The morning news., 1892-03-17
BUcHANAN's NIECE.
A Story About the Youngest Mistress
the White House Has Bad.
IL, d.

From the Washington Post.
There came TO the capital last winter a
a very beautiful woman whose fine face and
noble carriage attracted much attention.
She dressed in deepest mourning, and her
dark blue eyes looked grave and sorrowful.
She was Miss Harriet Lane before she
was married TO Elliott Johnstone of Balti-
more, and while her uncle, Mr.. Buchanan,
the white house. Her Baltimore home was
luxurious and happy. They had great
wealth and their hospitality and kindness
made them widely beloved. Mr.. Johnstone
died some years ago, and Mrs. Johnstones
visit to Washington last year, with her two
sons, was the first In long time.
At dinner given in her honor at the
| house of a foreign minister the gentlemen
recalled old times, old friends and white
library. II can tell you a story of the most
lovely lady the white house ever boasted OF, -
said an old white haired diplomat
"Once upon time | knew a little girl,
eleven years old, who was as wild as deer
graceful and gay, full Of pranks and capers,
| and generous, big hearted, nonsense gener-
ally. She cared nothing for the remarks of
vania town TO great fun. Though she was
born aristoorat, she was most absurdly
unconscious OF propriety. You never saw
young thing so tall and straight, with
head like statue aud hair exactly the color
of yellow corn.
"Her uncle. with whom she lived, gave
grand dinner one day to some foreign
friends, and as knew them all we'll l was
honored with an invitation. We were
awaiting dinner as we chatted in the draw
ing room, and l was wondering that the
pretty little mistress of the house failed to
appear Miss Harriet's uncle was very
proud of her. / heard him remark Co Senior
I, Il wish you to meet my little adopted
daughter She is quite remarkable
"Just then he stepped TO the window, as
if looking for her. Suddenly turning, he
said: Excuse me moment. IL will re-
turn-soon, and hurried out Of side docs
to the piazza.
"I followed him. He hastily called the
cook, the butler, the coachman, aud re-
turned to the house flushed, excited, angry,
leaving me to settle the trouble.
''In time Miss Harriet entered the draw
ing room, dressed in q charming gown of
pale blue, her bonny hair fastened with rib
bons like the sky, her violets eyes deep and
She was quite the mistress OF her home, and
ready TO be presented to her unclsS stately
guests. Everybody was delighted with
Miss Harriet
"'And have you enjoyed this lovely day.
asked one of the distinguished men.
90. very much, indeed, thank YOU
But catching her uncle's eyes she blushed
down to her throat.
Now, this is what Mr.. Buchanan and
had seen before dinner:
Down the main street OF Lancaster Miss
Harriet trundling q wheelbarrow full of
wood. Her hat was hanging on one side of
her head, her face was as scarlet as a poppy.
her young arms were braced strong and
| straight, her bare hands Rrasping the
handles Of the wheelbarrow like those Of
peasant girl Of Italy.
when the guests had departed and we
| three, Mr.. Buchanan and his niece and I,
were sitting before the open fireplace late
that night, the courtly old gentleman asked
in despairIng sort Of tone, Harriet, what
were you doing when I saw youF
Why. Uncle James, / was on my way
to ole black Tabitha's with a load of wood
because it was growing cold 50 fast. She
really had not stick
"You all know that after graduating at
the Georgetown convent, Miss Harriet went
with her uncle to the court of st. James, as
he was then the American minister. Queen
Victoria was so pleased with the beautiful
American girl that she ranked her, during
their stay, as wife. not daughter of the
minister, SO that the kind-hearted little
tomOoy OF Lancaster because one OF the
diplomatic corps at st. James In Paris.
she was called the girl queen, and when
Tennyson and Mr.. Buchanan received the
degree of doctor of civil laws at the same
time at the University of Oxford, the
students cheered her en- masse
much the same admiration was given
her at the white house. She was called the
golden beauty as she stood beside the
courtly gray old man, the President. The
Prince of Wales never forgot his visit to
America, especially to the charming first
lady of the land. He sent her beautiful re-
membrances on his return home
''Her marriage was a brilliant one, and I
know that her life as wife and mother was
more to be admired than all her conquests.
saw her-a beautiful bride; but she was
thousand times handsomer that breezy
afternoon, wheeling the wood to Aunt
Tabitha."