Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-07-07

Incl" she exclaimed, "imagine Harriet con-
fesses that she does not know her own in
vited guests! Harriet the select. the in
Mo ihe
Cheever: "of course she's Mrs. Whiting s
niece. What meant was that Mrs. Whit
ings niece conveys nothing to me: 7 never
knew her brother Joseph had a dim
he married cook or something. But this
girl! She's a revelation, she's no more
like Mrs. whiting"
Heavens. do you mean that huge old
ners ever since-since Noah?" interposed
Mrs. Jerome.
Exactly; Piggy Whiting. dear" said
Molly gleefully; ''she is still alive and still
in pursuit OF desirable third husband-a
Supreme Court justice Or
Hush said Mrs. Cheever warningiy,
here comes the ambassador"
"Ah. dear heaven, a man at last" sighed
Molly devoutly.
Mrs. Cheever rose from behind the tea
table and moved swiftly across the room to
greet her guest
WHO is it?'' whispered Christine Jerome.
Molly's bright face sparkled with mis-
chief and the tall plumes on her futed
speaks of him like that. with bated breath"
she replied softly, las If he were the only
ambassador in Washington. and he isn't
even the dean of the corps"
q,
you know 1 have been away perfect cons,
Molly"
Hush! It's Portucarrero-count Portu-
carrero."
Mrs. Cheever had turned and she and her
guest were approaching the tea table, chat
ting pleasantly as they came.
Il think you know Miss Lane, Count
Portucarrero." she said. smiling at Molly,
but Mrs. Jerome has only Just returned
to Washington after five years at army
posts in the wild wild west
The ambassador bowed; he was q tall
man. slender and erect, with singularly
calm and handsome face, face like a
mask. the eyes eluding you under heavy
lids and his scanty hair was snow white.
Molly Lane called him 1.-The Sphinx" be-
hind his back.
And I'm very glad to be back again.,
said Mrs. Jerome. acknowledging the bow;
ut Is always delightful to get into the
corner at this particular tea table; think
should feel lonely In heaven Harriet,
without those old Canton cups of yours
For nay part" remarked the ambassador
table is as near as I expect to get to-
paradise.
Heavens. Harriet. what tremendous
compliment" cried Molly incorrigible.
Mrs. Cheever laughed softly, delicate
color deepening in her cheeks. "See what
it is to be a diplomatist, she murmured
ut reminds me of Judge Fennel in his
palmy days, before he grew too cross to
turn a compliment
Portucarrero deliberately unfastened his
eyeglasses and mounted them. II have
just been there he announced quietly.
Not really?" cried Mrs Cheever and
Molly together.
Really and truly he replied with
amusement: II was asked to dine, de-
clined. and so called there today"
"What-ah what was it like?' aaurmured
Molly leaning forward. the fire light dane
Ing in her brown eyes,
They were alone" the ambassador said.
looking into his teacup; "she was playing
cards with him with two dummies. to
amuse him. no doubt He wore his green
eyeshade; they say he is quite blind now.
Accidentally 1 looked over the cards while
talked and there were five queens in the
pack
mo one but you would have thought of
that" said Mrs. Cheever: but tell me,
ambassador. how did she APPEAR"
oh. a worthy person. I think" he re-
piled genially. quite worthy person.
DO tell me what all this means?' asked
Mrs. Jerome hopelessly: "of course you're
talking Of old Judge FenneI-he must be
almost mummy now-what has happened
to him."
II forgot that you hadn't heard, Chris
tine" apologtzed Harriet laughing: Its a
Judge came near dying last fall: he was
very. very low. and all his nephews and
nteces came to be near him-to be"
ITO get the brush" interpolated the un-
blushing Molly.
Harriet Cheever ignored her. And they
really expected to divide his property be-
tween them" she went on; Frances and
Jim quarreled openly about the old house
on G street. and Mrs George-you remem-
Der Georges wife?-she said that she ex-
pected two. hundred thousand for the boys
besides Georges share. Meanwhile the poor
old judge lay very i'll. with a trained nurse
and three doctors. Jim wrote the obituary
Il really know that for a fact, Frances
told me-"
And after all he didn't die!' laughed
Mrs. Jerome: ''he was always like that"
MY dear madame, it was worse than
that" smiled Portucarrero; 1.-The relatives
waited the friends waited, all the world
discussed the estate and them he waved
his hand gently toward Harriet Cheever.
"And then he got well?" cried Christine.
YES" concluded Harriet Cheever. land
married the trained nurse"