The Washington herald., 1907-10-16
CHAPTER *.


ator March. while walking through the
still, fashionable, fine old street in which
his house was, saw a beautiful victoria
superbly horsed, drawn up 10 the side
walk. IN it sat lady and gentleman
whom he instantly recognized as sir
Percy Carlyon, recently appointed Am
bassador to Washington, and Lazy
carlyon They had stopped for mo-
ment to speak to two beautiful little Doys'
three and two years of age, in the hands
OF a stately nursemaid and her assistant
Senator March's eyes rested with long
ing upon the charming little children
He was passionately fond OF children
and they were the only gift Of Heaven
which seemed denied 10 him. When the
nurse moved away with her charges
Senator March stepped up and grasped
Sir Percys hand, and then Lady Carlyon
laid her little, white-gloved hand IN his.
Il didn't know you had arrived said
Senator March. I watched the news
papers, and so has Mrs. March, thinking
that we would not let twenty-four hours
so by without seeing you.
I'VE reached town only last night
said Sir Percy and We were speaking OF
you i've minutes ago when We drove past
your house"
While Sir Percy was speaking, Senator
March, manlike, kept his eyes hXed upon
Lady Carlyon. One glance showed TO
him that she had found herself; she was
far prettier than she had ever been be-
fore. and there was new meaning and
charm in her agreeable and well-cuiu-
waited voice. She seemed to have grown
taller. and she had a sweet, unaffected
dignity Of wifehood and motherhood. The
dainty. hlgh-bred girl had become
woman, had developed into an Am
bassadress worthy of the name. It was
she who said to Senator March;
7 hope Mrs March is well, and. OF
course. she is happy?'
she appears TO be both" replied Sena-
tor March, smiling; perhaps 1t is only
her British pluck which enables her 10
stand the American husband
Z shall hope TO see her very soon,' said
Lady Carylon. and then Sir Percy in
quired about Gen. Talbot
We are expecting him in the sPTing'
AS you may imagine, Mrs. March does
not let any long interval pass between
her visits to Gen. Talbot in England and
his visits to US. BY the way, what an
odd fatality has always interfered with
our seeing you and Lady CarlyOn when
we have been in Europe. We seemed TO
be playing a game Of hide-and-seek, but
now there will be no escaping each other
and we must see as much as we can OF
you and Lady Carlyon."
Thank you,' answered Sir Percy, with
the utmost cordiality, but it was Lady
Carlyon who added: Yes, pray remember
US to Mrs. March, and we shall look
forward to seeing Cen Talbot as soon
as he arrives. We shall expect to see
you soon"
Then after a few moments more of
conversation the carriage drove away.
A victoria, with a coachman and foot
man in hearing, is no place for private
conversation, and nothing was said about
Senator March and his wife until Sir
Percy and Lady Carlyon had reached
home and were alone in Sir Percys
library.
Dearest" said Lady Carlyon. laying
her little hand upon his sleeve. there is
but one attitude TO take: we must be
friendly with her. Remember Senator
March's position and how you stand with
Gen. Talbot"
7 know It ALL" answered Sir Percy
doggedly.
They were standing together. and Sir
Percy took MS wife's hand and kissed IT,
You are the better diplomatist Of the
two, he said: Il could not bring myself
to speak Alicia Vernon's name. If it
hadn't been for your readiness Senator
March must have suspected something.
1t must be hard for you?"
Very but l have been preparing my
self for this complication ever since you
told me that story After all. it is quite
natural that Mrs. March should make a
fight for her position in the world. Ii
isn't every woman who has it in her to
be a Louise la Valliere'
1T is certainly not in Alicia March:
however, there is nothing so cowardly as
for a man to complain Of a woman. 1
should be glad to take all the pain OF my
own WTongdOing, but you, poor, innocent
child, must suffer too"
let Us not think OF it," said Lady
CarlyOn, drawing her husbands lips TO
hers
Sir Percy said nothing, but his kiss and
his eyes were eloquent Of love and graft
tude. Then Lady Carlyon went into the
drawing room and Sir Percy followed
her. Deep in his heart he was a senti-
mentalist, and he loved his wife with
single-hearted devotion. He could not
but compare her. as she moved about the
room, her white cloth gown trailing upon
the floor, with the slim, pretty, and in
consequent young girl whose waltzing
had first charmed him. She was still slim
and pretty, but she had grown wise with
soft, sweet wisdom 1t was she, now, who
thought for him, smoothed over the
rough places, practiced an easy and
graceful self-control, and as all that the
wife Of an ambassador should be-
The tea tray was brought in. and Lady
Carlyon gave Sir Percy his tea, a thing
comforting in itself. with the same gra-
ciOus air that she would have handed il
to the ambassador of France.
''It was in the ballroom that first saw
you, waltZing with young Stanley the
naval officer said Sir Percy. drinking
his tea with calm deliberation, "and ii
was in the library that Lord Baudesert
warned ne that diplomat should never
marry an American, and I swore to him
! never would
1T is all wrong in principle" replied
Lady Carlyoh, making pretty little
grimace-she retained for Sir Percy's
benefit alone all the little rogush tricks
and airs which made Lucy Armytage so
charming, but would scarcely have been
becoming in Lady Carlyon-"I never
thought that anything would induce me
20 marry any man outside Of Kentucky.
have often been shocked by your want
Of knowledge OF horses"
Sir Percy tweaked her ear. The form
aud ceremony with which horses were
treated In England had been a revelation
10 Lady CaTylOn. and Sir Percy himself
10 MN l-.aaa Of h----