lia *KTRAND A:TRS* C' ' ' '4 w.\S CLAIM. 97 Mum 's the word for a servant of the people," said he ; and placing his hand upon his mouth as if to indicate silence, he shuffled out. As the door closed, Mme. De Beaulieu's self- control was at an end. Throwing herself back on the sofa, livid with rage, she sobbed hysterically : " Oh, the beast ! Oh, the beast ! ! " " Mamma, ma belle," whispered little Percy, who flew to her side from the adjoining room ; " shall I slap the naughty man ? Marie, bring cologne to my mamma ! " Clasping the boy to her heart with the tragic air of a Frenchwoman in a stage scene, she exclaimed : " Percy, we have fallen into the den of Forty Thieves, my boy." The child began to cry. This recalled his mother to the ludicrous side of the interview ; so with quick transition she began to laugh, and imi- tate the nasal twang of Ignotus : " Good-mornin' m-a-r-m ! m-u-m 's the word ! " covering her mouth with the tiny jewelled hand. Whereat the little fellow, catching his mamma's mood, laughed merrily. "Ah, Percy, there is one thing yet to know, what is a lobby f 7 98 A WASHINGTON WINTER. At this moment there was a knock at the door, and the card was handed her of Mr. Silvester Span- gler. The burly frame of the Senator was but ill adapted to the ostentatious display of dress, and the pompous vanity that marked every movement. A coarse profusion of jewelry heightened the clumsy effect, for he wore a huge gold fob-chain, from which various ornaments depended ; also a signet-ring, and solitaire-diamond cuff-buttons and studs. A nascent bang of coarse black hair, bushy side-whis- kers, carefully pointed nails, and an English style of dress proclaimed a would-be man of fashion ; but his deep, lobster-tinted complexion, puffed cheeks, congested eyes, and bovine neck declared the indulgence of gross habits. As Mme. De Beaulieu advanced with easy grace to meet him, she presented a singularly handsome appearance. A shade of hauteur added impressive- ness to the splendid carriage of a voluptuous person; and her raven-black tresses, somewhat disarranged by the slightly hysterical scene of the preceding moments, gave an added grace to her alluring, dark eyes. A perfectly close-fitting white cashmere robe, only relieved by a simple nazud of black vel- vet at the throat, fell in pliant folds around her. MME. DE BEAULIEU f S CLAIM. 99 " Mr. Senator Spangler," said she with slow pre- cision, and extending her taper, jewelled fingers, " no introduction is needed of a man whose name is so well known to the country." With what perfect tact had this beautiful belle instantly divined the pabulum of flattery upon which his consummate egotism must be fed ! The poor fly fell without a gasp into the finesse of the spider's web, completely captivated by the magnetic charms to which he succumbed. He bowed with an awk- ward grimace, and would have retained the proffered hand, which was instantly but gently withdrawn. She again spoke, and in a winning tone said, "Pray be seated." Had Mme. De Beaulieu at that moment asked Senator Spangler to kiss the Koran, and swear that he beheld a houri, he would have done so. It was the first decided vertigo of woman's influence he had ever experienced. "You are kind, Mr. Senator, very kind, to make so prompt a recognition of the letter I brought you. The friend who gave it me for you has doubtless stated the object of my visit to Washington." The Senator replied : " You are quite correct, Mrs. De Beaulieu. My influence is requested by Mr. Parr in behalf of a claim now pending before 100 A WASHINGTON WINTER. Congress, which, as I understand, you have come here to press forward." "And I am informed, Mr. Senator, that with the aid of your influence I must succeed. When you will be so good as to examine my papers, you will see, Mr. Senator, that no claim was ever more just. The supplies furnished from the plantations of my father, Mr. Warfield Percy, may be said, at the time they were procured, to have saved the army of General Grant." - Senator Spangler had been gazing very fixedly upon the fair claimant, who pleaded her cause so well, and felt quite unwilling, in case her claim ever was allowed, that any circumstance connected with success should have any weight, outside of her ap- preciation of his personal efforts in her behalf. With this mean motive of depreciating all aid other than his own, he answered in a stilted voice : " The fact that supplies were furnished the army of Gene- ral Grant would not be considered as of any mo- ment, because it can readily be imagined that the Union Army would have compelled any assistance asked for and denied." " But, sir," said the lady, somewhat astounded at this sort of logic, "as a matter of fact, these supplies were neither procurable nor procured elsewhere." MME. DE BEAULIEU'S CLAIM. IOI " A merely fortuitous circumstance, quite without weight," was the annoying response. There was a momentary silence, when the Sena- tor resumed, giving very unpleasant emphasis to his words by his broad stare of admiration : " But great weight must be attached to the wishes of so fair a lady so very fair. I may say that, enlisted for you, I may be able to organize a lobby that must succeed." The tone and manner were very displeasing to so proud a woman, but Mme. De Beaulieu was ac- customed to receive and encourage much adulation ; and here again she was confronted with that un- known agent, a lobby. So, as if taking for granted the complimentary remarks about herself, she merely said : " You will perceive, Mr. Senator, that I am very ignorant, when I ask you what a lobby means." " He, he," chuckled Spangler ; " it means a close corporation, very close indeed ! " She remembered that Ignotus had also said a corporation. Now what was a corporation, and how could one be made out of her claim ? It was a rid- dle indeed. She was aroused from the momentary revery by the same unrefined voice, adding famil- 102 A WASHINGTON WINTER. iarly : " I am a busy man to-day, Mrs. Beaulieu ; but I shall not forget you, and I shall certainly find time to repeat my visit at no distant day." There- upon seizing her hand, with the rudeness of his coarse manners, he said good-morning, and departed. As the door closed upon his retreating form, a delicate little clenched fist saluted the air in the direction of his retreat, of which unamiable ges- ture he was all-unconscious as he said to himself : " She is the very Ox-eyed Juno of my once hated Virgil. I always thought that the old heathen lied ; but I now see that such beings did exist." Mme. De Beaulieu was so accustomed to the gallant speeches of men in Europe, which meant nothing more than the conventional compliments of the drawing-room, that, except for the coarseness of its tone and manner, she had paid no attention to the flattery of this disagreeable man. Had it crossed her mind at that time that she had made any serious impression on the fancy of this creature, she would have been deeply incensed ; yet there was in her soul a presaging sense of gathering clouds, even as the sultry air indicates the coming tempest in the near future. MME. DE BEAULIEU'S CLAIM. 103 " What peculiar men these members of Congress are ! I wonder if they are all alike ? " said Mme. De Beaulieu; and, as if in response to the query, another card was handed her. It was that of Mr. Richard Roland, of Massachusetts. Senator Roland was remarkable for great dignity of presence. It was surprising what a mastery over men, this man of slight frame, delicate, nervous organization, pale countenance, and quiet manners had obtained. His voice had no great compass, but in its use was a distinctness of enunciation and an elegance of diction that at once captivated attention. His hair, which had been in youth a chestnut-brown, was assuming the shade so aptly called iron-gray, and suggested the wisdom of experience deemed necessary for a statesman to possess. Coming from Massachusetts, of course he wore spectacles ; and one had a vague suspicion that he might have, concealed about him, a chosen book or two, wherewith to refresh his mind at odd moments. But if he had the air of a bibliographer, it was so happily blended with the polished man- ners of the best society, that his scholarly tastes were never obtrusive. His dark-blue eyes had a penetrating power, at once indicative of depth 104 A WASHINGTON WINTER. of emotion and great clearness of intellectual perception. Mme. De Beaulieu recognized in him a man of high-breeding, as he bowed, upon addressing her, without extending his hand. " He is the only man I have met in America," thought the lady, " who has not, upon our first meeting, oppressed me with the familiarity of hand-shaking." " I am happy, madam," said Senator Roland, " to meet you ; and I am indebted to my friend Mr. Otis for the favor of his letter of introduction." " Kindly be seated," replied Mme. De Beaulieu ; " I am also under obligations to Mr. Otis. We can- not be strangers, Mr. Senator, in a literal sense, as I believe we have many friends in common Bos- tonians whom I have met abroad." "It gives me an added pleasure to greet you as a friend," said the Senator. " Americans are of cos- mopolitan tastes, and so very restless as often to wander over the world continuously. They forget indeed, in the love of travel, that our own country is in many respects the culmination of the wisdom and the experiments of all other lands." " Pardon me," said Madame, " if as yet I have not learned to adopt your views. May I venture to speak frankly ? " MME. DE BEAULIEU'S CLAIM. IO$ "If indeed you will so honor me," said the Senator, slightly bowing. "I have come to Washington, Mr. Senator," said Madame, " in the hope of receiving from the United States a just recognition of services ren- dered by my father's estate to the country in its hour of greatest need." " I am aware, madam," replied the Senator, " of the nature of your claim, as the papers connected with it were placed last winter before the commit- tee of which I am chairman. I have somewhat given them my attention, and am happy to be able to say that your cause is just, and merits a speedy settlement. But I fear I have interrupted you." " Not at all, sir," said Mme. De Beaulieu, de- lighted at last to be so well received. " I can scarcely express to you the cheering effects of your kind words of encouragement. I rather fear that I was about to say too much. It was this : I have already seen Mr. Ignotus, of the House, who repre- sents the district where my property interests are ; and I have also been called upon by Senator Span- gler. I cannot but admit to you, Senator Roland, for I feel that you will understand me, that in meet- 106 A WASHINGTON WINTER. ing these gentlemen, I was not impressed with the calibre of the character of our public men." " I perfectly comprehend the force of your strict- ures," replied Mr. Roland. "These men do not represent the true intelligence of the country. They are rather an abnormal outgrowth of some of the peculiar conditions into which we drifted after the late terrible war. I may say, by way of illustration, that an excrescence on a noble oak does not seriously impair its vitality or arrest its growth, although it mars the beauty of its form." " I am consoled to hear your opinions," said the lady, "and I trust I shall modify my own accordingly." " I beg you to excuse this early call," said the Senator. " My engagements to-day are continuous, and I wished to honor your letter at once." " It will always give me great pleasure to see you, Mr. Senator," said Mme. De Beaulieu, "whenever the demands upon your time will permit." At this juncture a card was handed Mme. De Beaulieu : MME. DE BEAULIEU'S CLAIM. IO/ She read it aloud, and turning to Senator Roland enquired : " Is this the card of General Garfield ? " " It is," said Senator Roland. " He is considered one of the Republican leaders of the House of Rep- resentatives, and as an orator has no superior in that body. Good-morning, madam." " She is an intelligent woman," thought Senator Roland, " and I must ask my friend Mrs. Wilton to call upon her." General Garfield was at that time rapidly ascend- ing towards the splendid zenith which he ail-too soon attained. His auspicious star then prevailed, and as yet no shadow of calamity was cast athwart his brilliant career. He was an excellent repre- sentative of that expansiveness of our institutions which fosters inherent greatness, and allows native merit to advance from low estate with giant strides. In his case, force of will and immense bodily vitality were allied with scholarly attainments, silver-tongued eloquence, and eager ambition. He had, in its per- fection, the mens sana in corpore sano. He was susceptible to the pleasure to be derived from the society of cultivated women, and his ever affable manner became on such occasions debonair and charming. He did not have the punctilious cour- 108 A WASHINGTON WINTER. tesy nor the nice refinements natural to Senator Roland, and inherited by him from courtly ancestry through several generations ; but Garfield possessed a delightful effusiveness that placed him en rapport with every society that came within the Mael- strom of his magnetism. His manly bearing, mag- nificent and well-poised head, and, above all, the irresistible smile, captivated Mme. De Beaulieu, who cordially returned the grasp of his extended hand, without a thought as to the strict conventionality of his address. He was Garfield, and glad to see her ; and she was, in spite of herself, glad to wel- come him. Mme. De Beaulieu had brought him a letter of introduction from the American Minister near Paris ; and so the General had various ques- tions, showing kindly regard, to ask about that gentleman. At the end of five minutes Mme. De Beaulieu found herself chatting as easily as with an old acquaintance. " Do you know, General Garfield, that I am to be dreaded, because I have a claim before Congress ? " she presently- asked. " You are certainly in that case to be pitied," said Garfield laughing. " What can I do to serve you?" MME. DE BEAULIEITS CLAIM. 109 "Much, indeed everything, General, as in fact you best know," answered she. "My case is just, and has already gone before Senator Roland's com- mittee, and he says it is all clear." " If my friend Roland endorses it, you are fortu- nate," said Garfield. " I doubt not, in such a case, that all is right, and I am heartily glad of it." " Then it is, after all, an easy matter ? " asked Mme. De Beaulieu. " By no means," said Garfield. " I do not wish to discourage you, Mme. De Beaulieu, but I beg you not to be too sanguine." " Why not, General ? " " Simply, madam, because yours is a private claim, and all personal interests must give way to the vast pressure of public measures to be considered. This, too, is a short session, which is not in your favor. Then again, the laws regulating legislation hem in a private claim in such a manner that the least factious opposition may be brought to defeat the ends of justice. I shall assuredly do all that I can to assist Roland, for whose opinion I have great regard. I shall also wish to aid you, for I have deep sympathy for those Southerners who were loyal, and helped us when we needed help. But to 110 A WASHINGTON WINTER. change the subject, have you met my friend, Mrs. Wilton ? " "I have not," said Madame. " You must know her, and frequent her conversa- ziones. I will mention your arrival to her." So saying, with a friendly shake of the hand, the genial Garfield departed. " How very agreeable he is," soliloquized Mme. De Beaulieu, "and most generous-hearted. Well, I have had a singular experience this morning ; I have met two vulgarians and two gentlemen. This American Congress seems to be pretty evenly divided!" and so, indulging in a quaint little .laugh, she called Percy to her side. CHAPTER VII. THE HOUSE-WARMING OF SENATOR SPANGLER. A WASHINGTON season may be said to com- mence on New Year's Day, and to terminate with Ash Wednesday. This interval usually includes about two months' space of time, in which a series of gayeties engage the entire attention of society people ; but with the setting-in of Lent, Catholics and Episcopalians withdraw more or less from the world, and their number is large enough to exercise decided influence over society movements, if not to control them. There are, in addition, votaries of fashion, to whom the religious observance of Lent is a matter of indifference, but who become so fatigued by the previous dissipation as to require rest ; while there are still others who desire the temporary pause wherein to prepare fresh toilets, in which they emerge at Easter, like butterflies from the chrysalis state. 112 A WASHINGTON WINTER. The social columns of the various journals always announce, at the commencement of a season, that it is expected to be brilliant ; but this winter, many circumstances were supposed to con- spire to produce exceptional interest. The air of the political world was full of stratagems ; as it was the winter immediately preceding a new admin- istration, and the social world was agitated by heralded novelties. In former days the habits of the old Washing- tonians had a certain dignified simplicity. The expenditure of money, without other claims to social consideration, made but slight impression, except to render the possessor unenviably conspicu- ous. At all events, money was not an open sesame to the doors of the best families. Merit, or inheri- ted respectability, was looked upon as indispensa- ble ; and it often happened that the highest func- tionaries, and people of leading social positions, lived in very inconspicuous houses, whose appoint- ments were rather remarkable for their harmonious arrangement, than for costly display. Certainly, at no time previous to the Civil War would such a common man as Spangler, no matter what his parade of wealth, have received any social recogni- THE SP ANGLER HOUSE-WARMING. 113 tion ; nor probably could such a man have been elected to fill the responsible office of United States Senator. It is true that the House of Representatives had not always been fortunate in the selection of its members ; yet when boorish men were sent to Washington, they were not tolerated or received in its social circles ; and now and then, when they appeared as functionaries of the government at the formal dinners of the President or his Cabinet, their gaucheries formed the subject of amused com- ment. Society reporting was then an unknown occupation ; and to have the movements and, above all, the dresses of respectable ladies described in the public journals of the day, would have been deemed an insufferable liberty. On the other hand, dinner-table talk was culti- vated as an art ; and the jcux d' esprit, bon-mots, and witticisms, that outvied the sparkle of the cham- pagne, were repeated as social events. Alas, alas ! Over the dreary waste of tiresome descriptions of menus and dresses that flood the papers of the day, one seeks in vain for the refreshment of intellectual conversation or flashing wit. No one asks about no one writes about anything but the common- 114 A WASHINGTON WINTER. place. Would it not be a charming innovation, and a relief to the dreadful monotony, if we could have one, just one, reporter of the clever things that are said ? not set dinner-speeches written to be printed, which no one reads, and only those hear who cannot help doing so, but the charming origi- nalities. Are these forever gone ? Is the Prome- thean fire burnt out, never more to be rekindled ? At the period of which we write, already the deteriorating influence of war's upheavals pervaded society ; and the effect was noticeable. The sea- son was now to be inaugurated by the ball of Sena- tor Spangler, and people began to inquire who were to become the notable and noticeable dramatis persona of the scene. Among the fair women already spoken of as belles, was Mme. De Beau- lieu, whose beauty, supposed wealth, and elegance of manners attracted much attention ; the lovely Amabel Wilton and the piquant Stella Stevens, both debutantes, were much admired ; while Prince Nikolaus Skybeloff, some young titled diplomats, Senator Roland, the talented and influential Clys- mic, and the gifted and wealthy Clarence Meredith, formed a brilliant constellation of stars of the first magnitude. Then there was the reputed million-' THE SPANGLER HOUSE-WARMING. 