the small, keen-eyed, sandy man who frequented -the club; but he did not know that Douglas Briggs, whose speculations -had previously been conservative, had begun to plunge. Briggs tried -to excuse himself for his recklessness on the plea of desperate -remedies; he must get rid of Franklin West and, in order to<span class="pagenum" id="Page_192">[Pg 192]</span> maintain -his independence, and, to keep afloat, he must at times take risks. -Guy used occasionally to notice a curious elation in his employer’s -manner; it showed itself most conspicuously at the close of the day, -when they sat at dinner; it sometimes caused Briggs to tell Guy to -order something especially good to eat. But even on the days when he -felt depressed, Briggs managed to display an artificial gayety that -deceived the boy. Then he would indulge in extravagance for the purpose -of cheering himself.</p> - -<p>There were moments of solitude, however, when Briggs could not -discipline himself into good humor or take comfort from any sophistry. -Then he used to wonder grimly what the end would be. Suppose everything -went wrong, suppose he should lose the few thousands he had managed to -get together to speculate with? Suppose he should find himself out of -politics, deep in debt and without resources? These thoughts usually -came to him in the middle of the night as he lay in bed, and a cold -perspiration would break out on his forehead. In the early morning, -too, long before it was time to get up, he would lie half-asleep, -suffering from a vague consciousness of profound misery, more terrible -than any suffering<span class="pagenum" id="Page_193">[Pg 193]</span> he knew in his waking hours. He began to dread -the mornings, and he resolved to try to rouse himself and to escape -the obsession. But, in spite of his resolutions, he would lie in bed, -a helpless prisoner, and as he finally became wide-awake, he would -feel exhausted. For himself he believed that he had no fear; his whole -solicitude was for Helen and the children. He marvelled that he had -never worried about the matter before. He had always felt confident -that he could keep his family in comfort. It was true that he had taken -out a heavy life-insurance policy; but that was a precaution every -sensible family man employed. Already that policy had become a burden; -he dreaded the next payment.</p> - -<p>In his moments of greatest depression, Douglas Briggs used to -accuse himself of having accomplished nothing in his life. Here he -was—forty-two! By this time, he ought to have laid a solid foundation -for the future. And yet he had advanced no farther than the point -he had reached at thirty-six, when first elected to Congress. He -had actually gone back. At thirty-six, he had had at least a clear -record and good prospects. Now his name was smirched, his self-respect -was weakened, and he was committed to a<span class="pagenum" id="Page_194">[Pg 194]</span> course that involved more -hypocrisy, if not more dishonesty. In the morning he often woke feeling -prematurely old with the horrible sense of being a failure, and with -hardly energy enough to take up his cares. He wondered if many men -suffered as he did, and he decided that it was probably only the -exceptional men who did not; he was probably experiencing the common -lot. Here, indeed, was some comfort offered by his philosophy.</p> - -<p>One morning Briggs found himself face to face with a definite -temptation. There was an easy way out of his difficulties; in fact, -there were a dozen easy ways. There were a dozen men within reach who -would be glad to take his notes, to extend them, and to hold them -indefinitely. In other words, he could realize on them and meet his -obligations, and not only clear himself of pressing debt, but reach -a position where he need not think of his notes again. He would be -obliged to give no pledge, to bind himself by no promises. The chances -were that he should not in the future be called on to do anything that -would definitely violate his conscience. It was this consideration -that caused him to cover his face with his hands and to lean forward -despairingly on his desk.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_195">[Pg 195]</span> It recalled to him the situation that had -placed him in the power of Franklin West. He rose quickly, feeling the -blood rush to his face, and he said aloud: “By God, I won’t do it!” -Then he seized his hat and walked rapidly out into the street. In the -open air he took deep breaths and he had a curious impulse to thrash -someone. He was like a man trying to control a wild attack of anger.</p> - -<p>Meanwhile, in Waverly, Helen Briggs was suffering as poignantly. -The sight of the place where she had first met the young man who -was to become her husband and where they had known their first -great happiness, added to her misery. The old house, too, brought -back the memories of her childhood, of her saintly old father, her -gentle mother, whose long years of invalidism had only sweetened -her character, her fine older brother, whom she had always regarded -as a second father, and the two boys who were now leading happy and -useful lives ministering to their churches, one in Rochester and one -in Syracuse. Among them all, Douglas had been a sort of hero. To the -two young clergymen he represented all that was best in a career of -public service. On first coming to Waverly, he had brought a letter -of introduction<span class="pagenum" id="Page_196">[Pg 196]</span> to her father and he had quickly been made a family -friend. His success in the law and in politics made him a marked man -and when Helen’s engagement was announced, it seemed as if everything -pointed to a happy marriage. And now, after years of happiness, the -shock of disappointment had come so suddenly that Helen could hardly -realize it. Often at night it seemed to her that she would wake and -find the trouble had been only a ghastly dream. In the morning she -would go about the house so dispirited that Miss Munroe would ask her -if she were not ill. She began to dread Miss Munroe’s solicitude; -it was terrible to think that someone might discover the secret of -her unhappiness. But she knew she could not hide it always. She had -a feeling that if her brothers were to find it out, all chance of a -reconciliation would be gone. With their stern ideas of rectitude, -they could never forgive Douglas. But, after all, she reflected, her -own ideas were as stern. Sometimes she wondered if she could be wrong, -if her standards were not merely ideal, visionary, the result of her -training at home, in the atmosphere of the church, which stood apart -from real life. But this thought always terrified her and she turned -from it, instinctively feeling that<span class="pagenum" id="Page_197">[Pg 197]</span> if she were to lose her standards -she should lose her hold on life itself.</p> - -<p>In the old days before their estrangement, Helen had never questioned -her husband’s movements or had doubts in regard to them. She had -trusted him always, as he had trusted her; indeed, the thought of the -possibility of suspicion had not entered her mind. Now she wondered why -he remained away so long from Waverly. Was it really because he had to -be in Washington for business? He had been detained there one Summer -before, by private business, but on Friday of each week he had made the -long and fatiguing journey home. Could it be that he dreaded meeting -her? It was true, she acknowledged, that she dreaded meeting him; but -even more she dreaded his not coming. She suffered cruelly from the -fear that he would become used to being away from her, that in time he -would not miss her. It was only in her more desperate moods that she -accused him of not missing her at all now.</p> - -<p>It was with regard to the children that Helen Briggs felt most concern -for the future, especially with regard to her boy. How could she -bring them up so that they should not fall upon disaster as she and -Douglas had done? If temptation<span class="pagenum" id="Page_198">[Pg 198]</span> could so overcome Douglas, whom she -had always looked on as unconquerable, what could she expect when Jack -grew up? Already she had often talked with Douglas of the way they -should help Jack to face the trials that boys have to meet. Sometimes -Douglas laughed at her solicitude and said that she’d better not try -to cross her bridges till she came to them. And she reflected, with a -sinking of the heart, even while he was saying that, he knew that his -own character had broken down. But she seldom reached this point in -her speculations; she received a warning of the violence that would -result to her own emotions. Throughout her self-torments, she never let -herself believe the situation seemed hopeless. Something would happen, -she felt sure, that would finally make everything right. But in her -assurances, the mocking spirit of reason ridiculed her hope.</p> - -<p>The practical aspects of her trouble were a constant burden on Helen’s -mind. How could they go on living so extravagantly? Was it not wrong -that she should continue to have the luxuries she was used to having? -For herself she could easily have gone without them; but she wished -to give the children the best that could be bought. They<span class="pagenum" id="Page_199">[Pg 199]</span> were both -delicate and they often had to be coaxed to eat, and they refused to -eat many of the things that were inexpensive. Helen wondered if she -had not pampered them too much. At times she became nearly distracted -with the problem of living. She tried to console herself by reflecting -that she had two thousand dollars a year of her own and that during the -summer the expenses of the house in Waverly were far less than this -sum. But such sophistry gave her little help; the truth which she must -face was that they were living beyond their means. Someone must suffer -from their dishonesty. Surely Douglas must realize that plain fact. Oh, -how could he have gone on like that, from month to month, from year to -year? And all the while seeming before her the man he had been. That -was the worst thought in the whole matter, the thought of his hypocrisy!</p> - -<p>After a time, Helen resolved to try to be at peace with herself in -regard to the business-affairs of the family until she returned to -town. Then she would discuss the whole matter with Douglas. Of course, -they must give up their New York house. The thought of returning to -it appalled her, but they would probably be obliged to return for a -time, until the election had taken<span class="pagenum" id="Page_200">[Pg 200]</span> place, at any rate. Then there was -the question of the house in Washington. How could she ever go back to -that? It had already become hateful to her. But if she were to return -to Washington it would be hard for Douglas to move into a more modest -house. At any rate, he would think that the change would injure him. -At this juncture she recognized in him a pride which she had never -suspected before, a false pride that lowered him in her opinion. -Indeed, in all her reasoning she was discovering hidden qualities in -him. How could she ever adjust the old Douglas to the new?</p> - -<p>When these thoughts came it was a comfort to her to accuse herself of -faults and weaknesses. With a relief that seemed like joy she reflected -that in his place she too might have yielded to temptation. But -instantly she felt a stern denial in her consciousness. Still, if she -could not fail just as he had done she might have failed in other ways, -possibly worse ways. Once she thought of going to her older brother and -telling the whole story, to bring to bear on the situation the light -of his common sense. But she could not endure the thought of exposing -Douglas like that even to him; it seemed a betrayal of her wifely -trust. On the other hand, her brother might help Douglas!<span class="pagenum" id="Page_201">[Pg 201]</span> But she at -once thought of the anger Douglas would feel. No, such a step could -only aggravate the situation.</p> - -<p>In a few days Helen had settled into the monotony of Waverly. The old -friends came to see her; the old country gayeties, however, continued -without her. She devoted herself chiefly to the children, giving Miss -Munroe a holiday of several weeks. She scrupulously wrote to her -husband every day, and he answered as regularly. He said that Congress -would probably not adjourn till late in July, and as he was desperately -driven with work it might be impossible for him to come to Waverly -till the session had ended. It was, in fact, not till the first week -in August that the session closed. Two days later Helen received a -telegram from her husband saying that she might expect him early in -the evening; this was soon followed by another message announcing that -he had been detained in New York. He came late one afternoon; but he -stayed only for the night, returning to New York in the morning. The -work in preparation for the Fall campaign had begun unusually early, -he said. An enormous amount of work had to be done, and he must stay -in town, to be sure it was done right. Helen offered to leave<span class="pagenum" id="Page_202">[Pg 202]</span> the -children with Miss Munroe and open the New York house for him, but -he refused, insisting that she needed the rest. Besides, he could be -perfectly comfortable at the club. For the next few weeks he would have -to be in consultation with people day and night. He was so busy that -he had been unable to give Guy Fullerton a holiday, or rather, Guy had -refused to take one. He often spoke with praise of Guy’s devotion.</p> - -<p>During the rest of the Summer he ran up to Waverly several times, -rarely staying for more than a day. His visits were painful to them -both, though they delighted the children. When September came Helen -made preparations for her return to New York. She wished to live under -the same roof with her husband, though she might seldom see him. At -times her absence from him, and the strangeness with which they greeted -each other on meeting, terrified her. She would not confess to herself -the fear that he would discover she was not indispensable to him; but -in spite of the late September heat, it was with great relief that, -a week before the nominating convention, she found herself with the -children at the house in New York again.</p> - -<p>The opening of the New York house began the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_203">[Pg 203]</span> preparations for its -closing. These Briggs observed without comment. At times, when, -following his wife’s point of view, he realized the expense he was -carrying, he felt appalled. He wondered how he had ever dared to -undertake so much; he felt as if he were just emerging from a debauch -of recklessness. What had he been thinking of? What had he expected to -happen? He saw now that he had been relying on chance, like a gambler.</p> - -<p>During the next few weeks Briggs was so busy with his political work -that he practically lived away from home, returning there chiefly -to sleep. Whenever he did pass a part of the day at home, he was -shut up in the library, working with Guy over his mail, or in seeing -callers. He perceived now for the first time how far he had drifted -away from the party-moorings. From all sides he received warnings, -sometimes covert, occasionally frank and threatening, that a determined -opposition was to be made to his renomination. But, the nomination once -secured, he felt sure that he could hold his former supporters and -gain increased strength from the Independents, whom William Farley was -trying to win over. Briggs kept in uninterrupted communication with -Farley; he had<span class="pagenum" id="Page_204">[Pg 204]</span> begun to find the journalist extremely companionable. -He recalled now with a secret shame that at first he had been -suspicious of Farley, attributing an insidious selfishness to his -motives; but in every emergency, Farley had shown himself to be open -and generous and clean-minded. But it was Farley’s perfect confidence -that most deeply touched Douglas Briggs. Sometimes Briggs wondered -what Helen thought when she saw them working together, with Farley in -a subordinate attitude. With her fine sense of character, a sense he -had never known to err except with regard to himself, she must long ago -have learned to appreciate the journalist’s character. Briggs wondered -if she suspected that he was trying to use Farley. Once the thought -made him boldly accuse himself. But he found a vindication in the -thought that he was fighting his way against odds toward an honorable -goal. Once elected to Congress, he would do everything in his power to -atone for the wrong he had done. His future life would be not merely -an expiation, but a vindication. He assured himself that if he were to -falter now, he would be a coward. He was committed to his course.</p> - -<p>As for Helen, she tried to keep her mind distracted from herself by -the cares of the household,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_205">[Pg 205]</span> and she worked during most of the time -that she did not spend with the children. Every day she came upon -things with happy associations; once the sight of them would have -given her pleasure; but now it only hurt her. She was constantly -reminded, too, of what she now regarded as her extravagances. Why, -they had been living as if they were millionaires! She blamed herself, -not because she had spent so freely, but because she had not won -her husband’s complete confidence. If she had shown more character, -she argued, would he not have trusted her in everything? Would he -not have kept her informed with regard to his condition? Why had he -treated her, a woman and the mother of children, as if she were a -child to be petted and to be maintained at any sacrifice in luxury? -Sometimes this self-questioning caused her a kind of shame. In her -unhappiness she wondered if he had not despised her for accepting so -much unquestioningly. She understood now why some men regarded women as -monsters of selfishness. Oh, she had been selfish and inconsiderate! -Once she thought of going to Douglas and telling him just how she felt. -But she had not sufficient courage. Besides, she knew that he would -resent her pity for him.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_206">[Pg 206]</span> Then, too, he might think it was far too late -for her to take that superior attitude.</p> - -<p>Having decided to let Miss Munroe go, Helen dreaded the parting, not -because she found the governess necessary, but because of the scene -that the children would make. She was tempted to ask the girl to leave -without telling the children she was going; but that would be too -cruel, as well as underhanded. She feared, too, that the governess -would tell the children that she intended to leave them. Miss Munroe -had an exalted idea of her own importance, and would wish to make her -going as difficult and as dramatic as possible. So when she gave the -girl the usual notice, she had to be very careful. To her astonishment, -Miss Munroe received it with what seemed like sublime heroism.</p> - -<p>“I knew that things weren’t going right with you, Mrs. Briggs,” she -said, “and that I should have to leave soon. I will look for another -place. Of course,” she went on, her eyes filling with tears, “it will -be hard to give up the children.”</p> - -<p>“I know,” Helen said with a sigh, and at the moment she felt pity for -the girl, and she wondered if she had not been unjust and foolish. But<span class="pagenum" id="Page_207">[Pg 207]</span> -in future, she reflected, the children would be wholly hers.</p> - -<p>“It’s too bad, isn’t it?” Miss Munroe went on with a brave smile, “to -be with children long enough to feel almost as if they were your own, -and then have to go away from them!”</p> - -<p>Helen Briggs felt as if the muscles in her frame had become rigid. -In spite of herself, her face hardened. “Please don’t tell them you -are going,” she said, trying not to seem severe, and she thought she -detected a look of triumph in the girl’s face.</p> - -<p>“Very well,” said Miss Munroe, tightening her lips.</p> - -<p>“I’ll write to some people that I know in Washington,” Helen resumed, -speaking gently, “and see if they may not have a position for you. -Their children——”</p> - -<p>“Oh, I’d rather not live in Washington again,” Miss Munroe interrupted -with dignity.</p> - -<p>“I thought you liked it,” Helen said with surprise.</p> - -<p>“Not after what I know about it,” Miss Munroe explained, and Helen -flushed deeply. Could it be that this girl was covertly trying to wound -her? She decided to ignore the suspicion; but it<span class="pagenum" id="Page_208">[Pg 208]</span> made her rise from -her seat to indicate that the interview had ended.</p> - -<p>Two days later the children ran downstairs to their mother, crying -bitterly. It happened that they met the father on the stairs.</p> - -<p>“What’s the matter?” he asked, and Helen, from her room, noticed the -pain in his voice.</p> - -<p>“Miss Munroe is going away,” they both exclaimed together, and Dorothy -added: “She says she’s never coming back again.”</p> - -<p>“An’ she says we can’t come to see her,” Jack cried.</p> - -<p>At sight of Helen in the lower hall, they ran past their father down -the stairs.</p> - -<p>“What does this mean?” Briggs asked angrily over the balusters, -and Helen, unable to control the indignation she felt against the -governess, replied, “I don’t know,” and, putting her arms across the -shoulders of the children, she led them into the room and closed the -door behind her.</p> - -<p>Briggs hesitated for a moment, his face white with anger. He was -tempted to go down the stairs, force open the door of Helen’s room and -give vent to his feelings. But he checked himself. Then he had a second -impulse, and he dashed up the stairs to the nursery. He found<span class="pagenum" id="Page_209">[Pg 209]</span> Miss -Munroe standing in the middle of the room, in tears. She had evidently -been listening at the half-open door.</p> - -<p>“What have you been saying to those children?” he asked sternly.</p> - -<p>Miss Munroe began to sob. “They asked me this morning if it was true -that I was going away.” Her head began to move convulsively backward -and forward.</p> - -<p>“Who told them you were going away?”</p> - -<p>“I don’t know, sir. I only know that I didn’t. I promised Mrs. Briggs -that I wouldn’t.”</p> - -<p>“But you’ve told some of the servants, haven’t you?”</p> - -<p>“Well, I—I did mention it to——”</p> - -<p>“That’s enough!” Briggs exclaimed. “You ought to have known better.” -He hesitated, with a look of despair in his face. “Well, now that they -know it, we’ll have no peace with the children till you go.”</p> - -<p>Miss Munroe stopped crying. She seemed to grow an inch taller. “I am -ready to leave at once, sir,” she said.</p> - -<p>“Well!” Briggs knotted his forehead in perplexity. After all, the poor -girl had been good to the children. It would be cruel to send her away<span class="pagenum" id="Page_210">[Pg 210]</span> -like that. But he quailed at the thought of Dorothy’s wailings and -questionings and complaints.</p> - -<p>“We’re going to have a hard time here during the next few weeks,” he -said in a tone that showed the girl his anger had subsided, “and I -simply can’t let things be worse than they’ve got to be. So perhaps the -best thing you can do is to take a vacation before you go for good. You -can tell the children you are coming back, you know. Oh!” he exclaimed, -despairingly, “that won’t do at all.”</p> - -<p>Miss Munroe, with the air of keeping an advantage, stood in silence.</p> - -<p>“I knew that Mrs. Briggs would have worried about that—about your -telling the children,” Briggs went on helplessly.</p> - -<p>“She worries about a great many things,” Miss Munroe remarked with -quiet significance.</p> - -<p>“But, for my sake, Miss Munroe,” Briggs resumed, plainly without having -heard her comment, “if you could take a little vacation soon! That’ll -be the best for all of us. I know how hard it must be for you, and -it will be hard for the children. But, now that the break is to take -place, the sooner the better. I’ll pay you a month ahead, as I know -Mrs. Briggs will do anything she can for you.