The Savannah morning news., 1904-01-10
(Continued from Last Sundays News)
CHAPTER XII.
HOW PEG WOULD WEAR TIL
CORAL.

HOW PEG WOULD WEAR THE
CORAL.
This is how I shall do said Peg
at last. and after the General and 1
had waited upon her small profundity
for some space; this shall be my plan.
We will have the White House for a
reserve, then. The day for our cabinet
folk to receive their friends will be
Tuesday-the procession begins with
the first Tuesday to follow New Years
Day. Our good little Secretary of State
has suggested, inasmuch as l am to
preside for him. that his house and
mine be open only on alternate cabi-
net days. In short, we will receive
together. On one Tuesday he will be
at my house on the next, when my
house is closed, will take stand in
his drawing room and receive our
guests for him. You know. too. how
1 am TO be the head for what tunc-
lions occur at the British and Russian
legations and act as Lady of the Man
sion for our friends, the Viscount
Vaughn and Baron Krudener. Thus
begin with a double reception in my
house for the good little Secretary ana
myself; then at krudener's; then at
the good little Secretary's; and then
with the English. After that, we com
mence again at my own home
And when do you march my Whlte
House upon this desperate field?" de-
nanded the General, with much gaiety
of mien. Pegs vivacious recount of
how she should move her social troops
delighted him no little. In what man
ner will 1 be made of use?"
''Why, then" said Peg, after the re-
ception at the English house II you
will you may give me dinner, with
a dance in the big East Room This
was spoken in manner dubious and
with the lifting infection of request.
also, though it be much to ask, l
could wish nightly for you to come in
person to my reception. 1t would be a
most convincing initial"
"And you doubt my coming?' asked
the General, beamingly.
'It would be most unusual for
President" said Peg, shaking warning
head. THE gossips would scarce sur
vive the shock of it."
my life" observed the General, in
a most satisfied way, has been made
up of shocks to other folk"
But you must consider" urged Peg,
'how your appearance in any ones
house would be a letting down OF your
dignity. Indeed, in austere quarters,
where the regular is as a god, it would
be regarded for a no slight rent in
your robes"
"And yet, child shall come" This
fhe General offered in n manner in
describably good. 81 have been no
man Of precedent in my time: | care
little for what was, but much tor
what is presently right. ] shall come
to your reception; more, III stay I'M
ill YOU give me leave to go. If to be
in the house of my friend, or to show
him courtesy who has shown me only
favor and good service-if that be to
establish a rent in my presidency,
I'll promise to have it a thing of rags
and patches before ever I am done"
"Then you will GOMEZ! exclaimed
Peg. "Now shall we go bravery
through! For, you are to know so
nance is born of nothing save fear OF
loss or hope of place, that the nero
will collect, bowling and smiling ana
shining like the sun, wherever you are
known to be-"
sSThese be, truly, most satisfying
maps you draw" remarked the Gen
eral, quizzically "and yet 90 not see
how we are to tell when victory Is
ours. Now. in war the enemy surreh-
ders or runs away"
"In the Salons" said Peg, laughing
at the Generals quaint twists, trl-
umph turns to the mere question OF
numbers added to quality. 1t is mat
ter of 'Who?' and How many "a
count of carriages to your gate. But
the query of quality is uppermost. NOW
your presence at my house will out
weigh the world, should it be so fool
ish as to gather itself together against
us in the camps of the foe"
"Then you are indeed verv safe"
said the General since I shall be
with you as I've said. Also. you are
to have your dinner and that East
Room bali to follow, on what day you
lay the finger of your pretty preference.
Even though I lacked the reason of
my affection, I still could do no less
for so beautiful an enemy of Calhoun.
But you spoke of Van Buren,. How
did our round little friend go about his
proposals of those joint receptions2 l
have a curiosity as to that argument
which should lead him to this kindly
wisdom; for, let me remind you. it is
a stratagem worthy of a Caesar, and
one, besides, TO smell most humanity
Of what Is honest and staunch, this
phrasing of a situation where your
iil-wishers must become his ill-wishers
and his friends take on terms of friend
ship for you. How did Van Buren, go
upon that proposition, child?"
.1n the oldest way, then" smiled
Peg. ''He said that because we were
both of tavern origin. with sires to
keep houses of call, and since there
might come proud folk to frown upon
us for that, it were a wisest thing.
and one to make for the ease of them
and us, to hold ever our receptions
in common. Folk then might come,
or stay away and all with a prodig-
ious saving of effort whether of COM
pliment or insult. to every one con-
cerned. But. of course" said Peg,
at the close. her eve a bit wet. sit was
only his goodness to do this"
NOW. believe nothing of that sort"
declared the General, stoutly Child,
] do not know bv what paths you
descend to this modest esteem of your
self. but 1t in nowise shakes the fact
that. with the last Of it, you grace
and illustrate and honor the best room
YOU enter or the best arm to lean on
in the land"
Thus spoke the gallant General from
his heart: and to me IL was like milk
and honey to onlv hear him. In the
finish he turned his ewes nv wav.
"Ard where he vorr words in This
council?" demanded the General. "FTave