The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1910-12-29
CHAPTER vII.-continued.

NlcnolaS propose Tor her hand
CHAPTER vII.-continued.
1t 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, a strange, crude blending of
refinement and vulgarity. of cas- and
poverty. of luxury n thrift.
A certain air of gloom at this time
hung Owe official Washington, for the
minds of all were still oppressed by
the memory of that fatal accident
the explosion of the great annon
"Peacemaker' on board the war YES
sci Princeton-which had killed Mr..
Upshur. BUR secretary of state, with
others. and had. at n blow, come so
near to cepriying 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 1t was, and fronted BIZ the
gravest Of diplomatic problems. made
such show of dignity and even cheer
fulness as 1t might.
i considered it my dirty to pass in
the long procession and TO shake the
hand of MI. Tyler. That done, l 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.
I saw many whom ! knew. I forgot
them; for in a far corner, where a
food of hight came through the trail
ing vines hat shielded the outer win
dow. my anxious eyes discovered the
object of my quest-Elizabeth.
II seemed to me / 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
~. She was very bravely arrayed to-
day In her best pink-nowered lawn,
made vile and fun. 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. / 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.
Dignifed always, and reserved, was
Elizabeth Churchill. But now ! hope
It 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 S Of our city,
the scent Of the blossoms which even
then came through the lattice-the
meeting even with myself, so lately
returned-something at least OF this
had caused an awakening in her girls
heart. Something, / say, / do not
know what, gave her greeting to me
more warmth than was usual with
her. My own heart, eager enough to
break bounds, answered in kind. We
stood-blushing like children as our
hands touched-forgotten In that as
~semblage of Washington's pomp and
circumstance.
How do you do?" was all ] could
End to say. And "How do you dor
was all l could catch for answer. al.
though / saw. in a fleeing way, q
glimpse of a dimple hid In Elizabeth's
cheek. She never showed it save
when pleased. ! have never seen a
dimple like that of Elizabeth's.
Absorbed, We almost forgot Aunt
Betty JenniDgs-stout, radiant, snub-
nosed, arch-browed and curious, Eliz-
arth's c~haperon. On the whole.
was glad Aunt Betty jennings was
there.
Aunt Betty" said !. as j took her
hand: Aunt Betty, have We told you,
Elizabeth and IL"
saw Elizabeth straighten in per.
plexity. doubt or horror. but I went on
"Yes, Elizabeth and L"
You dear children" gurgled Aun,
Betty.
Congratulate us bothi" demanded
and ] put Elizabeth's hand, covered
with my own, into the short mi club
by fingers OF that estimable lady.
Whenever Elizabeth attempted to open
her lips / opened mine before. and
DO overwhelmed lear Aunt Betty Jen,
hings with protestations Of my regard
Tor her. my interest in her family. her
pther nieces, her chickens, her kit
tens, her home-I so quieted all her
questions by assertions and demands
and exclamatiens, and declarations
chat Mr.. Daniel Churchill had given
bis consent, tb.s I swear for the mo
ment even Elizabeth believed that
what I had said was indeed true. Al
least. 1 can testify she made no for
NAL lenial. although the dimple was
now frightened put of sight.
Admirable Aunt Betty Jennings!