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_211">[Pg 211]</span></p> - -<p>“Oh, I won’t have any bother about getting another place,” Miss Munroe -said cheerfully. “And I’ll be glad to do everything that will make -things easier for you, sir. I know what a hard time you’ve been having -and, of course, I’ve been with Mrs. Briggs so much, I understand -<em>her</em> pretty well.”</p> - -<p>Briggs stood in silence. He felt as if he had been wounded in some very -sensitive place. What did this girl mean? Was she trying to express -sympathy for him and at the same time stabbing at Helen? While living -with them in the intimacy of the family life, had she been spying on -them and gossiping about them with the servants?</p> - -<p>“I’ll speak to Mrs. Briggs to-day, and she’ll let you know when she -wants you to leave,” he said mechanically, and he walked out of the -room.</p> - -<p>During the rest of the day Briggs suffered from a dull anger, directed -not against the governess, however, but against his wife. If Helen had -only not interfered with his affairs, he assured himself, he would have -worked out of his troubles. Her interference had upset everything, even -the details of the domestic economy. He quickly forgot his resentment -against Miss Munroe; after all, it was natural that the poor girl -should resent<span class="pagenum" id="Page_212">[Pg 212]</span> being turned away from the family that she had served so -faithfully. She had her little pride, too, in not being a mere servant; -and that pride had probably been wounded. She was so necessary that he -hoped Helen would change her mind about letting her go. He liked the -idea of giving the girl a vacation; after missing her services for a -few weeks, Helen might be glad to take her back. He meant to speak of -the idea to his wife; but in the distraction of his work he forgot it. -After a few days, on observing that Miss Munroe still remained in the -house, he assumed that she was to stay on indefinitely.</p> -<hr class="chap" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_213">[Pg 213]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="XIV">XIV</h2> -</div> - - -<p>On the morning after the convention Douglas Briggs sat in his study, -looking over his letters. He heard a tap at the door, and Michael -entered with two telegrams.</p> - -<p>“If any callers come,” said Briggs, “take them into the reception room.”</p> - -<p>“Yes, sir.”</p> - -<p>“And give these telegrams to Sam.”</p> - -<p>Michael nodded gravely; but he did not stir.</p> - -<p>“That’s all,” said Briggs, without looking up.</p> - -<p>“It’s glad I am, sir, yer got ahead o’ them div’ls last night,” said -Michael.</p> - -<p>“Thank you, Michael. We had a hard fight.”</p> - -<p>“Sure, that was a fine speech yer made, sir.”</p> - -<p>Briggs raised his head. “I’m glad you heard it.” He glanced sharply at -Michael. “Were you there?”</p> - -<p>“No, sir, but me cousin Ned was, that works for <abbr title="Mister">Mr.</abbr> Barstow over the -way. He told me about<span class="pagenum" id="Page_214">[Pg 214]</span> it this mornin’, an’ I’ve read it in the mornin’ -papers.”</p> - -<p>“I haven’t had time to look at the papers yet,” Briggs remarked, -absently.</p> - -<p>“Here they are, sir.”</p> - -<p>“All right.”</p> - -<p>Michael kept his position. “Ned said it was fine the way yer drove the -lies down their throats, sir.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, well, I had to get back at ’em somehow,” Briggs replied, -carelessly.</p> - -<p>Michael assumed a more familiar attitude. “Sure, it’s a shame the -things they say about a man when he’s in politics. There was Miles -O’Connor, over in the Ninth Ward, one of the foinest men——”</p> - -<p>“I guess that’ll do, Michael,” Briggs interrupted. “Have those -telegrams sent as soon as you can.”</p> - -<p>Michael hurriedly left the room. “Yes, sir,” he said at the door.</p> - -<p>Briggs passed one hand over his forehead. “God!” he muttered. “I have -to keep up this bluff even before my servants.” Just as he resumed work -he heard Michael’s tap again. “Come in,” he cried, impatiently.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_215">[Pg 215]</span></p> - -<p>“Here’s something that just come by messenger, sir,” said Michael.</p> - -<p>“Put it on the table, and don’t interrupt me again till I ring. Keep -any other letters and telegrams till <abbr title="Mister">Mr.</abbr> Fullerton comes down.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, I forgot to tell you, sir,” said Michael. “<abbr title="Mister">Mr.</abbr> West called you up -on the telephone a little while ago.”</p> - -<p>Briggs looked surprised. “<abbr title="Mister">Mr.</abbr> Franklin West?” he asked, with a frown.</p> - -<p>“Yes, sir.”</p> - -<p>“From Washington, do you mean? Why didn’t you let me know?”</p> - -<p>“No, sir, not from Washington. He’s here in town, sir. He told me not -to wake you up.”</p> - -<p>“Where is he?” Briggs asked.</p> - -<p>“He’s stoppin’ at a hotel, sir.”</p> - -<p>Briggs hesitated. “At a hotel?” he repeated. “What did he go to a hotel -for? He always stays here when he comes to town.”</p> - -<p>“He come over last night on the midnight train, sir. Here’s the -telephone number. He said perhaps ye’d be kind enough to call him up -this mornin’ and let him know when it would be most convenient for yer -to see him.”</p> - -<p>“Strange,” Briggs remarked, thoughtfully.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_216">[Pg 216]</span> Then he turned to Michael. -“Did he say that anyone was with him?”</p> - -<p>Michael shook his head. “He only said he’d wait at the hotel till he -heard from yer, sir.”</p> - -<p>Briggs stood for a moment thinking. Then he said, with two fingers on -his lips: “You tell Sam to drive down right off and bring <abbr title="Mister">Mr.</abbr> West up -here. Tell him to bring <abbr title="Mister">Mr.</abbr> West’s luggage, too, and ask him to say to -<abbr title="Mister">Mr.</abbr> West that there’s a room all ready for him, as usual. This is a -funny time for him to stand on ceremony with me.”</p> - -<p>Michael started to go out; then turned back. “I suppose yer didn’t know -Miss Fanny came last night, sir.”</p> - -<p>“I thought she wasn’t coming till next week.”</p> - -<p>“She arrived last night, sir, at nine o’clock. She sat up for yer, sir, -till she fell asleep in the chair, and Mrs. Briggs made her go to bed.”</p> - -<p>“Good girl,” said Briggs. “I suppose she hasn’t come down yet.”</p> - -<p>“No, sir.”</p> - -<p>A half-hour later Briggs heard the rustle of skirts outside the study -door. Then the door opened softly. He went on busily writing. Light -steps crossed to the chair behind him.</p> - -<p>“Ahem!”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_217">[Pg 217]</span></p> - -<p>“Oh, hello, Fanny!” he said, without looking up.</p> - -<p>“How did you know it was me?” cried Fanny, in a tone of disappointment.</p> - -<p>Briggs leaned back in his chair and received an impulsive kiss on the -cheek. “Well, I don’t know anyone else who’d steal in just like that.”</p> - -<p>“Michael told you, didn’t he?”</p> - -<p>“Perhaps.”</p> - -<p>“He didn’t want to let me come in.” Fanny sat on the edge of the desk. -“He said you were busy. You—<em>busy</em>!”</p> - -<p>Douglas Briggs smiled. “Well, I don’t seem to be busy whenever you’re -around, do I? Still, I have to do a little work now and then.”</p> - -<p>“I think there’s too much work in the world,” Fanny pouted. “Now -there’s poor Guy. Think how he works!”</p> - -<p>“Guy! Why, at this minute he’s sound asleep, and it’s nearly ten -o’clock.”</p> - -<p>“But think how he worked at that old nomination meeting of yours! He -didn’t get home till nearly morning.”</p> - -<p>“Well, I didn’t, either.”</p> - -<p>“But you’re tough, Uncle Doug; Guy is delicate.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_218">[Pg 218]</span></p> - -<p>“They generally are, at his age,” Briggs acknowledged, dryly, -“especially when they have just come out of college.”</p> - -<p>“I think you’re horrid to say such things about Guy, when he helps you -so, too. I’ve just been up to see him.”</p> - -<p>Briggs sat back in his chair. “W-h-hat!” he exclaimed.</p> - -<p>“Oh, you needn’t be shocked! I just <em>peeked</em> in. He was sound -asleep, with his head resting on one hand, just like this, and the -sweetest little blush on his face, and his hair in the cunningest -little bang on his forehead. I was so relieved about one thing.”</p> - -<p>“What’s that?”</p> - -<p>Fanny looked stealthily around the room. “He doesn’t snore!” she said, -with her hand over her mouth.</p> - -<p>“Oh! But suppose he had snored?”</p> - -<p>Fanny slid from the desk and drew herself up. “Then, of course, I -should have been obliged to—well, to break the——”</p> - -<p>“Do you mean to say there’s an engagement between you two?”</p> - -<p>Fanny held her hand over her uncle’s lips. “’Sh! No, not that. What -would dad say if he<span class="pagenum" id="Page_219">[Pg 219]</span> heard you? Only he’s been writing me the loveliest -letters this Summer. M’m!”</p> - -<p>“I shall have to congratulate Guy on not snoring. But suppose,” Briggs -continued, confidentially, “suppose I should tell you that sometimes he -did snore?”</p> - -<p>Fanny tossed back her head. “Well, that wouldn’t make any difference, -either. Come to think of it, if Guy had snored this morning, his -snoring would have been nice. Funny about love, isn’t it, Uncle Doug?” -Fanny added, pensively.</p> - -<p>“What is?”</p> - -<p>“It makes everything nice.”</p> - -<p>“In the one you love, you mean?”</p> - -<p>Fanny nodded. “M’m—h’m!”</p> - -<p>“Then you’re really in love with Guy?”</p> - -<p>Fanny danced away. “Oh, I didn’t say that.”</p> - -<p>“Fanny,” said Briggs, gently.</p> - -<p>Fanny edged toward the table. “Well?” She still kept out of reach.</p> - -<p>“Come over here,” Briggs urged.</p> - -<p>Fanny stood at her uncle’s side, with one hand on the desk; Briggs let -his hand rest on hers. “If you and Guy are really in love with each -other, I have a bit of advice to give you.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, you’re going to tell me how foolish it is<span class="pagenum" id="Page_220">[Pg 220]</span> to get married, aren’t -you? That’s the way married people always talk.”</p> - -<p>Briggs smiled and shook his head. “No, I don’t mean that.”</p> - -<p>“Well? Wait till Guy gets rich, I suppose.” Fanny sighed. “Then I know -I shall die an old maid!”</p> - -<p>“No, I don’t mean that, either.”</p> - -<p>“What do you mean, then?” Fanny said, severely.</p> - -<p>“Make him give up the foolish notion he has of going into politics.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, Uncle Doug!” Fanny exclaimed, reproachfully.</p> - -<p>“Guy is a good, clean-hearted young fellow. You don’t want him to -become cynical and hypocritical and deceitful, do you? You don’t want -him to believe there’s no such thing as unselfishness in the world, -that whenever a man turns his hand he expects to be paid for it ten -times over?”</p> - -<p>Fanny looked with astonishment at her uncle. “Well, what in the world -is the matter with you?” she said, after a moment.</p> - -<p>Briggs patted her hand. “There, there! I won’t preach any more. But I -mean what I say.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_221">[Pg 221]</span></p> - -<p>When Fanny spoke again there were tears in her voice. “Isn’t he a good -secretary?”</p> - -<p>“Oh, yes, good enough.”</p> - -<p>“You’re mad because he’s staying in bed so late.”</p> - -<p>“Nonsense! I told Michael myself not to call him. He’s worked himself -to death during the past few weeks. I had to fight for my renomination, -you know.”</p> - -<p>“You did?” said Fanny, with a change of tone. “Why, I thought you were -the most popular man in New York.”</p> - -<p>“Well, the most popular men have enemies,” Briggs replied, grimly.</p> - -<p>Fanny suddenly became affectionate, almost pathetic. “And I never -congratulated you! I was so sure you’d be nominated—why, I took it as -a matter of course.”</p> - -<p>Briggs looked away. “Yes, you women folks always do,” he said, -bitterly. “It is only the disappointments in life that you don’t take -as matters of course.”</p> - -<p>Fanny clapped her hands. “Uncle Doug, now I know what the trouble is. -You haven’t had any breakfast. Dad’s always as cross as two sticks till -he’s had his.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_222">[Pg 222]</span></p> - -<p>“Yes, I have. I’m tired, that’s all. Now, run along, like a good girl. -I’ve got a lot of work to do.”</p> - -<p>“Oh!” Fanny tossed her head, rose lightly on tiptoe and, swaying back -and forth, started for the door. There she turned. “You forget I’ve had -a birthday since I saw you last,” she said, haughtily.</p> - -<p>Douglas Briggs had begun to write again. “Did you? What was -it—fourteen, fifteen—?”</p> - -<p>Fanny stiffened her fingers and held them before her eyes. “Ugh!” she -exclaimed.</p> - -<p>As she started to open the door she was thrust rudely back. Someone had -pushed the door from the other side. She turned quickly and met the -astonished face of Guy Fullerton.</p> - -<p>“Fanny!” Guy cried, joyously. “When in the world did you get here?”</p> - -<p>Fanny held out both hands. Guy seized them and tried to draw her toward -him. She stopped him with a warning gesture, and glanced at her uncle.</p> - -<p>“Go ahead,” said Douglas Briggs. “I’m not looking.”</p> - -<p>Guy and Fanny embraced silently.</p> - -<p>Fanny glanced at the shoulders bent over the table. “Thank you, sir,” -she said, meekly.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_223">[Pg 223]</span></p> - -<p>“Why didn’t you let me know you were coming?” Guy cried, reproachfully.</p> - -<p>“Because I thought I’d give you a surprise, sleepy-head.”</p> - -<p>Briggs turned on his swivel-chair. “I guess you two’d better go into -the other room.”</p> - -<p>“Can’t I do anything for you, sir?” Guy asked. “The correspondence?”</p> - -<p>“No hurry about that. I’ll ring when I need you. Oh, Fanny, you might -ask your aunt to look in here a moment. I want to speak to her.”</p> - -<p>“All right.” Fanny danced radiantly out of the room, followed by Guy. -A moment later Briggs heard her call up the stairs: “Oh, auntie, Uncle -Doug wants you.”</p> - -<p>He listened and heard his wife descending. The sound of her footsteps -gave him a strange feeling of mingled pleasure and discomfort. He -had begun to resent her treatment of him. “Good-morning,” he said, -cheerfully, as she entered. He rose quickly and offered her a chair.</p> - -<p>“Did you wish to see me?” Helen asked, still standing.</p> - -<p>“Yes. There were one or two things I wanted to talk over. Won’t you sit -down?”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_224">[Pg 224]</span></p> - -<p>Helen took the seat. “Thank you,” she said. They had become very -ceremonious.</p> - -<p>“How are the children this morning?”</p> - -<p>“I’ve just left them in the nursery. They are perfectly well.”</p> - -<p>“Hasn’t Miss Munroe taken them out yet?”</p> - -<p>Helen met his look. “Miss Munroe is leaving to-day,” she replied.</p> - -<p>“What?” he cried, astonished.</p> - -<p>“I told you several weeks ago that she was going to leave.”</p> - -<p>“But I didn’t think you’d—” Briggs turned away and rested his head on -his hand, with his elbow on the table. “Will you be kind enough to tell -me why you have sent Miss Munroe away?” he asked, in a tone that showed -he was trying to control himself. “She’s been with the children ever -since they were born. You can’t get anyone to fill her place.”</p> - -<p>“I sent her away because we couldn’t afford to keep her,” Helen replied.</p> - -<p>“What do you mean by <em>we</em>?”</p> - -<p>“Because <em>I</em> couldn’t afford to keep her, then.”</p> - -<p>“And you think that I don’t count at all!” He laughed bitterly. “Those -children are as much my children as yours, and I propose to have -something<span class="pagenum" id="Page_225">[Pg 225]</span> to say about the way they are taken care of.” He glanced -angrily at Helen, who remained silent. “You can be pretty exasperating -at times, Helen. What do you propose to do with the children when we go -back to Washington?”</p> - -<p>“I am not going back to Washington,” she replied, in a low voice.</p> - -<p>“What?” he exclaimed in astonishment.</p> - -<p>“I am not going back to Washington.”</p> - -<p>“What do you mean by that?”</p> - -<p>“We can’t afford——”</p> - -<p>“Can’t afford! I’m sick of hearing that expression. You’ve used it a -thousand times in the past six months. You make me feel as if I were a -pauper or a thief.”</p> - -<p>“I was going to say that we couldn’t afford to live in Washington as -we’ve been living,” she continued, as if she had not heard him. “When -you leave here I shall take the children to my place in Waverly and -pass the Winter there.”</p> - -<p>“<em>My</em> place!” he repeated, coldly. He turned away. “Yes, it is -your place.”</p> - -<p>“Did you send for me to speak about the children?”</p> - -<p>“No, I wanted to consult you about the house in Washington. I have a -chance to lease it for<span class="pagenum" id="Page_226">[Pg 226]</span> two years. Senator Wadsworth is looking for a -place, and he said the other day he’d take the house whenever I wanted -to rent it. I had told him I didn’t feel sure of going back, and, of -course, I knew how you hated the place,” he concluded, harshly. “If you -prefer to live somewhere else, I’m willing.”</p> - -<p>“I have made up my mind not to go back,” said Helen.</p> - -<p>“And may I ask how long you propose to keep away from Washington? Do -you intend to cut yourself off from my political life altogether?”</p> - -<p>“You know why I want to cut myself off from it,” Helen replied, her -voice trembling.</p> - -<p>“I should think I did! You’ve rubbed that in enough. I suppose you -realize what people will say?”</p> - -<p>“There are plenty of Congressmen’s wives who don’t go to Washington -with their husbands.”</p> - -<p>“But you’ve taken part in the life. You’ve been conspicuous.”</p> - -<p>“You can say that I didn’t feel equal to entertaining this Winter, and -I stayed at home to take care of my children. It will be true, too.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_227">[Pg 227]</span></p> - -<p>He looked at her with solicitude in his face. “Do you mean that you are -ill, Helen?”</p> - -<p>“I’m sick. I’m sick of living,” she broke out. “But for the children, I -could wish that I——”</p> - -<p>“Then <em>I</em> don’t count in your feelings or in your life?” He -hesitated, and when he spoke again it was in a tone of patience that -betrayed the restraint he was putting on himself. “Helen, I think I -have been pretty lenient with you so far, and if I let go now and -then you can’t blame me. Since that night in Washington, the night of -your ball, you’ve been a changed woman. You keep the children away -from me as if you were afraid I’d contaminate them. You have cut down -our expenses and forced us all to live as if we were on the verge of -poverty. You’ve made our house as gloomy as a tomb. Now, I warn you, -look out! Do you understand?”</p> - -<p>“Yes.”</p> - -<p>“And you propose to go on in this way?”</p> - -<p>“That is one reason why I have decided not to go to Washington.”</p> - -<p>“I don’t understand you.”</p> - -<p>“Because I saw how unhappy I made you. I thought you would be happier -without me. And I can’t be different—I can’t!” she broke out, -passionately.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_228">[Pg 228]</span> “I can’t live as we used to live, knowing that the money -I spend——”</p> - -<p>She checked herself. Douglas Briggs waited. “Well?” he said.</p> - -<p>“Knowing where it comes from, Douglas,” she went on, lowering her -voice. He made no comment, and she added, with a change of tone: “I had -hoped things might be different this morning.”</p> - -<p>He looked mystified. “Different?” he repeated.</p> - -<p>“I hoped that you wouldn’t have to go back to Washington—except for -the rest of your present term.”</p> - -<p>“That I shouldn’t get the nomination, do you mean?” Then he laughed. -“You’re a nice wife. I wonder how you’d feel if you knew what the loss -of that nomination would mean to me?”</p> - -<p>“If it meant poverty or humiliation I should have been glad to share it -with you, Douglas.”</p> - -<p>He turned away from her with the impatient movement of his head -that she had so often seen Jack make. “Now, please don’t waste any -heroics on me. But let me tell you one thing, Helen. If I hadn’t been -re-nominated last night I should be a ruined man. Just at present I -haven’t five<span class="pagenum" id="Page_229">[Pg 229]</span> thousand dollars in the world. I told you last Spring how -much it cost us to live. True, last year I made twice as much as I’d -made the year before; but during the past few months I’ve lost every -cent of it.”</p> - -<p>Helen looked incredulous. Of late she often assumed an expression of -mistrust at his statements that secretly enraged him. “How have you -lost it?” she asked, fixing her eyes on him.</p> - -<p>Briggs shrugged his shoulders. “By trying to make a fortune quick, just -as many another man has done. I took greater risks—that’s all. Perhaps -you’d like to know why I did that? I did it in order to make myself -independent of those men in Washington—the men you’re so down on. I -hoped that I could throw them off and go to you and say that I was -straight.”</p> - -<p>“And you thought that would please me?” Helen asked, in a tone of deep -reproach.</p> - -<p>He drew a long breath. “Well, I don’t know that anything will please -you nowadays, Helen, but I thought it might.”</p> - -<p>“That the money gained by such means——”</p> - -<p>“You don’t mean to say that speculating is dishonest, do you?” he -asked, with a harsh laugh.</p> - -<p>“If the money that you speculated with had<span class="pagenum" id="Page_230">[Pg 230]</span> been honestly earned it -would be bad enough, but money—Oh, why do you force me to say these -things? You know perfectly well what I think.”</p> - -<p>He turned away, with disappointment and resentment in his face. “I see -that it’s useless to try to please you. Perhaps it’s just as well that -you’re not going to Washington with me.”</p> - -<p>She rose from her seat and started to leave the room; but, on an -impulse, she stopped. “I suppose a woman’s way of looking at these -things is different from a man’s, Douglas. A woman can’t understand how -hard it is for a man—how many temptations he has. Oh, I don’t blame -you, Douglas; your doing all that for me—taking all those risks, and -losing everything—I do appreciate it. But if I could only make you -see that it is all wrong, that I’d love you poor and disappointed, a -thousand times more than successful and——”</p> - -<p>“And dishonest!” he interrupted. “That’s what you were going to -say, isn’t it? Well, I guess it’s impossible for us to agree about -these matters. Anyway, I’ve got the nomination, and that means my -re-election. We’ve got to take things as they come in this world.”</p> - -<p>Helen walked slowly toward the door.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_231">[Pg 231]</span></p> - -<p>“Then you’ve made up your mind?” he said, thinking she might weaken.</p> - -<p>“I have made up my mind not to return to Washington,” she replied, -without meeting his look.</p> - -<p>Briggs turned away impatiently. “Very well, then. I’ll take rooms again -at the club.”</p> - -<p>When Helen had closed the door behind her Douglas Briggs sank into his -chair and covered his face with his hands. After his work and worry of -the past few weeks it seemed hard to him that he should be obliged to -go through such a scene with his wife. For a few minutes he tortured -himself with self-pity. He heard a rap at the door; but he paid no -attention. He was in the mood where he wished to speak to no one, to -see no one.</p> -<hr class="chap" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_232">[Pg 232]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="XV">XV</h2> -</div> - - -<p>“Uncle Doug!”</p> - -<p>Briggs whirled impatiently in his chair. “Eh?”</p> - -<p>Fanny came forward. “Say, Uncle Doug.”</p> - -<p>“Well, what is it?”</p> - -<p>“What’s the matter?” Fanny asked.</p> - -<p>Briggs frowned. “Matter!” he repeated. “What do you mean?”</p> - -<p>“You know. What’s the matter between auntie and you?” Fanny added, -brightly. “I don’t mind your being cross with me a bit.”</p> - -<p>Briggs softened. “My dear little girl, you mustn’t interfere with -things that don’t concern you.”</p> - -<p>Fanny’s eyes flashed. “Please <em>don’t</em>! Besides, they do concern -me. Don’t you suppose I care when I see auntie come out of here with -her face just as white and her eyes looking as if they were going to -pop out of her head?”