scles like an antique
drapery. He seemed to radiate strength.

The canon remarked his friend's strained face, greeted him as if
governors made a practice of popping into his vestry unannounced, and
bade a negro, who was folding vestments, to finish his task later.

"What has happened to you?" he asked, directly they were alone.

"My wife has eloped."

North started at the bald announcement, but asked quietly:--

"Did she leave by the one twenty-five train?"

"You saw her?"

"I saw him." Ludlow needed no naming. "I came in from the west at
that time for this wedding."

Shelby jerked out his watch.

"That train is an accommodation, making nearly all stops. They were
probably too excited to consider the fact, or care. Any one taking the
Southwestern Limited twenty minutes from now would make New York half
an hour before them--provided they're bound for New York. Of course,
there's the chance that they will change at some point to the express,
which left a quarter of an hour ago. Somebody must intercept them."

"And it's your present misfortune to be governor of New York," added
the canon, ripping at the buttons of his cassock. "Permit me to fill
your place."

"It's a hateful thing to ask of you. I could ask it of no other man."

North nodded, and caught up his hat and coat.

"You did right to come to me, my friend."

"Say to her"--they passed again into the silent nave on the way to the
carriage--"say that one of the best little girls who ever lived is
waiting for her mother to return from--from shopping, what you please.
Say that I--" He broke off, and fronted North in the stillness. "By
God! no," he burst out suddenly. "No message from me yet. I can't do
it yet--"

The governor went back to the executive chamber, and heard, one by one,
the stories of the callers who had massed the antechamber during his
prolonged absence. From all sections, of all degrees, of all political
types, their importunities were variants of a single theme--the thing
he could give. Him they gave nothing, not even encouragement. Five
o'clock came at last, and he left the plain little work-cell behind the
sumptuous panelling of the executive chamber for a ten-minute bout with
the press correspondents. Was it true that he had decided to sign the
canal bill? Was a veto imminent? Did he propose to let it become a
law without his signature? Had he and the great leader severed their
relations? Was a breach in the