The Washington herald., 1907-10-09

I a. kf-Nll1
/ was talking earnestly with a group OF
/ plain. elderly persons. She turned her
/ head and caught sight of Sir Percy. hut
/ with a little nod and a CLINT of a smile.
/ she continued her conversation, and even
escorted the little group to the door.
where she said goOd-by. Then she came
/ up 10 Sir Percy.
They were constituents" she said.
I They are very nice people At home. but
they are not much accustomed to society.
/ and naturally they feel a little awkward
/ in room fun OF strangers like this. II
/ one takes them IN hand. and is a little
pleasant. they. are eternaiIy grateful. and
/ will stand by Uncle Armytage through
I thick and thin when the nominating con
/ Vention is on"
i see you are a politician" said Sir
Percy looking down at her and trying 10
/ determine whether white OF black were
more becoming 10 her piquant and irregu-
lar beauty.
NO; am diplomatist, ike yourself" o"
replied Lucy. looking up with laughing.
unabashed dark eyes into his face. NY
uncle, YOU see, is not a diplomatst at an.
and neither his worst enemy nor his best
friend could call him a politician I call
him statesman. He is the dearest man
on earth, but be- always acts on his i'm
pulses, and that You know is very m-
wise"
The gravity with which she said this
made Sir Percy smile. but Lucy kept on
with the air of an instiuctress.
'Of course, 1t is unwise Imagine Lord
Baudesert bolting out the truth upon
every occasion. And that is just what
my uncle does. My aunt thinks him the
wisest person in the world. so you see
am the only one in the family who is
capable Of any diplomacy az all. Now,
as l am twenty-five years old"
so old as that?" said Sir Percy. pre-
/ tending surprise
'Iwenty-six next birthday" graveIy re-
sponded Lucy. and I have learned a
great deal. one thing is, that constItu-
ents never forgive one il they are not
shown attention in Washington. assure
you my attentions 10 Gardstovn people
IN Washington got my uncle his last nom
lnatlon. / took a grocer's daughter round
with me sight-eeing, and l gave nine teas
IN one month for Bardstown girls I
didn't commit the folly of asking for in
Yltatons for them. Nobody thanks Won
for introducing the superfiuous girl and
can see why one should expect other
people 70 pay ones social debts. Bur 7
paid all my own debts, and made Uncle
Armytage do lot of things for the
Bardstown men who We're here. which he
said he hadn't time to do. But 7 made
him find the time. Isn't that diplomacy.
Diplomacy and good sense combined" >"
answered Sir Percy.
He thought he had never seen 50 ex-
pressive a face as Lucy Armvtaee's
Eevery word she uttered seemed tn have
a corresponding expression of the eve.
Her cheeks We're colorless, like the leaves
Of a white rose, but her lips were scarlet
and showed beautiful and regular teeth
A charming English girl always reminded
Sir Percy of beautiful rose IN bloom.
but this girl was like the starlike iessa-
mine, which grows not in every garden.
its white, mysterious flowers hiding in the
depths Of Is green leaves and casting
its delicious perfume afar. Then Lucy
said, suddenly changing the subject:
I have been In dream all day. This
morning I went for a walk far into the
country. as I often do. and 1 took Omar
with NE
Omar" asked Sir Percyp, not quite
understanding her.
The Rubaiyat,' 1 mean. Everybody
reads ii here. 1t always takes ME into
another world. Our life IS so vivid SO fuIl
Of action, so concerned with to-day. and
Omars world is all peace and dreaming.
I daresay you can read Omar in the
Original2"
"A little; but didn't know that Amer
leans liked peace and dreaming"
Wait until you see more of US. There
is Senator March, 1 must speak 10 him"
She turned and went up to Senator
March, who had come in and was stand
ing talking with Mrs. Armytage Sir
Percy remained some minutes looking at
the sight Before him. He was reminded
Of those meetings Of the Primrose
League which bring together ali manner
of men and women. Meanwhile he was
acutely conscious Of Lucy's presence. al
though half the room separated them.
She was indeed like the jessamine flower
whose languorous sweet odor forces one
10 seek it.
Sir Percy found few acquaintance.