The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1911-03-16
CHAPTER xIv.-continued.


you show at last curiosity! Well
then, l shall answer. For more than
one year, perhaps more than two, per
haps more than three!"
"Impossible!" shook my head. "A
woman like you could not be con-
cealed-not If she owned a hundred
hidden places such as this"
"Oh, was known" she said. "You
have heard of me, you know of me?'
l still shook my head. NO." said I,
II have been far in the west for sew
eral years, and have come TO Wash
ington but rarely. Bear me out, had
not been there my third day before
found you!"
We sat silent for some moments,
ttxedly regarding each other.
1T was rumored in diplomatic
circles, of course, that you were in
touch with the ministry of England"
ventured. 81 myself saw that
much"
Naturally. OF Mexico also! At
least, as you saw in our little carriage
race, Mexico was DESTROYS enough to
establish some sort of communication
with my humble self"
Calhoun was right" I exclaimed.
''He was entirely right, madam, in in
sisting that l should bring you to him
that morning, whether or not you
wished to CO."
She chuckled at the memory.
How did he receive you, madam"
I asked. II never knew"
"Why, took my hand in both his,
and bowed as though indeed were
queen, he king"
"Then you got on well?"
Truly; for he was wiser than his
agent, monsieur. He found answers
by asking questions.
For instance, he asked"
What had been my ball gown that
night--who was there-how I enjoyed
myself! In moment we were talk
ing as though we had been friends
for years. The grand vizier brought
in two mugs of cider, in each toast
ed apple. Monsieur, / have not seen
diplomacy such as this. Naturally, /
was helpless"
you told him somewhat of your
self"
HE did not allow me to do that,
monsieur"
But he told you somewhat of this
country"
"Ah, yes, yes! So then l saw what
held him up in his work, what kept
him alive. | saw something l have
not often seen-a purpose, principle,
In a public man. His love for his
own land touched even me, how or
why l scarcely know. Yes, we spoke
Of the poor, the oppressed, of the
weary and the heavy laden"
Did he ask you what you know of
Mexico and England?"
Rather what l knew of the poor in
Europe l told him some things l
knew of that hopeless land-my
own land. Then he went on to tell
me of America and its hope of free
democracy of the people. Believe me,
/ listened to Mr. Calhoun. Never
mind what we said of Mr.. Van Zandt
and Sir Richard Pakenham. At least,
rs you know, 1 paid off little score
with sir Richard that next morning. |
What was strangest to me was the
fact that / forgot Mr.. Calhouns at
tire, forgot the strangeness of my err
rand thither. 1t was as though only |
our minds talked, one with the other. |
/ was sorry when at last came |
Grand Vizier James to take Mr.. Cal |
houn's order for his own carriage,
that brought me home-my second
and more peaceful arrival there that
night"
Then l did not fail as messenger,
after all! You told Mr.. Calhoun what
be desired to know?"
I'm part at least. But come now,
was not bound in some sort of honor
10 my great and good friend, Sir Rich
ard? Was it not treachery enough to
rebuke him for his attentions to
Dona Lucrezia?"
But you promised to tell Mr.. Cal
noun more at a later timer"
"On certain conditions l did," she
lssented.
Il do not know that may ask
hose?
you would be surprised If | told
Tou the truth? What l required Of
dr. Calhoun was permission and aid
till further to study his extraordinary
ountry, its extraordinary ways, its
1