The Harrison times., 1911-05-13
CHAPTER VII.
Mr.. Calhoun Accepts.

A woman's tongue is her sword, that
she never let's rust.-Madam Necker.
| struggled among three courses.
The impulses OF my heart, Joined to
some prescience of trouble, bade me to
follow Elizabeth, My duty ordered
me to hasten to Mr.. Calhoun. My in
terest demanded that l should tarry,
for | was sure that the Baroness Won
Ritz would make no merely idle re-
quest in these circumstances. Hesi-
tating thus, l lost sight of her in the
throng. So concluded | would obey
the mandate Of duty, and turned to-
ward the great doors. Indeed, | 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. / saw the tall
figure of Mr. Calhoun himself coming
1p the walk toward me.
"Ah," said he briefly, then my mes
sage found your"
81 was starting for you this moment,
sir" | replied,
wait for moment. l 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 time, watching
the progress of this purely American
function. 1t was some time ere the
groups thinned. This latter fact U.S.
ually would have ended the reception,
since it is not etiquette to suppose
that the president can lack an audi
ence; but today 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 raised hand
beckoned to my chief.
At this we dropped in at the tail of
the line, 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 a
Ati M
from which he had earlier emerged,
Mr., Calhoun turned now to me with
request to follow him, and we passed
through the door where the president
had vanished, 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 OF
distinction who called upon business.
AS we entered | saw that II was al
ready occupied. Mr. Tyler was grasp
ing the hand of a portly parsonage,
whom ! knew TO be none other than
Mr.. Pakenham, SO much might have
been expected What was not 10 have
been expected was the presence of an.
other-none less than the Baroness
Won Ritz!
So we were apparently TO under.
stand that my lady was here as open
friend of England! or course, need
ed no word from Mr.. Calhoun to re-
mind me that we must seem ignorant
Of this lady, of her character, and of
her reputed relations with the British
foreign office.
~ pray you be seated, Mr.. Paken.
ham," said Mr. Tyler, and he gestured
also TO us others 10 take chairs near
his table, Mr. Pakenham, in rather a
lofty fashion, II seemed to me. obeyed
the polite request, but scarcely had
seated himself ere he again rose with
an important clearing of his throat.
Your excellency," said he, her maj.
esty 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 desires, 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 per.
sonal presence is most gratifying AL
low me to express that more intimate
and warmer feeling of friendship for
yourself which comes through our long