Senator North

f the previous winter, while the Madisons were in England. Lady Mary had lef

e she possessed the charmed key to political society, but her his

two days after the tragedy which shelved Cecil Maundrell into the House of Lords, and returned to California accompanied by his mother and Lady Barnstaple's friend, Lady Mary Montgomery. Bets were exchanged freely as to the result of this bold move on the part of a girl to

d given her a tea-and as her husband was brilliant, accomplished, and of the best blood of Louisiana, the little set, tenaciously clinging to its traditional exclusiveness amidst the whirling ever-changing particles of the political maelstrom, found no fault in him beyond his calling. And as he was a man of tact and never ment

th the large and heter

knowing, and she was c

tion more trying for a

rd's

y that Tuesday was "Representatives' day." She gave a little laugh as she imagined Mrs. Madison's plaintive distaste. And then she felt the tremor and flutter, the pleasur

thought. "Or merely rejuvenated?

. There were no portieres, no modern devices of decoration. Everything was solid and comfortable, worn, and of a long and honourable descent. The dining-room and large square hall we

c criticism of the modern palaces of certain New York friends. But although the immediate impression of the Montgomery house was of soft lu

curious sensuous longing as she looked again at the dim rich beauty about her, the smothered window

arry." And then her humour flashed up: it was a sense that sat at the heels of every serious thought. "What a combination with the

fell at the end of a long hall, and she slowly made her way to the drawing-room, pausing once to watch a footman who was busily

-comers pressed forward to shake a patient hand, Betty decided to stand apart for a few moments and look

of one who conceived that social laws had been invented for the middle class. But there was little vivacity in her manner to-day, and her voice was not audible across the large room. She looked tired. It was ha

te Betty. "I suppose in the depths of her soul she hates this, but she

er had seen any of them before, but they had the air of women of importance. The majority looked frigid and bored, a few

bout the room gazing at the many beautiful pictures and ornaments. There were only three or four really vulgar-looking women present, and they were clothed in conspicuous raiment. One, and all but her waist was huge, wore a bodice of transparent gauze; another, also of middle years, had crowned her hard

er gazing earnestly at the crowd. Her large bony face was crossed by the lines an

tty, "please-are all th

and I should like t

and me, ar'n't in official life, but the most are, I guess. Nearly all the Cabinet ladies are here to-day and a good many Senators' wives and darters. That there lady in heliotrope and fur is the wife of the Secretary of War, and the one in

being assured that Paris was responsible for many of the

at he's about, I guess. Senator Maxwell's a swell; they've always been rich, the Maxwells, and he married a New York girl, so she didn't have much to learn, I guess. Mis' Senator Shattuc-she's the one in wine colour-was the darter of a big railroad man out West, so I guess she had all the schoolin' and Yurrup she wanted. Now that real pretty little woman jest speakin' to Lady Montgomery is Mis' Senator Freeman. They do sa

tawdry plumage and striking complexions, "they don't live here. Washington ladies don't dress like that. I guess they're the wives of men out West that have made their pile lately and come here to see the sights. First they look at all the public buildin's, and I guess they about walk all over the Capitol, and hear a speech or two in the Ladies' Gallery-from their Senators, if they can-and after that they go about in Society a bit. You see, Washington is a mighty nice place fur people who haven't much show at home-those that live in small towns, fur instance. There is so many public receptions they can go to-The White House, the Wednesdays of the Cabinet ladies, the Thursdays of the Senator's wives, and six or seven Representatives-mebbe more-who have real elegant houses; and then there is several Legations that give public receptio

o much," she exclaimed, "and that there is so much for you here to enjoy. I never thought of

s talk when I can git anybody to listen to me, and I

hingtonian. My

ber seeing it in t

ill of pride since entering the new world. "But I seldom have passed a winter ou

Amurrican girls are so smart they can about look anything they have a mind to." "Oh-I am really sorry

e'll meet again, but I'd be happy to have you call. Here's my card. Our house is right near here-i

he hand, and went forward. Lady Mary's tired white face had set into an almost mechanical smile, b

s shook hands they conceived one of those sudden and violen

delightful set." She lowered her voice, which had rung out for a moment in something of its old style, albeit platitudes had worn upon its edges. "I couldn't stand just this-although I must add that many of the official women are charming and have the most stunning manners; but many are the reverse, and unfortu

t is the drawing-room of the Republic. It is the hotel drawing-room with a Holy of Holies opening upon the area. I'm sick of the

mbers of a Senate and a House Committee that are deliberating a very important bill are coming. Senator North-he is well worth meeting-is Chairman of the Senate Committee, and my husband, although a new member, stands very

ion peculiar to her when reminded that she was the favoured of the gods. "I suppose there is a good de

reotyped amenities, surrendered herself to the charm of natural intercourse with one of her own sort, and rang for tea. "I alw

e warmth of her new friendship and its possibilities. She was s

ians only. My husband aspires higher than that. To be a Se

Mol-my mother. She is not p

d the younger men of forty-five or so who are not quite broken in yet, and whose enthusiasm is apt to take the wrong direction; and the fire-eaters, Populists usually; and the hard-working second-rate men, many of them millionaires (Western, as a rule) who are accused of having bought their legislatures to get in, but who do good work on Commit

nstincts again. I am glad I shall meet Senator North to-morrow. I suppo

of the old school about Senator North. He is very modern and has a truly Republican-or shall I say aristocratic?-sim

life. I feel as if I was Theodosia Burr, or Nelly Custis, or Dolly Madison come to life. And now I'

popular, as it has never occurred to him to conciliate anybody. He is very kind and attentive to his invalid wife and proud of his sons, and he adored a daughter who died four years ago. Rumor has it that more than one charming woman has consoled him for domestic afflictions and po

brute to have let you talk so much,

y's dreams that night were undisturbed by any