<SPAN name="XIII"></SPAN>
<h1 align="center" style="margin-top: 2em;font-variant: small-caps">Chapter XIII</h1>
<h2 align="center" style="margin-top: 2em;font-variant: small-caps">Dru and Selwyn Meet</h2>
<p>The roads of destiny oftentimes lead us in strange
and unlooked for directions and bring together those
whose thoughts and purposes are as wide as space itself.
When Gloria Strawn first entered boarding school,
the roommate given her was Janet Selwyn, the youngest
daughter of the Senator. They were alike in nothing,
except, perhaps, in their fine perception of truth
and honor. But they became devoted friends and had
carried their attachment for one another beyond their
schoolgirl days. Gloria was a frequent visitor at
the Selwyn household both in Washington and Philadelphia,
and was a favorite with the Senator. He often bantered
her concerning her “socialistic views,”
and she in turn would declare that he would some day
see the light. Now and then she let fall a hint of
Philip, and one day Senator Selwyn suggested that she
invite him over to Philadelphia to spend the week end
with them. “Gloria, I would like to meet this
paragon of the ages,” said he jestingly, “although
I am somewhat fearful that he may persuade me to ‘sell
all that I have and give it to the poor.’”</p>
<p>“I will promise to protect you during this one
visit, Senator,” said Gloria, “but after
that I shall leave you to your fate.”</p>
<p>“Dear Philip,” wrote Gloria, “the
great Senator Selwyn has expressed a wish to know
you, and at his suggestion, I am writing to ask you
here to spend with us the coming week end. I have
promised that you will not denude him of all his possessions
at your first meeting, but beyond that I have refused
to go. Seriously, though, I think you should come,
for if you would know something of politics, then
why not get your lessons from the fountain head?</p>
<p>“Your very sincere,</p>
<p>“<i>Gloria</i>.”</p>
<p>In reply Philip wrote:</p>
<p>“Dear Gloria: You are ever anticipating my wishes.
In the crusade we are making I find it essential to
know politics, if we are to reach the final goal that
we have in mind, and you have prepared the way for
the first lesson. I will be over to-morrow on the
four o’clock. Please do not bother to meet me.</p>
<p>“Faithfully yours,</p>
<p>“<i>Philip</i>.”</p>
<p>Gloria and Janet Strawn were at the station to meet
him. “Janet, this is Mr. Dru,” said Gloria.
“It makes me very happy to have my two best
friends meet.” As they got in her electric runabout,
Janet Strawn said, “Since dinner will not be
served for two hours or more, let us drive in the
park for a while.” Gloria was pleased to see
that Philip was interested in the bright, vivacious
chatter of her friend, and she was glad to hear him
respond in the same light strain. However, she was
confessedly nervous when Senator Selwyn and Philip
met. Though in different ways, she admired them both
profoundly. Selwyn had a delightful personality, and
Gloria felt sure that Philip would come measurably
under the influence of it, even though their views
were so widely divergent. And in this she was right.
Here, she felt, were two great antagonists, and she
was eager for the intellectual battle to begin. But
she was to be disappointed, for Philip became the listener,
and did but little of the talking. He led Senator Selwyn
into a dissertation upon the present conditions of
the country, and the bearing of the political questions
upon them. Selwyn said nothing indiscreet, yet he
unfolded to Philip’s view a new and potential
world. Later in the evening, the Senator was unsuccessful
in his efforts to draw from his young guest his point
of view. Philip saw the futility of such a discussion,
and contented Selwyn by expressing an earnest appreciation
of his patience in making clear so many things about
which he had been ignorant. Next morning, Senator
Selwyn was strolling with Gloria in the rose garden,
when he said, “Gloria, I like your friend Dru.
I do not recall ever having met any one like him.”
“Then you got him to talk after we left last
night. I am so glad. I was afraid he had on one of
his quiet spells.”</p>
<p>“No, he said but little, but the questions he
asked gave me glimpses of his mind that sometimes
startled me. He was polite, modest but elusive, nevertheless,
I like him, and shall see more of him.” Far sighted
as Selwyn was, he did not know the full extent of
this prophecy.</p>
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