was known by ten o'clock, after the primaries, that I should receive
the nomination. As soon as I was sure, I went to her; and I found her
in the same state of exaltation and pride that I was experiencing
myself. There was _always_ the answer in her, I tell you, always
the response that such a nature as mine craves. She took both my hands
and looked at me just as a proud sister would. 'I _read_ your
news,' she said. 'It is in your face!' Wasn't that touching? Then we
sat in silence for a while, each understanding the other's joy and
triumph in the great blow I had struck for the right. I left very
soon, and she came with me to the door. We stood for a moment on the
step--and--for the first time, the only time in my life--I received
a--a sister's caress."

"Oh," said I. I understood how Gorgett had managed to be so calm that
afternoon.

"It was the purest kiss ever given!" Farwell groaned again.

"Who was it saw you?" I asked.

He dropped into a chair and I saw the tears of rage and humiliation
welling up again in his eyes.

"We might as well have been standing by the footlights in a theatre!"
he burst out, brokenly. "Who saw it? Who _didn't_ see it? Gorgett's
sleuth-hound, the man he sent to me this afternoon, for one; the
policeman on the beat that he'd stopped for a chat in front of the
house, for another; a maid in the hall behind us, the policeman's
sweetheart _she_ is, for another! Oh!" he cried, "the desecration!
That one caress, one that I'd thought a sacred secret between us