Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1910-06-10

| figure of man he appeared when he
paced forth in evening dress, n part of
| which was q waistcoat embroidered in
such fancy as might have delighted the
eye of his erstwhile Indian wife had
she been there to see it. Here and
there, scattered about the floor, there
might have been seen many of the
public figures of America at that time,
| men from north and south and east
and west, and from many other ma
tions beside our own.
Under Mrs. Polk's social administra-
tion, we did not waltz, but our ball
began with a stately march, really
grand procession, in its way distinctly
| interesting. in scarlet and gold and
| blue and silks, and all the flOwered cir
cumstance of brocades and laces of our
| ladies. And after our march we had
our own polite Virginia reel. merry as
any dance, yet stately too.
was late in arriving that night for
it must be remembered that this was
but my second day in town, and | had
had small chance to take my chiefs
advice, and to make myself presentable
for an occasion such as this. | was
fresh from my tailor, and very new
made when | entered the room. l came
| just in time to see what | was glad to
see that is to say, the keeping of John
Calhoun's promise to Helena Won Ritz.
1t was not to be denied that there
had been talk regarding this lady. and
that Calhoun knew it, thought not from
me. Much of it was idle talk based
largely upon her mysterious life. Be-
yond that, a woman beautiful as she
has many enemies among her sex.
There were dark glances for her that
night, l do not deny, before Mr.. CAL
houn changed them. For, however
John Calhoun was rated by his enc
mics, the worst of these knew well his
austerely spotless private life, and his
scrupulous concern for decorum.
Beautiful she surely was Her ball
gown was of light golden stuff, and
there was a coral wreath upon her
hair, and her dancing slippers were of
coral nue. lltlS VIC liO iiioi' IN
ing figure upon the floor than she.
Jewels blazed at her throat and caught
here and there the flirny folds of her
gown. She was radiant. beautiful, APP
parently happy. She came myster-
iously enough; but | knew that Mr.
Calhoun's carriage had been sent for
her l learned also that he had wait
ed for her arrival.
AS first saw Helena Won Ritz. there
stood by her side Doctor Samuel Ward,
his square and stocky figure not un-
dignified in his dancing dress, the stiff
gray name of his hair wagging after
it's custom as he spoke emphatically
over something with her. A gruff
man, Doctor Ward. but under his gray
name there was a clear brain, and in
his broad breast there beat a large
and kindly heart.
Even as l began to edge my way to-
wards these two, l saw Mr.. Calhoun
himself approach. tall. gray and thin.
He was very pale that night; and /
knew well enough what effort it cost
Illlll " dllCIlu ClllS VI lIlNSN
Yet he bowed with the grace of a
younger man and offered the baroness
an arm. Then, methinks, all Washing
ton gasped a bit. Not all Washington
knew what had gone forward between
these two. Not all Washington knew
marched in the grand procession that
night-what they meant for America.
OF all those who saw, l alone un-
derstood.
So they danced; he with the dignity
of his years, she with the grace which
was the perfection of dancing, the per-
fection of courtesy and of dignity also,
as though she knew and valued to the
full what was offered to her now by
John Calhoun. Grave, sweet and sad
Helena Won Ritz seemed to me that
night. She was wholly unconscious of
those who looked and whispered. Her
face was pale and rapt as that of some
devotee.
Mr. Polk himself stood apart and
plainly enough saw this little matter
go forward. When Mr.. Calhoun ap-
preached with the Baroness Won Ritz
upon his arm, Mr.. Polk was too much
politician to hesitate or to inquire. He
knew that it was safe To follow where
John Calhoun led! These two con-
versed for a few moments. Thus, |
fancy. Helena Won Ritz had her first
and last acquaintance with on" OF our
politicians to whom fate gave far
more than his deserts. 1t was the for
tune of Mr.. Polk To gain for this coun-
try Texas, California and OregOn-not
| one of them 10y desert Of his own! My
| heart has often been bitten when
have recalled that little scene. Politics
So unscrupulous can not always have
John Calhoun, n Helena Won Ritz, to
correct, guard and guide.
After this the card of Helena Won
| Ritz might well enough indeed been
| full had she cared further t" dance.
She excused herself gracefully. saying
| that after the honor which had been
done her she could not ask more. Still,
| Washington huZZed; somewhat of Eu-
rope as well. That might have been
called the triumph of Helena Won Ritz.
She felt it not. But | could 81" that
| she gloricd i'm some other thing.
approached her as soon as possi-
! bic. Il am about To 60" sh" said.
| Say good-by To me, now h"r"' w"
| shall not meet again. Say g""d-hy To
me. now. quickly, My father and are
going to leave. The treaty for Oregon
is prepared Now | am done. Yes.
Tell me g""d-hy."
Il will not say it," said |. Il can
not"
She smiled at me. Others might see
ncr lips. her smile. | saw what VAS IN
her eyes. wv" must not Il" selfish.
said she Come. must go"
DO not GO" insisted. "Wait.
She caught my meaning. surely.
she said. Il will stay a it'll" longer for
that one thing. Yes. wish t" So" her