Part 29 (1/2)

But Sam did not come, nevertheless, and Joe sat quietly by the fire, wis.h.i.+ng she were alone, and yet unwilling to leave the house where she hoped to have the earliest information.

The two who seemed rapidly growing indifferent to the issue of the election were Sybil and Ronald, who sat together with a huge portfolio of photographs and sketches between them, laughing and talking pleasantly enough. Joe did not hear a word of their conversation, and Mrs. Wyndham paid little attention to it, though her practiced ears could have heard it all if need be, while she herself was profoundly occupied with some one else.

The four had a somewhat dreary meal together, and Ronald was told to go into Sam's study and smoke if he liked, while Mrs. Wyndham led Joe and Sybil away to look at a quant.i.ty of new things that had just come from Paris. Ronald did as he was bid and settled himself for an hour, with a plentiful supply of newspapers and railroad literature.

It was past three o'clock when Sam Wyndham entered the room, his face wet with the snowflakes and red with excitement.

”Hollo!” he exclaimed, seeing Ronald comfortably ensconced in his favorite easy-chair. ”How are you?”

”Excuse me,” said Ronald, rising quickly. ”They told me to come in here after lunch, and so I was waiting until I was sent for, or told to come out.”

”Very glad to see you, any way,” said Sam cordially. ”Well, I have been to hear about an election--a friend of ours got put up for senator. But I don't expect that interests you much?”

”On the contrary,” said Ronald, ”I have heard it so much talked of that I am as much interested as anybody. Is it all over?”

”Oh yes, and a pretty queer business it was. Well, our friend is not elected, anyway”--

”Has Mr. Harrington been defeated?” asked Ronald quickly.

”It's my belief he has been sold,” said Sam. ”But as I am a Republican myself and a friend of Jobbins, more or less, I don't suppose I feel so very bad about it, after all. But I don't know how my wife will take it, I'm sure,” said Sam presently. ”I expect we had better go and tell her, right off.”

”Then he has really lost the election?” inquired Ronald, who was not altogether sorry to hear it.

”Why, yes--as I say, Jobbins is senator now. I should not wonder if Harrington were a good deal cut up. Come along with me, now, and we will tell the ladies.”

The three ladies were in the drawing-room. Mrs. Wyndham and Joe sprang to their feet as Sam and Ronald entered, but Sybil remained seated and merely looked up inquiringly.

”Oh now, Sam,” cried Mrs. Wyndham, in great excitement, ”tell us all about it right away. We are dying to know!”

Joe came close to Mrs. Wyndham, her face very pale and her teeth clenched in her great anxiety. Sam threw back the lapels of his coat, put his thumbs in the armholes of his broad waistcoat, and turned his head slightly on one side.

”Well,” he said slowly, ”John's wiped out.”

”Do you mean to say he has lost the election?” cried Mrs. Wyndham.

”Yes--he's lost it. Jobbins is senator.”

”Sam, you are perfectly horrid!” exclaimed his spouse, in deepest vexation.

Josephine Thorn spoke no word, but turned away and went alone to the window. She was deathly pale, and she trembled from head to foot as she clutched the heavy curtain with her small white fingers.

”Poor Mr. Harrington!” said Sybil thoughtfully. ”I am dreadfully sorry.”

Mr. and Mrs. Wyndham and Ronald moved toward the fire where Sybil was sitting. No one spoke for a few seconds. At last Mrs. Wyndham broke out:

”Sam, it's a perfect shame!” she said. ”I think all those people ought to be locked up for bribery. I am certain it was all done by some horrid stealing, or something, now, was not it?”

”I don't know about that, my dear,” said Sam reflectively. ”You see they generally vote fair enough in these things. Well, may be that fellow Ballymolloy has made something out of it. He's a pretty bad sort of a scamp, any way, I expect. Sorry you are so put out about it, but Jobbins is not so very bad, after all.”

Sybil suddenly missed Joe from the group, and looked across to where she stood by the window. A glance told her that something was wrong, and she rose from her seat and went to her friend. The sight of Josephine's pale face frightened her.