115 naire, Spangler, who, it was said, intended to keep open house, but of whom society as yet knew^little or nothing. Nor must we forget M. le Vicomte De La Tour, said to be a widower, and certainly an accomplished man of the world ; and the Cheva- lier Pasquale Benedetto, the new Italian Minister, who was very eccentric and an old bachelor. The second of January had been bright and beautiful, perhaps a trifle too warm for a winter's sun ; but about four in the afternoon a northeast wind sprang up, which soon increased to a gale, bringing clouds that rapidly obscured the sky ; and, as night set in, a slight snow fell. As if a spirit of caprice prevailed, the silently descending snow was soon changed into a heavy continuous rain, which fell in freezing icicles, enveloping every object, and making the streets one broad, icy glare of frozen snow and water. By ten o'clock it seemed as if all the carriages of the city were wending their way to the scene of the night's festivities, the new palatial residence of Senator Spangler. Unfortu- nately the police had not been notified to be in attendance ; and a scene of indescribable confusion and even danger ensued, such as has not unfre- quently occurred in the history of Washington routs. Il6 A WASHINGTON WINTER. The Jehus had it all their own way, struggling, cursing, trying to pass each other, running into each other so as to lock the wheels of their car- riages, and now and then staving in panels of splendid equipages, even at times finding all pro- gress impeded. Not a few ladies, superbly attired, had to leave their carriages a square from the fes- tive scene, and walk to the house. Half the fash- ionable world had colds in consequence of this terrible experience ; some fair victims never indeed regained good health, and every one experienced more or less discomfort. But all this perplexity bore the name of pleasure ; and those who remained comfortably in cheerful homes were condoled with, because they did not make one of the harassed throng. Oh, deceitful and deceiving Pleasure ! How much that is calami- tous takes on thy semblance ! The blooming bride is greeted by the world with paeans of rejoicing, and crowned with fragrant orange-bloom ; and when with broken heart her fair head sinks beneath the waves of desolation, the same \\orld conducts the bride of Death to her dark resting-place, drawn by chosen white steeds, with plumed hearse, and pillowed upon innumerous sweet-breathing flowers. THE SPANGLER HOUSE-WARMING. 1 1/ Perchance one or two of the hundreds who sat for an hour in their carriages that night in the cheerless rain, awaiting their turn, may have had some such dismal reflections, soon extinguished, however, by the dazzling glow and turmoil of the feast. As usual, the world claimed her own and held her own. By eleven o'clock the coup d'ccil was very splen- did, and most of the guests had arrived. The ball-room extended the entire length across one end of the house, and opened into a fine conserva- tory, where a translucent fountain fell in showery sprays over tropic plants, cooling the heated air. The inspiring strains of music, placed in a gallery of the ball-room, were exhilarating but not bruyant. Senator and Mrs. Spangler received their hun- dreds of dear friends, standing under the garlanded arch of the celadon and gilded central drawing- room. This was their hour of triumph. The world's ovation was in progress. Catch the pris- matic rays of the soap-bubble ere they fall, if you can, for they are not so evanescent as the world's acclaim. To the spiritualized sense, the hand- writing on the wall was there affixed, but in the mirage none could read it. Ii8 A WASHINGTON WINTER. All of Washington was there. Of course we except the President and his wife ; for to the President alone our social etiquette accords the right-royal pre-eminence and special distinction of being the Amphitryon of the nation. He is always a host and never a guest, if he so chooses to possess his high estate. The toilet of Mrs. Spangler was a creation of Worth, and had been ordered for this occasion. It was of peacock-blue brocade, heavily embroidered in gold. But the poor lady looked very careworn, and the bright flush upon her hollow cheeks was one of exultation, not the genuine suffusion of hap- piness. The intermingling white strands of hair told how heavily many burdens oppressed this childless, lonely woman. At first, in the obscure toils of her early wedded life, she had been more regarded because more useful ; but now her mis- sion, so far as he was concerned, she knew to be at an end ; for he, with the lion's spring, had bounded far ahead, and she understood him to be just what he was. She was heart-sick, and this malady is mortal. With the punctuality of country manners, the first who entered, at the precise moment of invita- THE SPANGLER HOUSE-WARMING. 1 19 tion, were the Honorable Mr. and Mrs. Ignotus. The gentleman in a frock-coat of rustic cut, baggy trousers, white kid gloves, and black silk necktie felt fine, if he did not look so. The dress of Mrs. Ignotus had been the nine days' wonder of Waterproof, the little town where they lived, being so called, because always partially submerged. The fashionable dressmaker of Waterproof expected to achieve a national reputation in the admiration the display of her skill must excite. The dress was of terra-cotta-red, slazy silk ; the skirt was ruffled to the waist, and each ruffle edged with black cotton lace. "To be sure it's imitation, marm," said she, " but no one will know any better." The corsage was of that abominable outline called half-low, and the sleeves were cut short just above the elbow ; while white ruching was crowded in round the neck and sleeves. A broad pink-brocade sash was tied in a bow behind, according to directions ; and a wreath of red, white, and blue roses sur- mounted a fabulous erection of false frizzled hair. As her neck was long and thin, this garland, with her fluttering sash, gave her very much the appear- ance of a liberty-pole. Ignotus had grumbled about the cost of this dress, but finally compromised with- 120 A WASHINGTON WINTER. out a lawsuit, by trading off a barrel of bad whiskey for the goods ; but he was now in splendid humor, and declared frequently that evening, as he strutted up and down with his wife plastered to his arm, that Mrs. Ignotus took the " shine off all creation." Upon being asked how he was, he invariably answered in a liberal way, and with a majestic wave of the hand : "Tip-top ! " It was near midnight, and yet Senator Spangler awaited with eager expectancy the arrival of Mme. De Beaulieu. At last there was the slight move- ment, the buzz of comment, that usually precedes the entrance of any person of special distinction, and a deeper red spread itself over the face of Spangler as he advanced to welcome the long- looked-for belle ; and in the momentary excitement he quite forgot to present her to his wife, a favor at once requested by Mme. De Beaulieu. Her stately beauty was of splendid effect, and she delighted in those strong contrasts which height- ened the symmetrical grace of her person, and showed to best advantage her faultless complexion, liquid black eyes, and raven hair. She wore a lustrous white satin dress trainee, the tablier out- lined with embroidered crimson roses; and a THE SP ANGLER HOUSE-WARMING. 121 wreath of the same flowers encircled the exquisite contour of her bust, and terminated in a point at the waist. A superb velvety rose, of the same dark hue, nestled in the wavelets of her hair, held in its place by an opal butterfly. Around her graceful throat was a bandlet of crimson velvet, from which depended the fateful opal. Her ap- pearance was greeted by a suppressed murmur, " Who is she ? " " Please present me ! " again and again repeated ; and among those who made this request was the Chevalier Pasquale Benedetto. For the rest of that evening Senator Spangler was in a dazed state. For once in his life he for- got himself so far as to admire another person ; and yet, was not the reflection in his soul Narcis- sus still ? for was he not still consulting his own selfish gratification ? It was the same law of ego that governed him, taking on another semblance. Of course the assemblage had many captivating women ; among whom Mrs. Wilton presented a very distinguished appearance. Her toilet was a trained dress of violet velvet, and she wore a plume of the same color, and amethysts. She had the unusual elegance of being tall and also graceful ; but that which always assured her the most 122 A WASHINGTON WINTER. marked attention was her exceeding cleverness, and the rare quickness of her repartee. On this evening she matronized her daughter and orphan niece, the two most fascinating debutantes of the season. Amabel was of too delicate a type to be appreciated amid the glitter of such surroundings.' Her girlish, willowy, and svelte figure was purely American, and can rarely be seen elsewhere in such perfection. She was very comely in her simple dress of fine white muslin, which closed around her throat, for so she would have it made. This pretty dress was trimmed with delicate Valenciennes lace, and only relieved by a cluster of tea-roses in the corsage. Her rich auburn hair was folded in Gre- cian coils close against the noble contour of her head, and held by a thin fillet of gold in its place. At her throat an antique cross, set in pearls, con- fined a slight band of black velvet ; and her deep violet-blue eyes and modest demeanor were of Madonna loveliness. She was almost at once led to the ball-room by Prince Nikolaus, where there w,as one who only looked on in a distrait, unhappy way, the handsome Clarence Meredith, who, with his wealth, might be said to be of the jcunesse dorte of New York, only he was too gifted to be thus designated. THE SPANGLER HOUSE-WARMING. 123 Amabel's cousin, the sprightly Stella Stevens, the petite, vivacious brunette, was charmingly at- tired in a delicate gaze de chambery, covered with a profusion of embroidered moss-rosebuds, distri- buted with careless grace, as if they had fallen upon her in showers ; while streamlets of rose-colored ribbons, and a restless Brazilian firefly fluttering in her dark hair, gave her the springing lightness of a very sylphid queen. So at least thought the dis- criminating M. le Vicomte De La Tour, and the still more fastidious Mr. Charles Clysmic. This celebrated journalist, who controlled so many minds, was himself in danger of being subdued by a spell more potent than even his ready pen could wield. He led Stella out for the first dance. Although Mrs. Wilton had entire confidence in the intentions of these radiant girls, she was quite too kind and wise to leave their inexperience to the hap-hazard chances of a ball-room, without her sur- veillance. She. therefore found a recessed window, where an ottoman gave repose and space enough for pleasant chat, with the festive dancers in full view. There was Roland, and also Garfield, standing near, and the trio found much for curious comment. 124 A WASHINGTON WINTER. Presently, however, their debonair friend, Commo- dore Leonidas Reflex, found them out. "I am surprised," said the Commodore, greeting the little party with great friendliness, "to find three such clever people quietly stowed away in a corner. Why, the supper-room is open ; and Sena- tor Spangler, who has surely lost his head, has for- gotten that the wife of the Secretary of State is here, for he has taken the beautiful Mme. De Beau- lieu to the table, and without assigning any one to Mrs. Spangler. But what can one expect ? " added he, with a shrug and a very significant look of disgust. "And the supper-table, Commodore?" said Mrs. Wilton much diverted, and gently leading him in the direction of his tastes. " Now is the time for us to go in to supper, mad- am," resumed he ; " and besides, it is strange to see Senator Spangler so infatuated with the handsome French widow." " Mme. De Beaulieu is not French, Commodore," said General Garfield , " she is a Southern lady." "Do you think, General," said the irrepressible Commodore, "that Senator Spangler makes the distinction ? But come, we are losing time. The THE SPANGLER HOUSE-WARMING. 12$ moment this Virginia Reel, now so merrily in pro- gress, is over, we shall have the supper-room filled from the ball-room." So the four, yielding to the earnestness of the Commodore, started for the supper-room. But at that moment the hitherto smooth course of the reel seemed to become agitated as if by some unex- pected disturbance, and various lithe dancers were seen flying in and out of their places at odd times ; then were heard little shrieks of laughter, and young girls shaking their fans and crying out, "O General ! " " What can the flutter mean ? " asked Mrs. Wilton, who was somewhat uneasy for Amabel and Stella. " Just nothing at all," said the Commodore in a snappish way, " of any consequence to divert us from the supper-table. Don't you see, it 's only General Sherman, who has taken a hand in the reel, and is cutting an old-fashioned doilble pigeon-wing, in order and out of order, and insisting on leading out the pretty girls, and they are all in a titter of amusement." "And sure enough," said Senator Roland, "it is original and also inimitable. The hero of the ball- room ! " 126 A WASHINGTON WINTER. At that moment a grave, rather stolid, but evi- dently amused looker-on stood near, but so very still and quiet he had not been observed, until the merry Stella, whom General Sherman had just "turned, out of turn," appealed to this staid spectator. " O General Grant, what shall we do with Gen- eral Sherman ? Look at the confusion he makes ! Please take him in charge." General Grant, thus appealed to, only answered very sedately, but with a twinkle in his eye : " I can do nothing, Miss Stevens. General Sherman is a Democrat; we will have to let him go." Every one laughed. Mrs. Wilton, Senator Ro- land, General Garfield, and the satisfied Commo- dore passed on into the supper-room, where that gentleman led the way directly to the punch-bowl. Here a scene that was not very decorous occur- red, for which "ye ancient mariner" was responsi- ble. Standing near was that very Cabinet-officer whose wife had that very morning declared such energetic temperance principles for herself and family. Now the Commodore took the opportunity, when Senator Roland and General Garfield were closely engaged in the discussion of a joint plan, TEE SP ANGLER HOUSE-WARMING. I2/ in which the Senate and the House were to act in a committee of conference, of which these gentle- men were members to get up a little by-play for the amusement of Mrs. Wilton, whom he always desired to entertain. He therefore began to expa- tiate upon the excellent qualities of the punch to the Secretary, at the same time filling some glasses with the delectable but heady compound. " I assure you, Mr. Secretary," he suggested, " it is a sure preservative against cold, pneumonia, and fever. There is no headache in it, and it makes a man 'a man for a' that,' as Burns so happily sings ; " handing a glass with one hand, while he tossed off a bumper with the other. " To sweethearts and wives, as we old sailors say ; " toasted he. The Secretary wavered, sniffed the punch, and the aroma entered his brain. It was too much ; and virtue lost her favored stronghold, as the whilom temperance lecturer swallowed the liquid at one draught, re-echoing, " Sweethearts and wives to you, Commodore ! " It was the work of an instant to refill and re- pledge and re-quaff. "Now for a nightcap," said the Commodore, perfectly enchanted at the unexpected success of 128 A WASHINGTON WINTER. his manoeuvre ; and the third bumper was raised to the now ready lips, when the arm of the recreant was suddenly but firmly grasped by no less a per- sonage than Mrs. Secretary herself. " Fie, fie, sir, " said she. " Let me alone, Sarah," said he of bibulous taste, hilarious enough to be for once independent. " But " stammered the poor woman, utterly dis- mayed, " your temperance pledge ! " " To your very good health, Commodore," an- swered the demented man ; " here goes ! " tossing down the third glass. " You see how it is, Commo- dore, the-o-ret-i-cal-ly I 'm tem-per-r-rance, but practic-tt-cal-ly I im-bibe ! " At this instant his wife, seizing him by the arm, whispered in his ear : " Jake, you old fool, come home at once ! Don't you see, with all your theo- retical nonsense, that you are practically drunk." With this they disappeared. Mrs. Wilton saw it all. The Commodore was radiant. "What a victory for me over Roland," soliloquized he. " While he is talking politics with Garfield, I have gotten up a little divertissement to amuse her. Courage ! Roland may yet be on the retired list before I am ! " THE SP ANGLER HOUSE-WARMING. 129 Mrs. Wilton tried to look displeased, and said not a word ; but a solitary tear trickled down her cheek, the effect of suppressed laughter. " Mrs. Wilton," said General Garfield, suddenly turning towards her, " how does this grand new house impress you?" " General, it is too confusing for thought," said she. " It spreads out like a peacock, and we are all overshadowed by the iridescence." " Come now," said the General, " that is too clever for this atmosphere. Keep such scintilla- tions for your own delightful conversaziones. Shall we promenade ? " " How can I ? " " Why not ? " " To be sandwiched in the crowd, General ? " " You do not wish to be one of many" said he, "yet it is our national motto." " I cannot, General ; I revolt from a crowd. All crushes are vulgar, no matter how distinguished their component parts. No drawing-room effect can be splendid when one is elbowed." " But," asked he, " what if one steadily advances, and works out of the crush ? " " Ah," said Mrs. Wilton, " that is quite another 9 130 A WASHINGTON WINTER. thing; and if you, General Garfield, look fixedly ahead, above and beyond all, there is still to be reached an ultima thule." " Do you think so ? " said he, with lowered voice and dilated eye ; " but where, and how reach it ? " " It lies in the direction of the White House, and is within your grasp," whispered she. " And you think so ? " he repeated vaguely, not looking at her, but as if he would search futurity. " I know so," was the response. Then there was silence. Mrs. Wilton took the proffered arm of Senator Roland, who at that mo- ment rejoined them, and General Garfield bade good-night. His excellent wife, with her custom- ary good sense, had preferred to stay at home with the children on that stormy night. Did General Garfield then dream of an ultima thule t Between Mrs. Wilton and Senator Roland there existed a union of sentiment, without even a remote thought of marriage, which is rarely understood by the world. They had for each other a genuine Pla- tonic friendship. This mutual confidence was based upon moral and intellectual sympathies, which made companionship delightful. Whenever they had an THE SP ANGLER HOUSE-WARMING. 131 opportunity for a comparison of ideas, it was quite wonderful upon how wide a range of subjects they had attained similar conclusions. Very few women, and probably still fewer men, are equal to the level of such a friendship between the sexes ; for it presupposes much that cannot be, if the nature is gross, or even unrefined. Yet in their case all the conditions of true regard were manifest. Without conformity of disposition, there was complete moral and mental correspondence. There is probably no truer test of absolute trust than that of silence. The society of one who makes no demand for the expression of thought is most refreshing, for it involves the certainty of being comprehended. Such was a not unusual mood be- tween these friends ; and for some minutes, on this occasion, they were silent observers. " It is kaleidoscopic, is it not ? " asked Senator Roland presently. " It is a strange medley," answered Mrs. Wilton. " This odd house, the decorations, the upholstery, the tout ensemble is indeed curious." "And the assemblage?" replied the Senator, glancing at Mr. and Mrs. Ignotus, who were at the instant passing, and then looking around at a group of well-bred people standing near. 132 A WASHINGTON WINTER. " These two first," said Mrs. Wilton, "are rustics ; these others are des notres. The full-summed mean- ing of all is Washington" Roland's clear, deep-set blue eye looked into the other's depth of more tender violet-blue for response. It was evident that they two held an identical ap- preciation of the illusive forms of a Washington season. At that moment a lady faultlessly dressed, and of good-natured, kindly countenance, but otherwise of very plain aspect, approached Mrs. Wilton. "Why, how are you, Mrs. Malaprop?" exclaimed Mrs. Wilton. " I am happy to see you. I had the impression you were still abroad." " I came home some weeks ago, Mrs. Wilton," she replied ; " that is, if your name is Mrs. Wilton still ; but," regarding Senator Roland with a look of enquiry, " but it seems to me that I did hear somewhere, from some one, that you were married to somebody." In spite of herself Mrs. Wilton was angry, and she stiffly replied : " Who, Mrs. Malaprop, could have done me this signal injustice?" - "Did you enjoy the tour abroad, madam?" in- quired Senator Roland, wishing to spare Mrs. Wilton all embarrassment. THE SPANGLER HOUSE-WARMING. 