Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-02-25

CQdC OH IIe IIlelc lldO DCSH dCIdy
in the last steamer sailing, and the poor
Mauritania had to wait before she could get
into her dock Such mountains of boxes and
barrels and bales of cotton as there were
piled all around us, with the companys Off
GERS and policemen trying to push them
about and people scolding because their
friends couldnt land, and Mrs. Cobb raving
at the top of her voice, and threatening to
sue the company-so that there could be no
doubt in the minds of the other people
around us, at least, that we had come to
meet a Duchess. However, in spite of every
thing, the wait came to an end at last. And
there was Aunt Elizabeth!
It's all very well to criticize your relatives
and make fun of them, and even run away
from them; but your own blood, you know
that's something! And when you see your
own people again in foreign land, after not
seeing them for long time-why, great
lump comes into your throat, and when you
feel their arms around you, you feel as
though you had come home! When Aunt
Elizabeth kissed me, it seemed to me that
had never been grateful to her or loved her
enough. Then Uncle Porthaven and the
girls-as they crowded around me, kissing
me, and telling me how pretty looked, and
congratulating me on my fine marriage
why, in the joy of finding myself among my
own again. almost forgot for just minute
almost, but not quite-the sore heart l
carried. All, if all this fuss and these happy
arrivals had been for my marriage with
Henry!
HOWEVER, l had little time to think.
= The customs men were coming up with
their annoying questions, and the Captain
was paying his compliments to the Duke,
Jrsr,c TO
say goodby to the Duchess, and getting
frozen -stares through an eyeglass. She
looked just the same, Aunt Elizabeth
with her old tweed skirt hitched up slightly
in front, her large jacket with pockets like
a man, and her little felt hat with priceless
veil of Chantilly about it. The girls, how
ever, appeared very well,-Portia in gown
of raspberry pink, Muriel in pale olive green,
Ermentrude in white slightly faded, as usual.
Though their noses were still large, their
compilations, after the American pallor,
looked amazingly fresh and lovely. And as
they huddled together in that frightened
way of the English young lady of quality,
around their imposing mama, it must be
owned that they had a certain air of being
somebody that one does not see every day.
$50 your new husband doesn't show yet,
Lili?" said Aunt Elizabeth, looking about
Will llCl SOlu CyCSl1oo.
mo, Aunt Elizabeth. You see, he-he
felt little shy about intruding on our first
meeting. But he will call to pay his respects
to you at your hotel this afternoon"
"Ah! Charmin' young man, suppose?"
As Mrs. Cobb was listening, l could an
swer nothing less than, ooh, charming!"
"H'm! Millionaire, you said?"
ayes, your Grace, interrupted Mrs. Cobb,
huttered as had never seen her at this flesh
and blood presence of real Duchess. "On
the morning of my dear boys marriage |
sign articles conveying to him property to
the amount of twenty five million dollars.
"Dollars Why not pounds? How much
is dollar, anyway"
-Four shillings and twopence, your Grace.
"Dear me! Why can't you just make it
the round four shillin's without stoppin'
every time to bother over that extra tup-
pence? William, how much is twenty-five
million dollars, in real money!"
Uncle Porthaven's voice, usually so Ian
guild, took on tones of unaffected interest as
he replied with the imposing figure, Five
millions sterlin', my dear"
"Ah, not bad! Not bad at all! And of
this sum l suppose a fttin' portion will be
settled by marriage articles on my dear
niece? However, we will speak of that later.
My dears, here is the gangplank. Be care
full of the gangplank. Muriel, you are toein'
in as usual! Portia, hold up your head!'
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