Barbour County index., 1910-12-28
CHAPTER VIII.
Mr.. Calhoun Accepts.

W.T. SoHiO0H NSSSRhos
A womans tongue is her sword, that
che never lets rust.-Madam Necker.
struggled among three courses.
The impulses of my heart, Joined to
some prescience of trouble, bade me to
follow Elizabeth. My duty ordered
me to hasten to Mr.. Calhoun. My in
terest demanded that l should tarry,
for l was sure that the Baroness Won
Ritz would make no merely idle re-
quest in these circumstances. Hest
tating thus, lost sight of her in the
throng So I concluded l would obey
the mandate of duty, and turned to-
ward the great doors. Indeed, was
we'll toward the steps which led out
into the grounds. when all at once two
elements of my problem resolved
themselves into one. 1 saw the tall
figure of Mr.. Calhoun himself coming
Ap the walk toward me.
"Ah." said he briefly, then my mes
sage found your
"T was starting for you this moment,
sir" I replied.
wait for a moment. l counted on
finding you here. Matters have
changed"
turned with him and we entered
again the east room, where Mr.. Tyler
still prolonged the official greeting of
the curious. the obsequious, or the
banal persons who passed. Mr.. Cal
houn stood apart for time, watching
the progress of this purely American
function. 1t was some time ere the
groups thinned. This latter fact US
ually would have ended the reception,
Nj since 1t is not etiquette to suppose
that the president can lack an audi
ence: but today Mr.. Tyler fingered
At last through the thinning throng
he caught sight of the distinctive fig
ure OF Mr.. Calhoun. For the first
time his own face assumed a natura
expression. He stopped the line fol
an instant. and with a raised hanC
beckoned to my chief.
At this we dropped in at the tail O
the line. Mr. Calhoun in passing grasp
ing almost as many hands as Mr.
Tyler. When at length we reached
the presidents position, the lattel
greeted him and added a whispered
word. An instant later he turned
abruptly. ending the reception with ;
deep bow. and retired into the room
from which he had earlier emerged.
Mr. Calhoun turned now to me witt
request to follow him, and we passe,
through the door where the presiden
had vanished. Directed by attendants
We were presently ushered into ye
another ROOM which at that tim
served the president as his cabine
room. a place FOR meeting persons G
distinction who called upon business
AS we entered l saw that it was a
ready occupied. Mr.. Tyler was grasI
ing the hand of a portly personag'
whom l knew to be none other tina
Mr.. Pakenham. So much might hav
been expected. What was not to hav
been expected was the presence of al
other-none less than the Barones
Won Ritz!
So we were apparently to unde
stand that my lady was here as ope
friend OF England! OF course, neet
ed no word from Mr.. Calhoun to r
mind me that we must seem ignoraI
bl NulS Lduys VI uST CndTdCIeTS anu
her reputed relations with the Britis
foreign Office.
Il pray you be seated, Mr.. Pakel
ham," said Mr.. Tyler, and he gesture
also to us others to take chairs nes
his table. Mr.. Pakenham, in rather
lofty fashion. 1t seemed to me, obeye
the polite request, but scarcely hs
seated himself ere he again rose wit
an important clearing of his throat
Your excellency," said he, her ma
lssty the queen of England's wish
somewhat anticipated by my visit he
Today. l hasten only to put in Il
most prompt and friendly form b
majesty's desires, which / am SUI
formally will be expressed in the fir
mails from England. We deplore tn
most unhappy accident on your wa
ship Princeton, which has come
near working irremediable injury
this country"
Sir" said Mr.. Tyler. rising, with
deep bow, 'the courtesy of your pt
eond presence is most gratifying. 4
low me to express that more intima
and warmer feeling Of friendship I
yourself which comes through our lol