Show OJ 9 I I = HER = li I I INFINITE i V ARIETY I i By Brand Whitlock f I illustrations by Ray Walters I Copyright 1007 by BobbsMorrlll Co CHAPTER I Amelia caino running eagerly down the wide stairs and though she was smiling with tho joy of Yemens coming com-ing she stopped on the bottom stop long enough to shako out tho skirt of he now spring gown she wore with a manner that told she had It on that veiling for tho first time Vernon astencd to muot her and It was not intll ho had kissed her and released her from his embrace that sho saw tho dressingcase he bad set down In tho mil Whats that for shcr asked In alarm Her smile faded suddenly leavIng leav-Ing her faco wholly serious I have to go back tonight he replied re-plied almost guiltily Tonlghtl Yes 1 must bo In Springfield in ho morning But what about tho dinner Well ho began helplassl I guess youll have to get somebody In my place Amollq stopped and looked at him in amazement I thought the senate never met Mondays until five oclock In the afternoon after-noon sho said It doesnt usually but I bad a telegram tel-egram from Porter an hour ago theres to bo a conference In tho mornIng morn-Ing ngThey They started toward tho drawing room Amelia was pouting In her ills appointment I know Something would spoil it sho said fatalistically And then she added presently I thought that Monday Mon-day afternoon session never lasted longer than n minute You never went down before until Monday night I know dear said Vornon apolo getlcally but now that the session is nearing Its close were busier than wo have boon Cant you wire Mr Porter and jet him to let you off she asked Vernon laughed Ho Isnt my master ho replied Well he acts lllco It who retorted and then as If pHi hud suddenly hit upon an unanswerable argument she went on If tlmvs GO why do you pay any attention to his telegram It Isnt ho dear Vernon explained I Its the party Wo aro to have a very IniDortant conference to consider a sit II She Stopped on the Bottom Step Long Enough to Shake Out the Skirt uatlon that has Just arisen I must not miss It Well It ruins my dinner thats all sho said helplessly I wanted you hero Vernon had come up from Springfield Spring-field as usual for tho weeks end adjournment ad-journment and Amelia had counted on his waiting over ns ho always did for tho Monday night train before going back to his duties In tho senate More than all she had counted on htm for a dinner she had arranged for Monday evening What time does your train leave she asked In the voice of one who succumbs suc-cumbs finally to a hopeless situation Eleven twenty ho said But I brought my luggage over wlUj me so I could start from hero at tho last minute Ill co over to tho Twenty I third street station and catch it there Amelia had had the deep chair Vernon Ver-non liked so well wheeled Into tho mellow circle of the light that fell from a tall lamp The lamp gave the only light In tho room and tho room appeared vast In tho dimness an effect ef-fect somehow aided by tho chill that was on It as If tho fires of tho Ansloy louse had been allowed to dlo down I In an eager pretense of spring It was spring but spring In Chicago Sunday I mofnlng had been bright and the Inku u had sparkled blue In the warm wine I that atiie up somowhoro from the southwest but by night the wind had wheeled around and the lake resumed Its normal cold and menacing mood As Vernon sank Into the chair he caught n narrow glimpse of tho boulc van between the cut talus of the largo window In the brilliant light of a Btreot lamp ho could sue a told rain I i slanting down on to the asphalt How much longer Is this legislature to last anyway Amelia demanded as sho arranged herself In the low chair Licforo him Three weeks Vernon replied Three weeks morel Tho girl drew the words out Yes only three weeks said Vernon Ver-non And then wo adjourn sine die The Joint resolution fixes the date for Juno second Amelia said nothing She was usually usu-ally disturbed when Vernon began to speak of hrs Joint resolutions which was perhaps the reason why ho spoke of them so often Of course Vernon went on with a certain Impression of relief In his words I have anbthcr session after this When will that bo Amelia asked Winter after next The governor though may call a special session to deal with tho revenue question That would take us all back thero again next winter Njxt Winter sho cried leaning over In alarm Do you mean youll havo to bo away all next winter toot Tiio significance of her tone wns sweet to Vernon and Ho raised himself him-self to take her hands In his You could be with me then dearest dear-est ho si softly In Springfield she exclaimed Why not asked Vernon Other members have their wives with them some of them ho qualified thinking think-ing how few of the members cared to have their wives with them during tho session What could one do In Springfield pray Amelia demanded Go tal the legislative hops I suppose And dance reels with farmers and West side politicians poli-ticians