Page:Despotism and democracy; a study in Washington society and politics (IA despotismdemocra00seawiala).pdf/265

 Maitland, and I came up here after you, and you've bowled me over, senatorship and all, and I've tould the truth, and not a lie in the bunch, and I've offered to give up your money, and I don't see that I've done anything for you to look at me like Lady Macbeth, and I beg your pardon if I've offinded you."

During this speech Constance Maitland's heart softened toward Mince Pie Mike. He had only claimed a man's inalienable right, and he had behaved as honourably as in him lay. So she said, with a softening of the voice as well as the heart:

"I feel sure that all you say is true and I am sorry if I have wounded you—but what you ask is not to be thought of for a moment."

"Well," remarked the Senator, resignedly, "it's a disappointment, it's a great disappointment, but there are other things in life, Miss Maitland. There's the pleasure of helping widows and orphans, and I swear to you I have done that as well as I could iver since I was a clerk in good ould Danny Hogan's corner store, and there's the pleasure of managing the primaries and handing over