An American Politician

live in Beacon Street all receive their friends on Monday afternoon did not seem to her satisfactory. She

n who are seemingly never spoken ill of, and are invited as a matter of course, or rat

ture, and it was not an unpardonable heresy to say that some other women might be, had been, or could be, more amusing in ordinary conversation. Nevertheless, Mrs. Sam Wyndham held a position in Boston which Boston acknowledged, and which Boston insisted that foreigners such as New York

. But Mrs. Wyndham might have passed for younger than she was among the world at large, for she was fresh to look at, and of good figure and complexion. Her black hair showed no signs of turning gray, and her dark eyes were bright and penetrating still. There were lines in her face, those microscopic lines that come so abundantly to American women

ut the continent with her husband, went to Egypt and Algiers, stayed in England, where she had a good many friends, avoided

from dirtying his fingers with anything so corrupt as government, or so despicable as elections; she understood Boston business to some extent, and called it finance, but she despised the New York Stock Market and denounced its doings as gamblin

tive city, and since two or three other ladies had followed her example, it had come to be regarded as a perfectly harmless idiosyncrasy

kled unceasingly as the sleighs slipped by the window, gleaming and glittering in the deep red glow of the sunset. The track was well beaten for

ndham sat by the fire with a small table before her, and

said she, teasing the flame of the spirit-lamp i

y at his hostess, before he answered. He was a pale man and slight of figure, with dark eyes, and his carefully b

interesting in his reminiscences; and he watched Mrs. Wyndham as she filled a cup. He was

and most of the t

bye, I met Harrington in Paris; I

aid Mrs. Wyndham indiffer

s to convert the French, or to glean materials for conv

swered the lady, still indifferen

civilized institutions and humanizing inf

aid Mrs. Wyndham. "But nevertheless you come back and seem to fi

come back at all," said Mr. Vancouver. "But then, I am not o

dozen people who procure us

Mrs. Wyndham," he an

" she replied, demu

," said Vancouver w

innocently; "I did not know

tea in silence for a mome

y much, and I like to meet him." He spoke seriously, as though thoroughly in e

s a very good friend of mine. Do you mind lighti

ith alacrity and perfor

yndham, watching him, "I

dee

rprise. Do you reme

ll–saw her at Newport some time ago.

and you nearly ruined yourself in roses. You will have a

ncouver, in some surprise, as h

he is all alone

her mother

ring, in Paris. I

er, thoughtfully.

ght it would do her good to be among li

ow of interest about the question. "

cup?" His hostess began the usual series of ope

fter a pause, "I have an idea–do not la

not la

ibyl Brandon to

m stared fo

ridiculous!" sh

hy

starve, to

it," said

e than five thousand a year in his life. You

don is very well o

t she had

at the least. You know Charlie never did anything in his life; h

ed at the information; she hardly s

m glad if you are right. But that does not make it

ation was your object

nly. Besides, he wo

not to, if he had the ch

arry him," said Mrs. Wyndham, thoughtfully. "Besides, I do not thi

possibly he did not speak because he saw some one enter the room at that mome

ast to hear the conversation that was taking place, for it was Miss

s Brandon sat down by the fire and spread out her ha

t of us move. It is hard to say what such women have that marks them so distinctly; sometimes it is beauty, sometimes only a manner, often it is both. It is very certain that we know and feel

skin was whiter than is commonly natural, her eyes were very deep and large and blue, and her soft brown hair seemed to be almost a burden to her from its great quantity. She was dressed entirely in black, and being rather tall and very slight of figure, the dress somewhat exaggerated the ethereal look that was natural t

n sat down by the young girl, and lightly kissed her cheek. "

loud, quite naturally, but pressing Mrs. Wyndham's han

ver, putting in a word. "Our city is altog

tors, Mr. Vancouver," answered Mrs.

ough he never acknowledges it," said Miss

tures betrayed neither pleasure nor interest, however. "But," he continued,

that," interrup

ors; at least, you and Mrs. Wyndham said it between you. I really n

ed Mrs. Sam, who wante

olemnity. "It is not more often ridi

," said Mrs. Wyndham, with a good deal of emphasi

ved to fine patriotic phrases about your native country, if your ancestors had signed twenty Declarations of Independence. We live in a great ins

dulity. Mrs. Wyndham always quarreled with him on points l

ement of your institution, as you call it, when you know ver

ntlemen should not touch anything so dirty a

all, and that you are quite wrong, and that we are a g

, with that scorn which only the true son of free

always the last word in the

to do with it," remarked Miss Brandon, i

d at the clock a

he American china–dangerous, you know. Good evening, Mrs. Wyndham; good evening, Miss Brandon." And he

him," she said, turning again to the

your mind?" asked Mr

He has very good manners, and lo

ugh his father came from South Carolina. But he is really very

ay?" inqui

, don't you know?–g

ss Brandon, and rel

log back with her small foot. Miss Brandon watched her, ha

that Miss Thorn,"

st, "tell me all about her this minute, dear

answered Miss Brandon

style?

ots of eyebrows. She is a little th

, of course," su

ys she shoots. But I like her–I am sure I shall like her

"Poor little thing–she has nobod

h a little tremor in her voice

so much," said Mrs. Sam.

t, I think; she said she

said Mrs. Wyndham. "I reall

, half in protest, "this idea must be stopped from the first, and I mean to stop it. You are not to give up a

in the world." And so they kissed, and agreed that Mrs.

l more rarely suffer great passions. Everybody's friend is far too apt to be nobody's, for it is impossible to rely on the support of a person whose devotion is liable to be called upon a hundred times a day, from a hundred different quarters. The friend

e is as bright, his greeting as cordial, and his sayings as universally good-natured and satisfactory as ever. He has acquired the habit of pleasing, and it is almost impossible for him to displease. He enjoys it all, is agreeable to every one, and is never expected to catch col