Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1911-01-13
CHAPTER VI.-Continued.

CHAPTER VI.-Continued.
After that, on guard"
Very well, OF guard! Suppose do
not like this other woman?"
Madam, you could not help it. All
the world loves her"
do you?"
with my life"
How devoted! Very we'll, on guard.
them"
She took up the Indian bauble, turn
ing to examine it at the nearest can
die scOnce, even as | thrust the dainty
little slipper Of white satin again into
the pocket Of my coat. | was uncOm-
Portable. l wished this talk of Eliza
beth had not ONE up. [ liked very
little to leave Elizabeth's property in
another's hands. Dissatisfied, l turned
from the table, not noticing for more
than an instant a little crumpled roll
of paper which, as | was vaguely con-
scious, now appeared on it's smooth
marQuetry top.
But see" she said; you are just
like a man, after all, and an unmar-
ried man at that! l cannot go through
the streets in this costume. Excuse
me for a moment"
She was off on the instant into the
alcOve where the great a~mber-coVered
he'd stood. She drew the curtains. |
heard her humming to herself as she
passed to and fro, saw the flare of a
light as it rose beyond. Once or twice
she thrust a laughing face between
the curtains, held tight together with
her hands. as she asked me some
--.-4:, -,~1Iri,~ no ctin oo11JCnI--
yet still, as l thought, more enigmatic
than before.
Madam" said at last. Il would [
might dwell here forever, but-you
are slow, The night passes. Come.
My master will be waiting. He is i'll;
! fear he cannot sleep. l know how
intent he is on meeting you. l beg
you to oblige an old, dying man"
And you, monsieur she Knocked
at me from beyond the curtain, are
intent only on getting rid OF me. Are
you not ~adventurer enough to forget
that other woman for one night?'
At last she c2me out rom between
the curtains, CARRIED more suitably for
the errand which was now before us.
A long. dark cloak covered her shout
ders. On her head there rested a
dainty uphared bonnet, whose jetted
edges shone in the candle light as she
moved toward me. She was exquisite
in every detail, beautiful as mind of
man could wish; that much was sure,
must be admitted by IN man. l dared
not look at her.
She paused for an instant, drawing
on a pair of the short gloves Of tho
mode then correct. DO you knoF
why am to go on this heather er
randi" she demanded. l shook my
head.
MI Calhoun wishes to know wheth
er he shall go to the cabinet OF yPul
man Tyler over there in that barn ROl
call your White House. l suppose N1r
Calhoun wishes to know how he SaI
serve Mr.. Tyler"
laughed at this. Serve himY"
exclaimed. Rather say lead him, }tel
him. command him."
Yes" she nodded. l began to \see
another and graver side of her Nature
Yes. it is Of course Texas"
did not see fit to max answeiI tt
his.
If your master, as you call hmm
takes the portfolio with Tyler, it is VC
annex Texas" she repeated sharply
rs not that true?"
Still would not answer. Comet
l said.
And he asks me to come to him
so that ne may decide"
This awoke me. No man decides
for John Calhoun. madam l said
You may advance facts, but he viii
decide" Still she went on.
"And Texas not annexed is a men
ace. WithISit her, you heather peoplt
would not present a solid front, would
you?"
Madam has had much to do viii
affairs of state" I said.
She went on as though l had no
spoken:
And if you were divided in your
southern section, England would have
all the greater chance England, yOI
know. says she wishes slavery abol
isheG. She says that
England says many things!" l ven
tured.
The hypocr1te of the n~ations,'
flashed out this singular woman at m
suddenly. AS though diplomacy neeC