Mr. Crewe's Career -- Volume 2

e air of such transcendent clearness that Austen could see-by leaning a little out of the Widow Peasley's window-the powdered top of Holdfast Mountain some thirty miles away. For

peak of Holdfast; and he had but to beckon a shining Pegasus from

see her to-day, and speak with her. These words, like a refrain; were humming in his head as honest Mr. Redbrook talked during breakfast, while Austen's answers may have been both intelligent and humorous. Mr. Redbrook, at least; gave no

being an early and orderly one) he was swinging across the long hills, cleaving for himself a furrowed path in the untrodden snow, breathing deep as he gazed across the blue spaces from the crests.

e-house, its dial aflame in the light, emblematic to him of the presence within it of a spirit which cleansed it of impurities. She would be there; nay, when he looked at the dial from a different angle, was there. As he drew nearer, there rose out of the v

e knowledge of mankind which doorkeepers possess, let him in. There were many ladies on the floor (such being the chivalrous custom when a debate or a speech of the importance of Mr

aware that the hall was ringing with a loud and compelli

the touch of individuality to his dress which was needed to set him aside as a marked man. Austen suddenly remembered, with an irresistible smile, that one of the reasons which he had assigned for his visit to the capital was to hear this very speech, to see how Mr. C

e clerk's desk, with his feet crossed; again, when he wished to emphasize a point, he came forward and seized with both hands the back of his chair. Sometimes he thrust his thumb in his waistcoat pocket, and turned with an appeal to Mr. Speaker Doby, who was apparently too thrilled and surprised to indulge in conversation with those on the bench beside him, and who made no attempt to quell hand-clapping and even occasional whistling

he wandering attention of Austen Vane. He did not perceive his friend of the evening bef

Hull, "my wife's cousin's comin' on the noon train. Not a bad speech, is

hat gone and sickly sensation which is, paradoxically, so exquisite. The psychological cause of it in this instance was, primarily, the sight, by Austen Vane, of his own violets on a black, tailor-made gown trimmed with wide braid, and secondarily of an oval face framed i

great events (such as the Woodchuck Session) continued to tick, undisturbed in this instance by the pole of the sergeant-at-arms, time became a lost dimension for Austen Vane. He made a few unimportant discoveries such as the fact that Mrs. Pomfret and her daughter were seated beside Victoria, listening with a rapt attentio

ere Mr. Crewe's violets. Had she not come to visit Mr. Crewe, to listen to his piece de resistance, without knowing that he, Austen Vane, would be in the capital? The idea that her interest in Austen Vane wa

cy in the back seats, rolling down the centre aisle, and gathering impetus as it went, bumped the louder on each successive step until it hurled itself with a clash against the clerk's desk, at the feet of the orator himself. During its descent a titter arose which gradually swelled into a roar of laughter, and Austen's attention was once more focused upon

ut he has sent me an article which I never use, under an

on, led by his stanch friend and admirer, the Honourable Jacob Botche

d at the faithful clock

nnounced, "that the tim

h is

rose slowly

allery, "I move you, sir, that a vote of thanks be accorded to the gentleman f

said the Honourable B

e!" cried a voice from somewhere among

flaunted the star-spangled banner in your faces, or indulged in oratorical fireworks. Mine have been the words of a plain business man, and I have not indulged in wild accusa

o glance down at him, despite the fact that Mrs. Pomfret was urging her to leave. Austen started for the door, and managed to reach it long before his neighbours had left the vicinity of their seats. Once in the corridor, his eye singled her out amongst those descending the gallery stairs, and he had a little thrill of pride and despair when he realized that she was the object of the scrutiny, too

lled from the House. But of course in Parliament they wouldn't have those horrid things to roll down the aisles. Poor

alone betokene

ne?" she said. "I'm so

d inadequate to express his own sentiments, while Alice gave hi

," said Victoria; "you

"How do you do? Can't something

n gre

member of the Hous

thing wouldn't be allowed to drop for a minute. If I lived in this State, I think I sh

ed quietly

u going away

ier than I like to thin

to-morro

n which he had often remarked, her expression changed to one of amusement, although a serious

you again before yo

consequences of his act in seeking her. Nature,

nds," said

n wh

on

etween then for a few moments as they descended,-principally because

he asked, and was immediately

e answere

ay I come?"

as not hidden from him as they stepped out of the

y at three o'cl

ed at h

and a half!

