Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1910-04-01

pants were passing up wide strip OF
velvet between rows Of wildly liv-
cried foOtmen.
Caleb Conover, Railroader, was
standing just within the wide door,
way of drawing-room that seemed
to stretch away into infinity. Behind
rose an equally infinite vista of heads
and shoulders. But the loudly blended
murmur of many voices that is the
first thing to strike the ear of arriving
guests at such functions was conspic-
uously absent. The scarce-broken
hush that spread through the chain of
rooms seemed to bear out still further
Mrs Greer's mortuary smile.
But the cOnstraint in no way ex-
tended to the host himself The
strong, alert face, with its shrewd
light eyes and humorous mouth, was
wreathed in welcoming smiles that
seemed to ripple in series of waves
from the close-cut reddish hair to the
ponderous iron jaw. The thickset
form OF the Railroader, massive OF
shoulder and sturdily full of limb,
was ever plunging forward to grip
some favored newcomer by the hand,
or darting to one side or the other as
he whispered instructions to servant
or relative.
81 congratulate you on your friends
repose of manner" whispered Mrs.
Greer, as she and her husband awaited
their turn HE has all the calm self
assurance of a jumping jack"
'.But there are springs of chilled
steel in the jumping jack" whispered
Greer. Hes out of his element, and
he knows it. But he isn't so badly
confused for all that. If you saw him
at convention or a board meeting,
you wouldn't know him for the
same"
"And there's his poor little wife,
looking as much like a rabbit as ever!
She's cipher here; and even her
husbands figure in front of her doesn't
raise the cipher to the tenth power.
/ suppose that is the daughter, to Mrs.
Conover's left? The slender girl with
the rust-colored hair and the brown
eyes? She's prettier and more of a
thoroughbred in looks than should
have"
That's not his daughter. That's
Miss Lanier. Conover's secretary. His
daughter is the"
His secretary? Why, is she receiv-
ing?"
''She is his secretary and everything
else. She came here three years ago
as Blanche's governess. To give the
poor girl sort of winding-up polish
before Caleb sent her to Europe. She
made all sorts of hit with Conover.
Principally because she's the only
person on earth who isn't afraid of
him, so I hear. And now she is Sec
rotary, and major domo, and right
hand man. and l don't know what
not else. Mrs. Conover's only a
cipher as you say, and Miss Alice
Lanier-not Caleb-is the figure in
front Of her. That's the new-made
princess, to the right. The tall one
with the no-colored hair. l suppose
that's the Prince d'Antri beside her. =
s'He's too handsome to be a very
real prince. What face for sculp-
tor Or"
ssOr barber A beard like that
A gorgeousiy apparelled couple just
in front of the Greers, in the line,
moved forward within the zone OF
Conover's greeting Caleb nodded pa
tronizingly to the man. and more civ
lily to the woman.
"Mr. Conover," the latter was muir
muring in an anguish OF respectful
embarrassment, tits great honor
you do me and the man, askin' us here
tonight with all your stylish friends,
an"
ooh, there's more than your hus.
band and me, here, who'd get hungry
by habit If they heard noon whistle
blow" laughed Conover, as with a
jerk of his red head and word OF
pleasant welcome, he passed them on
down the reception line. Then the
Railroader's light, deep-set eyes fell
on Greer, and he stepped forward
both hands outstretched.
"Good evening, Greer!" he cried
! and there was a subcurrent of latent
power in his hearty voice. Good
evening! Pleased to see you in my
house. Mrs. Greer, presume? Most
! kind of you to come, Ila'am. Proud
to make your acquaintance. Lefty
summoning with a jerk of the head
an overdressed, frightened-looking lit
tie woman from the line behind him
LEFTY, this is my very good friend
Mr. Talbot Firth Greer-Mrs. Conover
Mr.. and Mrs. Greer. Mr.. Greer is
the next Congressman from the Elev
enth District. Chats little proph'
ecy, Mr.. Greer You can gamble on
its coming true) My daughter, Prin,
cess d'Antri-Mr. and Mrs. Greer
Prince Amadeo d'Antri. My secre
tary, Miss Alice Lanier-Mr. and
Mrs"
A new batch of guests swarmed
down the hall toward the host, and
the ordeal was over. The Greers
swept on in the rush, did not hear
Conover's next greeting. This was
rather pity, since it differed mater
1 ially from that laViShed upon them