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_233">[Pg 233]</span></p> - -<p>“You see too much, Fanny.”</p> - -<p>“Well, what do you suppose my eyes were made for, anyway?” Fanny cried, -indignantly. “Besides, I didn’t have anything else to do. Guy’d gone -away and left me.”</p> - -<p>“What did he do that for?”</p> - -<p>“Because I told him to.”</p> - -<p>“Have you two been quarreling?” Briggs asked, severely.</p> - -<p>“No, we haven’t,” Fanny replied, with an emphatic toss of her head. “I -told him he’d better go and attend to your business, instead of billing -and cooing with me. There were a lot of people who wanted to see you. -So, as you were busy,” she concluded with importance, “of course Guy -had to represent you.”</p> - -<p>Briggs rose hastily. “Where are they?” he asked.</p> - -<p>As Fanny did not like the tone of the question, she kept her uncle -waiting for a moment. “In the library,” she finally conceded.</p> - -<p>“It’s probably Monahan and his gang,” said Briggs, hurrying out of the -room. “I forgot to ask Michael——”</p> - -<p>“Well, then, tell Guy—” Fanny called after him, but he disappeared -before she had time to<span class="pagenum" id="Page_234">[Pg 234]</span> finish the sentence. She stood disconsolate -in the middle of the room. “Nobody seems to care for me around here,” -she said. “I’ve a good mind to go home.” Then she turned and saw Guy -Fullerton smiling at her.</p> - -<p>“Hello, Fan!” he said.</p> - -<p>Fanny promptly turned her back on him.</p> - -<p>“Everything seems to be going wrong this morning,” she said. “I almost -wish I hadn’t come.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, you do, do you?” Guy walked to the opposite side of the room, -dropped into a chair and rested his head on his hand.</p> - -<p>“Now, don’t you go and be silly,” cried Fanny, glancing at him over her -shoulder.</p> - -<p>Guy looked relieved. “I thought you were mad with me. Oh, that’s all -right, then. If you could only have some sort of sign to show just -<em>who</em> you’re mad with, you know! Fan,” he went on, softly, “as -long as we’re alone, can’t we—can’t we fix it up? You and—” He -touched his chest with his forefinger.</p> - -<p>Fanny gave a little jump. Her eyes beamed. “Sir,” she cried, “is this a -proposal?” Then she added, in a tone of disappointment: “Does it come -like this?”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_235">[Pg 235]</span></p> - -<p>“You know I’ve been awfully fond of you for a long time,” Guy pleaded.</p> - -<p>Fanny smiled into his face. “How long?”</p> - -<p>“Well, since last Winter. Since those days we went skating together.”</p> - -<p>Fanny clasped her hands rapturously. “Weren’t they glorious! Well, I’ll -say one thing for you, you’re a good <em>skater</em>.” Then she rolled -her eyes. “But your dancing!”</p> - -<p>“Will you?” said Guy, plaintively.</p> - -<p>Fanny dropped into a chair and let her hands rest in her lap. She grew -very thoughtful. “I’ll think about it,” she said.</p> - -<p>“Think about it!” Guy repeated, derisively.</p> - -<p>Fanny assumed an injured air. “Yes, they always say that in books. I’m -going to do this in the proper way, even if you don’t.”</p> - -<p>Guy looked disconsolate. “Oh, you never take a fellow seriously.”</p> - -<p>“Don’t I?” This time Fanny’s voice had the ring of sincerity. “Well, -what do you want me to do?”</p> - -<p>“Just say we’re engaged, can’t you?” Guy pleaded.</p> - -<p>Fanny rose and drew herself up with dignity.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_236">[Pg 236]</span> “You must speak to my -father,” she said, with a demure bow.</p> - -<p>“Oh, there you are again! You won’t take me seriously for one -consecutive minute.”</p> - -<p>Fanny clasped her hands again and held them extended before her. “I -have an idea. Let’s pretend that I’m dad. That’ll be great. Now here’s -dad, walking up and down the library. That’s what he always used to do -whenever I got into a scrape and the governess sent me to him.” She -cleared her throat and thrust her hand into her shirt-waist. “Well, -sir?” she said, in a deep voice.</p> - -<p>“Oh, say, now!” Guy exclaimed, in disgust.</p> - -<p>Fanny held her head on one side and made a warning gesture. “Oh, I’m -serious about this. You must answer my questions if you want to please -me. If you don’t, I’ll say ‘No’ outright, and I’ll get Uncle Doug to -discharge you. So you’d better look out, or you’ll lose your job.”</p> - -<p>In spite of himself, Guy smiled. “All right,” he said, to humor her. -“Fire away!”</p> - -<p>Fanny cleared her throat again and threw back her shoulders. “Well, -sir, what can I do for you?”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_237">[Pg 237]</span></p> - -<p>Guy tried to mimic her assumed voice. “You can give me your child, sir.”</p> - -<p>Fanny glared at him. “Now you know very well you wouldn’t talk like -that!” she said with disgust in her tone. She shook her head and drew -her lips tightly together. “I guess you don’t know dad. M’m.”</p> - -<p>“Well, what would I say?”</p> - -<p>“Something foolish, I suppose,” Fanny replied, carelessly. “But this -is what you ought to say,” she went on, with elaborate politeness, and -assuming a romantic attitude. “Sir, I love your beautiful daughter, -Miss Fanny, and I ask your permission to make her my wife.”</p> - -<p>Guy groaned, bending forward till his fingers nearly touched the floor.</p> - -<p>“But it takes an awfully fascinating man to talk like that. Now let’s -go on.” Fanny burlesqued her father’s manner again. “So you want to -marry Fanny, do you? Well, since she’s been out of school, you’re about -the tenth man who has asked——”</p> - -<p>“What? Do you mean to say that all last Summer, while I was slaving -down in Washington——?”</p> - -<p>“This time my father would tell you to leave<span class="pagenum" id="Page_238">[Pg 238]</span> the house,” said Fanny, -haughtily, with a wave of her hand.</p> - -<p>“Now, look here, I don’t like this game,” Guy declared.</p> - -<p>“But I like it. Therefore it goes. Now don’t be a silly boy. You might -as well get used to dad’s ways first as last. Ahem! As I said, you are -the—er—the eleventh. Now, what claim have you on my daughter?”</p> - -<p>Guy seized the chance. “She’s head and ears in love with me,” he cried, -before she had time to stop him. “She can’t live without me.”</p> - -<p>Fanny seized a book and held it in the air. “Do you know what dad would -do if you said that? He’d pack me home to Ashburnham, and I’d have to -stay there all Winter.”</p> - -<p>“I had to tell the truth, didn’t I?” Guy asked, meekly.</p> - -<p>“Well, dad wouldn’t believe you, anyway,” Fanny replied. Her voice -deepened again. “Young man, since you are thinking of getting married, -I presume you are in a position to support a wife. What is your income?”</p> - -<p>Guy looked serious. “I guess I won’t play any more. This is becoming -too personal.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_239">[Pg 239]</span></p> - -<p>Fanny held her hand at her ear. “I didn’t quite catch what you said. -<em>Five</em> thousand?”</p> - -<p>“<em>One</em> thousand, since you’re determined to know, inquisitive; one -thousand and keep,” Guy replied, snappishly. “I don’t even have to pay -my laundry bills. That’s just twenty dollars a week spending money.”</p> - -<p>The light faded from Fanny’s eyes. “And you’ve been sending me all -those flowers on that?”</p> - -<p>“Well, flowers don’t cost so much in Summer. I intended to stop when -the cold weather came.”</p> - -<p>“But, Guy, dear, I thought you got ever so much more than that! You -poor thing! Why, I spend twice as much as that myself, and I’m always -sending home for more.”</p> - -<p>“Well, I can’t help it if I’m not rich,” Guy grumbled, keeping his face -turned from her.</p> - -<p>Fanny inspected him carefully, as if taking an inventory. “Do you know -what dad would do?” she asked. Guy knew that her eyes were on him; but -he refused to look at her.</p> - -<p>“Eh?” he said.</p> - -<p>“If you told him how much you were earning,” Fanny explained.</p> - -<p>“Oh, he’d faint away, I suppose!”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_240">[Pg 240]</span></p> - -<p>Fanny shook her head. “No, he wouldn’t,” she replied, sadly. “He’d just -laugh that big laugh of his. He has enormous teeth. Remember ’em? It’s -fascinating to watch ’em. His sense of humor is awful!”</p> - -<p>Guy sighed. “I suppose I might as well give you up,” he said, -remembering vaguely that he had read of a young and interesting lover -who used that speech on a similar occasion.</p> - -<p>“Well, I guess not!” Fanny exclaimed. Then she clasped her hands over -her mouth. “Oh, I s’pose I do kind of like you.”</p> - -<p>“Why don’t you treat me better, then?” he asked pathetically.</p> - -<p>Fanny lowered her head and looked up at him with mournful eyes. “You’re -awfully interesting when you’re sad like this,” she said with satirical -admiration.</p> - -<p>Guy twisted impatiently. “Oh!” he exclaimed.</p> - -<p>Fanny walked toward him and began to play with the buttons on his coat. -“Say, Guy, what did you take this place for—this place with Uncle -Doug?”</p> - -<p>“I thought it would be a good place to see life.”</p> - -<p>“To see life!” Fanny repeated, scornfully. <span class="pagenum" id="Page_241">[Pg 241]</span></p> - -<p class="center p0 p2"><span class="figcenter" id="img005"> - <img src="images/i005.jpg" class="w75" alt="And -you’ve been sending me all those flowers on that?" /> -</span></p> -<p class="center caption">“‘<em>And -you’ve been sending me all those flowers on that?</em>’”<br /></p> - -<p>“M’m—h’m! And to get into politics, perhaps.”</p> - -<p>Fanny burst out laughing. “You! You get into politics?”</p> - -<p>Guy looked injured. “I don’t see anything funny about that.”</p> - -<p>“And do the things that Uncle Doug does?” Fanny cried.</p> - -<p>“Yes,” said Guy, in a loud voice.</p> - -<p>Fanny seized him by both arms. “Now, look here. You’re no more fit for -politics than—well, than dad is, and the mere sight of a politician -makes dad froth at the mouth. Oh, he says awful things about ’em!”</p> - -<p>“Then he hates your uncle, does he?”</p> - -<p>“No, he doesn’t, stupid!” Fanny cried, shaking him. “But he says Uncle -Doug made the greatest mistake of his life when he went into politics. -It spoiled him as a lawyer.”</p> - -<p>“Well, what’s all this got to do with us?” Guy asked, drawing away.</p> - -<p>“<em>Us!</em>” Fanny repeated rapturously. “Isn’t that a nice word? Dad -would never let <em>us</em>—well, you know—if you were going to stick -to politics, not to mention the twenty a week.”</p> - -<p>“What can I do, then? I’m not clever, like<span class="pagenum" id="Page_242">[Pg 242]</span> other fellows. Don’t you -suppose I know I’d have lost my position long ago if your uncle wasn’t -the best man in the world?”</p> - -<p>Fanny began to bite the tips of her fingers. “I guess I’ll have to -speak to dad myself,” she said, slowly. “I’ll make him give you a job -in the factory.”</p> - -<p>“In the factory?” Guy exclaimed, horror-stricken.</p> - -<p>Fanny turned upon him indignantly. “Yes. You don’t mean to say! Well, -you’ll have to get over those notions. I suppose you got ’em at -college. Dad’ll make you put on overalls and begin at the bottom. Oh, -dad’s awfully thorough.”</p> - -<p>Guy considered the matter. “How much would he give me?”</p> - -<p>“Lots of fellows begin at three dollars a week,” said Fanny. Guy looked -at her reproachfully. “Perhaps through influence you may be able to -get as much as ten.” Then Fanny went on: “Now, look here. Dad’s always -been sorry that I wasn’t a boy, so that I could take the business, and -all that. But I guess I’ll take it, all the same. Only you’ll be my -representative. See? After you’ve learned how to run things, dad may -put you in charge of the New York office. Won’t it<span class="pagenum" id="Page_243">[Pg 243]</span> be grand? We’ll -have a box at the opera and we’ll—” Fanny stopped. Her aunt stood at -the door. “Oh, auntie, how much does it cost to keep house in New York?”</p> - -<p>Helen Briggs smiled. “That depends.”</p> - -<p>“On what?”</p> - -<p>“On whether you live in a house or an apartment—on the way you -live—on a thousand things.”</p> - -<p>“To live well, I mean. How much does this house cost a year?”</p> - -<p>“The rent is three thousand.”</p> - -<p>Fanny grew limp. “Ugh!” she cried, shuddering.</p> - -<p>“But of course there are plenty of smaller houses much cheaper,” Helen -added.</p> - -<p>“It’s an awfully expensive place, New York, isn’t it?” said Fanny, with -a plaintive glance at Guy.</p> - -<p>“Yes, awfully,” Helen smiled.</p> - -<p>“It makes Ashburnham seem almost attractive, doesn’t it?” Fanny went on.</p> - -<p>Helen looked up suspiciously. “What do you want to know all these -things for?”</p> - -<p>“Oh!” Fanny turned away inconsequently. Then she faced her aunt again. -“You couldn’t<span class="pagenum" id="Page_244">[Pg 244]</span> possibly live <em>well</em> on twenty dollars a week, -could you?”</p> - -<p>“No; not possibly,” Helen replied, with a smile.</p> - -<p>“I don’t see how so many people can afford to get married,” said Fanny -ruefully.</p> -<hr class="chap" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_245">[Pg 245]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="XVI">XVI</h2> -</div> - - -<p>When Douglas Briggs returned to the library he wore the cheerful look -of the man who has just accomplished a difficult task. “Well, I got -those fellows off at last,” he said.</p> - -<p>“Who were they, Uncle Doug?”</p> - -<p>Briggs smiled grimly. “They were gentlemen who are commonly known -as heelers. And they called to let me know that I hadn’t been quite -generous enough to them.”</p> - -<p>Fanny looked mystified. Her eyes blinked. “How generous?”</p> - -<p>“I hadn’t secured enough places for their friends—jobs.”</p> - -<p>Fanny glanced dolefully at Guy. Then her eyes turned toward her -uncle. “It’s awful hard to get a job just now, isn’t it?” she asked, -pathetically.</p> - -<p>“Is it?” said Briggs, in a tone of surprise. “Do you know of anybody -that wants one?”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_246">[Pg 246]</span></p> - -<p>“Yes, I do,” Fanny replied. “But he’s going to get it all right,” she -added, with confidence.</p> - -<p>Briggs extended both hands. “If there’s anything I can do—” he said, -with a shrug of the shoulders.</p> - -<p>“No. I guess you have trouble enough. Oh, yes, you can do something -nice—you can let Guy take me out for a drive.”</p> - -<p>“But I’ve got a lot of work this morning,” Guy protested, with a look -in his face that revealed the spirit of the early martyrs.</p> - -<p>Briggs had taken his seat at the desk and had begun to work again. -“Never mind,” he said. “It’ll keep. The drive’ll do you good.”</p> - -<p>Guy hesitated between pleasure and duty. “Oh, well,” he said, glancing -from his employer to his employer’s niece.</p> - -<p>“You come with us, auntie,” Fanny urged, with an air that made Guy’s -coming inevitable.</p> - -<p>“No, I mustn’t,” Helen replied, decidedly. “I have too much to do this -morning.”</p> - -<p>As Fanny turned to the door Michael entered. “<abbr title="Mister">Mr.</abbr> Burrell’s in the -library, sir,” he said to Douglas Briggs. “He didn’t want to disturb -you till he was sure you weren’t busy. His wife is with him, and the -young ladies.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_247">[Pg 247]</span></p> - -<p>“Ugh!” cried Fanny, seizing Guy by the arm. “Let’s get out, quick.”</p> - -<p>Briggs rose. “I’ll go in,” he said, glancing at Helen with resignation -in his tone. “They’ll want to see you, too, Helen. I’ll bring them in -here.”</p> - -<p>Mrs. Briggs turned to Michael. “You might bring some of the sherry, -Michael. Oh, I forgot—they won’t want anything. Never mind. <abbr title="Mister">Mr.</abbr> Briggs -will ring if he wants something for <abbr title="Mister">Mr.</abbr> Burrell. Here they are now.”</p> - -<p>Helen walked forward and received Mrs. Burrell and the three daughters. -Mrs. Burrell was dressed with an elaborate adherence to the fashion -of the hour, which had the effect of making conspicuous her extreme -angularity. Carrie Cora wore a fantastic gown that betrayed fidelity to -the local dressmaker. The two younger girls, however, looked charming -in their pretty, tailor-made suits, plainly expressive of New York. -“This <em>is</em> nice,” said Helen, offering her hand to Mrs. Burrell. -“When did you come to New York?”</p> - -<p>“Just got here this morning,” Mrs. Burrell replied. “You see we didn’t -waste any time coming to see you.”</p> - -<p>“It’s that confounded old law business again,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_248">[Pg 248]</span> Mrs. Briggs,” Burrell -explained, in his high voice. His spare figure had been almost hidden -by his eldest daughter’s ample proportions.</p> - -<p>“I’ve done my best for you, <abbr title="Mister">Mr.</abbr> Burrell,” Helen explained, smiling.</p> - -<p>Mrs. Burrell raised her hand in a gesture of despair. “Father does -nothing but talk about that case. I declare I’m sick of hearing about -it!”</p> - -<p>Burrell gave Helen a meaning look. “Well, I guess she’d be sicker if I -was to lose my patents,” he said, slowly. “I ain’t countin’ on goin’ to -the poorhouse yet awhile. You’d think, by the way Mrs. Burrell talks, a -little matter of a hundred thousand dollars wasn’t worth fightin’ over.”</p> - -<p>“Does it mean as much as that to you?” asked Douglas Briggs, -astonished. He had never been able to adjust himself to the knowledge -that the little Congressman, so out of place in Washington, was a man -of wealth and, in his own city, of great importance.</p> - -<p>“Well, I should think it did, and more, too,” Burrell replied. “If a -certain friend of mine was to take the case,” he went on, smiling at -Helen and nodding at her husband, “it would be worth a retainin’ fee of -five thousand dollars.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_249">[Pg 249]</span></p> - -<p>Briggs shook his head. “That’s a great temptation. I need the money bad -enough.”</p> - -<p>“Well, then, take the case,” Burrell exclaimed.</p> - -<p>“Oh, for goodness’ sake, do take it, <abbr title="Mister">Mr.</abbr> Briggs!” Mrs. Burrell -interposed. “Father says if it was only in your hands he wouldn’t -worry. Then we’d have some peace in the family.”</p> - -<p>Briggs looked amused. Secretly he enjoyed the flattery of the old -lady’s words. “I’ll tell you what I’ll do. I’ll take it——”</p> - -<p>“Oh, good!” the girls cried, together.</p> - -<p>“—if I’m beaten at the next election.”</p> - -<p>The girls looked at each other with disappointment in their eyes. “Oh!” -they said.</p> - -<p>Briggs put his hand on Burrell’s shoulder. “Can you wait?”</p> - -<p>“Well, the case don’t come on till December,” Burrell replied. “I -guess I could wait all right, only the’ ain’t no chance of you gettin’ -beaten.”</p> - -<p>“Well, I guess we don’t want you to be beaten, <abbr title="Mister">Mr.</abbr> Briggs,” Mrs. -Burrell cried, resentfully. “You’re forgettin’ your manners, father.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, that’s all right,” Briggs exclaimed, patting Burrell on the back. -“No harm done, Mrs. Burrell. This husband of yours overrates me, that’s -all. There are hundreds of men right here<span class="pagenum" id="Page_250">[Pg 250]</span> in New York who could handle -that case better than I could.” He took the old man affectionately by -the arm. “Look here, Burrell,” he said, confidentially, “don’t you -think we’re in the way of these ladies? They probably have a lot to -talk about that they don’t want us to hear.”</p> - -<p>Burrell understood at once. “I was thinkin’ of that myself,” he replied.</p> - -<p>Mrs. Burrell held up three fingers. “Now, father,” she cried, “you know -all you’ve had already.”</p> - -<p>“My dear lady, don’t you be disagreeable,” said Briggs, smiling. “I -haven’t seen your husband for six months.”</p> - -<p>Mrs. Burrell softened. “Well, just one, father, and put plenty of -soda-water in it.”</p> - -<p>Briggs nodded his acknowledgment of the concession. “There! Come on, -Burrell.”</p> - -<p>As the two men left the room Mrs. Burrell exclaimed: “I declare, Mrs. -Briggs, that husband of yours can just twirl me round his little -finger.”</p> - -<p>“Come over here and sit down, Mrs. Burrell,” Helen said. “You have -something to tell me, haven’t you? I can see it in your face.”</p> - -<p>Mrs. Burrell beamed. “I guess you can see it in Carrie Cora’s face. Eh, -girls?”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_251">[Pg 251]</span></p> - -<p>“I should think so!” Emeline and Gladys cried together.</p> - -<p>“It’s true, then? There is something?” Helen asked.</p> - -<p>Carrie Cora’s face flushed violently. “Yes,” the girl replied, lifting -her gloved hand to her forehead.</p> - -<p>“Don’t be a ninny, Carrie Cora!” Mrs. Burrell exclaimed.</p> - -<p>Helen held out her hand. “It’s all settled?” she asked.</p> - -<p>Carrie Cora looked up shyly. “Yes.” Then she cast her eyes down again.</p> - -<p>“I’m so glad, dear,” said Helen, bending forward and kissing her.</p> - -<p>“Well, it was you that did it, Mrs. Briggs!” Mrs. Burrell cried, in a -loud voice, as if to keep the situation from becoming sentimental. “I -might as well give you the credit. That talkin’ to you gave me that -day after your ball just opened my eyes. I suppose I <em>am</em> kind -of a cross old thing, and—well, I didn’t understand Rufus James. The -family’s always been poor and good-for-nothing. But Rufus, he’s got -lots of spunk. Why, at first he wouldn’t come to the house—even when I -said he could. You’d think he was a prince, the way<span class="pagenum" id="Page_252">[Pg 252]</span> he acted. And he’s -doin’ real well. He’s had a raise in his salary, and he ain’t lettin’ -father do a thing for him.”</p> - -<p>“And is it to be soon?” Helen asked.</p> - -<p>“The third of next month,” Emeline and Gladys cried together.</p> - -<p>“And we want you to come, Mrs. Briggs,” said Carrie Cora, recovering -from her embarrassment.</p> - -<p>“It’s going to be a church affair,” said Mrs. Burrell, severely, -smoothing the front of her dress. This was one of the moments when Mrs. -Burrell betrayed that the possession of plenty of money was still novel -to her.</p> - -<p>“Oh, do come, Mrs. Briggs,” Gladys pleaded.</p> - -<p>“Yes, please,” Emeline echoed.</p> - -<p>Helen hesitated. “I don’t know whether I can.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, promise. Please promise,” Carrie Cora insisted.</p> - -<p>“If I can, I will,” Helen replied, feeling ashamed. She knew that her -husband would not entertain the notion for an instant.</p> - -<p>“And, of course, you’ll stay at our house,” Mrs. Burrell went on. -“We’ve had a wing built on this Winter. It’s just like that wing on -yours in Washington.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_253">[Pg 253]</span></p> - -<p>“And the furniture’s just like yours, too,” said Carrie Cora. “We -got it in Portland. They say it’s real antique. Lots of it has come -from old houses in Portland and from all kinds of queer places in the -country.”</p> - -<p>Mrs. Burrell looked proudly at her eldest daughter. “Ain’t she changed, -though?” she said, glancing at Helen. “You’d hardly know her, would -you? The way she’s brightened up since Rufus James began to come to the -house. Dear me! I used to say to father that I didn’t know what we was -goin’ to do with her.”</p> - -<p>Helen smiled at Carrie Cora. “But we’ve always understood each other, -haven’t we, dear?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, always, Mrs. Briggs,” the girl replied.</p> - -<p>“And what d’you suppose?” Mrs. Burrell went on. “Rufus James didn’t -want Carrie Cora to have any trousseau. He said he didn’t propose to -have people say he was marryin’ her because her father had money. Did -you ever hear anything like that? Father was so mad! But I must say I -kind of liked him for it. But I up and told him I’d attend to all those -things myself, an’ it was none of his business, anyway. That’s what -we’re here in New York for,” she added, lowering her voice as if afraid -of being overheard by<span class="pagenum" id="Page_254">[Pg 254]</span> the men in the other room. “Father didn’t let -on, but he cares ever so much more about Carrie Cora than for that old -law case he’s always talkin’ about. It’s goin’ to be white satin—the -weddin’ dress—with real Valenceens lace, an’ she’s goin’ to come out -in pearl-colored silk.” Mrs. Burrell stopped at the sound of steps in -the hall. “Oh, here they are back again! It must be almost time for us -to be goin’! We’ve got lots of shoppin’ to do.”