" she said mischievous

d. But the rest of his

Cr

what did you thi

ation are settled," sai

Va

we; "glad to see you," and he extend

said

ith you. Come on, Victoria, I've arranged for an

ead to enter Mr. Crewe's booby sleigh, which had his crest on the panel. Alice was hustled in nex

they went at a brisk trot. Then the little group which had been watching the performance dispersed. Halfway acr

Leith will send him to Congress. I saw you hobnobbing with him just now. What's the matter,

ivery-stable in to

here. Who are you going to take out in

Tom," sa

Gaylord. "But if you're really goin' to get interested in girls, you ought to see old Flint's daught

where did you say tha

vernor. How about it? You know I've always said you could be United States senator and President. If

Gaylord's farther shoulder, "you're a pretty good

g with you," said Mr.

l can rest on

man I'd rather take t

in the process of being looked over by a stout gentleman named Putter, proprietor of Putter's Livery,

Mr. Putter. And as long as you're a friend of Tom Gaylord's I'll

an

ation to old H

Austen, "only he doe

guess you kin have her. Ain't you the man that shot a f

you hear about?

utter, "you didn't shoo

. Crewe's door-bell, and leaped into the sleigh once more, the mare's nature being such as to make it

Mr. Vane has called for her, an

her slender figure clad in a fur which even Austen knew was priceless. She sprang into the sleigh, the butler, with annoying deliberation, and with the air of saying that this was an affai

re you staying in that dear little house?" sh

said

sh I

an ordinary mortal in expensive furs instead of a princess, he would have snapped his fingers at the pomp and circumstance. These typified the comforts which, in a wild and forgetful moment, he might ask her to leave. Not that he believed she would leave them. He had lived long enough to know that an interest by a woman in a man-especially a man beyond the beaten track of her observation-did not necessarily mean that she might marry him if he asked her. And yet-oh, Tantalus! here

ge from his mother, seemingly untrodden by the foot of man, the woman at his side was his. From Holdfast over the spruces to Sawanec in the blue distance he was lord, a domain the wealth of which could not be reckoned in the coin of Midas. He turned to

land, isn't

t here this morning, when the wind was at play," and he poin

pose you will think me silly-but you seemed to bring something of this with

said, "belon

w a dee

arness of it, and the strength and vigour. I was watching you this morning, and you wer

th the mare's footstep

rey's speech?" she asked, ab

ngly good one,-what I he

. I didn't think

an impenetrable conceit, he might go far, because he learns quickly, and has an ind

drawback," said Austen, "though not

ria l

was furious at me for coming out this afternoon. He had it al

have all the more reaso

where I can breathe. I hope you don't think I dislike Humphrey," she went on. "Of

sten. "I am curious about his career; that's one r

the fascination of a runaway locomotive. One watc

et, and they

said Victoria, "I can't. And I do l

time to a wilder music of the sunlit hills and sky; nor was it strange that her voic

hose wonderful and never-to-be-forgotten sensations of t

t, but I never quite realized the pos

away her head, surveying the lands

Perhaps," she added, gayly pursuing the conceit, "it was because you had the key, and I didn't know you in those days." She gave him a swift, searching

en had brought just such a magic touch to an excursion, and even at that moment Au

treet is there, on a shelf of the hills, and through the arch of its elms you can look off over the f

nd you have a supernatural faculty of appearing suddenly, from nowhere, and whisking me away like the lady in the fable, out of myself and the world I live in. If

n a mammoth beast had his cave on Holdfast, an

rescued me. You have always been uniformly

"with neither height,

ss. Perhaps. What I mean to say is, that you seem to be a person in the world, but not of it. Your exits and entr

said, and took a firmer grip on th

don't believe you-would have known I was

ave known i

ow

playing. I am sure

simply, "but I did not know

testified that I was in the street-one of those pa

ed again,

ake an interest in yours. In fact, yours interests me more, because it is more mysterious. Humphrey's," she added

e, after all, are unchartable. Your friend, Mr. Crewe, on the other hand, is well

of a fate quite as inscrutable, against which wisdom would avail nothing. It was that look which, for Austen, revealed in her in their infinite variety all women who had lived; those who could resist, and those who could yield, and yielding all, bestow a gift which left them still priceless; those to whom sorrow might bring sadness, and knowledge mourning, and yet could rob them of no jot of sweetness. And knowing

pondered often on that which she had asked him when he had brought her home over the hills in the autumn twilight. He remembered her words, an

the patriot with a strange, rapt expression on his face,-such a good face,-and he was so big and honest and uncompromising I wanted to talk to him. I didn't

