Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1911-01-05
CHAPTER VII.
Mr.. Calhoun Accents.

Mr.. Calhoun Accepts.
A womap's tongue is her sword. that
she never let's rust-MRdam Necker.
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 I should tarry,
for I was sure that the Baroness Won
Rita would make no merely idle re-
quest In these circumstances. Hest
tatfrg thus. | lost sight of her in the
throng. So concluded l 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
ap 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 I counted on
dnding you here. Matters have
changed"
turned with him and we entered
again the east room, whore 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. It was some time ere the
groups thinned. This latter fact us
ually would have ended the reception.
since 1t 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 a natural
expression. He stopped the line for
an instant, and with q 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 whispered
word An instant later he turned
abruptly. ending the reception with
deep bow, and retired into the room
from which he had earlier emerged.
Mr.. Calhoun turned now to me with
q 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. q place for meeting persons Of
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 than
Mr.. Pakenham. SO much might have
been expected. What was not to 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! OF course, I 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 ONCE.
Il pray you be seated, Mr.. Paken-
ham," said Mr.. Tyler. and he gestured
also to US others to take chairs near
his table. Mr.. Pakenham, in rather a
lofty fashion. It 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
to-day. hasten only to put In the
most prompt and friendly form her
majesty's desires. which l 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 q
deep bow. "the courtesy of your per-
sonal presence is most gratifying. Al
low me to express that more Intimate
and warmer feeling a friendship for
yourself which comes through our long
association with you. This respect
and admiration are felt By myself and
my official family for you and the
great power which you represent"
Each having thus delivered himself
Of words which meant nothing, both
now seated themselves and proceeded
to look mighty grave. For myself. I
stole glance from the tail of my eye
toward the Baroness Won Ritz. She sat
erect in her chair. figure OF easy
grace and dignity. but 90 her face was
nothing one could read to tell who
she was or why shal was here.
Il seize upon opportunity. Mr..
Pnkenham." said Tyler presently,
Nth smile VIII he meant to set