</p> - -<p>Douglas Briggs walked over to Carrie Cora. “Well, young lady, I’ve -heard the news,” he said. He placed both hands on the big girl’s head. -“Now, I’m a good deal older than you, and you won’t mind,” he went on, -kissing her between the eyes. “I hope he’s worthy of you, my dear.”</p> - -<p>“I hope I’m worthy of him, <abbr title="Mister">Mr.</abbr> Briggs,” Carrie Cora stammered, through -her embarrassment. At that moment she looked pretty.</p> - -<p>Briggs patted her hand. “My dear child, no man is worth half as much as -a nice girl like you.”</p> - -<p>“Now, don’t you go to spoilin’ my children, <abbr title="Mister">Mr.</abbr> Briggs,” Mrs. Burrell -exclaimed, rising. “Come on, father.”</p> - -<p>Helen rose at the same moment. “But we’ll<span class="pagenum" id="Page_255">[Pg 255]</span> see you again, of course. -Come to dinner to-night, won’t you?”</p> - -<p>The girls looked delighted. “Oh!” they exclaimed.</p> - -<p>Mrs. Burrell assumed an expression of severity.</p> - -<p>“No, we won’t. You’ve got enough on your hands, with all these -political people pilin’ in on you. I guess I know what it is. We’ll -come to say good-bye, if we can, to-morrow some time. Father says he’s -got to get back Thursday.”</p> - -<p>“But we’d like to have you, really,” said Helen, smiling.</p> - -<p>Mrs. Burrell remained firm. “No. You’re too good. That’s the only -trouble with you. Well, good-bye.”</p> - -<p>“You’ll come to the wedding, won’t you, <abbr title="Mister">Mr.</abbr> Briggs?” said Carrie Cora.</p> - -<p>Briggs waved his hand toward Helen. “Ask the lady,” he said.</p> - -<p>“She said she’d come if she could,” Carrie Cora declared.</p> - -<p>“Well, I’ll come if I can. Good-bye.”</p> - -<p>He followed them to the door, and he had the air of dismissing them -with an almost benign courtesy. When they had disappeared with Helen -his face took on an expression of utter weariness.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_256">[Pg 256]</span> “What a nuisance!” -he said to himself. “I sha’n’t get a stroke of work done to-day.” He -sat at his desk and pressed his fingers over his eyes. His little -exhibitions of hypocrisy made him very uncomfortable now, chiefly -because he knew that his wife took note of them. After a moment he sat -upright and nerved himself to go on with his work. But he had not been -alone for five minutes when Michael interrupted again.</p> - -<p>“The gentlemen that left a few minutes ago have come back, sir.”</p> - -<p>“They have?” he said, resentfully, as if Michael were to blame. “What -do they want?”</p> - -<p>“They want to speak to you a minute, sir,” the servant replied, in a -defensive voice.</p> - -<p>Briggs uttered an exclamation of impatience. “Show them in here,” he -said, looking down at the pile of letters on his desk. Then he stood -up and waited for his callers. They came in slowly, as if afraid of -treading on one another’s heels; that is, all but one, the youngest and -best dressed, a rather handsome fellow of about twenty-eight.</p> - -<p>“Well, gentlemen?” Briggs remarked, pleasantly. The look of fatigue and -resentment had disappeared from his face. His eye singled out the young -fellow, as if expecting him to speak.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_257">[Pg 257]</span> But it was the oldest of the -group, a tall, thin man, with a smooth face and heavy, white hair, who -spoke first. He had a deprecating manner, a hoarse voice and a faint -brogue.</p> - -<p>“We’ve come back to have another little talk with you, <abbr title="Mister">Mr.</abbr> Briggs,” he -said.</p> - -<p>“All right, <abbr title="Mister">Mr.</abbr> Monahan. Sit down, gentlemen, won’t you?” They all -glanced at the chairs and remained standing.</p> - -<p>“We didn’t know just what reply to make to your remarks a few minutes -ago till we put our heads together,” Monahan continued.</p> - -<p>“Well, what decision have you come to?” Briggs asked, cheerfully.</p> - -<p>Monahan hesitated. “Well, the fact is——”</p> - -<p>The young fellow broke in. “We’re not satisfied,” he said, fiercely. -“We think you ought to make us a more definite promise.”</p> - -<p>“That’s it,” Monahan cried, for an instant growing bolder.</p> - -<p>They scowled at one another.</p> - -<p><abbr title="Mister">Mr.</abbr> Briggs directed his look toward the young man. “I think I made no -promise to you, <abbr title="Mister">Mr.</abbr> Ferris,” he said, in a low voice.</p> - -<p>“That’s just the trouble,” Ferris exclaimed. “We worked hard for you -last night, and now we<span class="pagenum" id="Page_258">[Pg 258]</span> don’t propose to be put off with any vague -talk.” His lip curled scornfully and showed fine, white teeth.</p> - -<p>“You’re a little indefinite yourself, now, <abbr title="Mister">Mr.</abbr> Ferris.”</p> - -<p>“Well, then, I won’t be,” Ferris cried. “We nominated and elected you -two years ago, and you went back on us.”</p> - -<p>“How was that?” Briggs said, as if merely curious. His manner seemed to -exasperate Ferris.</p> - -<p>“You didn’t do a thing for us. We asked you for places, and you let ’em -all go to the Civil Service men.”</p> - -<p>“I had to observe the law,” Briggs answered, in the tone he had used -before.</p> - -<p>“Aw!” Ferris exchanged glances with his companions. “You know just as -well as I do that you could have given those places to the men that had -worked for you. But we’ll say nothing about that just now,” he went -on, extending his right hand, with the palm turned toward the floor. -“That’s off. We would have paid you back all right last night if <abbr title="Mister">Mr.</abbr> -Stone hadn’t promised you’d stand by us. He smoothed it over, and he -said you realized your mistake, and all that.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_259">[Pg 259]</span></p> - -<p>“That’s right, he did,” Monahan corroborated, huskily.</p> - -<p>“He said you told him yourself,” cried one of the others, a -sallow-faced man with thin, black hair.</p> - -<p>“I did? When was that, <abbr title="Mister">Mr.</abbr> Long?”</p> - -<p>“Down in Washington,” Long replied. “The night you were having a -blow-out.”</p> - -<p>For a moment Douglas Briggs was silent. “I don’t remember ever having -made such a promise,” he replied, thoughtfully.</p> - -<p>Ferris laughed bitterly. “Listen to that, will you?”</p> - -<p>“I should have no right to make any such promise,” Briggs continued. -“And I can only repeat what I said a few moments ago. I’ve pledged -myself to support the Civil Service. I told you that last night.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, what did that amount to?” said Ferris, with disgust.</p> - -<p>“That was just a bluff,” Long exclaimed.</p> - -<p>Briggs smiled. “If you believe that was a bluff, I can’t see why you -should consider my promise worth anything.”</p> - -<p>“Well, there are five of us here,” said Ferris, in a surly tone.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_260">[Pg 260]</span></p> - -<p>“I see. Witnesses!” Briggs shrugged his shoulders. “I’ll tell you what -I will do for you. If any places come my way that aren’t covered by the -Civil Service, you shall have them.”</p> - -<p>Ferris looked at Briggs with open contempt. “We might as well tell you, -sir, we’re not satisfied with the way you’ve treated us. An’ with your -record, you’ve got no right to put on any high an’ mighty airs.”</p> - -<p>Monahan turned to remonstrate with Ferris.</p> - -<p>“What do you mean by that?” said Briggs, looking sternly at the young -fellow.</p> - -<p>Monahan extended his hand toward Briggs. “He’s just talkin’ a little -wild, that’s all,” he said, bowing and gesticulating. “He don’t mean -anything. We wanted to let you know how we felt. We didn’t quite -explain that a few moments ago.”</p> - -<p>“I understand very well how you gentlemen feel, and I’d help you if -I could. I only wish I could make you see that I can’t do what’s -impossible.”</p> - -<p>Monahan started for the door, followed by the others, one of whom -stumbled over a piece of furniture. “Think it over, sir, think it -over,” he said, bowing and holding his cap in both hands.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_261">[Pg 261]</span></p> - -<p>“I can promise to do that,” Briggs replied.</p> - -<p>For several moments after his visitors left Briggs stood motionless -at his table. He appreciated the full significance of the opposition -to him within his own party; it might mean his defeat; so far back as -the previous Spring Stone had foreseen this situation. But he said to -himself that he could not have acted differently. He had done his best -to serve the party in all legitimate ways; but those heelers cared -only for their own selfish interests. Then he realized bitterly that -he had made the mistake of trying to play a double game: he had been -a straddler. If he had followed a straight course, if he had acted on -his convictions, he might now have the satisfaction of feeling that -he had been too good for his party. It was chiefly in order to atone -to his own conscience for the dishonest work he had done that he had -refused to cater to the lower elements of the party. Now he saw that -his scrupulousness was less an expression of honesty than of pride. -He was in one of those moods when he judged himself far more harshly -than he would have judged another man in his own position, when he lost -faith in the sincerity of any of his motives. However, he thought, now -he had taken his stand<span class="pagenum" id="Page_262">[Pg 262]</span> he could maintain it. Those fellows would give -him a hard fight; but he was ready for it. His resentment was aroused; -he returned to his desk with new energy, as if the contest were already -begun.</p> - -<p>A few minutes later Michael entered with a letter. “Sam just brought -this, sir,” he said, and left the room.</p> - -<p>Briggs glanced at the address and recognized Franklin West’s -handwriting. He tore open the letter hastily. He had a feeling that it -might contain disagreeable news. His eyes ran swiftly over the lines.</p> - -<p>“Your man has come just as I am leaving for Boston. Sorry I can’t go -back with him. I came over to New York for only a few hours. But I’ll -be back in three or four days, when, of course, I shall give myself the -pleasure of seeing you. Congratulations on your nomination, if you will -accept congratulations on a dead sure thing.”</p> - -<p>For a moment Briggs had a sensation of chill. It was like a -premonition. Was it possible that Franklin West was going back on him, -too? But he put the thought aside as absurd. It would not have occurred -to him if he were not tired out and<span class="pagenum" id="Page_263">[Pg 263]</span> if he had not had that interview -with the heelers. Still, it was odd that West should have hurried -through New York without calling. It would have been simple and natural -for him to stop for breakfast at the house where he had so often -received hospitality. Still, Briggs thought, philosophically, it was a -relief not to be obliged to see him.</p> - -<p>For the rest of the morning, however, he felt uncomfortable. At -luncheon he had an impulse to speak of West to his wife, but he checked -it. He found it hard to start any new subject with her now.</p> -<hr class="chap" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_264">[Pg 264]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="XVII">XVII</h2> -</div> - - -<p>Two days later, while Douglas Briggs was smoking his after-dinner cigar -in the library and chatting with Fanny Wallace, whose presence in the -house greatly relieved the embarrassment of his strained relations with -his wife, Michael entered and announced <abbr title="Mister">Mr.</abbr> Farley. “There are two -gentlemen with him, sir,” said Michael, “<abbr title="Mister">Mr.</abbr> De Witt and <abbr title="Mister">Mr.</abbr> Saunders.”</p> - -<p>Briggs flushed. “Ah!” he said, as if the callers had suddenly assumed -importance in his eyes.</p> - -<p>“Where are they?” he asked, rising hastily.</p> - -<p>“In the study, sir.”</p> - -<p>“All right. I’ll go in.”</p> - -<p>“Give my love to that nice <abbr title="Mister">Mr.</abbr> Farley,” Fanny called after him.</p> - -<p>As Briggs entered the room Farley rose with the boyish embarrassment -of manner that years of newspaper work had not changed. He introduced -his friends. De Witt, a tall, slim young man, with a sweeping brown -mustache and a long,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_265">[Pg 265]</span> well-cut face, took his host’s hand smilingly. -Saunders, shorter, smooth-faced and keen-eyed, glanced at Briggs with a -look not altogether free from suspicion. In Saunders Briggs recognized -a type of political reformer that always made him nervous.</p> - -<p>“De Witt and Saunders are of the Citizens’ Club,” Farley explained. -“In fact, we’re all of the Citizens’ Club,” he added, with the air of -making a joke.</p> - -<p>“I’m very glad to see you, gentlemen. Won’t you sit down? I caught a -glimpse of you at the reporters’ table at the caucus the other night, -Farley.”</p> - -<p>“Hot time, wasn’t it?”</p> - -<p>Briggs took from the table a box of cigars, which he offered to his -callers. De Witt and Saunders shook their heads and mumbled thanks. -Farley took a cigar and smoked with his host.</p> - -<p>“Well, Congressman,” said Farley, “we haven’t come merely to take up -your time.”</p> - -<p>Briggs smiled and nodded.</p> - -<p>“We’ve come to ask you some questions,” Farley continued.</p> - -<p>“You always were great on questions, Farley,” said Briggs, with a -laugh.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_266">[Pg 266]</span></p> - -<p>“We’ve been having a racket over you down at the Citizens’ Club,” -Farley began, and Briggs glanced smilingly at De Witt and Saunders.</p> - -<p>“Farley has made the racket,” Saunders interposed.</p> - -<p>“I’ve been trying to persuade those fellows that you’re a much -misunderstood man,” said Farley, his manner growing more earnest.</p> - -<p>“So we’ve come here to try to understand you, Congressman,” De Witt -explained, amiably.</p> - -<p>Douglas Briggs continued to look amused. “Anything I can do, -gentlemen,” he said, with an encouraging gesture.</p> - -<p>“I know I needn’t tell you that I’ve always believed in you, -Congressman,” Farley remarked.</p> - -<p>“You’ve been a good friend, Farley. I’ve always appreciated that.”</p> - -<p>Farley leaned back in his chair. “The fellows have been—well, bothered -by those stories the papers have been publishing about you. It’s -because they don’t know you. They don’t know, as I do, that you’re -incapable of any dirty work.”</p> - -<p>“Thank you, Farley,” said Briggs, in a low voice.</p> - -<p>“Well, matters came to a head last night at the club when we talked -over your renomination. To<span class="pagenum" id="Page_267">[Pg 267]</span> be perfectly frank, a good many of our men -thought Williams was going to get the nomination, and, if he had got -it, we were going to make him our candidate, too.”</p> - -<p>Douglas Briggs laughed. “You <em>are</em> frank, Farley. So, now that I -have the nomination, you’re all at sea. Is that the idea?”</p> - -<p>“We can’t stand the opposition candidate!” said De Witt.</p> - -<p>Saunders shook his head. “No; Bruce is too much for our stomachs. He’s -out of the question altogether.”</p> - -<p>“So we’ll have to choose between endorsing you or putting up a -candidate of our own,” Farley went on. “In fact, that is what most of -the men want to do.”</p> - -<p>“You want to help to elect Bruce, you mean?” said Briggs, pleasantly.</p> - -<p>“That’s what it would amount to,” De Witt acknowledged.</p> - -<p>Briggs hesitated. “Gentlemen, you are placing me in a very delicate -position,” he said at last. “What can I do?”</p> - -<p>“You can give my friends here some assurances, Congressman,” said -Farley.</p> - -<p>“What assurances?”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_268">[Pg 268]</span></p> - -<p>“In the first place, you can give us your word that those stories in -the opposition papers are false.”</p> - -<p>Briggs rose slowly from his seat. His face grew pale. After a long -silence, he said: “Farley, do you remember what I said to you last -Spring, when you asked me to deny those stories? I said they were too -contemptible to be noticed!”</p> - -<p>Farley looked disappointed. “Then you won’t help us? You won’t help me -in the fight I’ve been making for you?”</p> - -<p>“Gentlemen,” Douglas Briggs went on, speaking slowly and impressively, -“I know perfectly well what you are driving at, and I’m going to try -to meet you halfway. But I’m a man as well as a politician, and you -can’t blame me if I resent being placed on the rack like a criminal. -However, I appreciate your motives in coming here, and I’m grateful -to Farley for all he’s done for me. Let me say this, once for all: If -I am elected I shall go back to Congress with clean hands and with a -clear conscience, ready to do my duty wherever I see it. Within the -past few months my relations with Franklin West have been the subject -of newspaper talk. West has been my<span class="pagenum" id="Page_269">[Pg 269]</span> personal friend. I have trusted -him and respected him. Lately I have discovered that he is a scoundrel. -He is coming here this morning, and I shall give myself the pleasure of -telling him so. Now, gentlemen, if you honor me with an endorsement, -I pledge my word that you will find me in perfect sympathy with the -work you’re doing.” He stopped, his lips tightening. “I confess that I -shouldn’t have the courage to say these things, to humble myself like -this, but for this good fellow here. I only wish there were more like -him.”</p> - -<p>Farley smiled. “Well, Congressman, I knew you’d see through West some -day.”</p> - -<p>“Now, gentlemen, you have asked me for some assurances,” Briggs -continued. “I might as well tell you frankly that I can only give you -the assurance of my good faith, of my honesty of intention. I’ve made -blunders in my career so far that I shall regret to my dying day. I’ve -been the target of the sensational newspapers; but I don’t mind that. -Many of the stories printed about me, I can honestly say, have been -absolute calumnies. Some of the censure has been deserved. I suppose -that the lesson of politics can’t be learned in a day. At any rate, -it has taken me several<span class="pagenum" id="Page_270">[Pg 270]</span> bitter years to learn it, and I’m not sure -that I’ve learned it all yet. But no matter how great my mistakes have -been, in my heart I’ve always been in sympathy with clean politics. -You know as well as I do that for the past few years I’ve been getting -farther and farther away from my party. The other night I secured my -nomination in the teeth of pretty strenuous opposition. Just now I have -reason to believe that in the coming campaign I shall have to meet as -enemies men who have been my strongest friends. As you probably know, a -good many of my East Side supporters have gone back on me. This means -a big loss. Even with the strength you might give me, my election -would be doubtful. So, if you support me, you’ll gain very little for -yourselves, I can tell you that. We might as well look the situation in -the face, you know.”</p> - -<p>“Well, sir, the more enemies you make among the machine men the more -willing we are to stand by you, Congressman,” said Farley. “The harder -the fight the better we like it.”</p> - -<p>“That’s very consoling, Farley. Only you fellows had better go slow -before you decide to try to whitewash me. To tell the truth, I don’t -feel quite fit for your company. I’m not good enough<span class="pagenum" id="Page_271">[Pg 271]</span> for you. I’ve -been a good deal of a machine man myself, you know.”</p> - -<p>Farley laughed. “That’s all right. We haven’t any objections to the -machine. We only object to the men who are running it just at present.”</p> - -<p>“I don’t think it’s necessary to keep you on the rack any longer,” said -De Witt, rising.</p> - -<p>The others rose too.</p> - -<p>“Thank you,” said Briggs, with a smile. “Will any of you gentlemen have -a—? I always hesitate in asking any members of the Citizens’ Club.”</p> - -<p>“No, thank you,” said Saunders. “Too early in the morning.”</p> - -<p>The others shook their heads.</p> - -<p>“You’ll probably hear from us before long,” said Farley, at the door.</p> -<hr class="chap" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_272">[Pg 272]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="XVIII">XVIII</h2> -</div> - - -<p>The next morning after breakfast Helen Briggs followed her husband into -the study. “I want to speak to you, Douglas,” she said.</p> - -<p>“Well?” He looked embarrassed, as he always did now on finding himself -alone with her.</p> - -<p>“It is about this house,” she went on. “Have you done anything about -renting it this Winter?”</p> - -<p>“No,” he replied, betraying a little impatience. “I’ve had other things -to think about. Besides, I shall be over here now and then.”</p> - -<p>“But it would hardly pay to keep the house open for that,” she -insisted, gently. “Besides, it would be gloomy for you here——”</p> - -<p>“Alone?” he said, sharply, looking up at her. “Yes,” he repeated, -dryly, “it would be lonely.” He lifted his hand to his head. “I suppose -you’re right about that,” he sighed. “I’ll speak to an agent to-morrow. -We can doubtless rent it furnished.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_273">[Pg 273]</span> Still, it’s a little late in the -season,” he concluded, vaguely.</p> - -<p>“I shall want to have some of our things sent to Waverly,” she said. “I -thought I would begin to get them together to-day.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, don’t begin to break up till we’re ready to get out of here!” he -exclaimed. “Wait till after the election. Besides, I expect Franklin -West over in a few days, and I don’t want him to come into an empty -house.” He was glad of the chance to mention West’s coming in this -indirect way. He kept his eyes turned from his wife.</p> - -<p>After a moment of silence she said, in a low voice: “He is coming here?”</p> - -<p>He gave her a quick glance. “Yes; why not?”</p> - -<p>She moved slightly, but she did not answer. She grew slightly paler.</p> - -<p>“I know you don’t like him,” he went on, angry with himself for taking -an apologetic attitude, “but surely you won’t object to his staying -here a day or two. You’ve never objected before.”</p> - -<p>“I didn’t know him then as I do now,” she said.</p> - -<p>“What do you mean by that?” he asked, angrily. Then, when he saw that -she had no reply<span class="pagenum" id="Page_274">[Pg 274]</span> to make, he went on, in a more conciliatory tone: -“It will be impossible for me to avoid asking him. You know perfectly -well——”</p> - -<p>The blood had rushed to her face. “If he comes, Douglas,” she said, “I -can’t stay here.”</p> - -<p>He walked swiftly toward her and rested his hand on one of the chairs. -His eyes shone. “I’ve stood enough of this behavior from you, Helen, -and now I’m going to put my foot down. You sha’n’t stir out of this -house. You’ll stay here, and you’ll receive Franklin West as you -receive all my other friends. He knows you’re here, and I don’t propose -to allow him to be insulted by your leaving. Do you understand?”</p> - -<p>Helen bowed. “Perfectly,” she said, in a whisper.</p> - -<p>“Then you’ll do as I say?”</p> - -<p>“No,” she replied, quietly. “I’ll go. I’ll leave this very morning.”</p> - -<p>“Then if you leave,” he said, “you’ll leave for good.”</p> - -<p>“As you please.” Helen turned and walked slowly toward the door. He -watched her angrily. As she opened the door she leaned against it -heavily and caught her breath in a sob.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_275">[Pg 275]</span></p> - -<p>He stepped forward quickly and took her in his arms. “Helen,” he cried, -brokenly, “I didn’t mean that! I didn’t know what I was saying! It’s -because I love you that I’m so harsh with you. Can’t you see I’ve been -in hell ever since this trouble began? Everything I’ve done has been -done for you. I’ve made mistakes. I’ve done wrong. I’ve got into a -terrible mess. But God knows I want to get out of it; and I will get -out of it, if you’ll only have patience. I hate that man West as much -as you do. But I can’t throw him down now. It would mean ruin for me. -Only listen to reason, won’t you? Besides, you haven’t anything against -West. Hasn’t he always treated you civilly?” He hesitated, watching the -tears that ran down her cheeks. “Well, hasn’t he? Answer me, Helen.”