96 WHEAT AND WOMAN 



ance of my own sex in Lipton, but her dwelling 

 was within a hundred yards of the building, and 

 with great good-nature she cancelled a previous 

 appointment in order to " stand by." 



A quality, implied in the statement " that he 

 has never spent a dollar of the public money," is 

 claimed for Mr. Haultain so frequently, and with 

 such an air of holy exaltation not to say exclusion 

 as to make one a little curious about Canadian 

 politicians in general. The frankest information 

 always leapt to the service of discreet inquiry, 

 revealing the fact that, in the political development 

 of a new and wealthy country, vulgar opportunity 

 is set with the grace and glamour, and endowed 

 with the special absolution usually reserved for 

 traditional temptation. I gathered that from the 

 seats of the mighty, reserved for politicians, one 

 had only to stretch out the hand in a peculiar 

 manner to grasp " the cup of Tantalus," and it 

 seemed that some had more intelligence, others 

 less resistance, whilst here and there one made " the 

 great refusal." Inquiring into the ways and means 

 of entry into the circle I heard so many queer 

 stories that I came to the conclusion it was empty 

 gossip, and asked a member of the Legislative 

 Assembly of one of the Western Provinces if it was 

 true that in Canada votes could be bought for half a 

 crown. 



" Where did you hear it ? " he demanded with 

 such real live interest as to send my mind in search 

 of adequate apology. " That's all right," he answered 

 consolingly, " only I never got a vote yet for less 

 than five dollars." 



In those days, too, one was always hearing that 



