The Washington herald., 1907-10-15

Mrs. Nereker Was nuInpiy tHduhiuL Inc
visit. however. had to be returned. and
within the week Mrs. ArTnytage and Lucy
drove in a hired carriage to the British
Embassy and were shown into the draw
ing-room. Never was there a meeting
with greater elements of danger. Besides
Mrs Vereker and the three girls. they
had Gen. Talbot, Alicia Vernon, and
Senator March It was enough to dis
concert a trained woman Of the world,
but Lucy Armytage, with the natural
tact and self-control which was her heri-
tage, bore herself beautifully. She had
long since OWNED that the three Yerekes
girls followed their mother as IL she were
bell-cow, while Lord Baudesert was the
supreme arblter Of their destines Lucy
took up the best possible strategic posi-
tion-a chair next 10 Lord Baudesert. The
ambassador, IN spite Of his tendency 70
harass his womenkind. was a gentleman,
and while cursing Lucy from the bottom
Of his heart, treated her with c0urtly at
tention. Something In the softness Of
her manner and the fearlessness Of her
| eyes struck Lord Baudesert with a sneak
/ ing admiration. Lucy Armytage had
neither great beauty, great talents, nor
great fortune, but she was a conquerOr
of hearts, and her empire was over men.
| No man had ever withstood her charm
when she deliberately chose TO exercise IL.
| On this occasion she proceeded with in
finite tact TO captivate Lord BaudeseFt.
Sir Percy, secretly diverted In spite of
himself. watched Lucy serenely walking
into the good graces OF the ambassador,
and that by path which few had cour-
81. ~ - ..fIs
ment with him. Mrs. VereKer turned
10 Lord Baudesert concerning a certain
public question then under discussion:
I speak with much ignorance and
more prejudice. but just the same l can't
agree with you"
And Lord Baudesert. instead Of eating
| her up IN two mouthfuis on the spot.
answered amiably.
Ny dear young lady. you are no more
out OF ter who have discussed IL"
Then Lucy told him, with quiet drollery.
Of her own views and opinions OF the
subject and the various others which she
had heard expressed by the public men
VINO discussed 1t. and Lord Baudesert
| laughed with appreciation. And IhCE they
| found a book OF two in common. and
1 Lord Baudesert made the amazing dis
cOvery that a girl might browse about
| in a library and get hold OF Interesting
/ odds and ends Of knowledge, which she
/ knew how TO use without pedantry or
/ anectatiOn. Lucys information about the
/ Indian mutiny was a mine OF gold to
/ her. Lord Baudesert had been a cornet
in the days when there were still comets,
and had been both az Delhi and Lucknow,
and sewn upon the breast Of his court
/ costume was the medal OF the Alighur.
/ which he would not have exchanged 1or
/ the blue ribbon OF the Garter. Lucy was
/ the first woman he had met in America
who even knew the date Of the mutiny,
and Lord Baudesert. therefore, soon reck-
oned her above and beyond the rest OF
I the nation.
/ The visit was to Lucy a little triumph
/ OF her own. which was not lost upon
! any one present. least Of all Alicia Yer
non The manner between these two
women was perfect Lucy had rot for
/ gotten Sir Percy Carlyon's word OF warn
! ing. She knew not why he had no desire
/ for her 10 be intimate with Mrs. Vernon.
but his wishes were respected Each
was carefully polite 10 the other, and the
little shade Of reserve was too delicate 10
be noticed by any one present except Sir
Percy Carlyon. Senator March did not
notice II in the least. but came up 10
Lucy as she was leaving. and said in
low voice.
y hope that you and Mrs Vernon will
become great friends. I owe Sir Percy a
debt Of gratitude: it was through him,
you know. I met Mrs. Vernon"
Thank you" replied Lucy. ''Sir Percy
Is always laying people under obligations
10 him" and she turned away smiling
tage rose to 60. Lord Baudesert tried TO
pin Lucy down. Lucy stayed little
longer. but not even Lord Baudesert's
Establishments made her commit the
blunder Of staying too long
Lord Baudesert's first remark on find
ing himself alone in the bosom Of his
family was to Mrs. Vereker:
Have her to dinner as soon as you can.
Delightful girl. she is. After all. perhaps.
Percy didn't make any blunder
Mrs. Vereker shook her head like a Chi
nese mandarin. and sighed; she had been
shaking her head and signing ever since
the engagement was announced.
The dinner two weeks later was an
other and greater triumph for Lucy
Armytage. Sir Percy had expected her
to be frightened out Of her wits at the
thought Of sitting next Lord Baudesert
during the whole of the dinner. and he
could not quite bring himself to believe
that Lucy's calm courage was not fool
hardness. But where men were concern
cd. Lucy Armytage knew what to say
and do as well as any woman that ever
lived. AS she sat next TO Lord Baudesert
at the long and glittering dinner table,
she talked with him so prettily, con-
trolling her natural effervescence. but oc-
casionally sparkling into brilliance. that
Lord Baudesert found himself captivated
as he had never been before in his life
Senator March and Alicia Vernon were
present also; II seemed to Sir Percy as II
the fates were still at their terrible work
between Alicia Vernon and him.
Mrs. Vereker was sadly polite to Lucy.
wondering all the time what Lord Bau-
desert saw In her to delight him so obv-
ously When the last guests had de-
parted. Lord Baudesert, standing IN front
OF the fire in the hereditary attitude OF
the Englishman, with his feet wide
apart and his hands behind his back,
remarked coolly:
II think, Susan, when you go home this
summer, you may as well arrange to
remain during the winter. intend to
take the future Lady Carlyon in hand
and show ner a few things. and I can't
do it as well with you here. l shall ask
here to preside here"
Mrs. vereker gasped. The intimation
was not wholly displeasing to her after
three years Of trial with Lord Baudesert,
but the idea Of an American woman do
ing the honOrs of Lord Baudesert's en-
bassy was enough TO stagger anybody.
certainly a person so easily staggered SIS
Mrs. Vereker.
On a June morning In a small church
in Bardstown, KY, Lucy Armytage be-
came Lady Carlyon. 1t was the simplest
little wedding imaginable, without any
token that Lucy was making a splendid
marriage. She was a charming and un-