Aunt Jane's Nieces at Work

This much Mr. Forbes has already done for you, and

he will now tell you what else, if he is elected, he proposes to do."

Kenneth then took the platform and was welcomed with a hearty cheer. He

modestly assured them that a Representative in the State Legislature

could accomplish much good for his district if he honestly desired to do

so. That was what a Representative was for--to represent his people. It

was folly to elect any man who would forget that duty and promote only

his own interests through the position of power to which the people had

appointed him. Mr. Forbes admitted that he had undertaken this campaign

because he was opposed to offensive advertising signs; but now he had

become interested in other issues, and was anxious to be elected so that

he could carry on the work of reform. They needed more school-houses for

their children, and many other things which he hoped to provide as their

Representative.

During this oration Beth happened to glance up at the house, and her

sharp eyes detected the maid, Eliza, standing shielded behind the

half-closed blind of an upper window and listening to, as well as

watching, the proceedings below. Then she remembered how the girl had

been laughing and talking with Mr. Hopkins, when she first saw her, and

with sudden dismay realized that Eliza was a spy in the service of the

enemy.

Her first impulse was to denounce the maid at once, and have her

discharged; but the time was not opportune, so she waited until the

festivities were ended.

It had been a great day for the families of the neighboring farmers, and

they drove homeward in the late afternoon full of enthusiasm over the

royal manner in which they had been entertained and admiration for the

girls who had provided the fun and feasting. Indeed, there were more

kindly thoughts expressed for the inhabitants of Elmhurst than had ever

before been heard in a single day in the history of the county, and the

great and the humble seemed more closely drawn together.

When the last guest had departed Beth got her cousins and Kenneth

together and told them of her discovery of the spy.