133 "Well, only to a degree, sir. I had my eyes about me, however ; for, thank heaven, I never have to wear spectacles, as I am told Boston people always do," very innocently replied the lady to the edified Bostonian. It was now Mrs. Wilton's turn to come to the rescue. "Was your stay prolonged, Mrs. Malaprop ? " " Not so very long, Mrs. Wilton ; although now I "recall the fact, I left you in deep mourning for your husband, which I am happy to perceive you have laid aside for second-mourning colors. This is a beginning, anyhow, in the right direction." "Did you meet many pleasant people in your travels ? " asked Senator Roland, determined to turn aside the personal edge of her remarks from Mrs. Wilton. " Oh yes," said Mrs. Malaprop, whose current of talk was as easy to change as the onward flow of any babbling little brook, that goes another way at the slightest impediment. "Certainly; there are more people worth seeing, to be sure, when one travels over a continent. I saw a Mr. Gladstone, a Mr. D' Isreely, a Miss Nightingale, a Mr. Gambetta, and " 134 A WASHINGTON WINTER. Here the list was cut short by Amabel and Stella, who joined them, accompanied by Prince Nikolaus and M. le Vicomte De La Tour. The introductions were made, because requested by Mrs. Malaprop, who at once said to Stella: "Is your mother alive yet?" Poor Stella ! This was her first evening in gay dress since that great sadness ; and Mrs. Wilton, fearing the shock would be too painful, hastened to engage the attention of Mrs. Malaprop, by saying to her that perhaps she had visited Russia, and that Prince Nikolaus was a Russian. The Prince bowed, and Mrs. Malaprop at once turned her batteries on him. " I did not care to visit Russia," she said ; " for in the first place I was afraid of being mistaken for a noble or something of that sort, and being poi- soned, or blown up by dynamite on your railways, Prince. And I did not care much to see your Czar anyhow, for all my sympathies are with the op- pressed Turks. How handsome the Sultan is, with his romantic dress ! " Mrs. Wilton, who had a delicate sense of all that is due to the stranger in courtesy, was greatly mor- tified, for there was no stopping Mrs. Malaprop THE SPANGLER HOUSE-WARMING. 135 until she ran down for want of breath. At the instant's pause, Mrs. Wilton interrupted her, saying to Mrs. Malaprop, " M. le Vicomte De La Tour is an addition to our Washington society since you left us." " I am happy to meet M. De La Tour in Wash- ington," said Mrs. Malaprop, " for, if I remember rightly, when I was in Paris it was said, in Amer- ican circles, that M. De La Tour had been offered the mission to the Sandwich Islands. Is that so ? " " It was so, madame," said M. le Vicomte, evi- dently nettled ; " and I was later tendered my present position, which, after some deliberation, I accepted." " What ? " exclaimed Mrs. Malaprop, in astonish- ment, "and you concluded to come to Washing- ton, rather than go to the Sandwich Islands ? " " Did I make a mistake, madame ? " said the French Secretary of Legation, much exasperated. " A mistake ? " blurted out the maladroit ; " I should think you did, when you would have been so much better fitted to live among the savages." This was past bearing. Whatever the amiable lady intended to say, she had, with her usual ill- luck, expressed the reverse, and thus found herself 136 A WASHINGTON WINTER. in a circle of charming people, each one of whom had been proven vulnerable. It was a great relief when Commodore Reflex with his slightly gouty gait, benevolent bald head, and ruddy face ap- peared, to suggest that it would be more prudent, before venturing into the night air, to adjourn to the supper-room, and fortify themselves against taking cold. As the Commodore bowed to Mrs. Malaprop with instinctive politeness, she compla- cently remarked to Amabel*: " I see, Miss Wilton, your grandfather has come to take you away ; " and quickly turning for a parting word to the French- man, all unaware of the almost stertorous breathing of the injured Commodore, she said : " I forgot to mention, M. De La Tour, that of all the celebrities I met in Europe, I most admired Bismarck, the great Bismarck." "Good evening, Mrs. Malaprop," said Senator Roland, offering his arm to Mrs. Wilton, and for once leading the way, as the whole party beat a hasty retreat to the supper-room. "We are," said the Senator, "one and all, a routed and demoralized set." The c6terie, having taken a cup of coffee, sought their hostess to make their parting compliments, THE SP ANGLER HOUSE-WARMING. 137 and every one was painfully impressed by the hag- gard look of utter exhaustion of Mrs. Spangler. " I, too, am weary, aunt," said Stella, who had not regained her usual elasticity since the brusque allusion by Mrs. Malaprop to her beloved mother, now no more. " When mademoiselle is weary, her eyes do not grow dim," said M. le Vicomte, bowing good-night. " Miss Stevens cannot but be luminous," said Mr. Clysmic, " for she is a Stellar constellation ; " and he waited to assist the ladies to their carriage. Stella had courtesied in a coquettish little way to M. le Vicomte, but she gave the radiance of her brightest glance to the journalist. "Adieu, Prince," said Amabel. " Can utter darkness come so soon ? " sighed he. Then turning to Mrs. Wilton, he added : " May I call to-morrow, madame, if only to inquire how you have borne the fatigues of the day ? " " We have engagements to-morrow, Prince Nik- olaus," said Mrs. Wilton, "but if you will dine with us en famille at six, it will give us pleasure." "I thank you heartily for the courtesy, and it makes me very happy to accept," answered the Prince. 138 A WASHINGTON WINTER. Baron Skerowski joined the Prince just in time to catch the concluding sentence, which did not seem to please him, for he bowed with hauteur to Mrs. Wilton ; and, taking the arm of Prince Niko- laus, as if to lead him away, said : " Prince Nikolaus, I regret interrupting your conversation, but my daughter Olga stands waiting in her wraps, and our carriage stops the way." " I am at your service, Baron," said the Prince ; " only a moment ; " and turning once again to Ama- bel he said, in a low tone : " May the morrow be as happy as to-day." As Prince Nikolaus handed Olga Skerowski into the carriage, it was evident that the Baron's daugh- ter did not interest him. At the moment the Prince returned to say that one last word to Amabel, which she heard with flushed cheek, her eye caught the reflection in a mirror of the classic head of Clarence Meredith, and she was pained by the extreme pallor of his countenance ; and her hitherto undisturbed peace was troubled by the question : Did she prefer Clarence Meredith ? ' or was Prince Nikolaus her favorite ? But this conflicting emotion defied anal- ysis in the heart and brain of an artless girl, on the night of her first ball. THE SP ANGLER HOUSE. 139 The guests were now leaving the house in rapid succession. Indeed there remained only some bon-vivants, who lingered over the supper-table ; and among them several women of fashion, who could manage at least a pound of patd-dc-foie-gras. Like the Strasburg goose, the capacity was the result of a gradual system of stuffing. One sulky husband stood waiting on his wife. She was an habitude of Washington routs, it is true ; but this evening, temptations had been mul- tiplied. Mr. Clysmic, whose quick eye was every- where, had noticed her performance with increasing wonder, and paused for the result. She had been helped to terrapin and champagne, lobster salad and punch, sandwich and tea, aspic, boned turkey and sherry ; then fruit-cake, ice-cream, wine jellies and more champagne, fruits, conserves, and " any- thing more ? " mechanically repeats the wearied Benedict. " Yes," said Clysmic, " the doctor." The already irritated man turned with an angry gesture, but the prophet had vanished. Sure enough, at three o'clock that morning, only two hours later, the prediction was verified ; for plod- ding through the sleet was the same miserable husband, seeking a doctor. 140 A WASHINGTON WINTER. There is a furious ringing at the doctor's door. The window goes up. "What's wanted?" " A doctor." " Urgent ? " " Asiatic cholera ; gone off in collapse ; but take it easy, doctor." " There," said the irate ^Esculapius, slamming down the window ; " that woman 's been to a party again." The revelry of the night was at an end, the lights extinguished, and the tired flunkies had crept off to bed. The house was noxious with mephitic air, to which was added the sickening odors of dying flowers. The master was left alone. " A curse on my ill luck," groaned he, as with panting breath and furious gesture he bemoaned his hard fate. " What ? To have bartered my soul for money, to have sacrificed even my mother to my ambition, and yet to be tied in this stupid way, by my own act, to that woman, who can no longer help me climb. She is no more of any use to me. She stands in my way, and I must shake her off a curse upon her. Ah ! " he moaned, THE 8PANGLER HOUSE. 141 as if pleading with an image that once had given him pleasure, "yes so she was, once young and beautiful too." " Not superb, though, like this other woman," whispered the tempter. Then the blind frenzy of his passion again pos- sessed him. " Before heaven and hell, she shall be mine. Why, she would push me to the topmost rung, and I would seize the prize. With her, I could be President." Then again came the revulsion, and memory was interceding. " The old wife, how much grit she had when I married her. How hard she did work ! What pluck she had ! And good-looking, too. It was said, by long odds, that she was the finest girl in the place, when I took her for my bride." " But what of this goddess, this splendid beauty of to-night ? " again recalled the tempter. " I know it," hissed Spangler, as insatiate long- ing again maddened his brain. " Fool that I am, to look back, fool to have pity. I am now the Honorable Silvester Spangler, United States Sena- tor, with a big new house ; and there must be a swell new wife to splurge in it, to boot. The old wife. What is she to me now, forsooth ? What if 142 A WASHINGTON WINTER. she was the handsomest girl in the town ? It was a d d small town ; and now the country 's not great enough to hold me. Hallo ! " he almost yelled, "a spick and span new wife." And there entered into the man still another demon, added to the two that already possessed him, the devil of inordinate desire, whose name is Lust. CHAPTER VIII. THE CHEVALIER PASQUALE BENEDETTO. 'T^HE Chevalier Pasquale Benedetto had not re- ceived any special education as a diplomatist ; but he was sent, through some particular influence at home, to Washington as his first mission. This does not often occur in Europe, where diplomacy is entered upon as a regular career, and regarded as a profession requiring preparation and training; the members of the corps-diplomatique commenc- ing at the low grades, and gradually advancing from positions as Chancellors, Attaches, and Secre- taries, to Chargt d ] 'Affaires, Ministers Resident, Envoys Extraordinary, and Ministers Plenipoten- tiary, being finally sent to monarchical courts as Embassadors representing the Sovereign himself. Thus, as in the professions of the Army and Navy, these men are advanced by routine from step to step, and transferred from post to post, 144 A WASHINGTON WINTER. finally reaching positions of highest honor. Of course court favor may set aside routine, just as nepotism has often produced the most scandalous favoritism in our own Army and Navy appoint- ments. Court favor, however, cannot be more capricious or more disastrous than political patron- age when improperly bestowed; for it, like the former, not only transcends all rule, but likewise makes the mistakes consequent upon inexperience. Often also, our most corrupt practices are so hid- den as to be in a measure irresponsible. Again, in the diplomatic service abroad, change of place is at times considered of itself a promotion, without other advancement ; some places being regarded as of more importance than others. For instance, diplomats will occasionally let one know, in that mysterious way incident to the sup- posed magnitude of state secrets, that Washington is rated as at the foot of the diplomatic ladder by European governments. Goslings are sent here to learn to quack and try their wings, and crude tyros to make a beginning. What else can we expect, if we will insist on having a republican form of gov- ernment, and a plain Mr. President who is neither king nor kaiser ? THE CHEVALIER BENEDETTO. 145 Let us sympathize with the sufferings of Count Peepo, Baron Scowly, or my Lord Littlejohn, who is obliged to give state dinners to Mr. Smith, the late tanner, Mr. Brown, fresh from his cattle-ranch, or Mr. Green, once a blacksmith. But this humili- ating social commerce has to be endured, for Mr. Smith is a Cabinet-officer, Mr. Brown a senator, and Mr. Green, Speaker of the House. But at last the blessed day dawns when the royal approval of " well done " comes in the shape of a transfer to the dull court of some German principality, almost as big as the District of Columbia with the Potomac River left out. These trifles are the outcome of inherent antagonisms between monarchies and republics. Now the Chevalier was of a class of men, not as yet, we are sorry to say, established among our- selves as pursuing a life to be set apart and classi- fied. He was a savant. In Europe he had devoted himself to literature and to the study of philosophy ; and he had published some essays, on the funda- mental principles of various schools of philosophy, that had been well thought of. The reason why the Chevalier was taken from his books, and sent, at one stroke of the pen, as envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary 146 A WASHINGTON WINTER. to Washington, was never discovered. It was, however, suspected that his theories concerning the Giobertian philosophy conflicted with those enter- tained by some royal personage ; and he was there- fore cleverly gotten out of the way, and his doughty pen changed into the goose-quill of diplomacy. Be that as it may, who would be so cruel as to inves- tigate state secrets ? he fell like a bombshell amidst the vapid serenities of diplomatic existence, he was so uncomfortably unlike his colleagues. He had brain-power, and that was disagreeable and made him eccentric. Now it is absurd for the diplomat to have any real object in life ; for in this age of telegrams, tele- phones, fast steamers, and the coming flying-ship, his " occupation 's gone. " If the hebdomadal de- spatches are correctly sealed and red-taped for the pigeon-holes of foreign offices abroad, that is quite sufficient. Then the Chevalier spoke English with scholarly accuracy, which was not so interesting as a foreign accent would have been ; and he preferred English to French, oh, wonder of wonders ! In the cata- logue of his sins it could not be denied that his clothes were almost as ill-fitting as those of the THE CHEVALIER BENEDETTO. 147 rural member of Congress. Moreover, he was not flirtatious with women, as all Italians had hitherto been. In this respect he failed to sustain the national reputation. But th,e crowning eccentricity was, that he actu- ally sought to inform himself regarding the institu- tions, the local laws, the form of government, the general habits, and the genius of the people amongst whom he was sent. He seemed to prefer these stu- pid researches, to frequenting the exclusive salons of ultra-fashionables. When, indeed, at times he was found in the circle of la creme de la creme, he was heard to declare that the persiflage of diplomatic circles reminded him of the crater of Vesuvius that had nothing in it. He was seen on such occa- sions to yawn so long that his snags of three teeth were visible, and so loud as to be heard. He was accused of using a red silk handkerchief, because it was more convenient in conjunction with his tabatiere. He forgot to have his hair cut. It was suspected that he had but one shirt. He did not wear gloves. Degante" ! Oh, fie ! On being expostulated with as to this omission by the Doyen, who was a small man but a prodigious marti- net, he defended his coarseness by declaring that 148 A WASHINGTON WINTER. he preferred the texture of his own hands to dressed rat-skins ; and he shocked the Doyen by declaring himself in this respect in advance of the age in true civilization. There was a scandalous bit of gossip about him, that once, when a boasting colleague said that his housekeeper always had his socks mended, Benedetto remarked : " I do better still ; I wear none." It is quite mortifying, when one is in the sub- limated air of le cercle diplomatique, to have to chronicle these strange actions. In addition to these plebeian proclivities, he had the incivility to be distrait. It was said, for in- stance, that when giving a petit souper to some young diplomats at his rooms, en garden, that he mistook his wash-basin for the punch-bowl in mak- ing lemonade. The pen grows confused, and one hastens to throw a kindly cloak over his oddities, by repeating that this man was a book-worm and a litterateur; and so he moused around in deep recesses of the Congressional and other libraries, where he might have been mistaken for the twin-brother of Abra- ham Lincoln. THE CHEVALIER BENEDETTO. 149 This anomalous Chevalier was tall, spare, of swarthy complexion, with a profusion of long, very black, unkempt hair, and he had a rather disjointed look in his arms and legs ; but he had a handsome moustache, and magnificent black eyes, with bushy eyebrows and long, drooping lashes. These lashes veiled the fire of his eyes, when he sought intro- spection, a condition of mind habitual to him. Now the Chevalier was no less odd in his asso- ciates than in his habits. For instance, at that time the great Sumner was just emerging from the social ban laid upon him as an Abolitionist in the olden time. In those old slavery days, when, if the angel Gabriel had announced Liberty from the dome of the Capitol, all the bon-ton of Washington would have snubbed him, Sumner was the fast friend of Benedetto. He never was seen to yawn when conversing by the hour with him. Then, he and Caleb Gushing talked like polyglots for an unending time, and resembled walking encyclopaedias, as they promenaded arm-in-arm on Pennsylvania Avenue. In his case, as so often happens with others, wo- men exhibited the anomaly of desiring his atten- tion, in proportion as he was indifferent to their society. When, therefore, he had requested to be ISO A WASHINGTON WINTER. presented to Mme. De Beaulieu, and gave her as much attention as the constant presence of Senator Spangler permitted, the circumstance caused no little comment His evident admiration for the charming widow greatly diverted several young diplomats, who were in the habit of comparing notes regarding his peculiarities ; and they even went so far as to approach him on the subject. The Chevalier was really good-natured, not over- refined, as we have seen, and utterly disregard- ful as to who observed him or who did not -This heedlessness was a sort of grand, wilful way he had, which in reality gave him vastly more ease than if he had been the most polished courtier. The night of the ball, when the Chevalier re- turned to his suite of apartments, which were filled with an indescribable collection of books, maps, globes, chemical and philosophical apparatus, mag- azines, newspapers, pipes, snuff-boxes, caps, bats, boxing-gloves, dumb-bells, riding-whips, all in endless confusion, in consequence of his never permitting a living soul to touch, or, as he said, displace anything, when this forlorn, because most obstinate of bachelors, returned to his den, he felt uncomfortable. THE CHEVALIER BENEDETTO. 151 This was an unusual condition with him, for his mind was always so preoccupied that he was inno- cent of self-consciousness. He therefore at once applied himself to a deliberate metaphysical inspec- tion of causes. " Primo, I am a savant, a philosopher. As such, my peace of mind should be entire ; conceded as to logical sequence : but in point of fact I find myself disturbed. Now, there must be cause and effect. These are evident correlations. The effect is cognizable. The cause is of recent origin very recent indeed ; I may say, co-existent with a mate- rial fact. That real event, which has invaded the higher functions of the life, is it cannot be de- nied the capture of my senses by this widow; a coincidence, a very decided coincidence ! Let us formulate the syllogism. Premised, I was in a state of philosophic calm before I met the widow. Second premise, my mind is at present obfus- cated. Conclusion, the widow is needed to re- store the equipoise of my intellect. ^Equo Animo ! Behold the beauty of logic. Without the aid of this science, I might be duped by the illusive, and admit I am in love. But Philosophy is the synthetic blessing ; it shows me how to regain a peace I have 152 A WASHINGTON WINTER. lost. It says to me in a positive way : ' Benedetto you must marry ; the time has come.' True, I am fifty years of age, and midway in the discussion of the problem of life ; but Humanitarianism requires a companion. I desire to be neither transcendental nor eclectic, but always dialectic in my processes. As a dialectician, it is evident, I must marry." Now it was so like most men who are not philosophers, and who fall in love like fools, with- out knowing why, or even stopping to investigate causes for this logician never to go on and frame a second syllogism, after this fashion : Premise I must marry the widow, if she will have me. Second Premise Will she have me ? Conclusion If she will not have me, I cannot marry the widow. Poor Benedetto was not after all complete in his philosophy, for in God's plan it takes two to make an agreement. Women have quicker perceptions than men; that is a conceded fact. Now the widow would have said : " Reason or no reason, if he will have me, I will have him ; therefore he is mine." One thing that often leads men to be unreason- THE CHEVALIER BENEDETTO. 