</p> - -<p>She drew herself away from him. She had a sudden temptation to tell him -the whole truth. It seemed for an instant as if this avowal might clear -up the whole trouble between them. Then she thought of what the other -consequences might be, and she checked herself. “I can’t tell you, -Douglas. You must not ask me to meet him again. I can’t look him in the -face. The mere sight of him terrifies me.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_276">[Pg 276]</span></p> - -<p>He looked helplessly at her, thinking that he understood the full -meaning of her words. Then he turned away. “I never thought I should -drag you into this, Helen,” he said, bitterly. “I—I don’t blame you. -Of course, I know it is all my fault.”</p> - -<p>“Then why not undo this fault?” she cried. “Why not——?”</p> - -<p>He held out his hand despairingly. “Don’t!” he exclaimed. “You don’t -understand. You can’t. You women never can.”</p> - -<p>She dried her eyes and was about to leave the room. “Since you are -determined not to have him here,” her husband remarked, with a -resumption of reproach in his tone, “I’ll not ask him to stay. I’ll -offer some excuse.”</p> - -<p>During the rest of the day they did not refer to West again. The next -morning Briggs looked for a letter from him from Boston, but none came. -Two days later he received a brief note that West had dictated to his -stenographer in Washington. Pressing business had called him home; he -had not even stopped over in New York. So that scene with Helen might -have been avoided, after all, Briggs thought, with a sigh. He tried -to forget about the episode, however, and during the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_277">[Pg 277]</span> next few days -the pressure of campaign work absorbed him. The Citizens’ Club had -endorsed his candidacy, and their support, he believed, would more -than counterbalance the opposition within his own party. During the -day he either received the crowds of importunate visitors, chiefly -constituents with axes to grind, who seemed to think his time belonged -to them, or he was working up the speeches that he was to deliver at -night. He had long before ceased to write out what he intended to say; -a few notes written on a card gave him all the cues he needed. He -spent considerable time, however, in poring over statistics and over -newspapers, from which he culled most of his material.</p> - -<p>One morning, about two weeks before the election was to be held, -Michael appeared in the library with a card and the announcement that -the lady was waiting in the reception room.</p> - -<p>“Miss Wing!” said Briggs, absently. “Where have I seen that name? What -can she want with me?” Then his face brightened. “Oh, yes, I remember.” -He looked serious again. “Why should she come here, to take up my time? -I don’t believe I—Well, show her in, Michael,” he said, impatiently.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_278">[Pg 278]</span></p> - -<p>Miss Wing wore one of her most extravagant frocks. When Douglas Briggs -offered his hand and greeted her, her face grew radiant.</p> - -<p>“How good of you to remember me, Congressman. But then it’s part of -your business to remember people, isn’t it?” she said, archly.</p> - -<p>“It’s pretty hard work sometimes. But I remember you perfectly.”</p> - -<p>“That’s very flattering, I’m sure.” Miss Wing sank into the seat Briggs -had placed for her. “Well, Congressman, I’ve come on a disagreeable -errand.”</p> - -<p>“I’m sorry to hear that,” said Briggs, with a smile.</p> - -<p>“But with the best intentions in the world,” Miss Wing hastened to -explain.</p> - -<p>“That makes it all right, then.”</p> - -<p>“It’s about—Well, I suppose I might come to the point at once. It’s -connected with the Transcontinental Railway.”</p> - -<p>“M’m! Aren’t your readers tired of hearing about that?”</p> - -<p>Miss Wing shook her head. “Not when there are new and exciting -developments,” she said, insinuatingly.</p> - -<p>“Such as what?”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_279">[Pg 279]</span></p> - -<p>Miss Wing waited for a moment. “Well, thus far the papers have spared -Mrs. Briggs.”</p> - -<p>“Mrs. Briggs? What has Mrs. Briggs to do with that railroad?” In spite -of his effort to keep his self-control, Douglas Briggs betrayed anger -in his voice.</p> - -<p>“Simply this,” Miss Wing went on, coolly. “I warn you it’s very -unpleasant. But I—I consider it my duty to tell you.”</p> - -<p>“Go ahead, then.”</p> - -<p>Miss Wing fell into a dramatic attitude, her right hand extended and -resting on her parasol. “I happen to know that <abbr title="Mister">Mr.</abbr> Franklin West has -taken advantage of his hold on you to make love to your wife.”</p> - -<p>Briggs rose from his seat. “This is the worst yet,” he said, in a low -voice.</p> - -<p>Miss Wing lifted her eyebrows. “You don’t believe it?”</p> - -<p>“Of course I don’t,” he replied, contemptuously.</p> - -<p>“But I saw him with my own eyes. You’re still incredulous, aren’t -you? It was the night of your ball in Washington. <abbr title="Mister">Mr.</abbr> West was with -Mrs. Briggs in the library. I saw him threaten her, and I saw that -she was frightened. Knowing<span class="pagenum" id="Page_280">[Pg 280]</span> your relations—excuse me, but I must be -frank—knowing your relations, it wasn’t hard for me to understand what -he was saying.”</p> - -<p>Briggs looked angrily at his visitor. “Why have you come to me with -this vile story?” he cried.</p> - -<p>Miss Wing met his looks without flinching. “In the first place, because -I thought you ought to know it.”</p> - -<p>“That was why you waited for six months to tell me?” he said, -scornfully.</p> - -<p>“No. I waited because of my second reason. I knew that if you were -nominated again the information would be more valuable to me. There!”</p> - -<p>“How, more valuable?”</p> - -<p>“You public men are so dull at times! It’s simply that I—well, I don’t -want to publish the story, though it is a beautiful story. It’s not -only a splendid sensation, but it’s a touch of romance in your stupid -politics.”</p> - -<p>“You want me to pay you not to publish the story—is that it?”</p> - -<p>Miss Wing grew serious. “Exactly!”</p> - -<p>Briggs smiled coldly. “Well, you’ve come to the wrong man. I’ve done -a good many things<span class="pagenum" id="Page_281">[Pg 281]</span> in my career that I regret, but I’ve never yet -submitted to blackmail.”</p> - -<p>“That’s a hard word, <abbr title="Mister">Mr.</abbr> Briggs.” Miss Wing glared at Briggs, but he -made no comment. “You prefer, then, to have your wife’s name disgraced, -perhaps?” she said.</p> - -<p>“I tell you the whole story is a lie!”</p> - -<p>“You believe that I’ve made it up, do you?”</p> - -<p>Briggs laughed contemptuously. “Put any construction on my words that -you please,” and he jammed his hand over the bell on the table beside -him. “But let me tell you this, once for all: Not to protect my wife or -myself will I be cajoled into paying one cent. Publish your article. Do -all the mischief you can!”</p> - -<p>Miss Wing rose indignantly. “I’ll queer your election for you!” she -cried, as Michael entered.</p> - -<p>“Show this lady out, Michael,” said Briggs, quietly.</p> -<hr class="chap" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_282">[Pg 282]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="XIX">XIX</h2> -</div> - - -<p>For the next ten minutes Douglas Briggs paced his study. He kept -repeating to himself that what that woman had said was impossible; -she had come simply to blackmail him; she had supposed him to be an -easy mark. But it was strange that Helen’s discovery of his relations -with West should have followed so closely the night of the ball in -Washington. Could West have been so cowardly as to expose him to her? -It flashed upon Briggs that on the very morning after the ball he had -found Helen reading his scrapbooks. Why had she done that? What had -been a merely commonplace incident now seemed significant. Was she -searching those files for support of West’s charges? The idea seemed -too hideous, too monstrous. For a moment Briggs had a sensation of -having been accused of a crime of which he was innocent. Then he called -himself a fool. West had very<span class="pagenum" id="Page_283">[Pg 283]</span> little respect for women, but he was -altogether too experienced, too much a man of the world, to insult a -woman like Helen.</p> - -<p>The only sensible course to pursue was to ignore Miss Wing altogether. -If she started the story about him it would merely add one more to the -scandals already in circulation. Thus far they did not appear to hurt -him very much. The chances were, however, that the woman would not dare -to carry out her threat. Besides, Briggs thought with satisfaction, the -increased severity of the libel laws was making newspapers more careful -of what they said, even about men running for office. He was himself -used to hearing similar stories about his colleagues in Washington, -and he paid little attention to them. As for Helen, he decided that he -would not degrade his wife even by mentioning the matter to her. He -returned to his work, however, with bitterness in his mind, and when, -an hour later, Helen entered the room, he looked up quickly and said:</p> - -<p>“Oh, there’s something I want to ask you.”</p> - -<p>He dropped his pen and scanned her face, letting his chin rest on his -hands. “Why is it that you were so dead set against having Franklin -West come here the other day?”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_284">[Pg 284]</span></p> - -<p>She waited, as if carefully preparing an answer. “I would rather not -speak of that again, Douglas,” she said.</p> - -<p>“But I want to speak of it,” he insisted. “And I want you to speak of -it in plain language. You needn’t be afraid of wounding me. Was it -because of my connection with him in that railroad business?”</p> - -<p>He saw her face flush. Her hand twitched at her belt. “I never liked -him,” she said. “I told you that.”</p> - -<p>“Oh!” he cried, impatiently, “this isn’t a question of your liking -him or disliking him. You dislike a good many people.” She looked at -him reproachfully. “You know perfectly well you do, even if you don’t -say so. Don’t you suppose I can tell?” He felt suddenly ashamed, and -he checked himself. “Excuse me, Helen,” he said. “I didn’t mean to be -disagreeable; but I want you to be open with me in this matter. What’s -your reason for saying you’d leave here if he came to stay?”</p> - -<p>“Don’t, Douglas!” Helen’s eyes filled with tears. “Please don’t ask me. -It’s better that you shouldn’t. I’ve tried, oh, I’ve——”</p> - -<p>“There <em>is</em> a reason, then,” he declared, with<span class="pagenum" id="Page_285">[Pg 285]</span> grim triumph. -“Now, I’m going to find out what it is,” he added, with determination.</p> - -<p>She sank helplessly to the couch. He leaned forward and kept his eyes -fixed on her. “Well,” he said, “I’m waiting.”</p> - -<p>“The last time he was at our house in Washington he—he insulted me.”</p> - -<p>Briggs started back, as if someone had aimed a blow at him. “He -insulted you?” he cried, incredulously. “This must be some fancy of -yours. West is the most courteous, the most suave—he’s <em>too</em> -suave. What did he say?”</p> - -<p>“He said that he was in love with me, he said that he’d been in love -with me for years. He said that was why he’d helped you so much. When I -tried to call the servants he said they were his servants, in his pay, -that you were in his pay—” Helen dropped her head on the couch. Her -lips trembled.</p> - -<p>Her husband looked at her, dazed. “The scoundrel!” he exclaimed, under -his breath.</p> - -<p>“Perhaps now you can understand why I loathe him so. I always knew what -he was. I’ve always been afraid of him.”</p> - -<p>Briggs grew suddenly angry. “Why didn’t you speak of this before? Why -didn’t<span class="pagenum" id="Page_286">[Pg 286]</span> you?” He clasped his hands over his face. “God!” he exclaimed.</p> - -<p>“I couldn’t. He said it would ruin you.”</p> - -<p>“Ruin me!” Briggs repeated, savagely. Then he looked pityingly at his -wife. “And you’ve kept silent all these months just to protect me?” He -turned away. “I might have known what this life would lead to,” he went -on, as if speaking to himself. “I’ve dragged myself through the gutter, -and I’ve dragged my family with me.”</p> - -<p>Helen rose from the couch.</p> - -<p>“You ought to have told me,” he went on, this time without reproach. -“That would have been the only fair thing to do. But it isn’t too -late,” he concluded, grimly.</p> - -<p>A look of alarm appeared in her face. “What do you mean, Douglas?”</p> - -<p>“Oh, I don’t mean that I intend to kill him,” he replied, with a scorn -that was plainly directed against himself. “We can get along without -any heroics.”</p> - -<p>“What—?” She looked at him with the helplessness of a woman in such a -situation. Then she walked toward him. “Please let it all go, Douglas,” -she said. “No harm has been done—to me, I mean. Don’t, don’t——”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_287">[Pg 287]</span></p> - -<p>“Don’t make a scandal? No, I won’t. I promise you that. You’ve suffered -enough out of this thing.” He had an impulse to go forward and embrace -her, but a fear of appearing too spectacular checked him. He had the -Anglo-Saxon’s horror of acting up to a situation. Besides, in her -manner there was something that stung his pride. He could more easily -have borne reproaches.</p> - -<p>When she had left the room he asked himself what he could do. He felt -as helpless as his wife had been a few moments before. Of course, he -would break with West; but this contingency did not affect the real -question between them. He might thrash the fellow; but even that would -be a poor satisfaction. He clearly saw that in this matter there could -be no such thing for him as satisfaction. He alone was to blame; he had -brought the shame on himself by introducing to his wife a man for whom -no honest man or woman could feel respect. He must take his medicine, -bitter as it was.</p> - -<p>The medicine grew more bitter as the days passed and he did nothing. -West, he felt sure, would never enter his house again. When they did -meet it would be in Washington, where he<span class="pagenum" id="Page_288">[Pg 288]</span> would let the fellow know -that their business deals were at an end. There was no reason why they -should not end now; he had done the work, and he had received his pay, -he thought, with self-disgust. In future he should keep himself out of -any such complications. West had taught him a lesson that would keep -him straight for the rest of his life.</p> - -<p>Two days before the election Michael announced a visitor. When Douglas -Briggs heard the name the expression of his face changed so completely -that it found a reflection in Michael’s face.</p> - -<p>“Where is he?” Briggs asked.</p> - -<p>“In the drawing-room, sir. Shall I ask him to step in here?”</p> - -<p>“No.” Briggs adjusted the collar of his coat. “I’ll go in there,” he -said.</p> - -<p>As he was about to leave the room he met his wife, entering from -the hall. She looked as if she were about to faint. “I saw him as I -came down the stairs,” she said. She laid her hand on her husband’s -shoulder. “Douglas, you won’t be foolish, will you?”</p> - -<p>He drew her hand away. She noticed that his arm was quivering. “Don’t -be afraid,” he replied,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_289">[Pg 289]</span> impatiently. “I’ll make short work of him, -and there’ll be no scene. Think of his coming here!” he added, with a -bitter laugh.</p> - -<p>She followed him into the hall. When he entered the drawing-room he -closed the door behind him. West was standing in front of the mantel; -he wore a long frock coat, and a pair of yellow gloves hung from one -hand. On seeing Briggs he came forward, smiling, and offering his hand.</p> - -<p>“Glad to catch you in,” he said. “I came over in a tremendous hurry. -I——”</p> - -<p>He stopped. Briggs stood in front of him, looking him sharply in the -face, with hands clasped behind his back.</p> - -<p>“West!”</p> - -<p>Franklin West let his hand drop. His eyes showed astonishment. “What’s -the matter?” he gasped.</p> - -<p>Briggs went on, in a lower voice: “West, I have something to say to -you, and I might as well say it without any preliminaries. I want to -tell you that you’re a blackguard.”</p> - -<p>“What!” West exclaimed.</p> - -<p>“I have heard from my wife how you insulted her at our house last -Spring.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_290">[Pg 290]</span></p> - -<p>“<em>Insulted</em> her? It’s—it’s a mistake. I never——”</p> - -<p>Briggs drew nearer West. He looked dangerous. “No. There’s no mistake. -My wife isn’t in the habit of lying. Now, I have just one thing to say -to you. That is, get out of here. Don’t ever show yourself in my house -again. If you do, by God, you’ll pay for it!”</p> - -<p>West had partly recovered from his bewilderment. “You must be crazy!” -he said.</p> - -<p>“I shall be if you don’t take yourself out of my sight pretty quick.”</p> - -<p>“You mean to throw me over, then?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, you and your whole gang. I’ve had enough of you. You thought you -owned me, didn’t you?”</p> - -<p>West did not flinch. “It’s war between us, then; is it?” he said.</p> - -<p>“Call it what you please, but get out!”</p> - -<p>West smiled. “Very well, then. I think we understand each other. Now -that you’ve got your nomination again you believe you’re strong enough -to stand up against us. After we’ve made you, you’re going to knife us. -And you make your wife the cloak, the pretext—just as you’ve used her -all along!”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_291">[Pg 291]</span></p> - -<p>Douglas seized West by the throat and hurled him to the floor.</p> - -<p>The door opened, and Helen stood on the threshold, her face white, her -figure trembling. “Douglas!” she whispered.</p> - -<p>Briggs released his hold and stood up. “Excuse me,” he said, glancing -at his wife. “I forgot myself.” He glanced at the prostrate figure. -“Get out!”</p> - -<p>West rose, his face flushed with anger. He walked slowly toward the -door. Then he turned. “You’ll pay for this!” he said.</p> -<hr class="chap" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_292">[Pg 292]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="XX">XX</h2> -</div> - - -<p>On the night of the election Farley stood at the telephone in Douglas -Briggs’s library. “Oh, hello! hello!” he called. “Yes, this is <abbr title="Mister">Mr.</abbr> -Briggs’s house. Yes, Congressman Briggs. What?” He glanced at Guy, who -sat at the table in the centre of the room. “They’ve shut me off!” he -said, disgusted. He rang impatiently. Then he rang again. “Hello! Is -this Central? Well, I want Central. Who are you? No, I rang off long -ago. Well then, ring off, can’t you?” He turned toward Guy. “Damn that -girl!” Then an exclamation in the telephone caused him to say, hastily, -“Oh, excuse me.” He smiled at Guy. “Telephones are very corrupting -things, aren’t they? What?” he continued, with his lips at the -transmitter. “What’s that about manners? Oh, I <em>never</em> had any? -Excuse me, but I’m nervous. Yes, nervous. Well, give me the number, -won’t you? 9-0-7 Spring. Oh, I beg your<span class="pagenum" id="Page_293">[Pg 293]</span> pardon, I thought you were -Central.” He turned from the transmitter. “I’ve offended her again. -What? Yes. Well, excuse me, please. Well, I’ll try. Thank you. Thank -heaven, she’s rung off! Women ought never to be allowed to get near -telephones.” He rang again. “Is this Central? Oh, yes, thanks. 9-0-7 -Spring, please. Now for a wait!” He leaned weakly against the wall.</p> - -<p>Guy rose quickly. “Here, let me hold it for you awhile. You take a -rest.”</p> - -<p>“Thanks.” Farley sank into Guy’s chair. “I’ve spent most of the day at -that ’phone,” he said, with a long sigh.</p> - -<p>“Yes, waiting,” Guy was saying. “Eh? What a very fresh young person -that is, Farley. Yes,” he exclaimed, snappishly, “9-0-7. Yes,” he -repeated, loudly, “Spring. Who do you want, Farley?”</p> - -<p>Farley stood up. “Give it to me.” As Guy returned to his seat, Farley -cried: “Hello! Is Harlowe there? Yes, J. B. Harlowe, your political -man. Well, ask him to come to the ’phone. Just listen to the hum -of that office, will you?” he said, dreamily. “I can hear the old -ticker going tick, tick, tick, tick, tick. The boys must be hustling -to-night.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_294">[Pg 294]</span></p> - -<p>Guy, who had taken his place at the desk again, rested his head on both -hands. “You love newspaper work, don’t you, Farley?”</p> - -<p>“I love it and I hate it. I wish I’d never gone into it, and I couldn’t -be happy out of it. It’s got into my blood, I suppose. They say it -always does if you stay in it long enough. I—Oh, hello, Harlowe! -Well, how goes it? Any returns down there? We haven’t heard a word -for an hour. Pretty quiet? Yes, this is just the time! What district? -235? Good! Funny we don’t hear. Oh, yes; just come in. We’ll get it -by messenger, I suppose. We’re ahead by 235 in the Ninth District, -Guy. What’s that?” Farley listened intently. “Well, I can tell you -this—you’ll waste your time if you send a man up here. Congressman -Briggs is asleep at this minute, and we don’t propose to wake him -up. He’s nearly dead. He’s been rushing it without a break since the -campaign opened. Seven speeches last night! Think of that! Eh? No, we -don’t propose to deny the story. We’ve had a string of reporters here -all day long, and we’ve steered them all off. They haven’t even seen -Briggs.” He burst out laughing. Then he suddenly became serious. “All -right. That’s the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_295">[Pg 295]</span> way to talk to ’em. Call me up if you get anything -important.”</p> - -<p>“What story?” Guy asked, when Farley had rung off.</p> - -<p>“That nasty lie published in the <em>Chronicle</em> this morning,” Farley -replied, dropping into a big chair near the desk.</p> - -<p>“Mrs. Briggs hasn’t seen it yet,” said Guy. “I hope she won’t hear -anything while she’s dining down at the hotel. I told Fanny and her -father to be careful.”</p> - -<p>Farley sighed. “Well, I suppose she must find out some time. You know, -down in Washington they’ve connected her name with that fellow West’s -for a long time. The idiots!”</p> - -<p>“You could see from the way she acted whenever he was around that she -hated him,” said Guy, with disgust in his voice.</p> - -<p>“Oh, they’ll say anything about a woman as soon as she becomes -conspicuous,” Farley replied, with the older man’s philosophy.</p> - -<p>“But weren’t they clever to spring that story on the very day of the -election?” Guy went on. “Look here. See what the <em>Evening Signal</em> -says:</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_296">[Pg 296]</span></p><div class="blockquot"> - -<p>“There is no doubt that the sensational story published in the -morning papers that Congressman Briggs has had a split with his former -backer because of an alleged insult to his wife, and was using the -Citizens’ Club as a catspaw, has cost him thousands of votes. The -reference to Mrs. Briggs may be set down as pure falsehood, introduced -to give romantic color to the story. But there is no doubt that -personal reasons of considerable interest led Congressman Briggs to -seek support of the very men who, till the present campaign, had been -his bitterest opponents.”</p> -</div> - -<p>Farley’s eyes flashed. “That’s a damn lie!”</p> - -<p>“Of course it is,” Guy exclaimed. “But I only hope all the men at the -Citizens’ Club will think so.”</p> - -<p>The door was thrown open, and Briggs entered. His face was pale; his -eyes looked inflamed. “Well, boys, how are things going?”</p> - -<p>“You got up too soon,” Farley replied. “Everything’s quiet.”</p> - -<p>“No news?”</p> - -<p>“The Ninth District has gone for you by 235,” said Farley.</p> - -<p>Briggs lifted his eyebrows. “Two thirty-five?<span class="pagenum" id="Page_297">[Pg 297]</span> Is that all? I thought -we were sure of five hundred at least. Oh, well!”