Barbour County index., 1910-12-21
CHAPTER VII.-continued.

II was not new to me, of course,
this pageant. although it never lacked
of interest. There were in the throng
representatives of all America as it
was then, strange. crude blending of
refinement and vulgarity, of ease and
poverty. of luxury and thrift.
certain air Of gloom at this time
hung over official Washington, for the
minds Of all were still oppressed by
the memory of that fatal accident
the explosion of the great cannon
"Peacemaker" on board the war ves-
sci Princeton-which had killed Mr..
Upshur. our secretary of state, with
others, and had. at one blow, come so
near to depriving this government of
its head and his official family; the
number of prominent lives thus ended
or endangered being appalling to con-
template. 1t was this accident which
had called Mr. Calhoun forward at a
national juncture of the most extreme
delicacy and the utmost Importance.
In spite OF the general mourning,
however, the informal receptions at
the White House were not wholly dis
continued, and the administration, un-
settled as it was, and fronted by the
gravest of diplomatic problems, made
such show of dignity and even cheer
rulness as it might
l considered it my duty to pass in
the long procession and to shake the
hand of Mr. Tyler. That done, gazed
about the great room, carefully scan
ming the different little groups which
were accustomed to form after the
ceremonial part of the visit was over.
l saw many whom | knew. | forgot
them; FOR in a far corner, where a
flood of light came through the trail
ing vines that shielded the outer win
dow, my anxious eyes discovered the
object of my quest-Elizabeth.
Il seemed to me l had never known
her so fair as she was that morning in
the great east room of the White
House. Elizabeth was rather taller
than the average woman, and of that
splendid southern figure, slender but
strong, which makes perhaps the best
representative of our American beau
day In her best pink-flowered lawn,
made wide and full, as was the custom
OF the time, but not so clumsily gath
cred at the waist as some, and SO
serving not wholly to conceal her
natural comeliness of figure. Her bon
net she had removed. l could see the
sunlight on the ripples of her brown
hair. and the shadows which lay
above her eyes as she turned to face
me. and the slow pink which crept
into her cheeks.
Dlgnified always. and reserved, was
Elizabeth Churchill. But now I hone
1t was not wholly conceit which led
me to feel that perhaps the warmth
the glow of the air. caught while RI
ding under the open sky, the sight of
the many budding roses of our city.
the scent of the blossoms which even
then came through the lattice-tbe
meeting even with myself, SO lately
misunderstanding at least of this
had caused an awakening in her girls
heart. Something. l say, | do not
rKnnw That. gave her greeting to me
more warmth than was usual with
her. My own heart, eager enough to
break bounds, answered in kind. We
sstood-blushing like children as our
hands touched-forgotten in that as
SBemblage of Washington's pomp and
circumstance.
''How do you do?" was all l could
md to say. And How do you do?'
was all could catch for answer, al
though l saw. in feeting way, q
glimpse of dimple hid In Elizabeth's
cheek. She never showed it save
when pleased. have never seen 9
dimple like that of Elizabeth's.
Absorbed. we almost forgot Aun
Betty Jennings-stout, radiant, snub
nosed, arch-browed and curious, Eliz
abeth's chaperon. On the whole.
was glad Aunt Betty Jennings wa
there
Aunt Betty" said l. as took he
hand; Aunt Betty. have we told you
Elizabeth and II"
saw Elizabeth straighten in pei
plexity, doubt or horror. but went or
''Yes, Elizabeth and ="
"You dear children!" gurgled Aun
Betty
Congratulate us BOTH" demanded
and I put Elizabeth's hand, covere
with my own, into the short and chul
by fingers of that estimable lady