153 ably disappointed, when their matrimonial proposi- tions are rejected, is their inordinate vanity, which makes them take success for granted. Somewhat after the fashion of the Chevalier, they argue from their own standpoint only. When they conclude to make choice of a wife, they decide from their own proclivities. Some men, perhaps the greater number, seek beauty, according to the types they prefer ; others are mercenary ; some are selfish, and look to be taken care of ; while others feel the need of companionship ; but one and all are very apt to regard the affair as settled, when they themselves have come to a decision. Hence the unjust indignation if their addresses are rejected. It was a very fortunate circumstance for the Chevalier, that when, in pursuance of the deter- mination of the night previous, he called the next day upon Mme. De Beaulieu, he found her very triste, and recognizing the fact that she needed protection. Who shall not say that marriages may be made in heaven, when it so often happens that the most fortuitous circumstances, and the most unlooked-for, prepare the way. The fact was that Senator Spangler had just pre- ceded the Chevalier, and that Mme. De Beaulieu 154 A WASHINGTON WINTER. had been excessively annoyed by his insolent stare and offensive compliments, and not a little alarmed by the cool assertion that the success of her claim must depend upon his efforts. When, in reply to this statement, she ventured to ask if any one man could carry her claim through Con- gress, he replied with arrogance : " One man, backed by a lobby, may carry it through ; but one man, without a lobby, if he makes a point of it, can kill it." This was very discouraging, in case she dis- pleased Senator Spangler. When the Chevalier Benedetto was ushered into her presence she was in a state of indignation, and at the same time of trepidation, that was very interesting. The Cheva- lier instinctively paused as Mme. De Beaulieu ad- vanced to meet him. The agitation of the previous moments had heightened her color, given expres- sion to her eyes, and increased dignity to her manner. " I was' not mistaken," thought he, " she is very charming." " I marvelled much," he said " last evening, fair lady, to see so well enacted the fable of the Beauty and the Beast. The contrast you THE CHEVALIER BENEDETTO. 155 presented, on the arm of Senator Spangler, was indeed forcible." At any other time Mme. De Beaulieu would have met the banter with some ready reply, but now she felt too wretched. With a tone of voice that asked for consolation, she replied : "Ah, sig- nor, be not so cruel. Spare me badinage, and give me sympathy. The fable was for me a sad reality. He is indeed a terrible vulgarian. Let us not al- lude to him again." The Chevalier was strangely moved to find her troubled. " Women," thought he, " surpass all philosophy. I have still much to learn." All true men love to be looked up to as the guardians, the protectors, of women. It is a role which awakens the chivalry, the manliness, they possess. The Chevalier felt at once as if he had assumed the defence of this beautiful woman, against the coarse attentions of one who displeased her. In addition, the good sense, ready wit, and intelligence of her conversation delighted him. It was curious, however, that he did not consider him- self as the captive that he was, but congratulated himself that he was conducting matters as a dialectician. 156* A WASHINGTON WINTER. Mme. De Beaulieu found the Chevalier exceed- ingly agreeable, and she was not at all aware that his visit had been one of long duration. Very few women care much about personal attractions in men, if they have the power to fascinate them. It often happens that downright ugly men succeed in gaining genuine admiration, and in making them- selves quite irresistible. When finally the visit of the Chevalier was at an end, engagements had been made to visit the Capi- tol the next day, and to attend the conversazione of Mrs. Wilton on Saturday evening. On reaching his rooms, and surveying the situa- tion, the Chevalier soliloquized : " I scarcely think I have wasted my time ; for matrimony is a business to be carefully conducted, and this is a new de- parture, a new school of philosophic speculation. Then came the illogical thought, "How beautiful she is ! " And Madame de Beaulieu said to herself, when she found that she had scarcely time left to be coiffed for a dinner engagement : " What a dear goose he is, and so safe and ugly; and yet I find him so perfectly charming that, if he were younger, and only the least handsome, and a ladies' THE CHEVALIER BENEDETTO. 1 57 man, I might lose my heart. As it is, why, the fates have sent me a father to adopt." And she laughed her quaint little laugh. " Madame has no time to lose," said Marie. " I know it," said Madame ; " bring me the rose- satin dinner-dress. Yes, couleur de rose it shall be." CHAPTER IX. A VISIT TO THE CAPITOL. Y\7"HEN the Chevalier and Madame De Beaulieu visited the Capitol, the literary proclivities of the former led him first to the Libraries. " Jurisprudence is a noble science," said he. " There is nothing higher or broader, in all its bear- ings, than that profession which adjusts the rights of mankind, weighs them as in a balance, and de- fines what is right. Law, based upon the eternal principles of justice, and equity and international law, binding the nations in a common brotherhood, are grand subjects for contemplation." Mme. De Beaulieu looked around at the inelegant and over-crowded rooms of the Law Library, where they were standing, and replied with feminine lev- ity : " It is evident that they consider law as the foundation of things ; since they have placed these A VISIT TO THE CAPITOL. 159 law-books in the basement rooms of this vast Capitol." " It is strange," said Benedetto, " that these Americans, who are so grandiose in many of their ideas, should not provide a suitable place for their books." " Are all these books authorities to be studied by the legal profession ? " asked Madame ; " it seems to me no one life is long enough." "Ah," said Benedetto, " there is a world of musti- ness, which might safely be set aside. It is anom- alous that this people, who rejected precedents when they framed a political constitution, yet held fast in their judicial system, to a great extent, to the old English forms of Common Law ; and they have thus burdened themselves with much that is effete, which should have been dispensed with. By the system here practised and in vogue, it takes half a lifetime to discover what is usage, to define precedent. The living forms are buried under the weight of the past." " Why cannot cases be decided upon a law of common sense and right ? " asked Madame. " Nothing could be better," said Benedetto. " Call your right equity, and it would suffice. This 160 A WASHINGTON WINTER. Law Library is constantly consulted by the Su- preme Court. Shall we look at these Judges of Ultimate Appeal ? " continued he; " Ultimate Appeal," said Madame, " why that sounds godlike." Benedetto was pleased. He replied : " Madame is a delightful companion, with her fine perceptions. In due time, and with scholastic training, she might even make a philosopher." " How original ! " exclaimed she ; "I am enchanted with the idea ; but where find the master ? " "Behold him?" said Benedetto, bowing. " Father and mentor ? " enquired she. " Not exactly," replied Benedetto, " maestro and pupil. There are sequences. Does madame accept ? " At these words he fixed his splendid eyes upon her, and Florence De Beaulieu was powerless as a child, under the magnetic will of this oldish, ugly man. There was a hesitancy ; her voice fell, for the extended hand had clasped hers, awaiting a reply. " I am your pupil," answered she, " even as one who sitteth at the feet of Gamaliel ; " and she with- drew her hand. A VISIT TO THE CAPITOL. l6l " Philosophy shall open her arms to thee, O be- nign searcher of wisdom," said he, in a full, fervent tone, as if he were imparting a sacerdotal blessing. Nor did she feel inclined to laugh, as was her wont, for she was, in spite of herself, impressed with his solemnity of manner. " And here we are," said he, " at the very thresh- old of that tribunal where even American license stands rebuked. Ah, we have come too late to witness the opening of the court and see the Justices take their seats. As the marshal cries Oyez, one forgets that this is the New World. This seems to be one of the few usages of ancient times retained in America." " How curious too," whispered the feminine voice, " to see these Republicans wear gowns." " It all comes from the dignity of the science of jurisprudence," said Benedetto proudly. As they silently took the seats provided for them, the fervid Choate was speaking. What an astound- ing flow of oratory, what vivid word-painting, what pliancy and strength, what wealth of imagery ; and yet this eloquence was firmly welded into the body of a close law argument. During the twenty min- utes that he occupied the attention of the court, 1 62 A WASHINGTON WINTER. his words were caught with breathless eagerness ; and when the last sounds of those wondrous utter- ances had died away, the multiplied echoes still lingered in every heart. As Mr. Choate resumed his seat, and Reverdy Johnson rose to reply, the Chevalier and Madame left the court-room. " What a magnificent language the English is, handled as we have just heard it," exclaimed Benedetto ; " it has a ring of mastery and dominion in it." " I rather love the liquid music of the Italian," said Madame ; " with it one may hope to pierce the skies." . " But with the power of the English," said Bene- detto, " one may command the Universe, and sigh for more worlds to conquer ; " and so saying he led the way to the Congressional Library. The glorious panoramic view from the balcony was first fully enjoyed, and then an inspection was made of the Library. " This place," said Benedetto, " is altogether un- worthy of a great nation. It is very mesquine as a national library ; and were it not for the remarkable skill of the librarian, it would be, in its present crowded position, a confused mass of cumbersome A VISIT TO THE CAPITOL. 163 material. These librarians are men whom I greatly respect ; for without their scholarly skill and patient classification, collections of books would be of little use to the reading public. They also lead lives more nearly resembling that of the savant, than any other men in America." Madame had listened very attentively, and thought how really handsome Benedetto looked when he was interested in what he was saying ; and when he paused, she said in her most engag- ing manner : " When my maestro shall have led me far enough, I shall then have learned better how to honor the litterateur" "You have advanced far enough already, dear madame," said he, " to cause the Litterateur to admire you." As Benedetto said this in a tender tone, the man- ner and intonation meant so much, that Mme. De Beaulieu, who was not prepared to receive serious attention from him, felt embarrassed, and parried his remark by saying in a careless way : " I did not understand, Chevalier, when we made the agree- ment as regards instruction, that compliments were admitted as philosophical." " Perfectly so," said Benedetto ; " they are the effect of a natural cause, in your presence." 1 64 A WASHINGTON WINTER. So saying, they wended their way through the Rotunda, where both were too much absorbed in thought to pause, to the Diplomatic Gallery of the House of Representatives, from whence they had a full view of the floor of the spacious hall below. Scarcely had they entered, before one of those eruptions occurred that at times burst forth in this branch of the government, which springs directly from the people, and represents its fac- tions. Now and then this popular body is liable to be involved in some sudden cyclone, which, like those from the fabled Cave of the Winds, blows hot or cold over it, at times convulsing men with rage, and again with an irrepressible spirit of frolic ; so that some lookers-on have compared the House, on such occasions, to a set of unruly school- boys. The Honorable Mr. Ignotus was making a little maiden speech, asking for an appropriation for the Mississippi Levees. As he stood sawing the air wildly with his long lank arms, and swinging his ungainly person to and fro, he presented a very absurd appearance. The high-pitched, thin, nasal voice added to the ludicrous effect, and the House, in a sort of caprice, gave him their attention for a few moments. A VISIT TO THE CAPITOL. 165 " I tell you what, Mr. Speaker," said he, " at Waterproof, where I live, we are always under water ! " Here he was cut short by a burly Texan, from the interior of the State, who bawled out : " Mr. Speaker, appropriate a baSl of whiskey to dry him up." The gavel of the Speaker came down to enforce silence, but a blue-grass Kentucky member was on his feet : " Mr. Speaker, I vote that old Bourbon, and plenty of it, be given him." Again the gavel raps, and the House is aroused to the absurdity of the thing ; when Ignotus, in his shrillest, highest, nasal twang, calls out : " Mr. Speaker, I guess I '11 take the old Bourbon straight, with a bis-kuit and a bolony sassage." A roar of laughter rose far above the pounding of the Speaker's gavel, for the House was for the nonce in one of its insubordinate moods, and not to be so easily quelled. "The sergeant-at-arms will do his duty, and ar- rest disorderly members," shouted the Speaker. " I am afraid," said Mme. De Beaulieu. " Take me away. This may be the beginning of a revolu- tion, of a coup d' Mat" 1 66 A WASHINGTON WINTER. " It looks serious," said Benedetto, puzzled by the seemingly uncontrollable uproar ; " perhaps it will be safer to leave." And so they walked rather rap- idly over to the Senate Chamber. " The revolution is not in progress here yet, any- how," said Madame, as she was quietly seated in the Diplomatic Gallery of the Senate ; " but how the Senators do stare." This was true, for the entrance of the handsome widow, with the Italian Minister, caused some cu- rious attention, even from this dignified body ; and at that moment a very dull speech was in progress, to which no one was paying the least attention. Among those senators who looked up was Span- gler, whose face became very much suffused, and who appeared angry. Senator Roland, who also happened to be seated on a sofa facing the gallery, noticed them. He at once left the Senate Chamber and joined them for a few moments in the gallery, for he liked Benedetto very much, and admired Madame. Presently however, the stupid speech was over, and there arose a man of exceedingly imposing aspect. He was above the ordinary stature, and bore himself with an air of superiority which de- A VISIT TO THE SMITHSONIAN. 167 fied criticism and courted antagonism. At one moment you would declare that he was insufferably pompous, at another that he was magisterial ; but whether the Senate agreed with him or not, the effect was electrical. He was at once listened to, and commanded attention. " I beg you to excuse me," said Roland to his friends in the gallery, " this is the Senator from New York, and I must hear what he has to say." With these words he returned to his seat in the Senate. The day was bright, and the air bracing, yet mild. Washington has many such days in mid- winter, when its climate is often most tempting and enjoyable. The drive was extended to the Smithsonian Institute, which Madame had never visited. " This building," said Benedetto, " is very pleasing to me, with its mellow coloring and its quaint Norman Architecture ; but they do so many inexplicable things here, in the way of producing architectural effect, that I would not be surprised if, at some future day, some other building should be erected near it, that would spoil it. For in- stance, suppose the monstrosity, if you can, of an Oriental structure of fine proportions being placed 1 68 A WASHINGTON WINTER. beside this Norman building. The juxtaposition would ruin both." " That is an odd conceit," said Mme. De Beau- lieu laughing. "Surely no one could ever make such a huge mistake as that. What makes you suppose such a thing possible in any future time ? " " Simply because I have noticed the foolish way in which they dispose of all matters appertaining to the domain of art in Washington," replied the Italian Minister. " Why, how so ?" inquired Madame. " Par exeinple," said Benedetto, "there is no es- tablished art-tribunal, as there should be. For instance, if a picture is to be ordered, or a statue modelled, or a new public building of unlimited cost to be erected, the consideration of the matter is placed in the hands of a committee of two or three estimable gentlemen ; but these very men, who are doubtless quite distinguished for some other things in which they do excel, know nothing at all about matters of art, or of construction. They possibly are ignorant of the very names of the different orders of architecture. They will be just as likely to give out the contract to the highest bidder." " But," said Madame, " if men do not understand A VISIT TO THE SMITHSONIAN. 169 the principles of art, why do they accept these positions, which require careful art criticism ?" "Because," said Benedetto, "no one knows, of himself, that he knows nothing. Such knowledge of itself implies some acquaintance with the subject." " But this is a sad evil," said Madame, " in the beautiful Capital of a vast nation, for it must ulti- mately fill this otherwise magnificent city with mistakes that are irremediable ; then it will falsely educate the coming generations." tt Bravissima, fair Sibyl," applauded Benedetto, as he handed the clever pupil out of her carriage at the door of her hotel ; " the Maestro is not sure whether he has taken a lesson, or given one." " I am quite sure," said Madame, as she bade him good-morning, "that I have received both in- struction and pleasure from your obliging courtesy to-day." CHAPTER X. THE LOBBYIST THE OFFICE-SEEKER MRS. ADE- LINE WILTON'S CONVERSAZIONE. TT was Saturday morning ; and Mrs. Wilton had remained at home, in order to superintend some arrangements for the pleasure and comfort of her guests of the evening. Her long experience as a hostess had taught her that neither wealth, nor the skill of trained servants, can give those indefinable touches of grace which a cultivated woman knows so well how to add. Taste cannot be purchased. She was alone in the library, the young ladies having gone out for a walk, when a servant handed her a card. Perceiving that it was that of a stran- ger, she sent a message of excuse, as she was very much engaged. The servant presently returned, saying that Mr. Hunnell would be happy to await her pleasure, but begged to be received, as his bus- iness was of a very important nature, and he would only detain her a moment. THE LOBBYIST. 171 " This is very annoying," said Mrs. Wilton, " to have this man seated all the morning in the recep- tion-room. Show him in, William." A minute later a middle-aged man, of pleasant and polite address, was ushered in. He at once said : " I beg a thousand pardons, madam, for this great intrusion upon your time and patience, but necessity knows no law." Now Mrs. Wilton was very kind-hearted, and she instantly thought : " This is some case of distress the Lord has sent to me for relief, and I fear I have been too brusque." So she said to him very gra- ciously : " Pray be seated, sir. I am, it is true, much engaged this morning, but in what way can I serve you ? " The man was evidently greatly encouraged by her affable manner ; and so, throwing off the hesi- tancy that at first marked his words, he said openly : " Mrs. Wilton, you are a lady conversant with the world, and familiar with Washington life in various phases of its ramifications, and I feel confident that you will comprehend what I wish to say." He paused, but Mrs. Wilton was silent. She had often heard her late husband, who had been a 172 A WASHINGTON WINTER. statesman of great prudence, say that Silence cut more Gordian knots than Words. Mr. Hunnel, meeting with no response pro- ceeded : "I am temporarily residing 'in this city, employed as an agent by several large monopolies, to attend to their respective interests. You may readily infer that these interests involve large amounts of money. I often, indeed, act in con- junction with what is called a lobby, in Congress, when we find it needful to influence various and opposing factions. Of course, madam, you can readily understand what advantages a man like myself can. place in the hands of those who employ me. I may, it is true, be spoken of in a slighting manner now and then as a lobbyist ; but names, madam, mean nothing, and the truth is, I am a gentleman of leisure, and one who uses money pretty freely, to bring clashing opinions into har- mony. My dinners and suppers, where those who ought to meet, do so at my invitation, are a Wash- ington institution." Again he paused ; and Mrs. Wilton, who began to understand that some nefarious transaction must be involved, replied : " I fail to see, sir, in what way the operations of what is called a lobby can affect me." THE LOBBYIST. 