</p> - -<p>“Things ought to begin to hum soon,” said Guy, rising to give up the -seat at the desk. As Briggs took the chair, Michael appeared at the -door.</p> - -<p>“There’s a messenger outside with a letter, sir. He says he was told to -give it to you yourself, and to wait for an answer.”</p> - -<p>“Tell him to come in. You’d better take a rest, Farley,” said Briggs. -“Don’t you newspaper men ever get tired?”</p> - -<p>Farley smiled. “Not when there’s a little excitement in the air.”</p> - -<p>A moment later a messenger followed Michael into the room. He was a -man of nearly forty, and his uniform gave him an air of youth that his -deeply lined face and his figure denied. He looked about aimlessly.</p> - -<p>“Congressman Briggs?” he said.</p> - -<p>“Yes.” Briggs extended his hand.</p> - -<p>“Hello! from the Citizens’ Club,” he exclaimed, as he looked at the -envelope. “What’s this?” He glanced over the letter. “It’s from -Griswold. Listen to this, will you? ‘We have been talking over that -outrageous libel about you<span class="pagenum" id="Page_298">[Pg 298]</span> that appeared in the <em>Chronicle</em> this -morning, and we think that you ought to take some notice of it. It is -too serious to be passed over. We hear that it also appeared in the -papers in Boston, Chicago and Washington.’ Here, you read the rest, -Farley.”</p> - -<p>Farley read, with Guy looking over his shoulder. When he had finished, -he passed the letter back to Briggs. No one spoke.</p> - -<p>At last Farley glanced at the uniformed figure. “The messenger is -waiting,” he said to Briggs.</p> - -<p>Briggs swung in his chair and faced the desk. “Sit down here, Guy, and -write what I dictate. ‘Frazer Griswold, Esquire, the Citizens’ Club, -Fifth Avenue, New York. My dear Griswold: I see nothing in the article -you mention that requires a reply. If I knew the writer, I’d pay him -the compliment of thrashing him within an inch of his life.’ Give that -to the stenographer. Get her to run it off on the typewriter, and I’ll -sign it.”</p> - -<p>“Respectfully yours?” Guy asked, busily writing.</p> - -<p>Douglas Briggs smiled faintly. “Yes, very respectfully.”</p> - -<p>As Guy left the room, Farley asked: “Any<span class="pagenum" id="Page_299">[Pg 299]</span> idea who did it, <abbr title="Mister">Mr.</abbr> Briggs? -Someone down in Washington, of course.”</p> - -<p>“I think I know who did it,” Briggs replied, quietly.</p> - -<p>“Who?”</p> - -<p>“No one we can get back at.”</p> - -<p>“A woman?”</p> - -<p>Briggs ran his fingers through his hair. He took a long breath. “Yes,” -he said, wearily. “Don’t you remember Miss Wing? She was at my wife’s -ball last Spring.”</p> - -<p>“Yes,” Farley replied. “She was disgruntled because she’d been put into -a side room for supper with the rest of us newspaper people. Can that -have been the reason?”</p> - -<p>“No; she had a better reason. But that supper arrangement was a -blunder, wasn’t it? I’ve heard from that a dozen times since. And Mrs. -Briggs and I knew nothing about it till the supper was all over.”</p> - -<p>“But she was a friend of West’s,” Farley went on. “He came to her -rescue at the ball, I remember. He used to put himself out to do her -favors.”</p> - -<p>“Yes, it’s one of his principles to be particularly civil to newspaper -people. I’ve often heard<span class="pagenum" id="Page_300">[Pg 300]</span> him say that. But she’s gone back on him. -She throws him down as hard in this article as she does me. Oh, well,” -Briggs added, stretching out his arms, “I sometimes think that these -things, instead of hurting a man, really do him good.”</p> - -<p>“That’s pretty cynical, isn’t it?” said Farley, smiling. “It’s a little -hard on the rest of us in the newspaper line, too.”</p> - -<p>Briggs rose and began to pace the room. “I’m out of sorts now, Farley. -Don’t mind what I say. Have you fellows had anything to eat?” he asked, -stopping suddenly.</p> - -<p>“We had something brought in,” said Guy, returning with the typewritten -letter. “Didn’t have time to go out. Will you sign this?”</p> - -<p>“Don’t you think you’d better get something?” Farley asked.</p> - -<p>Douglas Briggs let the pen fall from his fingers. “No, I have no -appetite.” Guy gave the messenger the letter and followed him out of -the room. “We’re helter-skelter here now, aren’t we? Well, to-morrow -will be our last day in this old place.”</p> - -<p>“You’re giving it up for good, then?” Farley asked.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_301">[Pg 301]</span></p> - -<p>“Yes, if we can get rid of it. But we haven’t had an offer for it yet. -Too bad!” he added, with a sigh.</p> - -<p>Farley looked surprised. “Then you don’t want to go?”</p> - -<p>Douglas Briggs hesitated. “Some of the happiest days of my life have -been spent here,” he said at last, “and some of the unhappiest, too,” -he added, turning his head away. “When I came into this house I felt I -had reached success. What fools we all are! Here I’ve been working for -years among big interests, and what thought do you suppose has been in -my mind all the time? To please my wife, to get money to surround her -with beautiful things, to place her in a beautiful house, to give her -beautiful dresses to wear. Bah!”</p> - -<p>“Well, that isn’t altogether a bad ambition,” said Farley, cheerfully.</p> - -<p>Briggs looked up quickly. “When you’ve got a wife who’s above all these -fripperies! Isn’t it?”</p> - -<p>“But I always think of you as one of the happiest married men I know,” -said Farley. He began to glance over some papers he had taken from the -desk.</p> - -<p>“I ought to be. I should be if I weren’t a<span class="pagenum" id="Page_302">[Pg 302]</span> fool.” He hesitated. “I -went into my wife’s room the other day while the maids were packing her -clothes and I saw a little sealskin coat that I gave her years ago. The -sight of that coat brought tears to my eyes. Ever since we were married -I’d been telling her that she must have a sealskin. That represented -my idea of luxury. It seemed to us then like a romantic dream. Well, I -made a little money and I blew it all on that coat. She’s kept it -ever since.”</p> - -<p>Farley was sitting motionless. “That’s a very pretty story,” he said.</p> - -<p>Briggs raised his hand warningly. “But it marked my first step in the -wrong direction. All those luxuries, instead of bringing me nearer my -wife, have taken me away from her. Sometimes I——”</p> - -<p>They heard a voice in the hall and the sound of a girl’s laughter. -Briggs stopped speaking and listened. A moment later Fanny Wallace ran -in, followed by her aunt, her father and Guy Fullerton.</p> - -<p>“Here we are at last!” said Fanny. “Missed us?” she went on, and she -gave her uncle a kiss on the chin. “Oh, we’ve had the loveliest dinner! -Terrapin and mushrooms and venison and—you<span class="pagenum" id="Page_303">[Pg 303]</span> should have seen dad when -he looked over the bill! Now, aren’t you sorry you didn’t come?” she -asked, turning to Guy.</p> - -<p>“I was very sorry before you went,” Guy replied.</p> - -<p>“What did <em>you</em> have, Uncle Doug?”</p> - -<p>“I didn’t have anything.”</p> - -<p>Fanny stood still. “What?”</p> - -<p>Helen interposed, as she was about to unpin her hat: “But I told Martha -to have some dinner for you.”</p> - -<p>“I told her that I was going out, but I fell asleep,” Briggs explained.</p> - -<p>“I’ll see about something.” Helen Briggs removed her hat and pinned her -veil on it.</p> - -<p>Briggs shook his head. “No. I couldn’t eat now,” he said, with a scowl -of exhaustion.</p> - -<p>Helen looked alarmed. “Aren’t you well?” she asked.</p> - -<p>“Perfectly. Don’t worry about me. I’ll take a biscuit and a glass of -wine if I need anything. And if I’m elected we’ll all go out and blow -ourselves to a supper.”</p> - -<p>Fanny’s eyes shone. “At the Waldorf-Astoria? Good! We’ll have some -lobster Newburg.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_304">[Pg 304]</span></p> - -<p>Jonathan Wallace was drawing off his thick gloves. “Well, everything -looks cheerful for you, they say,” he remarked to Briggs. “I met -Harris, that political friend of yours, and he told me you were going -to have a big majority.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, Harris always was an optimist,” said Briggs.</p> - -<p>“And dad made him furious,” Fanny cried. “He told him that every time a -friend of his went into politics he felt like saying, ‘There’s another -good man gone wrong!’ and he said that if you got completely snowed -under it would be the best thing that could happen to you.”</p> - -<p>Briggs smiled. “And what did Harris say to that?”</p> - -<p>“He didn’t say anything. He just looked. Well, I’m going down stairs to -see if I can’t get something to eat for this gentleman. I’m going to -make him eat something. Think of his going without any dinner while we -were gorging! Want to come and help, Guy?”</p> - -<p>“Take too long.”</p> - -<p>Fanny looked injured. “Why, there isn’t anything for you to do here.”</p> - -<p>“Well, there will be soon,” Guy replied.</p> - -<p>“Then Uncle Doug can send for you—or <abbr title="Mister">Mr.</abbr><span class="pagenum" id="Page_305">[Pg 305]</span> Farley.” Fanny seized Guy by -the shoulders and pushed him out of the room. “Won’t you, <abbr title="Mister">Mr.</abbr> Farley?” -she cried, from the hall.</p> - -<p>“All right,” Farley replied, smiling.</p> - -<p>“I think I’ll go up and take a nap,” said Wallace. “This New York pace -is a little too much for me.”</p> - -<p>As Helen busied herself about the room the telephone rang. Farley -answered. “Hello!” he cried. “Who is it? Citizens’ Club? All right. -I’ll wait. Oh, hello, Gilchrist! Yes, this is <abbr title="Mister">Mr.</abbr> Briggs’s house. We’ve -sent the reply by messenger. He says the libel isn’t worth replying to. -I might have told you that.” He listened for a few moments. Then he -turned to Briggs. “Great excitement over that matter down at the club. -They want me to come down.”</p> - -<p>“Go along, then.”</p> - -<p>“All right. I’ll be down in fifteen minutes,” said Farley, into the -telephone. As he hung up the receiver he remarked: “I’ll make short -work of them. Good-night, Mrs. Briggs,” he called from the hall. -“I’ll see you soon again, though. Perhaps I’ll bring you news of your -husband’s election.”</p> -<hr class="chap" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_306">[Pg 306]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="XXI">XXI</h2> -</div> - - -<p>Helen gathered the wraps she had thrown on the couch and started to -leave the room. When she stood at the door her husband said:</p> - -<p>“Are you going upstairs?”</p> - -<p>“Yes; I’m tired,” she replied, without looking round. She stood, -however, as if expecting him to speak again.</p> - -<p>“You—you won’t wait till the returns come in?”</p> - -<p>She turned slightly. “I’ll come down again,” she replied, glancing at -him for an instant.</p> - -<p>Briggs walked toward her. “We’ve been such strangers in the past few -weeks,” he said, gently, “that I should think you might take advantage -of this chance for a chat.”</p> - -<p>Helen dropped her wraps on a chair. “I will stay if you wish.”</p> - -<p>“If I wish!” he repeated, with quiet bitterness. “I thought perhaps -you’d like to stay.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_307">[Pg 307]</span> You do everything nowadays with the air of a -martyr, Helen.”</p> - -<p>“I sha’n’t trouble you much longer, Douglas,” she said, lowering her -eyes.</p> - -<p>“Then there is no way of our coming to an understanding?”</p> - -<p>She kept her eyes from him. “We understand each other very well now, I -think.”</p> - -<p>“Now!” he repeated. Helen started to take up the wraps again. He held -out his hand. “Wait a minute. I didn’t detain you to pick a quarrel. I -wanted to make one last appeal to you.”</p> - -<p>“For what?” she asked.</p> - -<p>“I can’t stand living like this any longer,” he went on, desperately, -throwing off all self-restraint. “I can’t stand the thought of going -back to Washington without you. I’m lonely. I’ve been lonely for -months. You know that as well as I do.”</p> - -<p>She hesitated, trying to control herself. Then she said, without a -trace of feeling in her voice: “You have your work. You have as much as -I have.”</p> - -<p>“You treat me as if you had no regard, no respect, for me. You make me -feel like a criminal.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_308">[Pg 308]</span> I thought when I threw that man West over——”</p> - -<p>She looked him straight in the face. “But why did you do it? Not -because he was what you knew him to be, but because he had insulted me. -That’s what I can’t forget. All these years you knew what he was.”</p> - -<p>They stood looking at each other. “And I was just as bad as he was,” he -said, in a low voice. “You mean that, don’t you?”</p> - -<p>Helen turned away. “I didn’t say that.”</p> - -<p>“And is there nothing I can do to make things right between us?”</p> - -<p>“Perhaps, in time, I shall feel different, Douglas.”</p> - -<p>He smiled bitterly. “I hope that God isn’t as merciless as good women -are!” he said.</p> - -<p>She showed resentment at once. “I am not merciless, but I can’t go -back to that place to be pointed at, as I should be—to have my name -connected with that man’s—” Her voice broke.</p> - -<p>“What do you mean?” he asked.</p> - -<p>“I mean that I have read the article that was published this morning,” -she went on, more calmly. “I heard some people at the hotel speak of it -while we were waiting to go out into the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_309">[Pg 309]</span> dining-room. They thought I -couldn’t hear them, but I did hear—every word. They laughed, and they -said there was a good deal more behind it than the paper said. I knew -what that meant. When they went out I looked at the paper on a file. -And yet you can ask me to go back to Washington after that?” she said, -with reproach and shame in her voice.</p> - -<p>Briggs grew pale. “I hoped you might not hear of it,” he said. “I’m -sorry, Helen.”</p> - -<p>She hesitated, but she resolutely kept her face turned from him. Then -she gathered her wraps again and left the room.</p> - -<p>For a few moments after she disappeared Douglas Briggs stood -motionless. Then he sank into the seat beside the desk. Until now he -had believed that a reconciliation with his wife was sure to come in -time. Now the situation seemed hopeless. He had lost her. This last -humiliation made it impossible for her ever to respect him again. -In spite of his resolutions of the past few months, he felt that he -deserved his punishment. He had not only blighted his own happiness, -he had ruined hers. That was the cruelest pain of all. Now he felt, -with a bitterness deeper than he had ever known, that without her love, -without<span class="pagenum" id="Page_310">[Pg 310]</span> her sympathy and companionship, life had nothing that could -give him satisfaction. Why should he go on working? Why not give up his -ambitions and his aspirations? They had brought him only disappointment -and suffering.</p> -<hr class="chap" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_311">[Pg 311]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="XXII">XXII</h2> -</div> - - -<p>“Just as I was leaving I met a messenger-boy with these returns. I -opened the envelope.”</p> - -<p>Douglas Briggs started. Farley’s cheerful and businesslike voice had -given him a sensation of alarm.</p> - -<p>“Oh, is that you, Farley?” he said. “All right,” he went on, vaguely. -Then he glanced at the yellow paper in Farley’s hand. “What does it -say?”</p> - -<p>“The returns that we received over the wire from the Ninth District -were wrong. They got mixed down at the <em>Gazette</em> office.”</p> - -<p>“How was that?” Briggs’s voice showed that he was still bewildered.</p> - -<p>“The majority of 235 was not for you.”</p> - -<p>The full significance of the remark slowly made its way into Douglas -Briggs’s mind. “Ah!” He shrugged his shoulders. “That’s a bad sign, -isn’t it?”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_312">[Pg 312]</span></p> - -<p>“Very bad. I knew they’d been spending money up there.”</p> - -<p>Briggs sat back in his chair. He had recovered himself now. “Well, they -would have spent more than we could; so, perhaps, it’s just as well -that we didn’t spend any.”</p> - -<p>Farley looked thoughtful. “I think I’ll let those fellows rip,” he -said, slowly. “I’ll stay here and watch out for developments.”</p> - -<p>“Don’t do it, Farley,” said Briggs, wearily. “It isn’t worth while.”</p> - -<p>Farley looked astonished. “Not worth while?” he repeated.</p> - -<p>“No. I don’t care whether I’m licked or not. In fact, I think I’d -rather be licked.”</p> - -<p>Farley looked sharply at Briggs. “You’re tired out, I guess,” he said.</p> - -<p>“Yes, I’m mentally, physically, morally exhausted,” Briggs replied, -passing his hand across his eyes. “Nothing seems worth while to me—not -even success. Strange, isn’t it? I’ve staked everything on this -election to-night, and if I’m beaten, my political career is done for. -And yet I don’t care.”</p> - -<p>“But you won’t be beaten,” Farley insisted, with a laugh.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_313">[Pg 313]</span></p> - -<p>Briggs made a gesture of impatience. “Don’t be too sure of that. -To tell the truth, Farley, I’ve felt all along that the fight was -hopeless. But I’ve tried to keep a stiff upper lip. I didn’t want you -fellows to know how discouraged I was. Look here, Farley, I’m sick of -this. If I’m snowed under, I’ll only get what I deserve.”</p> - -<p>“You’re pretty tired, Congressman,” said Farley, with anxiety in his -face. He had seen men break down before under the strain of a political -campaign.</p> - -<p>“When a man has to go through life without any self-respect he’s apt to -get pretty tired of himself. And when he has a wife who knows what he -is!” Briggs threw back his head and laughed. “God! I suppose there are -thousands of men right here in New York who are like that. Their wives -know they’re blackguards, and they know they know it!”</p> - -<p>The two men sat in silence. The look of worry was deepening in Farley’s -face.</p> - -<p>“Farley,” Briggs suddenly asked, “how old are you?”</p> - -<p>“Thirty-five.”</p> - -<p>“How does it happen that you aren’t married?”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_314">[Pg 314]</span></p> - -<p>Farley smiled and flushed. “Oh, I’ve had other things to think of,” he -said, evasively.</p> - -<p>Douglas Briggs looked at him for a moment. “Do you mean that you’ve -never been in love?”</p> - -<p>“No, I didn’t mean that,” Farley replied, walking to the desk and -looking down at some papers, with both hands resting on the edge.</p> - -<p>“Then you have been?”</p> - -<p>Farley did not stir. “Yes,” he replied.</p> - -<p>“Seriously?”</p> - -<p>Farley nodded.</p> - -<p>“What was the matter?”</p> - -<p>Farley flushed again, and smiled faintly. “I couldn’t get her!”</p> - -<p>“Someone else?”</p> - -<p>“H’m, m’m.”</p> - -<p>Briggs looked at Farley for a long time. “And she knows about it?” he -asked, gently.</p> - -<p>“I think so. I don’t know,” said Farley, turning away and leaning -against the desk with his back toward Briggs.</p> - -<p>For several moments neither spoke. They heard the clock tick.</p> - -<p>“I suppose there is some sort of justice in this world,” Briggs -remarked, with a sigh, “but it’s pretty hard to see it sometimes.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_315">[Pg 315]</span></p> - -<p>“I’ve thought of that myself,” Farley replied, dryly.</p> - -<p>“But I’m beginning to find out one thing, Farley. The Almighty often -likes to give us what we deserve by letting us have the things we want.”</p> - -<p>“Sometimes He gives us more than we deserve,” said Farley, in a low -voice.</p> - -<p>“Well, if a man gets it in the neck, it’s something to be able to stand -up against it. And no matter how much you’ve had to take, Farley, you -can have the satisfaction of knowing what you are.”</p> - -<p>“That’s a pretty poor satisfaction,” Farley replied, with a laugh.</p> - -<p>“Perhaps you’ll care more about it when I tell you what it has done for -me. There are two people who have completely changed my views of life -lately. One is my wife. You are the other one.”</p> - -<p>Farley looked up for the first time during the talk. “I?” he said, in -surprise.</p> - -<p>Briggs nodded. “Till I began to know you, I didn’t believe that there -were men in the world like you. I had always acted from selfish motives -and I supposed that everyone did.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_316">[Pg 316]</span></p> - -<p>“Oh, no,” Farley protested.</p> - -<p>Briggs lifted his hand. “Don’t contradict me. I know what I’m talking -about. You think all those reform measures I worked so hard for last -year—you think they were unselfish. Well, so they were, in one -respect: I didn’t get any money out of them. But they were really -selfish. I backed them—well, I suppose because I wanted to live up to -the good opinion my wife had of me, and I wanted to justify myself for -other things I had done.” Briggs rose from the chair and met Farley’s -startled look. “Would you like to know why I say these things to you? -It’s simply because I can’t stand playing a part any longer. I’m a -blackguard, Farley. I’m as vile as any of those fellows in Washington -you’ve been fighting against for years. All that woman said in her -article is practically true.”</p> - -<p>“What?” Farley exclaimed, incredulously.</p> - -<p>“I was hand in glove with that fellow West till I discovered that he -had been making love to Mrs. Briggs. If I hadn’t found him out, I -shouldn’t have had the moral courage to throw him over. Go and tell -that, if you like, to your friends at the Citizens’ Club.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_317">[Pg 317]</span></p> - -<p>“Oh, this is impossible!” said Farley, with distress in his eyes.</p> - -<p>“I don’t wonder you think so,” Briggs replied, smiling faintly. For -several moments they stood without speaking. Farley showed in his face -that he was running rapidly over everything in the past. The puzzled -expression gave place to a look of disappointment and pain.</p> - -<p>“Does Mrs. Briggs know of this?” he asked.</p> - -<p>“Yes.”</p> - -<p>“And she—?” He stopped.</p> - -<p>“I don’t wonder that you can’t say it, Farley. No, she hasn’t forgiven -me. She never will. Now what do you propose to do about it?”</p> - -<p>Farley did not stir. His face grew pale. “Nothing,” he said at last.</p> - -<p>“Of course, I can’t expect to have your confidence again,” Briggs went -on, in a low voice.</p> - -<p>“Why not? It seems to me you have a greater claim on it now than ever.”</p> - -<p>“Do you mean to say that you can have any respect for me after what -I’ve told you?” Briggs asked.</p> - -<p>“I know enough about public life to realize what the temptation must -have been. And then, I can’t see what you’ve gained by it.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_318">[Pg 318]</span></p> - -<p>Douglas Briggs lowered his head. “Thank you, Farley.” After a moment, -he said: “And are you doing all this for my sake or for—?”</p> - -<p>Farley turned away with a smile. “Well, partly for your sake,” he -replied.</p> - -<p>At that moment Fanny darted into the room, followed by Guy. “It’s all -ready, Uncle Doug!”</p> - -<p>“What is?”</p> - -<p>“Why, the supper. I got it all up myself—the loveliest scrambled eggs, -with tomatoes and some chicken salad and coffee and—well, you’ll see. -Now please go down.”</p> - -<p>“All right. You’re a good girl, Fanny. But I must have told you that -before.”</p> - -<p>Farley left the room with Briggs. “I’ll take a cab down to the club,” -he said in the hall.</p> - -<p>“And tell them just as much as you like,” Briggs remarked.</p> - -<p>“Trust me for that,” said Farley.</p> -<hr class="chap" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_319">[Pg 319]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="XXIII">XXIII</h2> -</div> - - -<p>Fanny looked after the disappearing figures. “They seem kind of -worried, don’t they?” she said to Guy.</p> - -<p>“Oh, you’re always imagining things,” Guy replied, with masculine -impatience.</p> - -<p>“You say that just because I’m so much cleverer than you are. At school -the girls used to call me the barometer. I could always tell just how -they felt.”</p> - -<p>“Well, if you only knew how I felt at this moment!” Guy exclaimed, -ruefully.