The Paducah evening sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1906-1929, 1908-08-21

1
lR0 occupied washington.
| 49, Shirley Claiborne
lcalled for her horse and rode forth TO
greet the conqueror. The afternoon
was keen and sunny. and she had turn
ed impatienty from a tea to which
she was committed TO seek the open.
The call OF the outdoor gods sang In
her blood. Daffodils and crocuses lift
ed yellow flames and ruddy torches
from every dooryard. She had pinned
spray of arbutus 10 the lapel of her
tan riding coat. II spoke TO her OF
the blue horizons OF the Virginia hills.
The young buds In the naples lowered
like mist in the treetops. Towering
over all. the Incompatible gray obelisk
climbed 10 the blue arch and brought
Il nearer earth. Washington. the CEN
ter OF mans hope. is also In spring the
capital Of the land OF hearts desire.
With n groom trailing after her. Shir-
ley rode toward Rock creek-that rip
pllng. murmuring. singing tribe OF wa
ter that laughs day and night at the
margin of the beautiful city. as though
politics and Craftsmanship were the
hugest Joke in the world. The flag ON
the Austro Hungarian embassy hung
at half mast aud symbols yof mourning
huttered from the entire front OF the
house. Shirley lifted her eyes grayely
as she passed Her thoughts flew at
once TO the scene at the house OF thu
secretary OF state week before. when
Baron Won Marhof had learned OF the
death OF his sovereign. aud by associa-
tlon she thought. too. OF 'Armitage and
Of his look and voice rs he said:
Long live the emperor and king.
God save Austrian
Emperors and kings. They were ~
| Impossible today as snowstorm. The
grave ambassadors as they appeared az
great Washington functions. wearing
their decorations. always struck her as
being particularly distinguished Z
just now occurred TO her that they
were all linked TO the crown and scep-
Ter. but she dismissed Che whole mat
/ ter and bowed TO two dark ladies In a
passing victoria with the quick little
nod and bright smile that were the
same for these titled members OF the
| spanish ambassadors household as for
the young daughters Of western sen
ator, who Economically waved their
hands to her from doorstep.
Armltage came again TO her mind.
| He had called at the Claiborne house
| twice since the sccretary's bail. and she
had been surprised TO ind how fully
she accepted him as an American now
| that he was on her own soil. lie de
rived. too. a certain stability from the
fact that the Sandersons knew him:
he was. indeed. an entirely different
rcrson since the Montana senator der
initely connected him with an Amer
lean landscape She had kept her own
counsel touching the scene ON the dark
deck OF the King Edward. but II was
not a thing lightly To be forgotten. She
was half angry with herself this mel
low afternoon 10 find how persisiently
Armitage came into her thoughts anl
how the knife thrust on the steamer
deck kept recurring Ia her Dllnd AMI
/
Of whom she knew so little. ana she
touched her Eorse impatiently with the
,rop and rode into the park nj gal.
that reused the groom to attention.
At bend OF the road Chauvenet aud
Framed. the attache. swung Into view.
mounted. and as they met Chnuycne'
turned his horse and rode beside her
"Ah. these American airs. This
spring. Is it not good TO be alive. Miss
Claiboncf"
ut is all OF that she replied II
seemed TO her that the day had not
j needed Chauyenets praise.
Il had hoped 10 see you later at The
wallingford tea" he continued
mo teas for me on a day like this.
The thought OF being indoors Is tragic. A."
She wished that be would leave her.
for she had ridden out into the spring
sunshine TO be alone. lie somehow
did not appear 10 advantage In his
riding coat-hls belongings were too
perfect. She had really enjoyed his
talk when they had met here and there
abroad. but she was in no mood for
him now. and she wondered what he
had lost by the transfer 10 America
He ran on airily In French. speaking
Of the rush OF great and small social
affairs that marked the end OF the sea
son.
Poor Framed is indeed triste lie
Is taking the death Of johann Wilhelm
quite hard. But here In America the
death OF an emperor seems less i'm
| portant. A king or a peasant. what
does 1t matteri"
"Better ask the robin In yonder bud
ding chestnut tree monsieur. This Is
not an hour for hard questionsl'
"Ah, you are very cruel. You drive
me back to poor. melancholy Franzel
who is indeed funeral In himself"
"'rhat is very sad. monsieur" and
she smiled at him with mischief IN her
eyes. "My heart goes out to any one
who Is left TO mourn-alone."
He gathered his relns and drew up
his horse. lifting his hat with perfect
| gesture.
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