248 WITH MR. CHAMBERLAIN IN THE 



Here Mrs. Chamberlain struck in. 



" I guess I'd have you a-light and pro-cure me 

 about five cents worth of chewing-gum, my dear," 

 drawled she. 



" But if the train should go on without me, love ? " 

 quoth Joseph, who evidently thought it beneath his 

 dignity to run on small errands for anybody. 



" The cars wait at this de-pot for ten minutes, I 

 reckon," cooed the lady, dreamily, " and I'm sorter 

 sot on gum, I am." 



There was that in her tones which caused her lord 

 to depart on his mission with alacrity. Bowing to 

 the bride, I followed him. 



" I fancy you're mistaken in your idea that Mrs. 

 Chamberlain is not a Home Ruler," I observed with 

 subtle irony. 



" Eh, sir — how's that ? " queried Joseph, un- 

 easily. 



" Wait till she gels you to Highbury, and you'll see," 

 I replied, in meaning accents. 



And then, Mr. Editor, I mingled with the gadding 

 crowd, and Joseph walked pensively off in search of 

 that chewing-gum. Mary will avenge the Liberal 

 Party yet, sir, take my word for it. 



Mr. and Mrs. Chamberlain were married at 

 Washington on November 15, 1888, and on their 

 return to Birmingham in the following January, 

 Bergne and I paid our second visit to Highbury to 

 attend the festivities which Birmingham accorded 