1/3 " To a great extent, madam," said the lobbyist, " if you will so to have it. It is known, Mrs. Wil- ton, that you are not poor, and also that you are not wealthy. Pardon me for a frank statement." "The subject, it seems to me," said she, "is scarcely worth the consideration bestowed upon it." " We of the lobby, madam, regard all that sur- rounds a lady of your influence, as of consequence. Now, madam, you possess precisely that which it is beyond our power to compass without your aid. We desire at present to obtain a contract in which a large sum of money is involved. There are four persons whom you can influence, who could bring this about ; but they are beyond the reach of our lobby. These four gentlemen, we are told, are all special friends of yours. They are Senator Roland, the chairman of the committee in the Senate, where the matter must be considered ; General Garfield, chairman of the same committee in the House ; Mr. Charles Clysmic, the columns of whose influential journal are needed ; and the Secretary of the Interior, in whose department the contract must finally be made. Madam, these gentlemen will all be your guests this evening. They are among the circle of your particular friends, and we 174 ^ WASHINGTON WINTER. know that you have it in your power to engage their attention, indeed to induce their consent. Fifty thousand dollars, madam, which can be hand- ed to you in bank-notes, and for which no receipt will be asked, will be gladly paid you for your successful influence, when this contract shall be placed in our hands." The lobbyist paused. He had mistaken the calm and patient listener. Under that placid and well-regulated exterior, the strongest sentiments of disgust and indignation were aroused. Most men, hcoiest men, would have shown the lobbyist the door, and perhaps assisted his exit, at the termina- tion of his proposition. Mrs. Wilton had great self-control. She detested what is called a scene; and she knew, if she gave vent to her exasperation, the outburst would only rebound upon herself. She therefore overcame her feelings so far as to answer in a quiet tone of voice : " What you ask of me, sir, it is impossible for a moment to consider. It is my privilege to have the friendship of the four gentlemen whose names you have mentioned. I can fully understand that they are, one and all, be- yond the power of a lobby to influence ; nor could any one hope to retain their regard, and make such THE LOBBYIST. 1/5 an effort as you ask of me. Moreover, I am the daughter of a military man who gave his life for his country, and the widow of a statesman whom the lobby could never reach. I must be true to myself, and true to those sacred names left in my charge." "Then I understand, madam, that you decline our proposition ? " " Most decidedly, sir," said Mrs. Wilton, rising as if to show the way out. " How corrupt must be the atmosphere," solilo- quized she, "when men dare to invade the sanctities of dignified private life by such proceedings ; and yet, if this thing were not in vogue, how could it ever reach me ? " At this moment William came back, with a small, rather crumpled card, and said the lady seemed in great distress, and wished to see her, if only for an instant. " If it is a genuine case of distress," said Mrs. Wilton, " I dare not refuse." A small woman, in rusty mourning, with a sad, pale face, entered, and at once burst into tears. Mrs. Wilton kindly took her hand, which was thin, and felt cold through the black cotton glove, saying : 1/6 A WASHINGTON WINTER. " You are fatigued, doubtless. Come near the fire ; " and she rang for a glass of wine. " What is it," said Mrs. Wilton, " that you wish of me ? " "Influence, madam," said the poor woman. " I am a widow, and poverty-stricken. My husband lost his health during the late war, in the service of his country. After a long illness he died, leaving me with four small children, and debts incurred during his last sickness. Friends advised me to come to Washington, and get an office under the government. They told me my country would not fail us ; but I am here now a month, and I cannot even get a hearing. They told me at my boarding- house, where my last dollar must be paid to-day, that you were good and kind, and that you had influence. If you will only say one word to the Secretary of the Interior, he will give me a place, so that I can support myself and orphans. O madam, as you hope yourself for mercy hereafter, be my friend ! " Mrs. Wilton was much moved. She looked at the papers and letters the woman had, and she said to her : " I will do what I can, but I assure you I have no political influence whatever. If I have any THE OFFICE-SEEKER. 177 power to do good, it is social. Offices are given, like money for checks that are honored, in consid- eration of some good to be done for the administra- tion. If your member of Congress says he must have an office for you, as a part of the patronage he thinks he is entitled to, it would be given him." "Alas!" said the widow, "my Representative assures me that he has already received more than his share of patronage." "Then," said Mrs. Wilton, "call on Tuesday next ; I will see what I can do." When this distressed widow left the house Mrs. Wilton again soliloquized : " The constant recur- rence of these cases of genuine distress, and the appeals for aid one cannot give, certainly mar the comfort of a residence in Washington. How very humiliating it is to me to receive my friend the Secretary this evening, who comes here for relaxa- tion and respite from official cares, and on Monday morning to have to as'k of him a favor ; for as to requesting an office while he is my guest, that is not to be thought of. Well, it is a mortification which has to be met for the sake of charity. After all, my good doctor is worse off than I am ; for he tells me that the office-seekers who fill Washington 178 A WASHINGTON WINTER. have a list of his patients, and make life intolerable to him, asking his influence with various statesmen, whose physician he is." The brilliant coterie that pleasantly filled the drawing-rooms of Mrs. Wilton every Saturday even- ing was a very carefully selected company. Only a cosmopolitan city like Washington could have given the material for such an assembly. It was at once a neutral ground, where contrarieties assim- ilated, and a social focus of intellectual force. Mrs. Wilton designated these evenings as conver- saziones, not from any affectation of foreign cus- toms, but because that one word seemed best to express her intention and principal aim, which was conversation. The French word causeries did not define so large a field for the interchange of ideas ; and the terms soiree, reception, and at home also failed to express the special idea she had in view which was to hold a drawing-room that should be a thought-nucleus. This object she believed could be best brought about ty the careful selection of guests, rather than by any formal association, subject to martinet discipline, however profound its discussions and investigations. In order to grasp success, her de- MRS. WILTON'S CONVERSAZIONE. 179 termination was to recognize merit and talent, to aggregate if possible, in one drawing-room, the interests of the scientist, the scholar, the writer, the artist, the statesman, and the diplomat. One power alone it was her intention to ignore as far as possible the money power. It was an Utopian ambition, an Arcadian happiness, to strive for freedom, at least during some few hours, from the sway of the dread Moloch of materialism ; and Washington had the splendid material for the fulfilment of these high aspirations. The various rooms en suite, of the spacious old homestead, were filled with the mild light of many wax tapers, and the cheerful glow of wood fires. The guests who were not specially invited each evening, but who came like a circle of friends to a family reunion, were all assembled by ten o'clock. They were not over one hundred in number, and soon placed themselves in various groups, where the low and earnest hum of conversation such as Mme. De Stae'l has defined it flowed on in easy currents, giving expression to thought. In the music-room, Amabel and Stella had col- lected round them those of younger and more frivolous tastes, and musical amateurs. Yet not ISO A WASHINGTON WINTER. all were frivolous, for the sparkling Clysmic was talking with Stella about music, she having just risen from the piano, out of whose chords she had brought forth, with much expression, some of Mendelssohn's Songs Without Words. " Although Washington," said Clysmic, " cannot be said to be a musical city, or to revel in a musical atmosphere, yet there are many homes, such indeed as this, which are musical centres, where the classi- cal in harmony is cultivated and appreciated." " Your remarks are so brilliant, Mr. Clysmic," said Stella, " that I must answer you by a thought of Chopin ; " and turning once more to the piano, she dashed off one of those glittering compositions which, like a splendid diamond, refract and re- flect the light in all directions. " I am entranced," said M. le Vicomte De La Tour, in genuine admiration, as the petite brunette concluded. " I am in something more than the seventh heaven of delight, mademoiselle, by your rendering of Chopin, I am once again in Paris." "Oh, M. De La Tour," said Stella, laughing, " are you not afraid it will be the only heaven you will ever reach ? " MRS. WILTON'S CONVERSAZIONE. l8l The Frenchman shrugged his shoulders. Evi- dently there was some shadow which flitted across his memory. Mr. Clarence Meredith had stood near Amabel and her harp, and at last he was happy, for Prince Nikolaus was not there. " The Welsh melodies of Miss Wilton's harp are more poetical to me than the utmost brilliancy of Chopin," said he. " May we not have them ? " As Amabel, standing gracefully beside her harp, gave these delicious melodies, Prince Nikolaus en- tered. Then again the shadow fell on the soul of Meredith. Meantime Mrs. Wilton was serving tea, and a group of friends were conversing around her, some standing, some seated. It was a part of Mrs. Wilton's plan to dispense with a formal supper, and to assign no special time to the refreshment- table, but to give it its proper place as an unim- portant accessory. In this way, the simple enter- tainment offered by the hostess could be found in the dining-room during the entire evening, to be partaken of at such time as was agreeable to each individual present. Two very remarkable and perfectly dissimilar 1 82 A WASHINGTON WINTER. men were seated near Mrs. Wilton, drinking their tea, and both gesticulating with vehemence, for of course there was disagreement. The one was Count Adam Gurowski, of romantic old Poland's royal blood, whose obese figure supported a bald head, so filled with combative bumps that only the great knowledge of a thousand other subjects, crowded into it, kept him within bounds. He wore blue goggles, and when not excited, had an air of sang- froid, as if he defied fickle fortune. The other was Alexander Dimitry, the scholar, the litterateur. He was a man of large stature, and had a massive head, which looked gigantic, with its covering of masses of black hair. His every word and gesture was fervid as his southern sun, and, one might add, as magnificent as its ardent rays. Both these men were arrogant and dogmatic. They could scarce be otherwise, with their peculiar temperaments. They were princes of intellect, and they must both needs rule in their respective do- mains. Count Gurowski had written books well, in five different tongues, and Dimitry could speak fluently as many more. Presently the very china on the tea-board rattled, MRS. WILTON'S CONVERSAZIONE. 183 as the southerner brought down his closed hand with the dictum : " It is so. I say it I, Alexan- der Dimitry, in the pride of my intellect." The Count was about to make an angry reply, when Mrs. Wilton hastened to the rescue, plead- ing : " I crave a truce, messieurs, this is neutral ground." Baron Skerowski, who had followed Prince Niko- laus to the soiree, stood near, and, as Count Gurowski turned away, said with a sneer : " I am glad he is not in Russia, for he is the wet-nurse of revolution." The stately Sumner was soon in earnest conver- sation with the Count, and -their sentiments evi- dently agreed. Presently, the Chevalier Benedetto entered, escorting Mme. De Beaulieu, and they went to the music-room, for she had a fine con- tralto voice ; and was there ever an Italian who did not love music ? As to the different toilets, it was a peculiarity of these conversaziones, that no one ever spoke of dress. Fashion was relegated to her proper sphere as a simple accessory. This was Arcadia ! Presently there was a little stir, as a servant, in an undertone, announced a name to Mrs. Wilton, 1 84 A WASHINGTON WINTER. who quickly arose to meet the guest, who was rolled in on an invalid's chair. It was Alexander H. Stephens. " I am greatly favored," said Mrs. Wilton, who placed his chair in the best position, " but I con- sider the favor as one shown to my father's child, not to me." " Certainly, madam," said this wonderful man, " it is not my habit to frequent drawing-rooms ; and that I am here is proof of the force of the attrac- tion." As he spoke, his marvellous eyes were like burning lights.- They seemed to consume the puny, attenuated frame. There advanced to meet him the graceful Healy, the one artist perhaps, above all others, who has had a host of great men as sitters ; and there was the intellectual giant, Orestes Brownson, with a superb head and flowing beard, such as in art are given to St. Peter. He and Healy were converts to the Catholic Church, and were soon in close conversation. Senator Roland brought with him a literary friend from Boston, who was delighted to be presented to the great tragic actress, Charlotte Cushman. MRS. WILTON'S CONVERSAZIONE. "185 " Have you not," said Senator Roland to her, " found it very difficult, if not impossible, to create any illusion on so small a stage as that of our Washington theatre ? " " You are right, Mr. Senator," said she ; " I find the effort much greater and more exhausting with- in such narrow space ; and where I am so ill- sustained, for I myself must seek to create the illusion in such a case." As she spoke, her large and flexible mouth gave earnestness to every sylla- ble, as with a graceful gesture she placed her hand upon her heart, as if seeking there all the needed magnetic power. A moment later, and the ever-welcome and hon- ored hero of Sumter, General Robert Anderson, was engaged in conversation with the Senator. No one, in looking upon his benevolent and placid face, would ever dream of the grim resolution needed for those awful hours, when he and his little band stood face to face with death, and the world looking on. Near by stood the accomplished Bristed Astor, always so clever, witty, and original. He was quite in his element, with a little circle of listeners sur- rounding him. 1 86 A WASHINGTON WINTER. Turning over a fresh quid of tobacco in his mouth, with one hand thrust deep into his trousers- pocket, and the other arm swinging loosely and at random, and talking with Alexander H. Stephens, was the famous Crittenden of Kentucky, with his large, liquid, beautiful, black eyes, and his careless mien of ineffable grace. He was a rough diamond, from whose lustrous bulk, millions of rays were diffused ; but a clearer intellect and a more kindly heart were never united. Stephens was telling Crittenden an anecdote of the old Florida times. This interested General Anderson, whose father-in-law that splendid old soldier, General Clinch of Georgia figured largely in the Florida War. Afterwards, however, General Clinch turned his sword into a pruning-hook, and came on to Washington as a member of Congress. Stephens said: "General Andrew Jackson de- tailed a Mr. Jackson to arrest the then governor of Florida, who was a grave hidalgo. His Spanish excellency had in his possession some papers that Old Hickory was determined to have, and conse- quently claimed ought to be given up to him. When the governor was told to surrender, he asked permission to retire for a few minutes ; and then he MRS. WILTON 1 S CONVERSAZIONE. 187 reappeared, adorned with different orders he had received, especially one bestowed upon him at Wa- terloo, for he was an old soldier. Being then in full regalia, he formally offered his sword to Gene- ral Jackson. The General had an interpreter, and they bungled along until it was discovered that he was a misinterpreter, and an ignoramus as to Span- ish. Then Jackson flew into a prodigious rage, and savagely addressing the poor, would-be linguist, said : ' By the Eternal, did you not know, sir, that it is likely to cost you your ears to deceive me ? ' Thereupon Jackson declined to receive the sword, and tried in vain to explain that it was a civil and not a military surrender that was demanded. But the old don was obstinate, and would only make a military surrender ; and Jackson, again losing his temper, ordered him to be hurried off to the cala- boose, where he was held in durance vile, while his papers were deliberately investigated." This anecdote reminded Crittenden of Jackson's indignation when some one in the House called him " a toothless tiger," when he was President. Mrs. Wilton, who was much attached to both Stephens and Crittenden, they having been fast friends of her honored father, now joined the group, bringing 1 88 A WASHINGTON WINTER. with her a nobleman of distinction, who happened to be in Washington. This gentleman, who was a member of the French Academy, sought, on all occasions, to inform himself. Upon being intro- duced to Alexander H. Stephens, the savant asked : " Whom, Mr. Stephens, do you consider the most eloquent among American orators ? " "Your question, M. le Comte," said Stephens, " requires, perhaps, a nicer discrimination than can be made in a few words. It is true that I have been so fortunate as to hear, perhaps, the greatest of the public men of my own time. I have listened to the masterly speeches of Webster, Clay, Calhoun, and many others ; but for genuine eloquence, for the spontaneous outburst of what may be called the native oratory, Louis C. Levin, a member of Con- gress from Philadelphia, had no peer." But presently every one paused for a moment, as Orestes Brownson was demolishing Professor Glib, who had been sneering at Christianity. The vapid Glib had skimmed over the surface of an ocean of things, and had an insensate jumble of diverse sys- tems. He prated of Atheism, Pantheism, and Theism. He picked up, like a magpie, shreds of the great debates against the Gnostics, Manicheans, MRS. WILTON 1 S CONVERSAZIONE. 189 and Arians. Finally he rejected tradition with Descartes, and he reviled with Voltaire. Dr. Orestes Brownson listened for a time with an expression of utter contempt ; and then he quietly said, in his deep-toned voice : " Professor Glib wears a coat of many colors. His arguments are all found better stated in Voltaire. They have been refuted and stamped out again and again. He rejects and protests until, sunk in nihilism, he has reduced the universe to a blank." "There, Doctor," interrupted Clysmic, who had been an amused witness of the demolition, " poor Glib lies dead and buried ; let us put upon his tomb-stone : 'While he lived he nothing taught ; When he died he came to naught' " General Garfield, who had been a listener, could not help joining in the general laugh, although he had rather a liking for Glib, who happened to be an intimate friend of one of his friends. "That re- minds me," said he, "of a discriminating inscription on a tombstone in Belpre, Ohio, which reads thus : 'DIED IN THE RELIGION OF JESUS CHRIST, AND THE POLITICS OF WASHINGTON.'" CHAPTER XI. SENATOR SILVESTER SPANGLER THE CHEVALIER PASQUALE BENEDETTO MME. DE BEAULIEU MRS. SILVESTER SPANGLER GIVES A LUNCHEON. OENATOR Spangler was now firmly resolved to obtain a divorce from the faithful wife of his youth. He had hounded back remorse when the inner fortress of his soul was shaken, and the tri- umphant tempter then took full possession, and held angry watch and ward. The demon had hast- ened to place the impress of the burning mark on the prize which was his, whereupon the baffled guardian angel retreated in dismay from the sad spectacle of a seared conscience. But sin is more often shrewd and wary than reck- less, while innocence is apt to be careless and unsus- pecting. This man exercised over himself all the self-command necessary to carry out his plan of action. From the primal lesson in Eden, we are told that Satan lay in wait. SENATOR SP ANGLER. 