The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1910-01-09

nearQ voice Ike EllSaDeth 8.
An instant later, knew not quite
how. her hand was away from my
arm, in that of Aunt Betty. and
they were passing toward the main
door, leaving me standing with joy
and doubt mingled in my mind.
CHAPTER VIII.
Mr.. Calhoun Accepts.
A woman's tongue is her sword,
that she never lets rust.-Madam
Necker.
/ struggled among three courses.
The impulses of my heart. joined to
some prescience of trouble, babe
me follow Elisabeth. My duty Or
dered me to hasten to Mr.. Calhoun
My interest demanded that | should
tarry, for | was sure that the Bar
oness Won Ritz would make no
merely idle request in these circum-
stances. Hesitating thus, lost
sight of her in the throng. So ! con-
cluded | would obey the mandate of
duty, and turned toward the great
doors. Indeed, | was well toward
the steps which led out into the
grounds, when all at once two ele-
ments of my problem resolved
themselves into one. | saw the tall
figure Of Mr.. Calhoun himself COM
ing up the walk toward me-
All" said he briefly, then, my
message found you?"
Il was starting for you this mo-
ment, SIR" ] replied.
wait for a moment. | counted
on finding you here. Matters have
changed"
turned with him and we entered
again the east room. where Mr.. Ty-
Ter still prolonged the official greet
ing of the curious, the obsequious.
or the banal persons who passed.
Mr.. Calhoun stood apart for time,
watching the progress of this
purely American function. 1t was
some time ere the groups thinned.
This latter fact usually would have
ended the reception, since it is not
etiquette to suppose that the presi-
dent can lack an audience; but to-
day 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 nat
ural expression. He stopped the
line for an instant, and with a
raised hand beckoned to my chief
AT this we dropped in at the tail
Of the line, Mr.. Calhoun in passing
grasping almost as many hands as
Mr.. Tyler. When at length we
reached the presidents position,
the latter greeted him and added a
whispered word. An instant later
he turned abruptly. ending the re-
ception with deep bow, and re-
tired into the room from which he
had earlier emerged.
Z Mr.. Calhoun turned now to me
with a request to follow him, and
we passed through the door where
the president had vanished Di-
rected by attendants, we We're pres
emily ushered into yet another
room, which at that time served
the president as his cabinet room,
a place for meeting persons of dis
,.
AS we entered | saw that it was
already occupied. Mr.. Tyler was
grasping the hand of a party per
sonage. whom | knew to be none
other than MIR. Pakenham So much
might have been expected. What
was not to have been expected was
the presence of another-none less
than the Baroness Won Ritz.
So we were apparently to under
stand that my lady was here as
open friend of England, OF course,
1needed no word from Mr.. Calhoun
to remind me that We must seem
ignorant of this lady, of her charac-
ter and of her reputed relations
with the British foreign office.
Il pray Won be seated, Mr.. Paken-
ham" said Mr.. Tyler. and he ges-
tnred also to us others to take
chairs near his table. Mr.. Paken-
ham, in rather a lofty fashion, it
seemed to me, obeyed the polite re-
quest, but scarcely had seated him
self ere he again rose. with an i'm
portant clearing of his throat
"Your Excellency," said he, her
Majesty the Queen of England's
wish is somewhat anticipated by
my visit here today. / hasten only
TO put in the most prompt and
friendly form her majesty's de-
Hires. which / am sure formally
will be expressed in the first mails
from England. We deplore this
most unhappy accident on your war
ship Princeton, which has come so
near working irremediable injury
TO this country"
Sir said Mr.. Tyler, rising, with
A deep bow. "the courtesy of your
personal presence is most crafty
Ing. Allow me to express that
more intimate and warmer feeling
III friendship for yourself which
comes through our long associa-
tinn with you. This respect and
Admiration are felt by myself and
my official family for you and the
great power which you represent T"
Each having thus delivered him
esli of w0rds which meant nothing.
both now seated themselves and
Nroceeded to look mighty grave.
tor myself. stole o glance from
ne tail Of my eye toward the Bar
4ueGs Won Ritz. She sat erect in
Her chair. figure Of easy grace
md dignity. hut on her face was
nothing one could read tn tell who
~ Was or why she was here.
n seixe upon this opportunity,
= - 4 = "a - Sx4n-4