She almost sniffed her disgust dis-gust Why dearest Vernon pleadbd you do them a great Injustice Same of them are really of tho best people the society in Springfield Is excellent At the governors reception at the mansion tho other night Now Morley Amelia said with a srnllo that was Intended to reproach him mildly for this attempt to Impose upon her credulity And besldes Vernon hurried on suddenly taking a different course with her you could be a great help to mo I never address the senate that I I dent think of you and wish you wore thero to hear me I should like to hear you said Amelia softening a little But ot course I couldnt think of appearing in tho senate Why not Ladles qftcni anpear there Yes overdressed no doubt Well you wouldnt havo to ho overdressed over-dressed Vernon retorted Ho seemed to havo tho advantage but ho decided to forego It Ho sank back on tho cushions of his chair folding his hands and plainly taking the rest a senator needs after his legislative labors Of course ho said we neednt discuss It now Tho governor may not call the special session If the party but he paused thinking bow llttlo Interested she was la the party I wish youd let politics alone Amelia went on relentlessly It seems soso common I doat BOO what there Is In it to attract you And how am 1 ever going to explain your absence to those people tomorrow night Tell them that politics detained you I suppose sup-pose She looked at him severely and yet triumphantly as If she had reduced re-duced the problem to an absurdity Why said Vernoon you cau tell them that I was called suddenly to Springfield that on Important matter In tho senate The senate Amelia sneered But dearest Vornon began leanIng lean-Ing over In an attitude for argument Sho cut him short Why Morley do you think Id ever let on to those Eltons that I know any ono In politics Dont they have politics in New York he asked They wont even know where Springfield Is she went on irrelo vantly Wbatll they say when they receive our cards next fall he asked with a sinlloWell Well you neednt think your name will bo engraved on them as senator I can assure you Her dark eyes flashed Vernon laughed again and Amelia went on You can laugh but I really believe you would if Id let you They were silent after that and Amelia sat with her elbow on the arm of her chair her chin In her hand meditating gloomily on her ruined dinner If you did any good by being In politics sho said as if speaking to herself But I fall to see what good you do What good do you do Sho lifted her head suddenly and challenged chal-lenged him with a high look t 1 I Well he saM spjoadlng bis bawl wide of course tt you dont cars enough to look In tho ndwspaporfl Hut how could I Morley said Amelia How was I to know whereto where-to look Why In the Springfield dispatches I began by reading tho papers11 Amelia Bald Hut really now Morley I Mor-ley you kuow I couldnt find anything in them about you The moat Important work in the legislature Isnt done In the newspapers newspa-pers said Vcrnon with n significance that was Intended to hide his Inconsistency Incon-sistency There arc committee moei Ings and conferences and caucuses It Is there that i jllclcs are mapped out and legislation framed Ho spoko darkly as of secret scs slam hold at night on tho upper floon of hotels attended only by those whc had received whfspered Invitations But If you muwt bo In politics she said why dont you do something big something great something to moke a stir Show your friends that you are really accomplishing something Amelia sat erect and gave n strenuous strenu-ous gesture with ono of her little fist clenched Her dark oyus showed the excitement of ambition But Vernon drooped and placed his hand wearily to his brow Instantly Amelia started up from her chair > Does that light annoy youT Her tone was altogether different from her ambitious one She was stretching out a bund toward tbo lamp and the white llcsh glowed red between hen flngera held against the light Never mind said Vernon It doesnt bother mo But Amelia rose and twisted tlio shade of tho lamp about and then as she was taking bar scat again she went on I suppose Itll bo worse then over after after were married Sho faltered fal-tered and blushed and began i making Wed Kn w All the Diplomats little plaits In her handkerchief studying study-ing the effect with a sidewise turn of her head Vernon bent over and took both hen hands la his If It were only Washington There was a new regret In her tone as there was In the Inclination of her head It shall bo Washington dear he said Amelias eyelids fell and she blushed again even in the glow the lamp shed upon her face They were silent for a moment and then suddenly she looked up Washington would be ever so much better Morley she said I should feel as It that really amounted to something some-thing Wed know all the diplomats and Im sure In that atmosphere you would become a great man I will dear 1 will ho declared but it will be all for you TO BE CONTINUED |