The Washington herald., 1907-10-08

Mrs Vereker looked apprehensively at
Sir Percy, whom she regarded as super
serviceable champion, likely 10 get her
into additional trouble.
"Oh, my dear Percy" she FASTENED 10
say Lord Baudeserts taste IN dress IS
perfect. am sure I would be as smart
as any one. If only knew how. but we
are at the mercy OF the dressmakers. and
Lord Baudesert can't understand that"
Lord Baudesert can understand any
thing he wants to-" answered Sir Percy
laughing.
Then Lord Baudesert laughed too. Sir
Percy's determination not TO be bullied
by him was an agreeable sensation 10
Lord Baudesert. accustomed as he was
10 be approached on all fours by the
ladies Of his family.
The occasion to worry his womankind.
however, was too good for Lord Bau-
desert. and he began again TO his nephew:
Il hope. my dear boy. you will meet
| friend OF mine to-night-Mrs. Chantrey-a
widow, very handsome, fine old Boston
! family, with something like a billion Of
money
was her rod Of scourging. which Lord
Baudesert freely applied. Then. taking
/ his nephew's arm. the ambassador walk
ed into the next room. and out of Mrs.
vereker's hearing expressed his true SEN
timents-
you will see the American woman IN
/ full force tonight" he said. They are
strange creatures. full OF esprit. and they
/ have brought the art Of dress 10 the level
OF fine art Be sure to look at their
shoes and handkerchiefs. 1 am told that
/ their stockings are works Of art Don't
mind their screeching at you, you viii
get used TO IT, There is great talk OF
/ their wonderful adaptability, nevertheless
II never saw one Of them whom I really
thought was fitted 10 be the wife OF
! diplomat. You needn't pay any attention
20 the way I talk about Mrs. Chantrey;
wouldn't marry that woman II she
were made Of radium at two million dol
lars the pound. but It amuses me TO worry
Susan on the subject"
| That's nice for Aunt Susan" answered
/ Sir Percy; but on one point my mind is
made up-I shall never marry an Amer
/ lean"
/ I can tell you one thing" continued
Lord Baudesert marrying an Ameri-
can helress is about the poorest invest
ment any man can make, II he has an
eye 10 business. In this singular country
money is never mentioned by the bride
groom That one word settlement
would be enough 20 make an American
| father kick any man out Of the house.
/ The father. however, Is certain to men
I ton money 10 his prospective sOn-in-law.
/ He demands that everything his daugh-
/ ter's husband has be settled on the wife,
and generally requires that his future
/ son-in-law's life be insured for the wifes
/ benefit. Then, whatever the American
/ father has to give his daughter he ties
up as tight as a drum, so thet the SON
/ in-law can't touch H. and everything else
/ the son-in-law may get depends on his
/ good behavior. The American girl, hav-
/ ing been accustomed 10 regard herself as
la pearl beyond price. expects her hus-
/ band to be a sort Of coolie at her com
mand. II he isn't she flies back to her
/ father and the father proceeds to cut of
supplies from the sOn-in-law. on. IL Is
great game. the American marriage.
/ when il is for high stakes. take II that
/ IL is impossible FOR any European. even
an EngnshmaH. TO get at the point Of
/ view Of an American father concerning
/ his daughter"
Then the first violin among the musi-
clans played a few bars Of a waltz. Sarah
and Isabella, seeing Lord Baudeserts
back turned, waltzed around together in
a corner Of the drawing-room. As soon,
however, as they caught Lord Baudesert's
eye they left on dancing and scuttled
back under the wing OF their mother.
You. seem TO have terrorizsd those
( girls pretty successfully" remarked Sir
Percy; why don't you Jet the poor things
have a little Independence
My dear fellow, they wouldn't know
what 10 do with independence Il they had
IT, They have behind them q thousand
years Of a civilization based upon the
| submission Of an Englishwoman 10 an
Englishman. They would be like over
fed pbeasants trying 10 fly, II they
had a viii OF their own. and they
are happy as they are. They always
sing when l am not by. I annoy Susan
occasionally by talking about Mrs. Chant
rey. When that lady is in full canonicals.
with ali her diamonds. she looks like the
/ Queen Of Sheba in Goldmarks opera. She
looks worse than a new duchess at her
first court
At that moment the great hall door
II
slight. well-made man. with a trim gray
mustaChe. entered, and was shown into
the dressing-room. Lord Baudesert then
took his stand, or rather his seat, near
the door Of the drawing-room, with Mrs
Vereker at his side.
I always have the govt" he explained
10 Sir Percy, "at balls. It Is tiresOme to
stand, and, besides. an ambassador is
entitled to have some kind OF gentleman
ly disease Of which he can make use
upon occasions"
Il am so sorry" said Mrs. Vereker,
sympathetlcally, TO Lord BaUdesert
that the govt is troubling you this even
ing. l have not heard you speak Of II
for months"
Haven't had a touch since the last
ball. calmly replied Lord Baudesert, and
then he stood up to greet the early guest
who entered without showing any awk-
wardness at his somewhat premature ar
rival.
Delighted TO see you" said Lord
! Baudesert. with the greatest cordiality
1T is not often you honor a ball Let
me introduce my nephew and new sec
rotary of the embassy TO you-Sir Percy
Carlyon, Senator March"
The two men shook hands, and instant.