"Nothing much. The governor of South Carolina simply did not feel like giving a United States Senatorship either to a boy or to a man from another State. He is just mailing your commission as Jones’s successor. Don’t decline it before you hear the whole story. Congratulations to you. "W. D. ROBERTSON." "This has ’an ancient and fish-like smell.’ Read it," Rutledge said to Lola when he had recovered from his astonishment sufficiently to speak. She took the telegram and while she was trying to interpret its import Senator Killam came hurriedly into the gallery and seized upon Rutledge. "I got a telegram from the governor half an hour ago and have been trying to find you ever since," he exclaimed. "He has appointed you—oh, you have heard, I see. Well, come right down with me. I want to present you to your colleagues." Evans could doubt no longer, and Lola DeVale had grasped the meaning of it. "I am so glad to be the first to congratulate you," she said, and he felt the sincerity of her good wishes in her warm hand-grasp. Then Senator Killam carried him off. * * * * * "I know it came ’like a bolt from the blue’ to you," Robertson wrote to him; "but the whys and wherefores need not mystify you. There cannot be the slightest doubt of your ability to fill the office—full to the brim; and the rest is easy. You know the old man fully intended all along to contest for the place with Jones, whose term would have expired with the old man’s term as governor. Jones’s demise, however, presented a problem to him that has driven him to the verge of lunacy for a week. He couldn’t give himself the commission, of course. He couldn’t resign and get it, for the lieutenant-governor has been the avowed supporter of LaRoque for the Senatorship. He couldn’t give it to LaRoque or Pressley, for the three of them are too evenly matched.... When he finally came to the idea of appointing some one to fill the vacancy who was clearly not in the running so that the primaries might settle it among the three of them, I suggested you. He jumped at the idea.... The old man has every reason to feel kindly toward you both for your father’s sake and for your own excellent work’s sake, and he does not doubt your friendliness to himself.... You will have less than six months in which to make a name for yourself, but—perhaps—who can tell? ... I wish I had such an opportunity. I am heartily glad you have it." * * * * *