Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1910-12-24
CHAPTER VI.-Continued.

After that, on guard"
Very well. on guard Suppose do
not like this other woman
Madam, you could not help it All
the world loves her.
do you?"
with my life"
How devoted! Very well, on guard.
them"
She took up the Indian bauble, turn
ing to examine it at the nearest can
die sconce, even as thrust the dainty
little slipper of white satin again into
the pocket of my coat. l was uncom-
Portable. I wished this talk of Eliza
beth had not come up. I liked very
little to leave Elizabeth's property in
another's hands. Dissatisfied, / turned
from the table, not noticing for more
than an instant a little crumpled roll
of paper which, as 1 was vaguely con-
scious, now appeared on it's smooth
marquetry top.
But see,'' she said; you are just
like a man, after all, and an unmar-
ried man at that I cannot go through
the streets in this costume. Excuse
me for a moment
She was off on the instant into the
alcove where the great undiscovered
bed stood. She drew the curtains. l
heard her humming to herself as she
passed to and fro, saw the flare of
light as it rose beyond. Once or twice
she thrust a laughing face between
the curtains, held tight together with
her hands, she asked me some
question, hooking me, still amused
yet still, as 1 thought, more enigmatic
than before.
Madam / said at last, Il would |
might dwell here forever. but-you
are slowi The night. passes. Come.
My master will be waiting. He is i'll;
fear he cannot sleep. 1 know how
intent he is on meeting you l beg
S7u to oblige an old, dying mani"
And you, monsieur" she Knocked
at me from beyond the curtain, ARE
intent only on getting rid of me. Are
you not adventurer enough to forget
that other woman for one night?'
At last she came out from between
the curtains, CARRIED more suitably for
the errand which was now before US.
A long, dark cloak covered her shout
ders- On her head there rested a
dainty upflared bonnet, whose ietted
edges shone in the candle light as she
moved toward me. She was exquisite
in every detail, beautiful as mind of
man could wish; that much was sure,
must be admitted by any man. l dared
not look at her
She paused for an instant, drawing
on a pair of the short gloves of the
mode then correct. DO you know
why l am to go on this heather er-
randi" she demanded / shook my
| head.
Mr.. Calhoun wishes to know wheth-
| er he shall go to the cabinet of your
man Tyler over there in that barn you
call your White House. 1 suppose Mr..
Calhoun wishes to know how he can
serve Mr.. Tyler?"
1 laughed at this. Serve himI"
exclaimed. Rather say lead him. tell
him, command him!"
Yes she nodded. / began to see
another and graver side of her nature.
Yes, it is of course Texas"
l did not see fit to make answer to
this.
If your master, as you call him,
takes the portfolio with Tyler. it is to
annex Texas" she repeated, sharply.
rs not that true?'
Still l would not answer. "Come."
l said.
And he asks me to come to him
SO that he may decide"
This awoke me. No man decides
for John Calhoun, madam" / said.
"Yon may advance facts. but he will
decide Still she went on.
And Texas not annexed is a men
ace. Without her, you heather people
would not present solid front, would
your"
Madam has had much to do with
affairs of state" 1 said.
She went ON as though / had not
| spoken:
And if you were divided in your
southern section. England would have
| all the greater chance. England, you
know. says she wishes slavery abol-
| ished. She says that
England says many thingsi' ven
tured-
THE hypocrite of the nations."
| flashed out this singular woman at me
suddenly, As though diplomacy need