1 91 Spangler had, as a preliminary step, obtained the assignment to himself, in committee, of the widow's claim. This was an easy thing for a senator to do, because a colleague would scarcely refuse such a request if made. Indeed, most members are glad to be relieved of the irksomeness of a private claim. Thus obtaining, as it were, possession of this interest, he had it actually in his power to advance its progress or retard its consideration indefinitely. He now began to make daily visits to Mme. De Beaulieu, ostensibly to consult her, and make himself familiar with the history of her claim. The victim was indeed in danger, for she found herself imperceptibly, but none the less surely, drawn under the outspreading shadow of the deadly Upas. These visits became more and more intolerable, as the man felt that he was effectively enwrapping the object of his desires in the network already spread around her. So does the malign serpent, with its fixed and poisonous gaze, bring down the skylark in ever narrowing circlets, until it falls be- numbed within reach of the hissing horror. At first these visits seemed to have so strictly a business purpose, that Mme. De Beaulieu, in spite of her dislike of the man and the wearisomeness 192 A WASHINGTON WINTER. of his presence, scarcely knew how to refuse herself to him, or even why she should do so. At times she would say to herself that it was ungrateful in her, when he was taking up so much of his valuable time on her account, and without promise of re- ward, to be so annoyed by his visits, if they were frequent and stupid. But after some weeks, the man growing bolder, or more impatient, commenced to talk about himself, and what was even more unbearable, coming from him of herself, and that with such coarse and fulsome compliments as could scarcely be received. Now Mme. De Beaulieu, as we have before stated, was a worldly woman, and accustomed to much adulation ; but she was refined, spirituelle, and very sensitive to the courtesies of gallantry. She had never before met a man of this gross type. Most of her life had been spent in Paris, and she had not been trained in any particular austerity of manners ; but there were some things that the circle of her friends respected, at least as to all outward forms, and marriage was one of those institutions which it was not deemed respectable to dissolve. Thus several weeks passed away very wearily for her ; and she often had passing thoughts, notwith- MME. DE BEAULIEU. 193 standing the gay society-life she was leading, of going back to Carondale, in order to free herself from the offensive visitor ; but she was always re- strained from such action by two motives. One was, the magnitude of the money interest at stake, and the importance of success, not only for herself, but for the future of her beloved little Percy. When she stroked the flaxen curls of this darling child, and saw the image of his handsome father reflected in his dark-blue eyes, she took fresh courage to meet much that was repulsive. Then again, she would not openly confess it to her own soul, it seemed so absurd, but she did not exactly like to lose the pleasant hour her maestro gave her every afternoon. Benedetto had proposed that she should read Italian to him, and he was a delightful teacher, for she already knew something of the language. Under his guidance the great Manzoni's "/ Promessi Sposi" had been much enjoyed ; and they had taken a higher flight, and were closely scanning Tasso's "Aminta," that ex- quisite little idyl. So, laughing to herself, she said: " I am told that something bitter is a good tonic in this climate. Senator Spangler shall be taken as the morning cup of quassia. But the smile was a 13 194 A WASHINGTON WINTER. painful effort, and the best of her nature warned her to be wary and watchful. The social gossip of the city, and the . society columns of the papers, had for several weeks been excited over the wonderful luncheon Mrs. Senator Spangler was to give, as a concluding entertain- ment of the season. The invitations were out for the Tuesday preceding Ash Wednesday. The Mardi gras was to be celebrated in this rich man's house, by an extraordinary feast. Mme. De Beaulieu felt compelled to accept the invitation. She did not realize it, but Senator Spangler had devised this entertainment with the expectation of impressing her more fully with the dignity of becoming Mrs. Spangler. He fancied that when she should see his wife presiding, in this gorgeous fashion, over the Mite of society, that some emotions of envy might be enkindled. As he was about to expend a fabulous amount of money on the feast, he decided to go on the Sun- day previous, when he would be sure to find Madame at home, for she rarely attended any church, and make her understand, more fully than he had yet done, the scope of his intentions in her regard. MR. SP ANGLER AND MME. DE BEAULIEU. 195 So, with the ringing of the church bells, just as the Chevalier Benedetto was ascending the steps of St. Matthew's to hear high-mass, Senator Spangler passed him on his way to the hotel. There was a sort of gleam, as if of triumph, in Spangler's eye, which arrested the quick attention of the Chevalier. He knew, in a certain way, that Mme. De Beaulieu was annoyed by this man ; and he felt an almost uncontrollable impulse to turn back and go to her assistance, for he had a suspicion that Senator Spangler was about to call on her. For a moment he paused as Spangler passed on, but concluded to enter the church. " I am but a poor Catholic, and know little of prayer," said he, "but I will pray that the Lord may protect her inexperience. That Spangler is a bad man ; I feel sure of the fact, for I have studied him closely." Mme. De Beaulieu had herself one of those inex- plicable premonitions of impending danger, so often experienced ; and it had the effect of bracing her resolution, for she was a woman of natural firmness of purpose. She had thought of going to some church, but she was fatigued by the dissipa- tions of the preceding week, and her inclination led her to seek repose. When the card of Senator 196 A WASHINGTON WINTER. Spangler was sent in, she at once regretted that she had not gone out. "I am most happy," said he, "to find you unoc- cupied, for during the past week you were not at home on several occasions when I called." " This has been a week of social dissipation, Mr. Senator, and to-day I am fatigued," said she, in the vain hope of sending him away. " It is a fortunate circumstance, Mrs. Beaulieu," he had never learned to address her as Madame, " that you are here, for I have much of importance to say to you ; and being a very frank man, as you know, and of business habits, I am not used to roundabout ways." Mme. De Beaulieu remained silent. The Senator resumed : " I have never spoken to you openly of the misfortunes of my domestic life. There exists an incompatibility of temper between Mrs. Spangler and myself. Now this state of things has been going on for some time ; and I tell her that, since it cannot be expected that she should grow young or handsome again, it is not in the nature of things to look for any remedy except in a divorce, an absolute divorce, a sheer breaking- off from the vinculum matrimonii" MR. SP ANGLER AND MME. DE BEAULIEU. 1 97 This was twanged off after such a pompous fashion, that Madame could scarcely restrain her old temptation of laughter ; but she did manage to look grave, for she had sense enough to know that this was a dangerous man, however prepos- terous he might be. So, biting her lip, she still remained silent. "A divorce, Mrs. Beaulieu, means freedom to marry again. What do you think of that ? " raising his voice to an almost triumphant tone. "If we were in France, Mr. Senator," she said very calmly, " it would not be thought respectable." " But we are not in France," answered he, quite incensed. "This is a free country, where easy divorce is made very possible by our laws, and mar- riages are governed by other considerations than musty, fusty, so-called religious scruples. We now stand in the light of the nineteenth century ! Only a few old fogies, and the narrow-minded, priest- ridden Roman Catholics, who do not dare to call their souls their own, are so bigoted. Already the laws give us easy divorce. After a little, we shall advance to the broader platform of free love. Do you not approve, O fairest of beautiful women ?" exclaimed he. 198 A WASHINGTON WINTER. Now Mme. De Beaulieu was skilled in the phases of what society calls " an innocent flirtation," but she had never before heard any one express what seemed to her such shameless and disreputable sentiments. And, without meaning to be sarcas- tic, she honestly made known her feelings, when, rising to her feet, with an indescribable air of hau- teur, she slowly enunciated : " Sir, your sentiments and your conversation are both in very bad taste." It is doubtful if the highest flights of romantic or religious expostulation would have had an equal effect upon this man, who would have sneered at both ; but that he, the nascent society-man, he who began to pride himself upon being a swell, should be accused of bad taste, that was more than he was prepared for. Why, had he not, now these many weeks, been under the most careful personal training in order to make of himself a man of taste ? Had he not taken private lessons twice a week of the fashionable dancing-master, to learn how to enter a room, to bow, to kneel gracefully ? Yes, he would kneel at her feet ! Then the barber came to friz his coarse black hair, that 'it might wave jaunt- ily ; and had he not submitted to be tortured, and to have his whiskers tweaked into curls by an im- MR. SP ANGLER AND MME. DE BEAULIEU. 199 pertinent French valet, of whose gibberish he could not understand one word ? and had he not Under- gone the treatment of the manicure, so that his finger-nails should be properly pointed and manipu- lated ? and all for this cruel, ungrateful woman, who snubbed him with bad taste. He was ready to demolish law, order, decency ; but he dared not throw off the sway of the tyrant Fashion ! At this moment, when he experienced this mor- tification, the Chevalier Benedetto entered, and he sulkily bowed himself out. " This is indeed an unlooked-for pleasure," said Mme. De Beaulieu, expressing more than she in- tended in tone and manner, so immense was the relief the interruption afforded her. " Your kind reception, dear madame," said Bene- detto, " makes me venture to speak very frankly. An hour ago I passed Senator Spangler on his way to call upon you, and I could not divest myself of the odd idea that his visit involved some peril to you. I could not resist the impulse to come to you." The moment was propitious for the cherished hopes of Benedetto, for Florence De Beaulieu felt sad and unprotected. "Your kind thought for me, my good friend," 200 A WASHINGTON WINTER. said she, " may have been a true presentiment. I am grateful for this watchful interest." "And now, fair lady," said he, "may I ever hope, or dare to hope, to claim the right to protect one so inexpressibly dear to me one so absolutely essen- tial to my happiness, as your glorious self ? Before I met you, Florence, I led the life the peaceful, contemplative life of the philosopher. I proudly thought that I knew myself. You have taught me that I know nothing but the desire to please you. There was a time when you accepted me as maestro; behold me now your pupil." His attitude was respectful and noble. It was not the appeal of the passions. It was an outcry of loneliness, from a true heart that had discovered a need of companionship. He did not even seek to take the clasped hands, as she stood in deep thought before him. "Chevalier," she replied, "I cannot lose your friendship, I need it and desire it. Your compan- ionship has made me happy. Of course, I am lonely. Little Percy and I we are all alone. A woman craves affection. May I say this ? I do not reject you ; I do not accept you. Give me time to know myself better." BENEDETTO AND MME. DE BEAULIEU. 2OI " Florence," said Benedetto, " may God make you true to us both. I shall await your decision." " My dear, kind friend," replied she, " I trust it may not pain you, but I have determined to return to Carondale." Benedetto was now, indeed, alarmed. "What," he exclaimed, " lose you in this way, be left in darkness and utter uncertainty ! O Florence ! " "And where, Chevalier," asked she, "is your vaunted philosophy ? I beg time for calm reflection, and I return to the quiet of my home to seek it." " I must not complain, fair wisdom," said he ; " but place a limit, beauteous sibyl, and tell me when I may again seek you, and know the certain fulfil- ment of my wishes ? " " Benedetto, I shall leave Washington three days hence, on Ash Wednesday. You may seek me when your Church sings its Allelulias." " And meantime you condemn me to a Lenten season of ashes and penance, before I can again ask for the resurrection of my hopes ? " Florence laughed, the first ripple of sunshine for that day. " Do not come again, Benedetto," said she ; " part- ings are much too sad, and I have known last 202 A WASHINGTON WINTER. farewells but too often. If you so will it, meet me at Carondale." " On Easter Day," answered the Chevalier, re- spectfully kissing her hand and her brow. He left her, without the consolation of knowing that her eyes were filled with tears. " There is no alternative," soliloquized she, " but to leave Washington. Honor and self-respect alike forbid me to meet that villain Spangler again ; and I must have time for reflection, before I dare decide what destiny has in store for dear old Benedetto. How I wish I knew how to pray. What shall I say? O God, if thou, Jehovah, art God, have mercy." When Senator Spangler conceived the idea that his wife should give, to use his own expression, a swell .luncheon, he determined that the affair should be on a grander scale than any one else had attempted. A card was engraved as large as an Inauguration Ball invitation. It was gilt-edged, and each corner was adorned with a design one being the remark- able Spangler device, with the pendent noose. The others were, respectively, a rosebud, a full-blown MRS. SPANGLER'S LUNCHEON. 203 rose, and a Martha Washington cap. These em-, blems made a happy allusion to the contemplated classification of the guests. Three hundred of these cards were sent out. One hundred young girls were to be seated at the rosebud table, one hundred young married ladies at the full-blown-rose table, and one hundred old ladies, politely yclept matrons, were to be conveniently distributed, for purposes of gossip, at small circular tables, in various apart- ments. These were the Martha Washington groups! The preparations for this luncheon were con- ducted upon a scale of magnificence heretofore not dreamed of in Washington, and rivalling similar displays of unbounded wealth in New York. It was intimated to the convives, that, in order to pro- duce a more perfect scenic effect, the costuming should correspond to the general design of the pageant, that the hundred maidens should array themselves in filmy gauze of conleur-de-rose, the hundred young wives in deep carnation satin, and the matrons should wear velvets and Martha Wash- ington caps. At one o'clock on Tuesday, February 6, the Mardi gras, on came the three hundred. The day was radiant with sunlight, and the balmy air 204 A WASHINGTON WINTER. invited one to a picnic alfresco; but the brightness of sunshine and the refreshing air, which the poor could that day enjoy as well as he, were too vulgar for the showy banquet of Dives. His palace was darkened ; the brocaded draperies excluded all light, and the hideous yellow glow of innumerable gas- jets threw out their stifling heat. The stunning blare of a band of music rose above the deafening concourse of voices, and the vast collection of cut flowers exhaled an overpowering aroma. Mrs. Spangler was arrayed in a crimson satin, which was not a displeasing contrast with her thyi, pale, and worn countenance. Now at the very porte-cochere, where an untrained son of Erin had been stationed to open the car- riage doors as the guests should arrive, a ludicrous little contretemps occurred, which sent every one in laughing, and made, at least, a hilarious beginning. It happened thus. The bog-trotter was flashily encased in yellow knee-breeches, top-boots, a red cloth coat, and cocked hat. He was intended to represent that creature his soul loathed the most, an hout han hout Hinglisher. But Pat got the bet- ter of the deception, and, in spite of his disguise soon contrived to announce himself as a blather- MRS. SP ANGLER'S LUNCHEON. 205 skite of an Irishman. Now Pat was instructed to stand erect, with toes out, and say not a word, but open the door as each carriage in turn stopped the way. He had, in fact, been trained in the stable- yard for this one act. Yet, when the festive hour came, Pat was too elated to play his part in a shabby way like that. "Wot," said he to himself, "am I me mither's son, Pat Maloney, the wan brother of me sister, and that sister's son's wife's niece's cousin's second cousin bein' akin to a O'Connell, for me Pat, to see the leddies stip out so grand and not give the wan word of welcum ? " And true enough, as each fair dame stipped out, Pat leaned forward, and with an encouraging flour- ish of his hand, and waving his hat, he pointed to the steps, and cried out : " Oup wid ye." At the drawing-room door, where Mrs. Spangler received, the usher made each announcement, ac- cording to the classification, as " Miss Black, a Rose- bud," " Mrs. Brown, a Rose ; " or, Mrs. Young, a Matron." Now when every one else had arrived, and Mrs. Spangler was about to lead the way, Mrs. Malaprop entered, all in a flurry from being a little late ; but 206 A WASHINGTON WINTER. the usher stopped her and said, " What character, madam ? " She replied with some warmth at being detained : " Why, no character at all, I am Mrs. Malaprop ; " whereupon the literal usher bawled out : " Mrs. Malaprop, of no character at all." Thereat the Rosebuds all tittered. Mrs. Malaprop, not heeding what had transpired, hastened to Mrs. Spangler ; and putting her hand in her arm, they walked together to the Rose lunch- table, where Mrs. Malaprop seated herself at the right hand of Mrs. Spangler, without troubling her- self to notice that it was a place assigned to the wife of the Vice-President. Mrs. Spangler had not society tact to remedy the mistake ; so Mrs. Vice- President had to take Mrs. Malaprop's vacant place, at which she was very indignant. The scene was certainly a brilliant one as all were seated. The central Rose-table was in the celadon gilded drawing-room ; the Rosebuds were massed in the long dining-room ; and every other apartment was filled with coteries of Matrons. Corsage bouquets of roses and rosebuds, and of the rarest flowers, were presented to each guest, and the menu was placed on hand-painted satin fans, which were artistic marvels. MRS. SPANGLER' S LUNCHEON. 2O/ Scarcely were they in their places before Mrs. Malaprop quite monopolized the conversation around Mrs. Spangler. " I was greatly surprised, Mrs. Spangler," said she, " to meet your cJief de cuisine, Peter, in the street the other day. I had seen the fellow in Paris, where he was footman to Mrs. Kickshaw, a friend of mine. ' Why, Peter,' said I, 'what brought you over to America?' 'To make money, madame,' said he. ' Why, my friend paid you most handsomely, and you had your livery fur- nished.' 'Mrs. Kickshaw paid me forty francs a month, madame, which was liberal for Paris ; but here I get ten times that sum.' 'Why, you astound me, Peter.' ' Pardon, madame, my present name is M. Alexandre De Montmorenci ; I am chef de cuisine of Mrs. Spangler.' ' Head-cook ? ' said I ; 'merciful heavens, Peter, you know nothing about cookery.' 'I told madame,' said he, 'that my occupation in America was to make money ; and I found that a head-cook with a long name was a profession for a gentleman.' 