" Austen

erday. His name was Redbrook. It appears that he had seen me," Victoria replied

u denied it,"

Victoria, "because you had conf

corroborated. Mr. Redbrook is a man

be their candidate for governor of the State,-more than you had any idea of,-and that you wouldn't consent. Mr. Redbrook grew so enthusiastic that he f

was s

" she asked, in a low voice, "

of which he spoke is rather mythical. And I should be inclined to acc

t the kind of man that exaggerates-I've seen enough of his type to know that. And he told me about y

lau

subject I could hav

did you refuse to be their candidate? It wasn't b

h was a tribute of admiration-a gl

n elected," he answered, "but you are r

ve you were the kind of man to refuse for t

think so?" he

hrey Crewe make a speech and to drive with him in a high sleigh and listen to him talk about his career? When serious men of the people like Mr. Redbrook and that nice Mr. Jenney at Leith and a lot of others who do not ordinarily care for politics are thinking and indignant,

s breathing deeply, and he knew that she possessed a courage which wen

t," she said, "whether

he asked i

er about them, and ask him to investigate. No

el that later. Now he was filled only with a sympathy that was yet another common bond between them. Suppose she did find out? He knew that she would not falter until she came to the end of her investigation, to the revelation of Mr. F

d in purple as the saffron faded in the west, and a gossamer cloud of Tyrian dye floated over Holdfast. In silence they turned for a last lingering look, and in silence went dow

" she began, in a low voice; "I didn'

plied. He was too great for excuses, too great for any sorrow save what

ays. But her self-command was unshaken, her power to control speech was the equal of his. And this power of silence in her revealed in such instant

" she sai

, and seized her h

y fainted on the winter's night. Then she seated herself to think, if she could, though it is difficult to think when one's heart is beating a little wildly. It was Victoria's nature to think things out. For the first time in her life she knew sorrow, and it made it worse that that sorrow was indefinable. She felt an accountable attraction for this

s open, and that Humphrey Crewe and another were standing in the doorway against the light. With an effort of m

ted with their deals, so they just shunted you off at Kodunk with a jolly about sendin' you to Congress if you made a hit on a national speech. I've been in the business a good many years, and I've seen and done some things for the Northeastern that stick in my throat"-(at this point Victoria sat down again and gripped the a

rious charges, Mr. Too

hat anybody who talks against the Northeastern is boot

"that things do not seem to be as

I've made up my mind I've worn the collar long enough-if I have to break rocks. And I want to repeat what I said a little while ago," he added, weaving his thumb into Mr.

oss the room directly in front of the two men. She remained sitting where she was in

at in your opinion there is enough anti-railroad sentiment

ts I could put into his hands, they would make the committee

ase your opinion?

etty shrewd observer and have had practice

held he

"I've helped him along in one or two minor legal matters

Austen Vane's opinion on most things as soon as that of any man in the State. If he only had some sense about himself, he

claimed Mr. Crewe, with a

ame down here yesterday and had the whole thing sized up by last night. Old Hilary thought the Gaylords sent for him to lobby their bill through. They may have sent for him, all right, but he wouldn't lobby for 'em. He could have made a pile of money out of 'em. Austen doesn't seem to care about money-he's queer. He says as long as he has a horse and a few books and a couple of sandwiches a day he's all right.

Vane is going to get in

ew

of a scandal in the family, with Austen as an anti-railroad candidate." Mr. Tooting lowered his voice to a tone that was caressingly confidential. "I tell you, and you sleep on it, a man of your brains and money ca

things in a new and int

try to decide w

ting. "If I had money, I'd know that the best

ewe continued, "you may d

n't you?" said Mr. Tooting, significantly.

oose," sai

into his library, and that door closed, and she was left in darkness. Darkness indeed for Victoria, who throughout her life had lived in light alone; in the light she had shed, and the light which she had kindled in others. With a throb which was an exquisite pain, she understood now the compassion in Austen's eyes, and she saw so simply and so clearly why he had not told her that her face burned with the shame of her demand. The one of all othe