"Sit down," said Forbes. He had not risen. He indicated an easy-chair near his own. "Thanks," said Luke; but he did not sit down. Forbes at last noticed his visitor’s nervousness. "I suppose you’ve had a hard day," he said. "Pardon me for not congratulating you sooner on your success. This sheet"—he brandished the _Evening Star_—"doesn’t want anything but to be against everything. It upsets me every evening. But you’ve done a big thing. I think you should have come clear over to our side, but I dare say you will do that in time. Meanwhile, I’m sincerely glad for your good fortune. You deserve it." "You’re very good," said Luke. His eyes twinkled a little. "I wonder if you know about it—all." "Only what this mealy-mouthed sheet says. It’s absolutely inexplicable to me, Huber, how a paper written by such able men can be so narrow-minded on broad subjects. However, I think they’re going to support _your_ party, if they may be said ever to support anything." "I’m afraid they _are_ rather reticent about the real news," said Luke. "They never tell anything that weighs against their theories." "They haven’t had a chance to tell this." Forbes looked puzzled. "What do you mean?" "It’s only just happened." Luke breathed deeply. "I’m engaged to be married," he said. He spoke with an unusual rapidity. "Engaged to be married, and I’d like it to come off—the wedding, I mean—right after the election." Forbes scrambled up. He wrung Luke’s hand. "Well, well," he said, "you are to be congratulated!" "I am glad you think so," said Luke, "for you know the girl better than I do." "The girl? I know her better——" Forbes’s voice rose. "You don’t mean—— You don’t mean to say——" "Yes," Luke nodded. "It _is_ luck, isn’t it? It’s Betty." "Bless my soul!" Forbes brought his left hand down on Luke’s right shoulder. "Bless my soul! My little girl! Huber, you—you rather knock the wind out of me." He said all the conventional things; his manner showed all the proper surprise; and both men understood that he had been expecting this news for a long time and wanting it. "Huber," he said, "of course this is sudden, and of course I’m an old fool not to have got over considering Betty a child—a mere baby—but, now you’re here with the announcement, I’m quite certain that, out of all the men who’ve been tagging after her, you’re the one that I’d want for a son-in-law." Luke again mumbled his thanks.