Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1911-06-09
CHAPTER VIII.
Mr.. Calhoun Accepts.

Mr.. Calhoun Accepts.
A woman's tongue is her sword, that
she never lets rust.-Madam Necker.
l struggled among three courses.
The impulses of my heart, joined to
some prescience of trouble, babe me to
follow Elizabeth. My duty ordered
me to hasten to Mr.. Calhoun. My in
terest demanded that | should tarry,
for I 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 l concluded | would obey
the mandate Of duty, and turned to-
ward the great doors. Indeed, l 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. I saw the tall
figure of Mr.. Calhoun himself coming
up the walk toward me.
"Ah," said he briefly, then my mes
sage found your
II was starting for you this moment,
sir" l replied.
wait for a moment. I 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 a 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,
since it is not etiquette to suppose
that the president can lack an audi
ence; 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 natural
expression. He stopped the line for
an instant, and with a raised hand
bechOned to my chief
AT this we dropped in at tire tail OF
the lire, Mr. Calhoun in passing grasp
ing 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 reception with q
deep bow, and retired into the room
from which he had earlier emerged.
Mr Calhoun turned nov to ne with
a request to follow him, and we passed
through the door where the president
had y2nished. Directed by attendants
we were presently ushered into yet
another room, which at that time
served the president as his cabinet
room, place for meeting persons O.
distinction who called upon business
AS we entered | saw that it was al
ready occupied, Mr. Tyler was grasp
ing the hand Of a portly parsonage
whom ! knew to be none other thar
MIR. Palcenham. So much might have
been expected. What was not to have
been expected was the presence Of an
Other-nono less than the Baroness
Won Ritz!
SO we were apparently to under
stand that my lady was here as ope1
friend OF England, Of course, | need
cd no word from Mr.. Calhoun to re
mind me that we must seem ignOran
of tGs lady, of her character, and 0
her reFuted relations with the BritiG
foreign office.
Il pray you be seated, Mr.. Paken
ham," said Mr. Tyler and he gesture(
also to us others to take chairs nea
lofty fashion, it seemed to me, obeyet
the polite request, but scarcely hat
seated himself ere he again rose will
an important clearing Of his throat
Your excellency," said he, her maj
pesty the queen of England's wish i
somewhat anticipated by my visit her
to-day. | hasten only to put in tn
most prompt and friendly form he
maicsty's desires, which l am sur
formally will be expressed in the frs
mails from England. We deplore TIL
most unhappy accident on your wal
ship Princeton, which has come s.
near working irremediable injury t
this country"
Sir" said Mr.. Tyler, rising, with
deep bow, "the courtesy of your pei
sonal presence is most gratifying A
low me to express that more intimat
and warmer feeling of friendship TO
yourself which comes through our lon