Ethelyn did not know.

She had never mentioned Washington to Richard Markham, and he had never guessed how much that prospective season at the capital had to do with her decision.

That it would be hers to enjoy she had no shadow of doubt, but as she felt then she did not particularly care to keep up a household for the sake of entertaining her aunt, and possibly Frank and his wife, so she replied that she presumed "they should board, as it would be the short session--if he was re-elected they might consider the house." "There may be a still higher honor in store for him than a re-election," Mrs.Van Buren said, and then proceeded to speak of a letter which she had received from a lady in Camden, who had once lived in Boston, and who had written congratulating her old friend upon her niece's good fortune.

"There was no young man more popular in that section of the country than Judge Markham," she said, "and there had been serious talk of nominating him for governor.

Some, however, thought him too young, and so they were waiting for a few years when he would undoubtedly be elected to the highest office in the State." This piece of intelligence had greatly increased Mrs.Van Buren's respect for the lady-elect of Iowa's future governor, and she gave the item of news with a great deal of satisfaction, but did not tell that her correspondent had added, "It is a pity, though, that he does not know more of the usages of good society.