'Why, your dinners must be utter failures,' said I. The rascal shrugged his shoulders, touched his cook's cap to me, and said : ' Madame, they never know the difference. My blunders are covered with French names.' I am so glad to let 208 A WASHINGTON WINTER. you know about that rascal, dear Mrs. Spangler. I mention it now, for fear it might slip my memory, as I would not have you so imposed upon for the world." Poor Mrs. Spangler looked mortified ; but she answered : " Mrs. Malaprop, this luncheon was not cooked in the house." " I am so happy to hear it," said Mrs. Malaprop, very innocently ; " I have almost an insane dread of being poisoned." There was silence, and the voice of Mrs. Igno- tus was heard. She was seated next to Mme. De Beaulieu, and was asking her questions about the mode of dining in Paris. " What do they have that 's nice beside frogs ? " said she. " A great variety of petits plats" answered Mme. De Beaulieu, who was very much disinclined to talk. " Now, do tell," said Mrs. Ignotus ; " what sort of a dish is that ? " Mme. De Beaulieu laughed. " How do you like your new house," inquired Mrs. Malaprop of Mrs. Spangler ; " it seems to be comfortable, although I was told by a doctor, that it was not likely to be healthy, being built on MRS. SPANGLER'S LUNCHEON. 209 marshy ground. Have you had any symptoms of typhoid fever such as great weariness and loss of appetite ? " Mrs. Spangler turned a shade paler, and said she was well. Now the courses were tardily served ; for the rule of a waiter for every four guests had not been observed, and the luncheon dragged fearfully. " Oh," thought Mrs. Wilton, " my head will surely burst ! Oh, these interminable courses ! It seems like a large restaurant. Well, this is a sacrifice I made for my Rosebuds." Again Mrs. Malaprop favored Mrs. Spangler with her original remarks. " I am told, Mrs. Spangler, that the idea of these lunches originated in New York among the parvenus. It is said that there are many splendid houses in that city, where the master of the house, who made the money, is not actually presentable in society. Sometimes the poor man is afflicted with such a brogue as your Pat Maloney has, who, by-the-by, gave me a good laugh. Then again, their grammar sets your teeth on edge. This luncheon is a grand invention, anyhow, to keep the horrid men out of sight." Turning to Mrs. Wilton, who sat near her, and who had been both amused 14 210 A WASHINGTON WINTER. and shocked at the progress of the conversation, Mrs. Malaprop asked : " What do you think of lunches, Mrs. Wilton ? " " Of course," replied that lady, thus appealed to, "we all appreciate the hospitable intention; but I do not approve of any form of entertainment that has a tendency to divide our social life. It is to be feared that society men will follow our example, and, being excluded from our banquets, will prefer to give their dinners and suppers to men alone, thus dispensing with our company." " I quite agree with you, Mrs. Wilton," said Mrs. Sardinius ; "and what is more, I think that any assembly loses its chiefest charm where men and women do not meet each other. The sparkling wit of our women is greatly set off by the more earnest conversation of the men. I am told that when men are left alone, they often lack refinement ; and where only women meet together, they are apt to degenerate into trifling talk about modistes, the fashions, and domestic matters ; but where both sexes are present, we reach the highest possible standard. Witness the old-time dinners in Wash- ington, where the conversation was a feast for the gods." MRS. SP ANGLER'S LUNCHEON. 21 1 " I am sure," interrupted Mrs. Malaprop, " if half what I hear is true, society should hold fast to- gether. Why, they say now, that whenever a man has made a mint of money, or climbed into high public station, he always thinks he ought to have a new wife, that, in fact, no woman is secure from being divorced." Mrs. Spangler, who had looked very tired and pale from the first, at these (for her) cruel words, turned suddenly very white ; and, before any one could help her, she tottered, and falling from her chair, lay upon the floor in a dead swoon. " How dreadful ! " said one. " Why did she faint ? " asked another. "Oh," whispered a third, "it is said Senator Spangler intends to seek a divorce." " Then," said a fourth, " it is all the fault of that inconsiderate Mrs. Malaprop." That fluent lady who was the innocent cause of breaking up the luncheon, and suddenly dispers- ing the company in dismay declared that it was just what one might expect, spoiling their digestion with twenty-four courses before dinner ! It was too barbarous. CHAPTER XII. PRINCE NIKOLAUS SKYBELOFF AND BARON SKEROWSKI AMABEL WILTON. /^\N the morning of Ash Wednesday, when Prince Nikolaus called to see the Russian Minister, Baron Skerowski, he found that personage alone in his library. " I am fortunate, Prince," said the Baron, " to claim any of your much-occupied time. Washington seems to have proved most attractive, and its pleas- ures absorbing. I wish, Prince Skybeloff, I could add, I congratulate you." These words were uttered in a frigid tone and formal manner, which Prince Nikolaus felt were intended as a reproof ; but the Minister was an old friend of his mother, nte the Countess Olga Orloff ; and Olga, the daughter of the Baron, was named after her, and was her god-daughter. So Prince Nikolaus had too much regard for his good- will to THE PRINCE'S DILEMMA. 213 be offended. " Doubtless, Baron," said the Prince, " I require to be admonished, for I am young ; and I have come to you this morning, as a friend of our family, to seek your counsel." Now Baron Skerowski knew perfectly well, in advance, exactly what the nature of this communi- cation would be ; for he had watched every move- ment of the Prince since his arrival, and was well aware of the first day that he had dined at Mrs. Wilton's ; and also of the succeeding family dinner, which had led the way to the most assiduous atten- tion, on the part of that young gentleman, to Miss Amabel Wilton. He had instituted a system of espionage which had kept him accurately informed on all these points ; but he had not, as yet, perceived a way, or been able to devise any plan, which would be likely to break up a state of things calculated to destroy all his own projects with regard to his only child, Olga. It had long been a cherished idea of his that Olga should marry the Prince, and he had persuaded Mme. Skybeloff to send her son to America for a change of scene, and other advantages to be derived from travel. He had supposed that the isolation of being alone in a foreign land would lead 214 A WASHINGTON WINTER. the Prince to accept his often-proffered invitation to make his home at the Legation ; and he knew that propinquity had made most of the matches attributed to heaven. His chagrin had been un- bounded when the youngster established himself in a fashionable flat, joined one or two clubs, and made himself at once perfectly at home without the Baron's aid. In fact, of late, they never saw the Prince at all, except at the Sunday dinner, when he was duly invited to be present. Even at such times he paid no attention to Olga, but immediately after dinner accompanied his host and smoked with him until Olga served the ten o'clock tea, after which he bade good-night. All this was very exasperating, espe- cially when coupled with the certain information the Baron had, that each evening found him at Mrs. Wilton's, where he could at times be seen from the street without, standing by Amabel's harp, or prom- enading the drawing-room with her, or reading to her, or talking with her; and whenever the paid spy obtained any glimpses of the interior of this mansion, it was evident that Prince Nikolaus was attracted there by Amabel. The consoling feature had been, that there were other gentlemen who THE PRINCE'S DILEMMA. 21$ visited the house with great regularity, and that Mr. Clarence Meredith, of ihejeunesse-dor/e of New York, seemed equally attentive to Miss Wilton. Then the young people were always in the presence of Mrs. Wilton ; and although quite a circle of gen- tlemen were often assembled there, the utmost dignity, and careful observance of all convention- alities, existed. Baron Skerowski was fully aware that Mrs. Wilton was incapable of misleading Prince Nikolaus ; and he was somewhat puzzled as to why an equal con- sideration should be granted that gentleman and Mr. Clarence Meredith, with regard to their repeated courtesies to her daughter. The Baron had but one fixed idea, and that was to disappoint Prince Niko- laus, and lead the young nobleman to do what he felt assured would be best for him in Russia. As to the measures requisite to bring about such a state of things, he had not, as we have said, been able to adopt any course that seemed likely to be success- ful. Now, Prince Nikolaus was about to consult him on this subject, and he would not hesitate to avail himself of the advantage so unexpectedly placed in his hands. " Prince Nikolaus," thought he, " shall not marry 216 A WASHINGTON WINTER. this American waxen beauty, who has come between me and my most cherished wish for Olga's future prospects ; but it behooves me to be wary, and remember my old diplomatic subterfuges." These thoughts flashed through Baron Skerow- ski's mind in the interval of some minutes, while Prince Nikolaus stood leaning against a marble pedestal which was surmounted by a fine bust of Gortschakoff. This handsome youth, in whose veins ran the hot blood of the wonderful old Tartar conqueror Yengis Kahn, formed a splendid study for the poet and artist at that moment. As if intu- itively aware that he needed the protection of the head of his House, he stood beside the pale pre- sentment of one who would have nobly rescued him, had his horoscope led him to seek the confidence of that grand nature. Prince Nikolaus stood as if chained to the spot by some presentiment of evil. Did he feel the influence of the fatal star that at the moment domi- nated his destiny? The Prince was not embar- rassed, but an interior feeling held him back. Ah, had he caught the gleam of triumph from under the knitted shaggy eyebrows bent upon him, surely he would have retreated. Baron Skerowski knew THE PRINCE'S DILEMMA. 217 the lion-heart of the boy that asked for counsel, yet who stood with folded arms, so resolute, as if about to withdraw the proffered confidence ; and he hast- ened to implicate him ere it was too late. " Prince Nikolaus," said he, " may I not add, dear Prince ? when I behold you as the reflection of the mighty Gortschakoff, standing there beside him, I am deeply moved to bid you bewared These words were said with the apparent fervor of loyalty ; but when the final beware was uttered, it was not well received. Throwing back his haughty, well-poised head, Prince Nikolaus re- peated, in a sarcastic tone : " Thanks, M. le Baron Skerowski, but why beware ? " The Baron at once understood his mistake, and that no warning as to Amabel would be for a moment tolerated. So he instantly changed his tactics. " Yes, beware, dear Prince, of yielding to your inclinations, however just or praiseworthy, without first obtaining the sanction of your Emperor, of him who is the valiant chief of your House, and of your honored parents." The Prince was completely disarmed. He knew the danger of offending the Emperor, his Minister, 21 8 A WASHINGTON WINTER. and his parents, and he thought only of Skerowski as of a true friend. The evil hand was now over him. "Yes, dear Baron," said he in a winning tone, advancing and taking an ottoman beside the fau- teuil where Skerowski sat, " your clear percep- tions have divined my secret. I am in love with her, with the enchanting Amabel. How must I proceed surely to win her ? Let there be no mis- take ; the prize is too alluring to be lost by one false step. I dare not trust my own hot head ; and I come to you, dear Baron, the friend of my family, for such advice as your experience and wisdom may give my inexperience." " You do well, may I say, my son ? " replied the Baron, " to come to a well-tried friend. Have you told the maiden that you love her ? " " Oh no, not in words, only by the ever-silent homage of my worship, and by that fire which must burn in the out-flashing eyes of the lineage of Yerigis Kahn," exclaimed the handsome boy, jump- ing to his feet. All goes well, thought Skerowski ; the game is in my own hands. "Bravo, dearest Prince," said he, "you did well. The offence would never have THE PRINCE'S DILEMMA. 219 been forgiven by your august chiefs, had they not first been consulted." The poor Prince was dismayed, but he knew it was so ; only he had thought to conceal from him- self, as it were, the ugly fact. " But surely, Baron," said he, "my Emperor will not object. I am only a second son of my father, and my brother is well and strong ; and I have heard my Emperor say that he likes America and Americans. Did not the Czar but recently present the American Minister his full-length portrait, an honor rarely conferred upon any one ? Is it not thought well to cement the friendship between the nations ? And is not an American girl, of irreproachable family, received at court everywhere abroad ? May I not even hope," added the Prince, with the sanguine flush of youth, " that my choice will be pleasing ? Oh, if Amabel could only be once known and seen ! She would grace any court." And then, starting back as if at some shadow, " But I would be jealous of having her seen!" "A true Skybeloff," thought the Baron; "they are the most jealous of husbands ; I had forgotten that. Did you desire my counsel ? " he continued aloud, recalling the Prince to the subject of his visit. 220 A WASHINGTON WINTER. "Oh yes, dear Baron," answered the Prince, who like a young boy, in his first dream of love, had forgotten all but the charms of Amabel. " Then," said the Baron, very slowly and impres- sively, " my advice is decidedly this : so far you have done well ; and now trust not yourself even once again in her presence, but prepare your boxes for instant return to Europe." The Prince started, and the Baron resumed : " Yes, I know the action, for a lover, is heroic, but it will be all the more appreciated. This is Wednes- day ; take the Saturday's steamer, and go directly to St. Petersburg. Seek an immediate interview with the Emperor. Tell the Czar, as you have told me, of your commendable desires, and obtain his permission to return and propose an alliance. When the Czar, when his Minister, see that you have first spoken to them, they will know that you are true and right royal; and you will succeed, I doubt not." Prince Nikolaus was greatly agitated. He knew the temper of the Czar, of his relative Gortschakoff, and of his parents ; and he knew that no disobedi- ence to their wishes would be pardoned on account of his love for Amabel. " They have not even seen THE PRINCE'S DILEMMA. 221 her,"- thought he; "how can I make them under- stand how surpassingly lovely she is?" And he felt, in the bitterness of his heart, that the most an- gelic charms would not weigh one iota with them. Then again came the fearful trial : " How can I separate from her in silence ? " Not a word ; and leave her yes, there was no denying it to the attractive blandishments of a rival. For, after all, Amabel had never said that he was more than a friend to her. All this time he walked rapidly up and down the library. Skerowski watched him with cruel satisfaction. " Fool," thought he, " had he chosen my Olga, all would have gone well. But now his fate rests with me, and when was a Skerowski ever known to forego a revenge ? You will go ? " added the Minister. A look of anguish was the response; but the heart thus mutely appealed to lay, indeed, in a savage breast. Finally the Prince stopped and said calmly : "Yes, I will go." " And not see her ? " said the Baron. " And not see her," repeated the Prince, almost mechanically. 222 A WASHINGTON WINTER. "Brave Prince, true descendant from Yengis Kahn ! " applauded the Baron. "But I will write and tell her of my passionate devotion, explain to her that I go to my superiors to obtain permission to take her back as my bride, and beg her to make no decision against me till I can so return a few months hence." "And when will you write that letter?" asked the Baron impassively. " Before I sail, Baron." " What, Prince ! " exclaimed the Baron, as if in astonishment, " and you dare to trust that all- important letter, upon which your happiness rests, to the hazard of the proverbially careless American mails ? Rash boy ! " Prince Nikolaus was at once alarmed. "What then is best, my wisest of friends ? " said he. Skerowski answered, and his heart leaped with the fierce joy of vengeance : " Trust your sacred missive to me." The Prince seized his hand, and, as is often the habit abroad, kissed it. Again Skerowski urged, " When will you write, mon Prince ? " " To-morrow," said the Prince. THE PRINCE'S DILEMMA. 22$ " Do not delay," said Skerowski, in an impatient tone, as if his sweet revenge could not brook any procrastination. " Here are writing materials. I have an engagement to meet, Prince, which will take me away for half-an-hour. Write at once to your innamorata. Do not risk sending so precious a missive to me by a servant ; but I will return presently, and take it myself in charge from your own hands." " Dear, kind, thoughtful friend ! " exclaimed the Prince, as Skerowski left the room. The next Monday morning following this scene, Amabel leaned listlessly forward, supporting her head on her hand, at the breakfast-table. It was ten o'clock, and she was alone. At this moment Mrs. Wilton entered, and sat down beside her. Taking the hand of her child in her own, she said tenderly : " Are you quite well, my darling ? " " Yes, mamma dear, but I am troubled," an- swered she. " I feared as much," said her mother, now holding the loved hand in both her own. " Last Tuesday, when Prince Nikolaus was here, well, Amabel, as your mother I may say it, his every word and look were full of respectful admiration for you. 224 A WASHINGTON WINTER. Since then he has not returned. Have you heard from him ? " " No, mamma," said Amabel, " he must be ill. Should we not send to inquire ? You know it is now a month that he has been our daily visitor, except on Sundays, when he has dined en famille with his Minister. I have felt apprehensive of some sudden and serious illness." "My Amabel," said her mother, "has he ever declared sentiments of affection for you ? " and she pressed the dear little hand caressingly. Amabel looked up to her mother, her wide blue eyes quite open. There was perfect confidence between mother and daughter, and both knew it. " No, mamma, nothing in words ; nothing more than you have seen." " Thank God, my child," said the mother devoutly, " for he has gone." "Gone!" cried Amabel, with quivering voice. " O mother, where ? " " My darling, see ! " Mrs. Wilton held the morn- ing's paper in her hand. There was a special para- graph, which read thus : Prince Nikolaus Skybeloff, the accomplished young Russian who has added so much to the brilliancy of social AMABEL'S CHOICE, 22$ life in Washington during the past season, sailed on the Scythia for Europe on Saturday last. His return is not expected. It is said, in diplomatic circles, that he is about to form a very distinguished alliance in Russia. Amabel had a pure and pious heart. She was sincere and affectionate. She scorned everything deceitful, and her whole soul revolted against the turpitude of the Prince's conduct, as shown by these actions. It is true, he had never offered her his hand in set phrases, he had never said that his affections were not engaged to another; but if assiduous civilities, admiring regard, undivided attention, tones of the voice, tenderness of manner, had any meaning, he had told her by a thousand tongues that he loved her. And now, well, it was all so incomparably base, that, with a sudden and violent revulsion of feeling, she felt that she scorned him. Then came the prayerful act of gratitude to God, for so narrow an escape, and the mists already rolled away. Mrs. Wilton looked sadly and anxiously at Amabel who sat with clasped hands, quite motionless, for some moments. Then the brave girl, crossing her- 15 226 A WASHINGTON WINTER. self reverently, for she was a convert to the Roman Catholic faith, said : " Thanks, dearest Lord, for thy tender care of me." "I thank thee, God," echoed the mother, who was not of the same faith, " in that thou hast given me this darling child. And yet," added she sadly, " I feared you had loved him." "Mamma, my beautiful mamma," said Amabel, " I know not what ideal image was forming in my imagination. I now reproach myself that I failed, with firm purpose, to know myself. This Prince, who bore the fairest semblance of honor, and the good and gifted Clarence Meredith, have shared my regard ; and although I have asked myself, and prayed earnestly that I might know, I did not sound the depths of my own heart. Both these men, I fancied, cared for me ; and I thought, how can I justly discriminate between them, if I forbid their attentions ? Then, mamma, it would be un- maidenly until I am directly urged to do so, to ask myself whom I love. Yet, mamma," continued she, pausing for a moment, as if she scarcely knew how to define the scruples, "my conscience has told me to favor Clarence Meredith whenever he should choose to declare himself." AMABEL'S CHOICE. 