Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1910-12-31
CHAPTER vrI.-continued.

CHAPTER VII.-continued.
It 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 ease and
poverty. of luxury and thrift
A 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 YES
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
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, I'M
gravest of diplomatic problems, made
such show of dignity and even cheer
fulness as it might
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.
| saw many whom / knew. 1 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.
1t seemed to me 1 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
| ty- She was very bravely arrayed to
Nday in her best pink-fowered lawn
made wide and full, as was the custom
of the time, but not so clumsily gath
cred at the waist as some, and sc
serving not wholly to conceal hel
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 crep
into her cheeks.
Dignified always, and reserved, wa,
Elizabeth Churchill. But now / hop,
it was not wholly conceit which LEI
me to feel that perhaps the warmth
the glow of the air. caught while RI
ding under the open sky, the sight o
the many budding roses of our city
the scent of the blossoms which evel
then came through the lattice-th
meeting even with myself, so latel
Notwithstanding at least of thi
had caused an awakening in her girl
heart Something, / say, | do no
know what, gave her greeting to m
more warmth than was usual wit
her. My own heart, eager enough t
break bounds. answered in kind w
stood-biushing like children as on
hands touched-forgotten in that az
| sambiage of Washington's pomp an
{ circumstance
How do you do?" was all L coul
find to say. And How do you do?
was all ] could catch for answer, a
glimpse of a dimple hid in Elizabeth
cheek She never showed it saw
! when pleased / have never seen
dimple like that of Elizabeth's.
, Absorbed, we almost forgot Aur
Betty Jennings-stout, radiant snul
nosed, arch-browed and curious, Eli
ebeth's chaperon- On the whole,
was glad Aunt Betty Jennings wa
there.
Aunt Betty" said |. as took he
hand; Aunt Betty. have we told yol
Elizabeth and I?'
saw Elizabeth straighten in pc
, | plexity. doubt or horror. but went OIL
Yes. Elizabeth and T.
; You dear children," gurgled Aur
i Betty
Congratulate us bothi" demande,
and put EIlzabeth's hand. covere
with my own. into the short and ehul
by fingers OF that estimable lad,