Adventure, November 1915 — page 146: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

144 see him. There are certain things I’d like to talk over with him. Of course, he’s young, but he has brains. Invite him, my dear.” “After what he’s said about you?” “Never carry politics into your private relations with people, my dear,” he smiled. She stared at him. “Father,” she exclaimed, “you’re the most magnanimous soul that ever lived.” And he winced behind his paper. “Not at-all, my dear, not at all.” ~N THAT afternoon Janet, having been a promised plenty of space by the —¥ other two of Morgantown’s papers, called upon the publisher and editor of the Sun. There was a moment of frantic sweeping of litter behind a screen, a wild straightening of désk and chairs, when her name was brought in by an admiring office boy. Then, slightly flushed, Minot received his fair visitor, the girl whose picture was r enshrined in his room, and whom he had: worshiped from afar these several months. He had never seen her as close to as this, and the realization that she was more beau- tiful than her picture, and that the nearer the view the greater her charm, was enough, almost, to render him tongue-tied. How- ever, he hid his perturbation from her, and, after the request for publicity for the Wom- an’s Club had been proffered and granted, she extended her father’s invitation, and, - attracted by his open, frank. countenance, added to the invitation a little warmth on her own account. And Minot, surprised that the Mayor was so genuinely broad- minded and able to divorce politics from personality, accepted the invitation. Three nights later he dined at the Lan- ders home. Unfortunately, shortly after the meal, the Mayor was summoned to the telephone and later announced that a most important matter called him down-town. Would Mr. Minot forgive him? It was un- pardonable, but—it was extremely impor- tant. And—— “Mr. Minot can come again,” said Janet. “Meanwhile, if he’d care to stay and be bored by the Woman’s Club’s plans——” Minot stayed. Two nights later he called again. This time the Mayor and he had a most pleasant talk, in which the Mayor made no effort to win Minot over to his sup- port, but led the discussion into channels of civic interest apart from Morgantown’s Adventure own problems. Later Janet played for them and sang. Before leaving, Minot asked per- mission to call upon the girl. It was grant- ed. Within a week he called again; and this time the Mayor was discreetly absent from the house. And as he had attacked the rottenness of Morgantown, so did Minot attack the girl’s heart. He had reached the age of thirty un- scathed by Cupid’s darts. So, having been immune so long, he was but the easier vic- tim. Within two weeks he knew that first . impressions — pre-impressions, for he had been strongly attracted by her photograph —were in his case but precursors of a last- ing love. For from the bottom of his heart, and with all that was fine and strong within him, he loved Janet Landers. He was not the one to dally; at the end of the third week he told her. And she accepted him, with the provision that her father should ap- prove. And so they went to him. And he, with many an ejaculation of surprise and amazement, and ‘with a secret feeling of shame, gave them his blessing. “Perhaps,” said Landers, ‘‘Janet can win you over to our side.” “That’s the thing that bothers me, Mr. Landers,” said Minot frankly. . “I—can’t stop rapping the administration, sir. Per- sonally, for you—I have the liking I want to have for my flancée’s father. But—per- haps, on the outside, I see more than you who are in the game, sir. I—I can’t stand for the men behind you. I hope——’” “Not another word, sir,” said the Mayor benignly. “TI should not attempt to influ- ence you for the world.” “Tsn’t father a noble man?” asked Janet a little later. “Square as a die,” said Minot enthusias- tically. And then they talked of other things. That night Landers called up the boss. “Tt’s all right,” he said softly. ‘‘He’s ours; we'll tighten the ropes in a day or so.” “Nice work,” grunted Stewart. “Your Honor will remain your Honor.” And to Landers’s credit be it known that he grimaced in self-disgust at the twice-re- peated word “honor.” But politics is poli- tics.‘ His ambition was stronger than any- thing else within him. And four nights later, with election but a month away, Janet met Minot in the Landers drawing-room with a smileless white face and inher EORMIC LOO (C <S (E@ im ’