The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1906-04-20

looking rufian!"
Then he switched over to politics
and Robert became an interested lis.
tener. Quarter Of an hour later the
women returned, and certainly they
made a picture which was most sat
isfactory to the masculine eye. Bot
jumped to his feet and kissed them
both. thing I lacked the courage to
| do. How pleased thew looked How a
woman loves flattery from those sha
Lowest
Well, William is in front with the
carriage; the women are putting on
their cloaks, and l am admiring the
luxurious crimson fur-lined garment
which brother Robert had sent to Nan
cy from Paris. You will see by this
that he was not altogether a thought
less lad. Good-by, Mr.. Robert
leave you and your guiding-star to bolt
the established orbit; for, after this
night the world will never be the same
careless, happy-go-lucky world. The
farce has its tragedy, and what trag-
edy is free of the ludificatory? Youth
must run its courses, even as the gay
wild brook must riot on its way to join
the sober river
I dare say that we hadn't gone 20
minutes before Robert stole out to the
stables, only to return Immediately
with a bundle under his arm and
white felt hat perched rakishly on his
head. He was chuckling audibly to
himself
ut will brighten the girls half to
to death. A gray horse and a bay; oh,
l won't make any mistake. Let me
see: I'll start about II o'clock. That'll
get me to the spot just as the boys
leave. This is the richest yet I'll
wager that there will be some tall
screaming" He continued chuckline
as he helped himself to his brothers
perfeetos and fine old Scotch. | don't
know what book he found in the pri-
vate case; some old rascals merry
tales, no doubt; for my hero's face was
never in repose.
We had left Mrs Secretary-of-the-In
terior's and were entering the red
brick mansion on Connecticut avenue.
Carriages lined both sides of the street,
and mounted police patrolled up and
down.
Poor boy!' sighed Nancy. T won
Ter If he'll be lonely. It's a shame to
cave him home the very first night"
why didn't he come, them"
Mrs. w. shrugged her polished shout
ders.
"Oh, my cigars and Scotch are fairly
comforting" put in Jack, complacent-
y. Besides, Jane isn't at all bad
cooking, "-winking at me- What do
you say, Charlie?"
But Charlie had not time to answer.
rhe gray-haired, gray-whiskered am
was bowling pleasantly to
is. A dozen notable military and |
naval attaches nodded; and we passed |
IN to the ballroom, where the or
'hestra was playing "A Summer Night |
n Munich" In a moment Jack and |
lis wife were lost in the maze Of |
,leaming shoulders and white linen.
t was picture such as few men, |
,nce having witnessed it, can forget. |
Here were the great men in the great |
world this man was an old rear-ad-
niral. destined to become the nations |
zero soon; there, famous general, |
# long and splendid service; cele-
rated statesmen, diplomats, finan-
iers; noted English duke; a scion of |
he Hapsburg family; an intimate Of
he German kaiser; a swart jap a
'binaman with his peacock feather;
ems Of men whose highest word was
iste1ed to by the four ends Of the
1orld; representatives of all the great
ingdoms and states. The president
nd his handsome wife had just left
G we came. so we missed that for
n-litv, which detracts from the pleas
res Of the ballroom.
Who is that handsome young fell
1w over there, standing at the side
{ the Russian ambassadors Wife,"
sled Nancy, pressing my arm.
Where? Oh he's Count KarloR
or something that sounds like IT'D,
wealthy Russian. in some way con
ected with the Russian government;
diplomat and capital fellow, they
~. l have never met him
Tello! there's a stunning girl RIGHT
ext to him that I haven't seen before.
Where are you going?"
Nancy had dropped my arm and was
liding, kitty-corner fashion, across
ne floor. Presently she and the stun.
ing girl had salated each other after
le impulsive fashion of American
iris, and were playing cat-in-the-cra-
le, to the AMUSEMENT Of those for
Igners nearest. A nod, and | was
lreading my way to Nancy's side.
isn't it glorious?" she began. This
Miss Annesley, Charlie; BETTY, Mr.
anderson. T" Miss Annesley looked
lildly curious at Nan, who suddenly
ushed. "We are to be married in the
1ring," she exclaimed shyly; and !
are say that there was a didident
spression on my own face.
Miss Anneslay gave me her hand,