“Thank you,” faltered Mrs. Gerhardt. “I’ll not stay any longer now,” he added. “Don’t forget to have him come.” “Oh, he’ll come,” she returned. Adjusting a glove on one hand, he extended the other to Jennie. “Here is your finest treasure, Mrs. Gerhardt,” he said. “I think I’ll take her.” “Well, I don’t know,” said her mother, “whether I could spare her or not.” “Well,” said the Senator, going toward the door, and giving Mrs. Gerhardt his hand, “good-morning.” He nodded and walked out, while a half-dozen neighbors, who had observed his entrance, peeked from behind curtains and drawn blinds at the astonishing sight. “Who can that be, anyhow?” was the general query. “See what he gave me,” said the innocent mother to her daughter the moment he had closed the door. It was a ten-dollar bill. He had placed it softly in her hand as he said good-by. CHAPTER V Having been led by circumstances into an attitude of obligation toward the Senator, it was not unnatural that Jennie should become imbued with a most generous spirit of appreciation for everything he had done and now continued to do. The Senator gave her father a letter to a local mill owner, who saw that he received something to do. It was not much, to be sure, a mere job as night-watchman, but it helped, and old Gerhardt’s gratitude was extravagant. Never was there such a great, such a good man! Nor was Mrs. Gerhardt overlooked. Once Brander sent her a dress, and at another time a shawl. All these benefactions were made in a spirit of mingled charity and self-gratification, but to Mrs. Gerhardt they glowed with but one motive. Senator Brander was good-hearted. As for Jennie, he drew nearer to her in every possible way, so that at last she came to see him in a light which would require considerable analysis to make clear. This fresh, young soul, however, had too much innocence and buoyancy to consider for a moment the world’s point of view. Since that one notable and halcyon visit upon which he had robbed her her original shyness, and implanted a tender kiss upon her cheek, they had lived in a different atmosphere. Jennie was his companion now, and as he more and more unbended, and even joyously flung aside the habiliments of his dignity, her perception of him grew clearer. They laughed and chatted in a natural way, and he keenly enjoyed this new entrance into the radiant world of youthful happiness.