</p> - -<p>Fanny seized both his hands. “Are your hands feverish and clammy? And -do you feel cold chills running down your back? That’s the way they -feel in novels.” She began to jump up and down, as she always did in -moments of excitement. “Now, what are you going to say? Tell me, quick. -He’ll be here in two minutes. He said he was coming right down. ’Sh! -Here he comes now.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_320">[Pg 320]</span></p> - -<p>“This is the most infernal town,” cried Jonathan Wallace, pulling down -his cuffs. “If I lived here I’d go crazy from insomnia.” He looked down -at Fanny with the resentful air that even the best of fathers sometimes -like to assume with their children. “Didn’t you say someone wanted to -see me?”</p> - -<p>“Yes,” Fanny replied, with a nervous laugh. Then she added, -satirically, patting Guy on the back: “This gentleman. I think I’ll get -away. Bye-bye, little one.” She danced out of the room, waving her hand -to the young fellow, who stood, awkward and flushed, trying to think of -something to say.</p> - -<p>“Well, sir?” Jonathan Wallace walked toward Guy with his right hand -thrust into his coat front. At that moment he appeared especially -formidable. Guy noticed that his red face, with its large, hooked nose, -made him look curiously like a parrot.</p> - -<p>“Well—er—you—that is—” Guy began. Then he lapsed into silence. “I -wanted to ask you something,” he blurted out.</p> - -<p>Wallace cleared his throat; a faint twinkle appeared in his left eye. -“Well, what is it?”</p> - -<p>“The fact is, sir, I want to ask—well, to ask<span class="pagenum" id="Page_321">[Pg 321]</span> a favor of you.” -Perspiration stood on Guy’s forehead.</p> - -<p>“Young man, I hope you haven’t got into any money difficulties? Well, I -shouldn’t be surprised if you had. In this political business of yours, -you people seem to do nothing but spend money. By Jove! I sometimes -think it would pay the country to rent out the Government to a firm of -contractors. Well, what is it? Don’t be afraid of me; I’m not half so -bad as I sound. If you’ve got into trouble, perhaps I can help you out.”</p> - -<p>“Thank you, sir, you’re very kind,” Guy replied. “I appreciate it. But -it isn’t that.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, isn’t it?” Wallace said, in a tone of relief. “Well, that’s all -right, then.” He acted as if the interview were ended. He had the air -of thinking Guy no longer remained in the room.</p> - -<p>Guy laughed awkwardly, as if to emphasize his presence. “It’s something -a good deal more serious.”</p> - -<p>“Oho!” Wallace looked interested.</p> - -<p>“It isn’t your money I’m after. It’s Fanny.”</p> - -<p>“Fanny! My little Fanny?” asked Wallace, in a tone of amusement and -surprise.</p> - -<p>“Yes, sir, your little Fanny,” Guy replied, boldly. “I’m in love with -her.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_322">[Pg 322]</span></p> - -<p>“Well, that’s not anything remarkable, after all,” said Wallace. “I -believe most of the boys down home are. She always was a great hand for -the boys. They like her easy way with them, I suppose. Well, I’m very -glad you like Fanny. I’m sure it’s a compliment to the whole family. -You must see a lot of pretty girls during the Winter.”</p> - -<p>“But I want to marry her,” Guy insisted. He did not like the old -gentleman’s manner, and yet, oddly enough, it reminded him of Fanny’s.</p> - -<p>“Oh, you do, do you?” Wallace held his right hand over his lips. “Well, -that’s a pretty serious matter, isn’t it? I thought perhaps you were -just feeling your way round. Lots of boys down home like to talk to me -about Fanny. They’re just trying to get the lay of the land, I suppose. -But I generally laugh at ’em, an’ I tell ’em she’s hardly out of her -pinafores yet. You see, by the time she gets through college——”</p> - -<p>“Through college?” Guy gasped.</p> - -<p>Wallace gave the young fellow a severe look. “Yes. Why not? Don’t you -believe in college education for women? Well, I declare, you college -fellows are pretty selfish! You get plenty of education yourselves, but -you——”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_323">[Pg 323]</span></p> - -<p>“Oh, I don’t care anything about that,” Guy interrupted. “Let them have -all the education they want. But Fanny doesn’t want to go to college. -She only wants——”</p> - -<p>“Eh? What did you say she wanted?” Wallace asked, shrewdly.</p> - -<p>“She wants me,” said Guy, with as much modesty as he could display.</p> - -<p>“Oh, she does, does she? How do you know that?”</p> - -<p>Guy was very modest now. “Because she told me so.”</p> - -<p>“M’m!” said Wallace. The old gentleman’s mouth grew tight again. Then -he said, with a sly glance at Guy: “How much money have you got?”</p> - -<p>“I beg your pardon, sir,” Guy explained, helplessly, his face turning -scarlet.</p> - -<p>“What’s your income? Are you prepared to support a wife?”</p> - -<p>“I—I expect to be—in time.”</p> - -<p>Wallace smiled, smoothing his thick, white hair. “Well, Fanny was never -much of a hand to wait for anything, I can tell you that. How much -money do you make?”</p> - -<p>Guy shifted his position. “Well, not much at<span class="pagenum" id="Page_324">[Pg 324]</span> present. In fact, it is -hardly worth speaking of.”</p> - -<p>“Any prospects?” Wallace persisted, mercilessly.</p> - -<p>“I don’t exactly know,” Guy replied, feeling that things were going -very badly.</p> - -<p>“You don’t know whether you have any prospects or not?” Wallace -exclaimed.</p> - -<p>“The fact is——”</p> - -<p>“Eh?”</p> - -<p>“My affairs are rather mixed up just now.”</p> - -<p>Wallace looked indignant. “And yet you want to marry my daughter! Well, -I like your nerve, young man!”</p> - -<p>Fanny suddenly stood between them. She had evidently been listening -at the door. “That’s just what I like, too, dad. But it doesn’t seem -to be cutting any ice now.” Then she turned to Guy. “I’m ashamed of -you! After all our practicing, too! Now look here, dad,” she went on, -putting her hand on her father’s shoulder. “I can’t live without Guy.” -She whispered to the young fellow: “See how much better I do it.” “In -fact,” she went on, in a loud voice and with a languishing glance, “I -should die without him.”</p> - -<p>Wallace pulled down his waistcoat. “Well, go<span class="pagenum" id="Page_325">[Pg 325]</span> ahead and die!” he said, -doggedly. “It would be money saved for me.”</p> - -<p>Fanny’s face assumed a look of reproach. “Isn’t it awful to hear a -father talk like that? Now, dad, you’ve always blamed me for not being -a boy, though everybody knows boys are the most expensive things. Think -of the money they spend in college, and all it costs to get ’em out of -scrapes! Now, here’s a son for you all ready-made, with his wild oats -sown and ready to buckle down to hard work.”</p> - -<p>“Look here,” said Wallace. “What does all this mean, anyway?”</p> - -<p>“It means,” said Fanny, imitating her father’s tone, “it means that -you’ve got to give this young man a job.”</p> - -<p>“What?”</p> - -<p>“You’ve got to give him a job!” Fanny repeated, loudly.</p> - -<p>“A job?” Wallace echoed, still mystified.</p> - -<p>Fanny nodded vigorously. “M’m—h’m!”</p> - -<p>“Where?” Wallace asked, glancing vaguely round the room, as if -searching for a spot where Guy might be safely employed.</p> - -<p>“In the factory,” said Fanny, decisively.</p> - -<p>Wallace pointed toward Guy, who stood looking<span class="pagenum" id="Page_326">[Pg 326]</span> helpless and foolish. He -felt as children do when their mothers discuss in their presence their -appearance and their infantile diseases. “What? Him?” Wallace asked.</p> - -<p>“Yes, <em>him</em>,” Fanny declared, resentfully. “Now don’t you go and -make fun of your future son-in-law, dad.”</p> - -<p>Wallace was still struggling with astonishment, either real or assumed. -“In the factory?”</p> - -<p>“Yes,” said Fanny, lifting her eyebrows.</p> - -<p>Wallace faced Guy. “You’re willing to soil those white hands of yours, -sir?”</p> - -<p>Guy laughed and blushed, instinctively putting his hands behind him. -“Oh, yes,” he replied. “Glad of the chance.”</p> - -<p>Wallace still appeared incredulous. “And take ten dollars a week for -the first year?”</p> - -<p>Fanny dashed toward Guy and threw her arm protectingly across his -shoulders. “What?” she exclaimed, indignantly. “My precious! Ten -dollars a week!”</p> - -<p>“I’ll take anything you think I’m worth, sir,” said Guy, over her head.</p> - -<p>“With his intellect, and all he learned at Harvard!” Fanny protested. -“Never, dad! You must give him twenty-five, or I’ll cast you off!”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_327">[Pg 327]</span></p> - -<p>“If you show that there’s any good stuff in you, I may give you fifteen -after three months,” said Wallace.</p> - -<p>“Thank you, sir,” said Guy, humbly.</p> - -<p>Fanny dropped her arm, clasped her hands and, with lowered head, she -walked toward her father. “Will you give us your blessing, sir?” she -asked.</p> - -<p>“I’ll send you to bed if you don’t behave yourself,” Wallace replied. -Then he went on, with a warning gesture: “And let me tell you one -thing. There’s to be no engagement between you two people for a year. -Do you understand that?”</p> - -<p>Fanny looked crestfallen, but in a moment she brightened. Guy bowed -respectfully. He seemed glad to accept any terms that would secure -Fanny for him. He hadn’t expected such luck as this.</p> - -<p>“Perhaps it’s just as well,” said Fanny philosophically, as her father -started to leave the room. “He couldn’t afford to buy a ring, anyway.”</p> -<hr class="chap" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_328">[Pg 328]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="XXIV">XXIV</h2> -</div> - - -<p>As soon as Wallace had closed the door, Fanny leaped into Guy’s arms.</p> - -<p>“Oh, you were perfect!” she cried. “I’m glad you didn’t do as we -practised, after all.”</p> - -<p>Guy kissed her rapturously. “Oh, Fan, I hope you won’t get sick of me!” -he said.</p> - -<p>The telephone rang, and Fanny had to postpone her reply. “There, go and -attend to business,” she said, giving Guy a push. She watched him as he -held the receiver at his ear.</p> - -<p>“Hello! Yes. Oh, Farley. What? <abbr title="Mister">Mr.</abbr> Briggs is still downstairs. 500? -Well, that looks bad, doesn’t it? Do you mean to say they think he’s—? -Oh, impossible!”</p> - -<p>“What’s impossible?” Fanny cried.</p> - -<p>Guy listened intently, ignoring her. “No. I think you’d better come -here. He’ll want you. I’ll tell him.”</p> - -<p>“Tell him what?” said Fanny.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_329">[Pg 329]</span></p> - -<p>“Good-bye.” Guy rang off.</p> - -<p>“Why don’t you answer me? Tell him what?” Fanny heard footsteps in the -hall.</p> - -<p>“Well, my dear,” said Douglas Briggs, opening the door, “I feel a good -deal better.”</p> - -<p>Fanny held her finger at her lips. “’Sh! Guy has something to tell.”</p> - -<p>Briggs observed that Guy was waiting for a chance to speak. “News?” he -asked, nervously.</p> - -<p>Guy nodded. “They say down at the Citizens’ Club that things are -looking rather bad.”</p> - -<p>Briggs looked steadily at the boy. “Who told you?”</p> - -<p>“Farley,” Guy replied.</p> - -<p>“Ah!” Briggs sank into a chair. “If Farley is losing courage—! Well, -never mind.”</p> - -<p>“But you aren’t beaten yet, Uncle Doug,” Fanny exclaimed, resolutely.</p> - -<p>“What difference does it make—now or two years from now? It’s only a -question of time.”</p> - -<p>Michael tapped on the door and entered with the soft step of one -bearing important news. “A boy just come in with this telegram, sir.”</p> - -<p>“Open it, Guy,” said Briggs.</p> - -<p>Guy tore the envelope. “These are the figures<span class="pagenum" id="Page_330">[Pg 330]</span> Farley gave me,” he -said. He passed the telegram to Briggs.</p> - -<p>“It’s all up with me!” said Briggs, just as Helen appeared.</p> - -<p>“But they haven’t heard yet from the Nineteenth District,” Guy -interposed. “We can count on a two-hundred majority there.”</p> - -<p>“No; West has spent more money there than anywhere else. I shall be -surprised if—” Briggs stopped at the sound of the telephone bell. Guy -darted for the receiver.</p> - -<p>“Oh, hello, hello! Is that you, Farley? What? Oh, Bradley. This isn’t -the Citizens’ Club, then? Oh, the <em>Gazette</em>! No, Farley isn’t -here, but he’ll be here in a minute. He’s tearing over from the club in -a cab. What district? The Nineteenth? We’ve been waiting for that. How -many?”</p> - -<p>Guy listened; they all listened. “Well, good-bye. Thank you. Good-bye. -I’ll tell him.” Guy turned from the telephone and faced the others.</p> - -<p>“For goodness’ sake, speak!” cried Fanny.</p> - -<p>Guy’s mouth twitched. “I guess it’s all over, <abbr title="Mister">Mr.</abbr> Briggs.”</p> - -<p>“How much majority in the Nineteenth?” Briggs asked.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_331">[Pg 331]</span></p> - -<p>“Over three hundred against us.”</p> - -<p>Briggs drew a long breath. “I’m snowed under, buried! This is the last -of me! Oh, well!”</p> - -<p>Fanny burst out crying. “I think it’s a shame, and the awful things -you see in Washington who go to Congress year after year, till they’re -ready to drop!” She started to leave the room. Guy started in pursuit -with the hope of comforting her. At the door she met Farley, entering.</p> - -<p>“Hello, what’s the matter, Miss Fanny?” he asked.</p> - -<p>“Oh, go and find out!” cried Fanny, dashing into the hall and up the -stairs, leaving Guy disconsolate in the hall.</p> - -<p>“Come in, Farley,” said Briggs.</p> - -<p>“You’ve heard the news, then?” Farley asked.</p> - -<p>“Yes.”</p> - -<p>“They told me just as I was getting into the cab.” Farley smiled at -Helen. “Well, we made a good fight, Mrs. Briggs. Too bad all our work -was thrown away!”</p> - -<p>“It wasn’t, Farley. That is, yours wasn’t,” said Briggs. “And before -you and my wife, I can say what I shouldn’t dare to say to anyone else. -I’m glad I’m beaten. I’m glad to be out<span class="pagenum" id="Page_332">[Pg 332]</span> of it. Of course, I am out of -it now for good. After such a crushing defeat and with my record, I can -never get back.” He saw that Farley was about to protest. “Oh, don’t, -Farley! Even if I could I don’t want to. I feel as if all my energy and -ambition were gone.”</p> - -<p>“They’ll come back after you’ve got rested,” Farley remarked. “You’re -only tired out. You’ve been working on your nerves for weeks. Now I’m -going to say good-night.” He offered his hand to Helen. “Good-night, -Mrs. Briggs.”</p> - -<p>“Good-night,” said Helen.</p> - -<p>Farley stepped back to let Michael speak to Briggs.</p> - -<p>“There’s a gentleman in the reception room, sir, that wants to see you. -He says he comes from the <em>Chronicle</em>.”</p> - -<p>Douglas Briggs looked at the card. His lip curled. “From the -<em>Chronicle</em>?” he said, contemptuously. “Well, we mustn’t refuse -the <em>Chronicle</em>. I suppose he’s come to see how I’ve taken my -defeat.” He rose, adjusted his frock coat and threw back his shoulders. -“You stay here, Farley, till I come back,” he said.</p> - -<p>“All right.” Michael followed Briggs from the room, leaving Farley and -Helen together.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_333">[Pg 333]</span></p> - -<p>“<abbr title="Mister">Mr.</abbr> Briggs will be all right after he’s had a rest from the strain,” -said Farley.</p> - -<p>“I hope so,” Helen sighed. “It’s a relief that it’s over—such a -relief.”</p> - -<p>“And of course,” Farley went on, “<abbr title="Mister">Mr.</abbr> Briggs will change his mind about -going out of politics.”</p> - -<p>“Do you think so?” Helen betrayed surprise in her tone.</p> - -<p>“We need men like him in Washington.”</p> - -<p>Helen did not speak. She held her head down.</p> - -<p>“Mrs. Briggs!”</p> - -<p>Helen kept her face hidden.</p> - -<p>“I hope you’ll pardon me if I speak of something—something that -is—well, that concerns you very closely. I do it only because I -believe in <abbr title="Mister">Mr.</abbr> Briggs, and because I care for his future and for his -happiness, and for yours, if you’ll let me say so.”</p> - -<p>“Thank you, <abbr title="Mister">Mr.</abbr> Farley,” said Helen, softly. “You’ve been very good to -Douglas. He has often spoken of all you’ve done.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, that’s nothing. But—he has told me all about that man West.”</p> - -<p>Helen looked up, startled.</p> - -<p>“He hasn’t spared himself. He has even made the case out worse than it -is.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_334">[Pg 334]</span></p> - -<p>“He has told you?” Helen repeated.</p> - -<p>Farley nodded.</p> - -<p>“Of his own accord?”</p> - -<p>“Yes.”</p> - -<p>“And you still—? You——?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, I believe in him. I believe he has been punished for whatever -wrong he has done. And I can’t see why a man’s whole future should be -spoiled because he has made a mistake at the start. There are plenty of -men in public life who have made mistakes like his—men who were young -and inexperienced. Some of them have since done fine work.”</p> - -<p>“Why have you spoken to me about this, <abbr title="Mister">Mr.</abbr> Farley?”</p> - -<p>“Because—well, because I know—that is, I suspect, from what <abbr title="Mister">Mr.</abbr> -Briggs has said, that you’re not in sympathy with his public life.”</p> - -<p>“That is true. I haven’t been, lately.”</p> - -<p>“And I thought perhaps if you looked at things a little differently——”</p> - -<p>“I shouldn’t be so harsh?” Helen interrupted, her face flushing. “That -is what you mean, <abbr title="Mister">Mr.</abbr> Farley, isn’t it?”</p> - -<p>“No, not that,” Farley replied, growing more embarrassed. “I thought -perhaps you’d help<span class="pagenum" id="Page_335">[Pg 335]</span> him to get back where he belongs, that’s all. It’s -going to be a hard fight. Most men wouldn’t have the nerve to make it. -But he has, if you’ll help him.”</p> - -<p>Helen’s eyes filled with tears. “You make me ashamed, <abbr title="Mister">Mr.</abbr> Farley. If -you can forgive him, after all you’ve done for him——”</p> - -<p>Farley laughed. “Oh, I haven’t done half so much as you think, Mrs. -Briggs. I’ll feel repaid if you’ll only make him see that he ought -to stay in the fight.” He heard steps in the hall and Briggs’s voice -speaking to the reporter. A few moments later, Briggs entered, looking -more cheerful.</p> - -<p>“Well, it wasn’t half so bad as I thought. Nice fellow. One of those -young college men. He was so ashamed of his assignment I had hard work -to put him at his ease.”</p> - -<p>Farley offered his hand.</p> - -<p>“Now I must be off, Mrs. Briggs.”</p> - -<p>“Come in to-morrow, Farley,” said Briggs. “I want to have a talk with -you.”</p> -<hr class="chap" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_336">[Pg 336]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="XXV">XXV</h2> -</div> - - -<p>When Farley had left the room Briggs sank on the couch. Now that he -was alone with Helen, all his buoyancy disappeared. His face looked -haggard; the hard lines around his mouth deepened.</p> - -<p>Helen rose and sat beside him. “Douglas,” she said.</p> - -<p>He did not reply.</p> - -<p>“I couldn’t say anything while they were here,” Helen went on, “but I’m -sorry. Perhaps it’s all for the best.”</p> - -<p>He drew away from her. “All for the best!” he repeated, hopelessly. -“That’s a poor consolation. Do you know what it means to me? It means -that I’ve lost my chance of redeeming myself. That’s the only reason -why I wanted to be elected. I was sincere when I said I was sick of the -life. But I thought if I could only go back there as an honest man and -keep straight, then I could come to you and tell you I’d tried to make -up for what I had done.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_337">[Pg 337]</span></p> - -<p>“I understand that, Douglas,” Helen replied. “But it is all right now.”</p> - -<p>“How is it all right?”</p> - -<p>“With me, I mean. I love you all the more because you’ve failed.”</p> - -<p>He leaned forward, with his hands between his knees. “When I -have nothing to offer you, Helen,” he said, “not even a clean -reputation—when I’m ruined and disgraced, with hardly a dollar in the -world?”</p> - -<p>“You aren’t ruined and disgraced. It’s foolish to speak so. You’re -only forty-two. Why, you’re just beginning, Douglas! And there’s my -property, Douglas, my two thousand a year. That will be something to -start on. And you have your practice.”</p> - -<p>“We’ll have to give up this house,” he said, almost in a whisper.</p> - -<p>Helen lifted her head. Her eyes shone. “What difference does it make, -Douglas? I can be happy with you anywhere.”</p> - -<p>For a moment he sat without moving. Then he let his hand rest on hers. -Suddenly he lifted her hand and pressed it to his lips. He rose quickly -and walked to the back of the room, where he stood trying to control -himself. At last he said:</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_338">[Pg 338]</span></p> - -<p>“I don’t deserve to have you, Helen.”</p> - -<p>“And there’s <abbr title="Mister">Mr.</abbr> Burrell, Douglas. There’s his law case.”</p> - -<p>“True. I had forgotten about that. Oh, I guess I’ve some fight left in -me, dear.” He walked back and sat beside her. “Only—I need you now -more than ever.”</p> - -<p>“And I’m going to be more to you, Douglas. I’ve just been talking -with <abbr title="Mister">Mr.</abbr> Farley. He has made me see things so differently! I’ve been -selfish, Douglas, and—and harsh with you. I’ve never taken enough -interest in your work. I’ve allowed you to bear all the burdens. -That’s why I lost your confidence. But in future we’re going to share -everything, aren’t we? And one thing, dear, you aren’t going to give -up ever. You’ll stay in politics, and we’ll go back to Washington some -day.”</p> - -<p>Briggs looked away and smiled.</p> - -<p>“Ah, I know when I’ve had enough,” he replied, shaking his head.</p> - -<p>“No. You haven’t had enough. You’ll have to go back, to please me.”</p> - -<p>He turned to her again and looked into her face. Then he took her in -his arms and drew her close to him.</p> -<hr class="chap" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_339">[Pg 339]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="XXVI">XXVI</h2> -</div> - - -<p>The next day Douglas Briggs received a large number of telegrams; but -only one contained a message that interested him: “Coming down with -wife and two girls to get you to take that law case.” He passed the -yellow slip to his wife. “Well, that looks promising, doesn’t it?” he -said.</p> - -<p>The following morning the family arrived. “It seems awful, coming away -without Carrie Cora,” said Mrs. Burrell. “I declare I didn’t hardly -have the courage to set out. I said to Father—” Here the old lady -glanced quickly at her daughter and then at her husband and Douglas -Briggs. She hesitated. Then she ran over to where Helen was sitting and -whispered in her ear.</p> - -<p>“Oh!” Helen exclaimed, laughing and flushing. “Isn’t that splendid?”</p> - -<p>“Well, we’re all feelin’ kind of happy,” said<span class="pagenum" id="Page_340">[Pg 340]</span> Burrell, and the girls -turned quickly to the window, while their mother held a whispered -conversation with her hostess. Finally, she said aloud: “An’ now I want -to have a good talk with you alone. I don’t want pa or the girls or -even you, <abbr title="Mister">Mr.</abbr> Briggs, to hear one word.”</p> - -<p>“All right,” said Briggs, cheerfully, and he pretended to dash for the -door.</p> - -<p>“Well, ain’t he wonderful?” exclaimed Mrs. Burrell. “I knew he’d be -just like that. He’s always the same, ain’t he?”</p> - -<p>“Well, you didn’t think that such a little thing as an election was -going to put me out, did you?” Briggs asked.</p> - -<p>“The children are upstairs,” Helen explained, “in the library.”</p> - -<p>“I’ll take them up,” said Briggs quickly, “and then Burrell and I will -go where we can have a talk and a little—” He looked mockingly at Mrs. -Burrell. “Oh, I forgot.”</p> - -<p>“Go ahead!” the old woman cried with a wave of the hand. “I feel so -happy that I can’t oppose anybody anything. I kind of think I’ve done -too much opposin’ in my life.”