Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1911-06-02
CHAPTER Vll.--Contjnued.

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 juHcture 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
settled as it was, and fronted by the
grayest 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 MIR. 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.
l saw many whom | knew. | 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 | 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
oHiOhS9f "AINh hAtbASo EjCl maps Tic bCOI
representative Of our American beau
ty. She was very bravely arrayed to-
day 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 so
serving not wholly to conceal her
natural comeliness of figure. Her ben
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 crept
into her cheeks.
Dignif1ed always. and reserved, was
Elizabeth Churchill. But now | hope
1t was not wholly conceit which led
me to feel that perhaps the warmth,
the glow of the air. caught while RI
ding under the open sky, the sight of
the many budding roses Of our city,
the scent of the blossoms which even
then came through the lattice-the
meeting even with myself. SO lately
misunderstanding at least of this
had caused an awakening in her girls
heart Something, l say, | do not
know what, gave her greeting to me
more warmth than was usual with
her My own heart, eager enough to
break bounds, answered in kind. We
stood-blushing like children as our
hands touched-forgotten in that as
semblage of Washington's pomp and
circumstance.
How do you do?" was all | could
find to say. And How do you do?"
was ell | could catch for answer, al
though | saw, III a fleeting way, a
glimpse of dimple hid in Elizabeth S
cheek. She never showed it save
when pleased. | have never seen a
dimple like that of Elizabeth's.
Absorbed, we almost forgot Aunt
Betty Jennings-stout, radiant, snub
nosed, arch-browed and curious, Eliz
abeth's chaperon On the whole,
was glad Aunt Betty Jennings was
there.
Aunt Betty" said |, as | took he1
hand; Aunt Betty. have we told you
Elizabeth and II"
| saw Elizabeth straighten in per
pleXity, doubt or horror, but | went on
Yes. Elizabeth and I"
You dear children!" gurgled Aun
Betty
"Congratulate us BOTH" demanded
and put Elizabeth's hand, covered
with my own. into the short and club
ny fngers of that estimable lady