Milford chronicle., 1908-08-07

/ II ASu meEb4y an uhl 8dASAy. A. .
the most beautiful room In America" "
murmured Mrs. SandersOn.
'I can we'll believe It There's my
| favorite vibert-I wondered what had
| become Of it,"
1T isn't surprising that the secretary
is making a great reputation by his
dealings with foreign powers. It's a
poor ambassador who could not be per
suaded after an hour in this splendid
room. The ordinary affairs Of life
should not be mentioned here. A
kings coronation would not be out OF
pIace-in fact. there's a chair in the
corner against that Gobelin that would
serve the situation. The old gentle
man by that cabinet is the Baron voD
Marhof. the ambassador from Austria
Hungary. He's a brother-in-law Of
Count Won Stroebel. who was murdered
so horribly in a railway carriage few
weeks ago"
"Ah, to be surel haven't seen the
baron in years. He has changed lit
tie"
Then you knew him-in the old
cOuntry?"
yes; used to see him-when l
was a boy" remarked Armitage.
Mrs. SandersOn glanced at Armitage
sharply. She had dined at his ranch
house in Montana and knew that he
lived like a gentleman; that his house
its appointments aud service were un-
usual for western ranchman. And
she recalled. too. that she and her hus
band had often speculated as to Armi
tage's antecedents and history without
arriving at any conclusion in regard to
him.
The room had slowly filed. and they
strolled about. dividing attention be
tween distinguished personages and
the not less celebrated works OF art.
"Oh, by the way. Mr. Armitage,
there's the girl I have chosen for you
to marry. suppose it would be just
as well for you to meet her now.
though that dark little foreigner seems
to be monopolizing her"
Il am wholly agreeable" laughed
Armitage THE sooner the better and
be done with It,"
Don't be so frivolous. There. you
can look safely now. She's stopped t.
speak to that bald and pink justice of
the supreme court-the girl with the
brown eyes and hair. Have a care!'
Shirley and Chauvenet left the ven
erable justice, and Mrs. Sanderson in
tercepted them at once.
ITO think Of all these beautiful
things in our own American exclaimed
Shirley. And you, Mr. Armitage"-
Among the other curios. Miss Clai-
borne" laughed John, taking her hand
But l haven't introduced you yet.
began Mrs. Sanderson, puzzled.
''No; the King Edward did that. We
crossed together. Oh, NJ. Chauvenet-
let me present Mr.. Armitage," said
Shirley, seeing that the men had not
spoken.
The situation amused Armitage. and
re smiled rather more broadly than
was necessary in expressing his pleas
ure at meeting NJ. Chauvenet. They
regarded each other with the swift in
tentness of men who are used to the
sharp exercise Of their eyes. and when
Armitage turned toward Shirley and
Mrs. sanderson he was aware that
Uhauvenet continued to regard him
with fixed gaze.
Miss Claiborne is a wonderful sail
or. The Atlantic is a little tumultuous
at times in the spring but she reported !
to the captain every day"
"Nfiss Claiborne is nothing II not ex-
reclared Mrs. Sanderson
with frank admiration.
"The word seems to have been coin |
ed for her." said Chauvenet, his white
teeth showing under his thin black |
mustache.
"And still leaves the language dis |
tinguished chiefly for its poverty"
added Armitage, and the men bowed
to Shirley and then to Mrs. Sanderson |
and again to each other. 1t was ike
a rehearsal OF some triie In a comedy.
"HOw charmingT' laughed Mrs. San
derson. "And this lovely room is just
the place for It."
They were still talking together as
F'ranzel, with whom Armitage had
spoken below, entered hurrledly. He
held a crumpIed note, whose contents
It seemed had shaken him out Of his
habituaI melancholy composure.
"Is Baron Won Marhof in the roomT ?"
he asked Of Armitage. fumbling nerV-
ously at his mOnOcle.
The Austrian ambassador, with sew
eral ladies' and led by Senator Sander
son, was approaching.
The attache hurried to his chief and
him in a low tone. The am
bassador stopped. grew very white
and stared at the messenger for a mo-
ment in blank unbeilef.
The young man now repeated In
in a tone that could be heard
in all parts Of the hushed room:
His majesty the Emperor Johann
Wilhelm died suddenly tonight In vi
enna," he said and gave his armtto his
chief
1t was a strange place for the deliv-
arv ,of such q message and the strange