Jennie Gerhardt

f appreciation for everything he had done and now continued to do. The Senator gave her father a letter to a local mill owner, who saw that he received something to do

awl. All these benefactions were made in a spirit of mingled charity and self-gratificati

oment the world's point of view. Since that one notable and halcyon visit upon which he had robbed her of her original shyness, and implanted a tender kiss upon her cheek, they had lived in a different atmosphere. Jennie was his companion now, and as h

er was not without knowledge that Jennie almost invariably lingered from a quarter to three-quarters of an hour whenever she came for or returned his laundry. He knew that it might come to the ears of the hotel clerks, and so, in a general way, get about town and work serious injury, but the

-approval which such a resolution might bring him was hardly worth the inevitable pai

his knee, and told her of his life at Washington. Always now he had a caress and a kiss for her,

ted creature, emotional, totally inexperienced in the matter of the affections, and yet mature enough mentally

od by his chair, and, finding nothing else to do, took out his wa

to have a watch,

uld," said Jennie

g a jewellery store and bought one. It w

next time, "I want to show you someth

from his waistcoat pocke

she exclaimed, her face

ted with his little d

Jennie. "Mine! Oh,

hink so?"

im immensely. Her face shone with

. "See that you wear it

good!" sh

he drew her toward him until, when very close, she put her arms about his neck, and laid her cheek in gratitude

ed that a great railroad corporation, which had always been friendly, was secretly throwing its strength in behalf of an already too powerful candidate. Shocked by this defection, he was thrown alternately in

ning, after an extremely comfortless conference with his leader, he met her with the most chilling formality. When she knocked at

of it. He was restored on the instant to his far-off, mighty throne, and left to rule in p

vered with considerable formality, and he went on toiling forgetfully, until at last he was miserably defe

eful disposition. Nagged to desperation by his thoughts, Brander first talked to her to amus

ght have done to a child, "youth is on your sid

o

lise it. You never will

to himself that night. "I wish

ducting herself strangely. A girl who carries washing must expect criticism if anything not befitting her station is observ

id. "People are talking. You'd better not let

ven now she did not believe there was anything to tell. The watch had been both approved of

admit the implication that things had gone too far. In fact, she did not look at it in that l

begin to talk!" said her mother. "Did

lled by her conscience to admit at lea

anything out of the

id not attach any suspicion of evi

hush the matter up. People were slandering a good man, that she knew. Jennie had been the least bit indiscreet. People were always so

s that she decided to g

this decision. Brander, who was expecting J

her, "what has b

change, Mrs. Gerhardt did not know what to say. She looked up at him wea

is she?" h

N

t," he said resignedl

ad gone he got to thinking the matter over, and wondered what could h

returned the clothes he felt th

rdt?" he inquired. "Has anythi

ned, too troubled to

ing for the la

r perturbation; "she - they have been talking

talking?" he

e here in

errupted, a touch of annoy

ouseke

" he exclaimed. "What

lated to him

own business without interfering with mine. Your daughter, Mrs. Gerhardt, is perfectly safe with me. I have no intention of doing her an injury. It'

apologetically. "I know you like Jennie and wouldn't injure her. You've done

ly right. I don't blame you in the least. It is the lying accusation

man who had done so much for them. If she could only say something, she thought, that would c

everything for the be

njoyed her coming here. It is my intention to do well by her, but pe

he had no hope of seeing her there any more, he began to realise how much these little visits of hers had meant. He thought the matter over very carefully, realised i

little affair," he thought. "It

stayed away the more eager he was to get back. When he was again permanently settled in his old quarters he took up his cane one morning, and strolled out in the direction of the cottage. Arriving there, he made up his mind to go in, and knocking at the door, he was gr

ake a drive with me tomo

e, to whom the propositio

add to her beauty. Graced with her clean white apron, her shapely head crowned by th

ned, and then, having accomplished

ding tomorrow evening," he explained. "

saw nothing incongruous in the proposal. Th

rdt. "Doesn't he always speak so nicely of you? He

aid Jenni

r father or not," concluded Mrs. Gerhardt. "

not to tell him. He

on. There were little lace-edged cuffs and a rather high collar attached to it. She had no gloves nor any jewellery, nor yet a jacket good enough to wear, but her hair was done up in such a dainty way that it set off her well-shaped head better than any hat, and the few ringlets that could escape

raw night air," he thought

ly forgot everything but the great fact that she was at his side. She talked with

where, outlined dimly against the new rising moon, they were touched with its yellow lig

I could?" she

w. You're the dearest little day-dreamer in the world. Of course you could write

s saying such nice things. No one ever seemed to like or to appreciate her hal

ng, he said: "I wonder what time it is. Perhaps w

hing of which she had hoped he would not speak. E

tha had got to that place in the matter of apparel where she could no longer go to school unless some

o bring home ten dollars. Mrs. Gerhardt expended the money upon her children, and h

r hour of retribution seemed at hand. She actu

d gently, "what made

," she a

you you

trained silence; then she said, with a voice that had too much of a sob in it for

en you need anything I want you to come to me. Do you hear? I want you to promise me that. If I'm not here, I want you to write me

said

e to do that n

she r

t neither o

im to a burst of feeling, "I've about decided that I can't do without yo

clearly understanding hi

ow," she sa

'm serious. Would you be willing to marry me, and

ay to

ter you

mother came into her mind. Ma

her face. It was not dark. The moon was now above the trees in th

for me at all, J

es

re, though," he returned pathetically

wered. "I couldn't help it;

ly. I was only joking with you. You'd be

d," she answ

ed doubly emphasised to her. Reaching up impulsively, she put her arms abou

th deep feeling. "I'd do anything in