A startled ejaculation from him aroused Selma
from her nightmare. Her husband was saying to her across the table:
"My dear, Senator Calkins is dead." He spoke in a solemn, excited
whisper.
"Our Senator Calkins?"
"Yes. This is the despatch from Washington: 'United States Senator
Calkins dropped dead suddenly in the lobby of the Senate chamber, at ten
o'clock this morning, while talking with friends. His age was 52. The
cause of his death was heart-failure. His decease has cast a gloom over
the Capital, and the Senate adjourned promptly out of respect to the
memory of the departed statesman.'"
"What a dreadful thing!" Selma murmured.
"The ways of Providence are inscrutable," said Lyons. "No one could have
foreseen this public calamity." He poured out a glass of ice-water and
drank it feverishly.
"It's fortunate we have everything arranged to return to-morrow, for of
course you will be needed at home."
"Yes. Waiter, bring me a telegram."
"What are you going to do?"
"Communicate to Mrs. Calkins our sympathy on account of the death of her
distinguished husband."
"That will be nice," said Selma. She sat for some moments in silence
observing her husband, and spell-bound by the splendid possibility which
presented itself.
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