Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-12-15
Chapter Xxx.

1t was warm end of April when the last
of our musicales came off in one of the
finest music halls, the closing affair of the
season. 1t was a social event, too, and
some of the best talent in the city sang for
US / wore bewitching gown of soft pearl
gray, with ruchings of Mechlin lace. and a
single great American Beauty rose, from a
box that had arrived from the east that
forenoon. AS l turned from the mirror in
my room l was but half conscious of the
desire to see the giver of that rose. but as
drew my wrap about me and descended the
stairway 1 hummed the refrain, Robins
not there" and then the maid opened the
door and took from the messenger boy a
cablegram. My heart sank. presaging the
disagreeable. Arrange to come on next
steamer" It said. Join me in London for
continental tour. Answer
| crushed the cablegram in my hand and
went on TO the carriage. What should do?
Give up my hardly obtained Chicago tri-
umphs? Lay down the presidents gavel
whom and myself there were already
strained relations) to my hardly won
honors? l looked from my car
rage windows and saw that we
were approaching a telegraph office. My
hand went up to the strap. for did not the
cablegram ask for an answer?
Suddenly / drew back. l would wait until
later On my way home. perhaps. or the
next morning.
Ten minutes after 1 entered the box at
the right of the stage which had been re-
served for the president and her guests.
The program opened and the crowd ap-
plauded. The heavy odor Of flowers and
the sweet strains OF music. the time. the
place. were intoxicating i resolutely put
behind me all thoughts Of the future. For
was not this social triumph? Was not l..
In a way. the envied and the admired hos
tess of the brilliant evening?
Suddenly the soft swish of the curtain
at my side caused me to look around There
bending low and reaching his hand out to
mine. stood the Count de Beauvais.
When / reached home. long after mid
night-for there had been little supper
for Mrs. Parsons and some others. at the
counts expense. and all In my honor-I
found the house all alight and my mother
up and dressed.
Little Joey has scarlet fever" she said.
II called the doctor Just after you left, and
he says II is fully developed case. He is
Quarantined In the upper chamber with
good nurse. You are to go quietly to bed.
and in the morning take the baby away
somewhere until this is over"
am ashamed to say il, but Ii came as
a respite, for, of course, / could not sail
for Europe now. Instead. l took the baby
and her nurse and established myself in a
downtown hotel where we had telephone
communication with home and could be
informed Immediately IL any emergency
arose. But although the boy was i'll for
three weeks. he was at no time dangerously
so. and after the first l went out every
day. or course, / cabled my husband and
he accepted my excuse for remaining be-
hind with the laconic phrase. "Will write"
When his letter finally came 1t commended
me for my motherly devotion. and stated
that. as business required his presence In
Berlin and Vienna on a certain date, he
would take the trip without me. blush
even now, to recall what relief his letter
was .e-s- .ss9 -
= With summer came long trip east end
Ing with month at Meguntic Cove, a