year on Our Colonial Policies.
This last anniversary Darius had clean forgotten. In fact, he had
advised her to go to the Federation meeting; saying, lightly, that it
came at an opportune moment because he must be away that week, himself.
"Milwaukee is a pretty city," he ended amiably, "and there will be lots
of hen-functions and you'll enjoy yourself; but what's the object of it
all, your Federation?"

"I don't know"--she astonished him with her frank levity--"when I do,
I'll tell you."

"Well, don't get into any rows you can help," said he easily; "want any
more money? Got plenty?"

"Plenty, thank you," said she, "although I am going to be rather
extravagant and get some very smart toilets."

He looked over his glasses at her; and she was not able to decipher his
smile. Didn't he approve of her clothes? She sent her fine eyes into the
mirror of her dressing-table, after he had gone, and studied the picture
there with a frown and a smile, at last with a moisture over her eyes.

But, although he said nothing, when she next examined her bank-book she
found her credit larger. "Maybe he _does_ like my spending more money on
my gowns," she thought.

She went to Milwaukee. She did not remind him of the anniversary. She
said to herself that she would seriously try to discover the object of
the Federation; then she would tell Darius. Her daughter-in-law
accompanied her, and her daughter was to meet her. "Quite a family
party," said her son; "well, I hope you girls will have a good lark!
And, I say, Hester, find out what it's all about--if you can!"

At first, Myrtle Hardy was more bewildered than excited. The scene was
unlike anything in her experience. The hotels glittering with feminine
finery and humming with feminine voices; the placards over doorways in
rotundas or corridors, announcing headquarters; the vast crooning bulk
of the lake, the iridescent gleam of water that came to one in glimpses
as one was whirled down the wide and breeze-swept avenues, amid a dazzle
of lovely fabrics and smiling faces, blooming like flowers in swiftly
passing victorias or rattling cabs, or rippling over the sidewalks into
the wide vestibules where Milwaukee welcomed her guests; the noisy rush
of the city; the ceaseless rattle and clang of the electric-cars which
were like an orchestral accompaniment to the magnetic excitement pulsing
under the decorous calm of the meetings, in the flower-decked theaters,
or eddying through the foye