</p> - -<p>As soon as the door had closed behind the others, Mrs. Burrell embraced -Helen wildly, the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_341">[Pg 341]</span> tears filling her eyes. “I declare I did feel sorry -for your husband’s failin’ in re-election. I did want him to succeed -so. Father says I’m altogether too ambitious for other people. He says -I’m the one that made him run for Congress. Well, he was mighty glad -not to be up again. But ain’t it wonderful about Carrie Cora? When I -think of the way I treated that girl I almost feel as if I’d die of -shame. An’ it’s you that kept me from makin’ a fool of myself and from -spoilin’ her chances of bein’ happy. An’ if she ain’t the happiest -thing! An’ Rufus! Well since they got married, he ain’t hardly let her -out of his sight except when he’s away to work. Father’s thinkin’ of -settin’ him up in business of his own. I guess he’ll be a rich man some -day, from what father says. That only shows you never can tell. But -he gives all the credit to Carrie Cora. He says if he didn’t have her -he wouldn’t take the trouble to go on workin’. He says queer things -sometimes. He’s kind of notional, I guess.” Mrs. Burrell hesitated, -drawing a deep breath. “But that ain’t what I come to talk to you -about, though the two girls say I’m runnin’ on about Carrie Cora all -the time. They pretend to be jealous; but they’re just as fond of her -as they can be.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_342">[Pg 342]</span> And as for pa! Why, he spends most of his evenin’s -down there. They’ve got a lovely home. I wish you could see their -parlor carpet. But I guess I’ve told you about it. Well, pa spends most -of his evenin’s with them, smokin’ an’ talkin’. I tell him they must -be awful sick of havin’ him. Well”—Mrs. Burrell gasped, and a fine -perspiration broke out on her cheeks—“where am I? I do get mixed up so -lately. Oh, yes. The girls. Well, now that Carrie Cora’s all settled, -the girls are just crazy to get away again. They were dreadfully -disappointed in their first Winter in Washington; and they are crazy -to go back there with you. Now, what do you think?” Mrs. Burrell -exclaimed, her face flushing violently.</p> - -<p>“With me?” Helen said, in astonishment.</p> - -<p>Mrs. Burrell nodded. “Now, I wouldn’t ’ave heard of it if pa—well, pa -knows everything—well, if pa hadn’t told me <abbr title="Mister">Mr.</abbr> Briggs—well, that -he was in some trouble about money. There, I suppose you’ll think I’m -awful!”</p> - -<p>“Oh, no,” Helen protested, feeling her own face flush.</p> - -<p>“Pa just adores <abbr title="Mister">Mr.</abbr> Briggs, an’ he’d like nothin’ better than to help -him out. Well, we talked it over—you see,” Mrs. Burrell went on, -twisting<span class="pagenum" id="Page_343">[Pg 343]</span> in her seat, “when the two girls went to the Misses Parlins’ -school here, we paid a thousand dollars a piece for ’em. An’ then the -extras amounted to a lot more, drivin’, and the theatre, and all that. -They used to go to the theatre every week. It must have been comical to -see ’em walkin’ down the aisle, two by two. Emmeline used to write to -us about it. She hated it. Well, I guess pa spent most five thousand -dollars on the girls that year they were here in New York. But we -didn’t mind, as long as they was happy. But the trouble was they wasn’t -happy. They didn’t have hardly a minute to themselves. They didn’t feel -free. That’s it. Now, if they was with you, it would be different. -They’d meet all the lovely people you know. That is, if you’re goin’ to -go back to Washington?” Mrs. Burrell asked with swift acuteness.</p> - -<p>“Yes, I shall go back,” Helen replied, flushing.</p> - -<p>“And you’ll be in that lovely home again?” Mrs. Burrell asked, giving -Helen a sharp look.</p> - -<p>“No. That has been leased already,” Helen replied, without flinching. -“We shall take another house—a smaller one.”</p> - -<p>Mrs. Burrell looked embarrassed. “When pa heard the news”—Mrs. Burrell -impressively lowered<span class="pagenum" id="Page_344">[Pg 344]</span> her voice—“about the election, I mean, he just -jumped up an’ down. You know he thinks <abbr title="Mister">Mr.</abbr> Briggs ought to be the -greatest lawyer in the country at this minute. He hopes he’ll keep out -of politics after he finishes this term in Congress.”</p> - -<p>Helen sighed. “But it’s hard, beginning all over again,” she said -politely.</p> - -<p>“Well, pa says,” Mrs. Burrell went on with a knowing look, “that if he -takes his patent-cases he’ll have enough to keep him busy for a whole -year, possibly two years. Ain’t that splendid? An’ it seemed kind of -like Providence, the whole thing, for us. If you only would take the -girls,” Mrs. Burrell pleaded.</p> - -<p>“And what will <em>you</em> do?” Helen asked with a smile.</p> - -<p>“Well, I’ll stay home, just where I belong, as father’s always sayin’. -I guess I can be more comfortable there than anywhere else. We’ve got -a new furnace, an’ we’ve had the sittin’-room fixed over, and it does -seem a shame to shut up that big lovely house again. Why, how the sun -does stream into our sittin’-room windows! They’re the old-fashioned -kind, you know; they run way down to the floor. Father’ll have to -be down in Washington part of the time, of course,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_345">[Pg 345]</span> an’ he can be -comfortable at the hotel, especially if the girls are within reach. But -I’m determined to stay near Carrie Cora.”</p> - -<p>Helen Briggs was so startled by Mrs. Burrell’s proposition that the -thought of it made her abstracted. As the old lady rattled on about her -own affairs, she noticed Helen’s abstraction. Suddenly she stopped, -and, folding her hands in her lap, she exclaimed: “I suppose you think -I’m awful!”</p> - -<p>Helen smiled and shook her head. “Why should I think you are awful, -Mrs. Burrell?”</p> - -<p>“Oh, forcin’ my children on you,” the old lady replied, with a -helplessness that made Helen speak out frankly.</p> - -<p>“It may be that we shall be glad to take the girls. It may be -Providential for us. We need money now more than we’ve ever needed it.”</p> - -<p>“Well, we’ve got plenty of <em>that</em>!” Mrs. Burrell exclaimed with a -nervous laugh. “I tell father——”</p> - -<p>“And if Douglas is willing,” Helen Briggs went on, “if he’s willing -that I should take the responsibility——”</p> - -<p>At that moment Douglas Briggs returned with<span class="pagenum" id="Page_346">[Pg 346]</span> the old gentleman, whose -face was shining with happiness.</p> - -<p>“Well, mother, I feel as if a big load was taken off my mind.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, <abbr title="Mister">Mr.</abbr> Briggs,” the old lady broke out, “I knew a talk with you would -make my husband feel right. He’s been groanin’ all Summer because he -couldn’t get at you. He ain’t no hand at writin’ letters, an’ I jest -wouldn’t let him go down to Washington while the weather was so hot. It -was bad enough down to Auburn, though, as I tell everybody at home, no -matter how hot it is, there’s always a cool spot in our house. You see, -I keep the house closed all day long jest so’s the heat can’t get in.” -Mrs. Burrell began to laugh. “Father often takes his paper an’ goes -down cellar. He says it’s as good as goin’ into an ice-house. But I’m -awful afraid he’ll catch his death of cold, an’ I know it’s bad for his -rheumatism.”</p> - -<p>By this time Burrell had sunk into one of the big chairs and was -waiting patiently for his wife to cease.</p> - -<p>“Well, ma,” he finally interrupted, “suppose you let me get a word in. -<abbr title="Mister">Mr.</abbr> Briggs is goin’ to take the case, an’ he’s goin’ to look after all -my<span class="pagenum" id="Page_347">[Pg 347]</span> business here in New York. He says he ain’t competent to do it, an’ -he says I ain’t got no right to put so much trust in him. He says he -ain’t nothin’ but a tricky politician. I s’pose the truth is, he feels -kind of too stuck up to get down to every-day business.”</p> - -<p>They all laughed, and Mrs. Burrell exclaimed: “Well, stuck up is about -the last thing I’d ever think of you, <abbr title="Mister">Mr.</abbr> Briggs. Now if you’d ’a’ -said that about some of those other politicians we used to see down to -Washington, Alpheus!”</p> - -<p>Mrs. Burrell looked from her husband to her hostess, and then at -Douglas Briggs. “Well, if you two men have finished your business, I -s’pose we’ve got to go.” She turned appealingly to Helen, as if hoping -to be urged to stay.</p> - -<p>“This time you’ll have to come to dinner,” said Helen.</p> - -<p>“Oh, that’s all arranged,” said Briggs easily. “They’re coming -to-night.” As Mrs. Burrell was about to protest, he held up his hands. -“Now, don’t say a word. Everything’s settled!”</p> - -<p>Mrs. Burrell looked at Helen with a comic expression of despair. “Well, -I think it’s a shame!” she said, her face shining with pleasure.</p> - -<p>“Now I’ll go and get those girls of yours,”<span class="pagenum" id="Page_348">[Pg 348]</span> said Briggs, walking -into the hall. “I left them romping with the children. I thought the -children would tear them to pieces.”</p> - -<p>When the Burrells had left, Helen walked into the library with her -husband. Her face looked puzzled.</p> - -<p>“Did <abbr title="Mister">Mr.</abbr> Burrell talk with you about the girls?” she asked.</p> - -<p>Briggs sank heavily into a chair. “Yes, he told me all about it. He -seemed a good deal ashamed. Poor old man! And yet I could see that he -was making them an excuse for offering me more money.”</p> - -<p>“He’s been offering you money, then?” Helen asked, her face growing -slightly paler.</p> - -<p>“Oh, yes. He wants to pay me absurdly for taking that law-case and -looking after his affairs here. There’s really a good deal to be -done; but he won’t be satisfied unless I agree to fleece him,” Briggs -concluded with a laugh.</p> - -<p>For several moments they sat in silence. Then Briggs broke out: “He’s -been fooled so often, he says I’m the only man in the world he can -trust. I felt like a hypocrite, Helen. Honestly, I thought of asking -him to go to you and to get you to tell him all about me. I didn’t have -the nerve to tell<span class="pagenum" id="Page_349">[Pg 349]</span> him the truth myself. It would have been easier,” he -added whimsically, “to put that on you.”</p> - -<p>“I shouldn’t have found it very hard, Douglas,” she said with a smile.</p> - -<p>“You wouldn’t?”</p> - -<p>She shook her head. “And I’m afraid you’re growing morbid about the -past, dear. It’s over, and why think about it?”</p> - -<p>“I have to think about it now and then,” he said grimly. He pressed -his hand against his forehead. “Of course, I know what you mean. I -ought to think about the future—and I do—I think of it—well, most of -the time.” He rose nervously and began to walk up and down the room. -“Somehow those people make me realize what we’re up against.”</p> - -<p>“It would help us out if we were to have the girls with us in -Washington,” said Helen conservatively.</p> - -<p>An expression of annoyance and disgust appeared in his face. “But why -should we have our home invaded like that? Why should you have to—?” -He turned away angrily.</p> - -<p>“I shouldn’t mind, dear. It really would make things easier for me.”</p> - -<p>“Easier?”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_350">[Pg 350]</span></p> - -<p>Helen bowed her head. “We could have more servants. And I should—I -should worry less about the expense.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, but Helen, our privacy—our privacy—” he pleaded.</p> - -<p>“I know. But we shall appreciate it all the more when”—she smiled -faintly—“when we’ve earned it.”</p> - -<p>He sighed heavily. “Well, we haven’t had much privacy in the last -few years, have we? It’s almost as if we’d been living in the public -square,” he added bitterly.</p> - -<p>They agreed not to discuss the matter again for a few hours. “If you -like you can take a week or so to think it over,” said Briggs, and from -his tone his wife knew that he wished her to agree.</p> - -<p>“It seems too good a chance to lose,” she said. “And the girls are nice -girls, too,” she went on, to encourage him.</p> - -<p>He made a wry face, and walked over and kissed her. “Let us not decide -for a few days anyway.”</p> - -<p>Nevertheless, as he went down town that day Douglas Briggs felt more -encouraged than he had been for many months.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_351">[Pg 351]</span></p> - -<p>At any rate, Burrell would put him in the way of having a little money; -during the past few weeks he had been so straitened that he hardly -knew where to turn. He considered himself reduced to an extremity when -he began seriously to think of appealing to his wife. He was glad -to be able to assure himself it was not pride that made the thought -of appealing to her distressing; it was the fear that she should be -worried by discovering he was so harassed; like a woman, the solution -would seem to her far more serious than it really was. Even now, he -told himself that he must be careful in talking over the taking into -the family of the two girls; he must not let her realize what an -immense help the money would be to them.</p> - -<p>That night when he returned home, he found Helen already dressed for -dinner. He noticed that she looked unusually happy.</p> - -<p>“Douglas,” she said.</p> - -<p>“Well?”</p> - -<p>“Why didn’t you tell me how pressed you were for money?”</p> - -<p>He looked at her with astonishment in his face. “What?” he exclaimed, -and in the exclamation he was conscious of the continuation of his -old<span class="pagenum" id="Page_352">[Pg 352]</span> habit of deceit. He tried to atone for it in his consciousness by -saying: “Well, dear, you are a wonder. What did I say this morning?”</p> - -<p>“It wasn’t what you said. It was your being willing to consider the -proposition at all. Now, of course, we must take the girls. I’ve -thought it all over, and I’ve even decided which rooms to give them.”</p> - -<p>He walked toward her and kissed her. “It will only be for one Winter, -dear,” he said, assuming, in spite of the humility he felt, his usual -attitude of superiority. “By that time I’ll be established in practice -again and we’ll have all the money we want.”</p> - -<p>She drew away from him, and he knew that in some subtle way he had -pained her. He could not clearly divine that she felt there was -something remotely wrong, almost criminal, in his assuming money could -be so easily earned. But it must have been some vague sense of her -feeling that prompted him to add: “I’ll have to work like the devil, -dear. But it will be worth fighting for.” He sighed heavily. “And then -when we get the money,” he went on whimsically, “we’ll be in a position -to laugh at the people we’re afraid of now. We’ll go and live plainly -in the country<span class="pagenum" id="Page_353">[Pg 353]</span> as soon as we can afford to pretend that we’re poor.”</p> - -<p>She shook her head. “You wouldn’t be happy, Douglas,” she said simply, -and he felt a pang. It was as if her look had penetrated his inner -consciousness. “We must go on as we’ve begun.”</p> - -<p>He knew that what she meant was wholly in unison with his own thought; -but, for an instant, he felt the sinister interpretation; it was almost -like a judgment on him. But he quickly recognized his injustice, and he -walked over to her and placed both hands on her shoulders. “Do you love -me, Helen?” he asked, looking into her eyes.</p> - -<p>“Yes, Douglas,” she replied, and he detected the note of pain in her -voice. She leaned toward him. “I love you always, Douglas, always.”</p> - -<p>He held her closely in his arms. “My poor little wife,” he said, but he -hardly knew why he should have felt pathos in the situation.</p> - -<p>She drew away from him and he saw the tears in her eyes.</p> - -<p>“I’m a hard man to live with in some ways, Helen,” he said with a -sincerity that astonished him. It made her respond at once.</p> - -<p>“Oh, no, Douglas!” she exclaimed, in a clear voice, that told him she -had recovered from her<span class="pagenum" id="Page_354">[Pg 354]</span> little emotional attack and had become her -wholesome self again. With his habit of generalizing he instantly -reflected that it must be a terrible thing for a man to live with an -emotional woman.</p> - -<p>That night it was arranged that the Burrell girls, instead of going -home with their father and mother, should go to Mrs. Briggs for the -Winter. Burrell insisted upon putting the matter on the most rigid -business basis, and offered Helen Briggs a recompense in money that she -considered wholly out of proportion to what was just. Briggs maintained -in the discussion an air of jocular remoteness and, in spite of Helen’s -objection, Burrell established his own conditions. When they had -finally left the house, Briggs tried to give the matter a comic aspect -by telling his wife that he knew the old lady expected her to get -husbands for the two girls. “I suppose we’ll have the house filled with -young scamps of fortune-hunters,” he said. “You’ll have a fine time -chaperoning the poor girls.”</p> - -<p>Helen knew that he was trying to hide the chagrin he felt. “I really -sha’n’t mind, Douglas,” and she was sorry she could not tell him in -words how happy it made her to be able to help him. But she had to be -careful now not to hurt the pride<span class="pagenum" id="Page_355">[Pg 355]</span> that she could see quivering beneath -his air of humorous indifference.</p> - -<p>Two days later the girls came to the house to stay until their friends -should go to Washington. Briggs wrote to an agent, and a month later -he was established with his family in a house that would have seemed -ideally comfortable but for the taste of luxury his own house in -Washington had given him. Briggs saw that his fears regarding the -Burrell girls had been unnecessary. Toward Helen they maintained an -air of worshipful devotion that greatly amused him, and they seemed -to enjoy being with the children, too. He saw that, in spite of their -acquired worldly air, they were really simple country girls, easily -abashed and genuinely simple and kind. He grew interested in them and -he began to wonder, as he often did in the case of unattached girls, -if he could not help them to find husbands. It was a pleasure to him -to come home and to hear from Helen about her outings or her calls -with the girls during the day. He realized with astonishment that till -now Helen had led a rather restricted life, and that he had taken an -unconsciously scornful interest in the things she did. At dinner he -really enjoyed hearing the girls talk about the people<span class="pagenum" id="Page_356">[Pg 356]</span> they had met -during the day, about the art-exhibits and the teas they had been at, -and about the books they had read and the plays they had seen or the -operas they had heard. The comments of his wife regarding the books and -the plays and the operas surprised him, and made him realize that she -lived in a world from which he was shut out. He had been accusing her -world of narrowness, but in reality the narrowness existed chiefly in -his own mind. At moments he felt a kind of jealousy of her; at other -times he was ashamed of the superior attitude he had taken toward -her, and he wondered if she had recognized it. The thought of the -possibility that she had known of it all along gave a sudden pause to -his consciousness like a symptom of sickness.</p> - -<p>Briggs took an impersonal interest in his new humility, as he did in -everything that related to the workings of his own mind. As far as -he could follow them, he assured himself that he had always wished -to understand his own nature just as it was, without any self-praise -or palliation; and yet he had begun to make a complete revision of -his opinion of himself. He wondered how far the change could be due -to the change that he felt<span class="pagenum" id="Page_357">[Pg 357]</span> in the attitude toward him of other men. -Hitherto, among men he had always been treated with consideration; now -he knew himself to be regarded as a man who, if he had not failed, had -not quite succeeded, and, if he had not been smirched in character, -was still marked with the suspicion of taint. Most of all he dreaded -betraying in his manner his knowledge of this change. He had seen so -many men betray the consciousness of their own weakness. Especially he -tried to avoid giving the least suggestion of bravado. He reflected -on the fickleness of good opinion; he had basked in the sunshine of -good opinion all his life; when it was withdrawn he felt chilled and -depressed. It was when he met some of the men who had treated him with -special deference and who now addressed him with easy equality or -with indifference, or, as occasionally happened, with cold formality, -that he felt most deeply his humiliation. But at these times he felt -a swift reaction that found expression in a stubborn assertion of -courage. After all, he reflected grimly, it paid to be on the level. -The important thing was not to be contemptuous to slights, but to be so -established in the sense of being right, that slights could not wound. -He saw now that his previous<span class="pagenum" id="Page_358">[Pg 358]</span> attitude toward life had been false and -unstable; it had never been established on rock-bottom.</p> - -<p>In his humiliation, it was a comfort to know that there were two people -in the world who knew him just as he was. Those others who despised -him, believed he was worse than he could possibly have been. His wife -and William Farley believed in him and counted on him. To <abbr title="Mister">Mr.</abbr> Farley, -whom he saw every day, he confided nearly all his affairs. Once he had -prided himself on standing alone, trusting no one; now it helped him -to place his perplexities before that quiet and shrewd intelligence. -Once he urged Farley to study law and go into partnership with him, -and he laughed when the journalist held up his hand in protest. He -envied Farley’s unswerving devotion to ideals of service that were so -like his own in his best moods, and so unlike most of the realities -that he achieved. It was <abbr title="Mister">Mr.</abbr> Farley’s advice that made him decide, -after his return to New York, to keep out of active politics for a -couple of years. He needed time for readjustment, he said jocosely to -himself. In two years he would be ready to make a fresh start. They -would be hard years, for already he missed the excitement and the -sense of being associated in the large interests that politics had<span class="pagenum" id="Page_359">[Pg 359]</span> -given him. Meanwhile, he kept assuring himself that he was young; a -man’s best work in life was done after his fortieth year. Already, as -he had observed with pleasure and hope, some of the newspapers were -lamenting his withdrawal from politics, and were referring to some of -his past services, from which he had expected no return. Here, too, he -found material for his philosophy. There were men in political life who -did practically nothing for which they could claim honorable credit, -and who were constantly engaged in schemes either for defrauding the -government or for using their opportunities for private gain. So far as -he could see they suffered neither from remorse or lack of self-respect -or from the resentment of their constituents. But he was not one of -them. It was clear to him now that he must keep straight or take his -medicine, and he assured himself that he had already had medicine -enough.</p> -<hr class="chap" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_360">[Pg 360]</span></p> - -<p class="center p0"><big>ISSUED MONTHLY ON THE <span class="allsmcap">15TH</span>.</big></p> -</div> - - -<p class="center p0 p2"><span class="figcenter" id="img006"> - <img src="images/i006.jpg" class="w50" alt="THE SMART SET - A MAGAZINE OF CLEVERNESS" /> -</span></p> - -<p class="center p0"> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;"><b>Yearly Subscription, $3.00.</b> <b>Single Copies, 25c.</b></span><br /> -</p> - - -<p>The sub-title, “<b>A MAGAZINE OF CLEVERNESS</b>,” suggests the aims -of “<span class="smcap">The Smart Set</span>.” It appeals to everyone who wishes to -be entertained. <b>Nowadays, more people wish to be amused than -instructed.</b> Each number contains a complete story, equal in style -and literary merit to the modern $1.50 book; also many short stories, -poems and bright miscellany. 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