Jennie Gerhardt

ace of her position. She was ashamed to think that he, who thought so well of her, should discover her doing so common a th

erhardt had heard of her fli

th you, anyway?" asked

ediately turned to her mother and sa

mother. "He's back then. What made

n't want him

yhow," she said, with a certain sym

pered Jennie. "He called af

ardt shoo

been hearing the conversation from

cance which the Senator's personality had come to have in their

mother could believe their eyes when a grocery wagon halted in front of their cottage and a lusty clerk began to carry in the gifts. A

oritative words. "I know what I'm about. Ge

nds in her excitement, and giving vent to

d to lay it all to the goodness of a great local mill owner, who knew him and wished him well. Mrs. Ger

r encountered the mother in the hotel, Jennie h

xclaimed genially extending his hand

it nervously; her eyes f

on the shoulder. "Don't cry. You mu

d, and would have said mo

he was, and how much he paid for his washing. With the simplicity of a German working

ouragement in this direction, was mo

on she would have made a fitting companion for a man the height of the Senator. Her eyes were wondrously clear and bright, her skin fair, and her teeth white and even. She was clever, too, in a sensible way, and by no means deficient in

others and sisters, and he talked to her so unaffectedly that finally the overawing sense of the great difference between them was brushed away, and she looked upon him more as a generous friend than as

Jennie," he said,

d by a sudden impul

face in a quizzical, interrogative w

onsciously away, "I don't kno

d. "You have some opinion of

't," she sai

nterested by her transparent evasiveness. "Yo

the big mop of black hair well streaked with grey, which hung abo

se of disappointment. She was ba

like you," she r

ought anything else

n, even more bashfully; she realised n

all?" h

h fluttering eyelids,

thrilled him through and through. He studied her face in silence while she turned

nk you're a fine girl. Don't yo

id Jennie

at the unconscious drollery of her reply

ou laugh?" s

not to laugh, though. You don't appreciate me in

"I think you're so good." Her eyes showed ve

down to him; then, at the same insta

ghtening up, at once s

d in him something that she had not felt before. He seemed younger, too. She was a woman to him, and

aid, "did I

derlying respect for this great man, s

cause I like

moment, and then said, "I

, "are you going to ru

ing of ingratitude; "but I ought to be

you're not an

wn before. It was a novel experience to be in so authoritative a positi

nator said, rising. "I'm going t

thought of coming into such a life and such an atmosphere was heavenly. Not that she fully understood his meaning, however. He meant to be good and generous, and to give her f

ook her cheeks between his hands, this time in a superior and more generous way. "Never

, and to question her intimately about the family's condition and her own desires. Several times he noticed that she was evading his questions, particularly in regard to wh

re the great fight in the Legislature began which ended in his defeat. Nothing could be done in these few remaining days.

hardt op

rily; then, seeing her hesita

hing presence, wiped her hands furtively upon her much-m

Come ri

o close the door, and, offering h

confusion, said: "Don't trouble yourself, Mrs. Gerhardt.

returned the mother. "

as found e

ardt, who hesitated, like

all well now, and

had now unfastened her apron, and

d, and wher

the bedroom, where she was busy tidying herself in the fear that her mother would not

urned the mother.

im I was here for?"

I do?" asked

lt sorry to think that such deserving people must suffer so; he in

nnie, when finally she came hesitating

She found herself so much disturbed by this visit that

find where you live. This is a quite com

excuse the looks this morning. We'v

n't you think I understand, Jennie?

always used with her when she was at his room

come here occasionally, I intend t

ennie, "he's

ing in at the gate with his buck and saw. Brander saw him, and

now, I beli

said Jennie

he window without looking up. He put his wooden buck down, and

then not seeing her, he came to the

nd weather-beaten German came forward, and took it

l her diffidence dissolved by sympathy. "This is

" said the German

" said th

an accent. "Since I had the fever I don't h

t I'd come out and make your acqua

ery poor garments and anxious to get away. "I have

ck, and Gerhardt, seeing

, I'll go. I broke my saw,

hy Jennie had never wanted to explain. He half wished

o tell you that you mustn't look on me as a stranger. Hereafter I want you to

ly. Mrs. Gerhardt o

nswered, hum

Tell your husband," he said, "to come and see me next Monda

faltered Mr

r now," he added. "Don't

come," sh

one hand, he extended

ure, Mrs. Gerhardt," he sa

id the mother, "whether

oward the door, and giving Mrs. G

urs, who had observe his entrance, peeked from behin

, anyhow?" was t

innocent mother to her daughter

placed it softly in her hand as