22? "And why, my beloved Amabel?" asked her mother. "Because, mamma, Clarence has told me that his convictions in religion led him to my faith, and such concurrence makes a perfect union. The passions fade with youth, but truth remains ; and marriage, founded on the desire to serve God in that state of life he chooses for us, is the marriage of Eden." " And may such a happy state be yours, my be- loved child ! " said Mrs. Wilton with great emotion, pressing her fondly to her heart. CHAPTER XIII. VARIOUS EVENTS IN CONCLUSION OF A WASHINGTON WINTER. - FINIS. 'T^HERE was one other person who read the newspaper notice of Prince Nikolaus Skybe- loff s sudden departure which Baron Skerowski had secretly caused to be inserted in the morning's journal with a beating heart ; and that person was Clarence Meredith. " God is good to me," said he ; " I will be true to Him ; " and his first act of gratitude was poured forth, as he knelt before the altar of St. Matthew's Church. Some two months later, one bright May morning, a very quiet wedding, with a Nuptial Mass and Benediction, took place at St. Matthew's, when Amabel Wilton and Clarence Meredith received the Holy Sacrament of Matrimony, as a sanctified and indissoluble union, according to the ritual, "for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, till death do us part." MARRIAGE OF AMABEL AND CLARENCE. 229 The Madonna face of the lovely bride, and the manly bearing of her handsome husband, as they made these solemn responses, formed a pleasing picture. On either side stood the beautiful Stella Stevens, and the talented Charles Clysmic who, it was said, VJQYQ fiances. As the little party left the church, Mrs. Wilton escorted by Commodore Reflex and Senator Roland, the Senator could not refrain from expressing his admiration of a ceremony which makes marriage what it ought to be, the solid and sure foundation of an edifice upon which rests the state and society. " I am more and more deeply impressed," added he, "with the absolute necessity of making the rite of marriage a religious rather than a civil union, and of restraining the alarming freedom of divorce." The very company sat down to the wedding- breakfast on the third of May, that had celebrated the New Year at Mrs. Wilton's dinner-table ; except that two of the number were absent, Prince Nikolaus and M. le Vicomte De La Tour, who had very unexpectedly to all his friends sailed on the Scythia at the same time that the Prince had left the country. From four until six that afternoon Mrs. Wilton 230 A WASHINGTON WINTER. held a reception, at which the best people of Wash- ington were present. Among the guests was Baron Skerowski, and it was noticed that he was in a remarkably hilarious mood. Just as he bade adieu he handed the bride a letter, saying : " I crave your indulgence, madame, for an oversight which I now hasten to make good. Prince Niko- laus left this letter with me to give to you, on the occasion of his somewhat sudden departure two or three months ago. You will pardon my re- missness, I am sure, in this your hour of great happiness." So saying, and handing her a letter duly sealed with the signet ring of the Prince, he departed with a malicious smile of triumph. But Amabel was too happy at that moment, and too much agi- tated at the idea of leaving her mother, to give much heed to the Baron, and gave the letter to Clarence to keep for her. In a few days they left for the superb home which Clarence Meredith had prepared for his bride in New York. The approaching inevitable termination of the attentions of Clysmic to Stella, which she foresaw, TEE WINTER'S END. 231 and the loss of her precious Amabel, for had she not lost her child, even though she had gained a good son thereby ? made Mrs. Wilton very sad. She could not conceal from herself the fact that the near-coming decline of life was now to be shrouded in clouds. " To be lonely in old age is indeed terrible," thought she. " If I were a religious woman, I might know where to seek consolation ; but mere cultivation of the intellect only teaches the need of appreciative companionship." Commodore Reflex had been confined to the house for several weeks with one of those periodi- cal attacks of gout which afflicted him, and Senator Roland felt it to be his duty to give Mrs. Wilton more time than he had ever before thought of doing. One evening, after a little dinner of four, partie carrfa, Stella and Clysmic were at the piano, and Senator Roland and Mrs. Wilton were in the bou- doir. " Have you heard from Amabel ? " asked the Senator. " Not within a day or two," sighed Mrs. Wilton. " Her absence makes you lonely, I fear," re- marked the Senator in a reflective way. " It is desolation itself," said Mrs. Wilton. " I know what sort of loneliness that word de- 232 A WASHINGTON WINTER. picts ; it is of the heart," said Senator Roland, in a still deeper reverie. " And most desperate," added Mrs. Wilton, as if moaning to herself. " But," with a sudden grand confidence in him- self he had never felt before, " But, my dear Mrs. Wilton, however desperate, there is a remedy." " Yes, I know," said Mrs. Wilton, " friendship platonic, intellectual, abstract, and appreciative. It is a rich boon, and we experience it." " But," added the Senator, still resolute, " there is something more companionship." " It is so," said Mrs. Wilton. " You always com- prehend more fully than I do ; yes, an abstract companionship, a mental affinity." " But," said the Senator, never relaxing, " there is a higher state union, dear Mrs. Wilton." " It is possible," said Mrs. Wilton ; " the perfect compatibility of two souls, yes, that is to be desired." "But my precious, admired, respected, and be- loved friend, there is still a higher happiness in store for us, let us not disdain to confess it, marriage." Had the heavens fallen, poor Mrs. Wilton could THE WINTER'S END. 233 not have been more astounded nor more distressed. " What," groaned she, " and must I lose my one dearest friend left me on earth, my sublime, un- selfish, considerate companion ? O Richard Roland, I had thought of you as my best of brothers ; I had leaned upon you with a fulness of confidence;" and Mrs. Wilton bowed her head and actually wept, as all the memories of the past came rushing over her soul. "Adeline," said Senator Roland, "I supplicate you, as you are far above all other women in intel- lect, be reasonable. Let me ask you, are you not, in your inner heart, overwhelmed with a sense of utter loneliness ? I know you are ; and we both know the world too well to suppose for an instant that it will tolerate, outside of marriage, such com- panionship as we both require." " Richard Roland," said Mrs. Wilton, " my heart is too crushed with the deep sorrows of my life to make it worth your acceptance. You are worthy, my dearest friend, of the best that a fresh life can give. Do not for a moment think to sacrifice your- self for me. It is like your grand, unselfish nature to do so ; but I should not be true to you, were I to accept." 234 A WASHINGTON WINTER. "Adeline," said Richard Roland, kneeling at her feet, "a true affection rejuvenates. Let me tell you, with the fervor of youth, that I love you, and beg you to be my wife." "Richard Roland," said Adeline, "it is sheer madness, it is irretrievable folly, it is undignified ; yet, if you will so have it, the remnant of a sad- dened life is yours." " And God forever bless you, Adeline," said he with romantic tenderness, holding her clasped hands. "The sunset of life grows brightest to- wards its close." Stella had played some reveries at the piano, and she turned, with a doleful glance, to Charles Clysmic. " This old house moans for Amabel at every crev- ice," said she ; " I cannot be lightsome, and aunt is ready to weep all the day long." " Behold your true knight, who would ever make you smile," said Clysmic with a mock-heroic air. " Stella Stevens, you dear little charmer, you know perfectly well that I have been pining this many a month to hear you called Stella Clysmic. Come now, and let us ask the blessing of your aunt ; stop all flirtations, and let me announce our engage- ment." THE WINTER'S END. 235 As Charles Clysmic half helped along the coquet- tish Stella, who, always laughing and protesting, said he was " too disagreeable to live," they reached the boudoir where Senator Roland and Mrs. Wilton were in conversation. "May I say, dear aunt" asked Charles Clysmic, "we have come Stella and I to ask your bless- ing ; we are fiances" " Indeed, dearest aunt," laughed Stella, " he does not deserve your blessing, proposing to take me away- from you, the naughty man ! I would not leave you alone." " My dear Miss Stella," said Senator Roland, " it may overcome your unselfish scruples, and lead you to make the gifted Mr. dlysmic happy, when I have the exquisite satisfaction of announcing to you that I am to take care of your aunt. Yes," he continued, with all the ardor of the lover, " I am to be the happiest of men, the accepted future husband of Mrs. Wilton." " My aunt, my second mother," said Stella, burst- ing into tears, "you would not leave me." " Never, dearest child. I am always your loving second-mother; but why torment Mr. Clysmic? You know you love him," and she placed Stella's 236 A WASHINGTON WINTER. unresisting hand in that of the delighted jour- nalist. "Now," said Stella, fialf-pouting, "we are like the dramatis persona of some play, where all the assorted couples stand before the curtain." " Only, fair Mischief," said Clysmic, " there is no public looking on to criticise." " I am not so sure of that," said Stella. "It is too horrible to think of the announcement of all these engagements. What will Mrs. Grundy say ? " There was a pause, the silence of content and happiness, when Charles Clysmic said : " My dear Mrs. Wilton, your cruel-minded, lovely niece has tormented me to such an extent that I had for- gotten to mention a strange bit of gossip which has somewhat interested the beau-monde abroad, and may perchance astonish my wilful Stella." "And pray, Mr. Mysterious, do you suppose I am so readily astonished ? " asked Stella. " Not at all, cherished Tease," said Clysmic, "you only astonish others. Shall I be silent ?" " Of course not," said Stella ; " I am dying to hear ; something that might be told on the first of April, I suppose ? " " It is this " answered Mr. Clysmic, " and THE WINTER'S END. 237 thank God my Stella escaped the danger ! Among the foreign exchanges I receive is the Cannes Journal. This paper has a very spicy little an- nouncement about Stella's friend, and always very devoted admirer, M. le Vicomte DC La Tour. It seems that this fascinating gentleman was married some ten years since to a French lady, who became insane and had to be immured in an asylum. Then M. De La Tour came to America. He never said, it is true, that he was not married ; he only acted as if he were a free man, as perhaps the beauteous Stella knows. It was supposed at first that Mme. De La Tour would never recover ; it was even hoped she might die ; but maladies of the mind are sub- ject to strange freaks. One day, upon being told that M. le Vicomte had left France, the shock suddenly restored her reason. She became calm, but said she did not feel as if she could live long, and she begged for the speedy return of her hus- band. A cablegram was sent him to that effect, which he received just in time to leave on the Scythia, the very day that Prince Nikolaus hur- ried away in such amazing and incomprehensible haste. Now M. De La Tour arrived just in time to receive the last sighs of his wife, and to assist 238 A WASHINGTON WINTER. her to make her will, by which she left her ample fortune, without incumbrance, to him. He is now an inconsolable widower at gay Cannes." "That last announcement is particularly inter- esting," interrupted Stella with her arch smile. " But it comes too late for you, most adorable betrothed. There is now a promise of marriage, I am happy to say, in your case, which will be urged to its fulfilment before M. le Vicomte can recu- perate and return," said Clysmic. " Charles Clysmic, there will be ample time for ten flirtations and ten engagements while I am waiting for that old widower," said Stella. The lune de miel was still in the ascendant, though Amabel and Clarence Meredith began to remember that there were one or two other people in the world beside the two in the garden of Para- dise, when Amabel suddenly paused from the per- formance of a bewitching melody on the harp, and exclaimed : " Clarence dear, that letter ! " Now was it some mysterious connection between that harp, where the infatuated Prince had stood transport^ at every vibration of the chords from those fairy fingers, or was it a common-sense, mat- ter-of-fact return of memory ? THE WINTER'S END. 239 " What letter, precious ? " said Clarence languidly, for he had been lulled into a poetical reverie by the delicious music. "Why, my love, the letter that hideous Baron Skerowski handed me a fortnight ago, with such a sardonic smile that it made me shudder, even though I stood a happy bride by your side, I had a feeling that it was not for me to keep, and I handed it to you, my dear," said Amabel. " Guardian angels protect us ! " exclaimed Clar- ence. " It is still in the pocket of my wedding- coat, chtrie. I will get it at once." The letter was placed in Amabel's hands. Clar- ence noticed the signet seal, and he divined that it was from Prince Nikolaus. With sensitive deli- cacy he was about to leave the room, in order that Amabel might be left alone and at liberty to read it ; but with the quick and upright sense of loyalty which a true wife has, she recalled him, saying : " Clarence dear, please return ; the least misad- venture makes a shadow in married life ; mamma has told me so. I prefer that you should open this letter. We will read it together; for you see," showing the signet seal, "it is from Prince Nikolaus." 240 A WASHINGTON WINTER. Clarence opened the dainty note at her request. Amabel, looking over his shoulder, read : AMABEL May I say dare I say dearest Amabel, in this mo- ment of bitterest grief? I have told Baron Skerowski that I shall never be happy without you as my wife, and he insists that I hasten to Russia and obtain the permission of my Emperor and of Gortschakoff, the head of our House to address you, as well as the sanction of my good parents. With many misgivings I yield to his better judgment, and have the courage to leave you now, that I may the sooner be enabled to return with full permission to offer you my hand and the devotion of a life, dear only to me on your account. May I, idol of my soul, claim one favor? I beg, I entreat you, make no decision in favor of another, and against my fond dreams, until I can come in person to plead my cause. For ever and ever thine, SKYBELOFF. " Ah Clarenqe," said Amabel, " I weep for him. Is it not dreadful ? " " My dearest wife," said Clarence, " I honor your sensibility, and I fear that Baron Skerowski has, from some motive unknown to us, betrayed the confidence reposed in him by the ill-fated Prince. But even this sad denouement of his hopes is better THE WINTER'S END. 241 far than to have had us regard him as treacherous or dishonorable, as indeed you must have done, dear wife." He paused, but Amabel still wept. It was so awful to have maligned him, even in her thoughts, as she had done, to have loathed him, and cast him aside as unworthy of one kind thought, while he, nobly reposing on her impartial regard, had left his fate suspended in her hands. Some such thoughts must also have passed through Clarence Meredith's mind, for he again spoke and said : " It is due, dearest wife, to your- self and to Prince Nikolaus, that you write him a candid account of all that has transpired. We must express our friendly admiration, and let him know the villainy of Baron Skerowski, for I am sure the detention of this note until after our mar- riage was intentional on his part." " Clarence," said Amabel, with the quick intui- tion of a woman, "Baron Skerowski has an only child, Olga, whom we know. The desire of the Prince to marry me must have interfered with some of the Baron's plans. The Prince told me that the Minister was a friend of his mother, and had pro- posed that he should visit America, and had been 16 242 A WASHINGTON WINTER. offended because he did not make his home at the Legation." " It is clear enough," said Clarence. " Prince Nikolaus has been sacrificed ; but oh, how thankful am I to God that he has given you to me." Amabel, advised by her husband, wrote to Prince Nikolaus : PRINCE NIKOLAUS SKYBELOFF : My ever-valued friend, Your kind and most touching letter was never received until after my marriage to Clar- ence Meredith, when the Baron Skerowski handed it to me. I hasten to assure you of my appreciation of your noble character, and to wish for you the reward of virtue in this world and the next. My husband begs to join me in the expression of our highest regard, and also to say to you that, in his opinion, Baron Skerowski betrayed the trust you confided to him. Yours with great esteem, AMABEL WILTON MEREDITH. Some months later, a superb box filled with pas- sion-flowers, and simply enclosing the card of Prince Nikolaus Skybeloff, came to Amabel, who never heard from this unfortunate man directly again. It was said that he had left the gayeties of the court ; and, his father having died, he lived on their vast THE WINTER'S END. 243 domain with his widowed mother, in retirement from the world ; and that all the poor, far and near, looked up to him as to their friend and benefactor. He never married. About the time that Amabel received the tribute of passion-flowers, the Baron Skerowski was sud- denly recalled, and another Minister sent in his place. It was said that this wicked man was retired in disgrace, but the reason was never understood. His daughter Olga, who was a delicate girl, suc- cumbed to the severity of a Russian winter, and died of a lung disease soon after leaving Washing- ton with her father, who lived childless, alone, and bereft of court favor on his estates in the interior of Russia. We have now to trace the fortunes of the Chev- alier Pasquale Benedetto. He had counted the days until the allotted time had expired, and Easter Sunday found him punctually at Carondale. The old place gave forth its Allelulias with a tropical profusion of beauteous bloom and delicious fragrance. Hedges of geraniums, of roses, of lilacs, of japonicas, confused the eye with delight; and the wild jasmine garlanded the grand old park, 244 A WASHINGTON WINTER. flinging its innumerable coils caressingly around the monarchs of the forest, and swinging forth in the balmy air like censers filled with incense. The heart of Benedetto leaped for joy as he remembered his dear old Italian home, and saw Nature here repeating herself in this, to the Old World, new continent. The family servants, with their wonted instinct, knew that quality was coming. Dinah declared, that she " knowed it in dis ole bones. De bootiful- lest young missus to tote back, and go fixing up like mad ! Po' chile ! de massa 's to cum." It was true the Chevalier did not much resemble the old-time, madcap, wild, rollicking men with ready and most hospitable welcome for a guest, and the thrust of a bowie-knife for any hot word who once held high revel in these halls ; but he had an indefinable bearing which the old negro knew at once never belonged to " de po' white trash." So, with many a smirk and courtesy they welcomed him, with the uniform : " De Lor' bress dis massa ! " He arrived in time for the six-o'clock dinner on Easter Sunday, and most graciously was he received by the mistress of Carondale. The glorious rays of the setting sun flooded the THE WINTER'S END. 24$ quaintly panelled room with a mellow light, when Benedetto said : " I have come, mistress of my heart, to hear your decision." " You have come, dear Benedetto," she replied, " to claim your bride." A month later the Chevalier and Mme. Pasquale Benedetto were eii route for a prolonged tour North during the summer months ; and little Percy was very much in love with his curious new papa. After Mrs. Silvester Spangler fell from her chair in a dead swoon, on that fateful Mardi Gras, she had a prolonged and terrible illness of brain fever. Senator Spangler fumed and raged, and wanted to send her to an insane asylum ; and could not carry out any of his projects, because the poor, broken-hearted wife lay in a continuous stupor much of the time ; or, when not comatose, raved in the delirium of high fever. He had to bide his time ; and this was God's time, in whose hands puny man and his insensate plans are held with strict account. This continued state of fury, in which Spangler remained, soon acted upon his body, for he had 246 A WASHINGTON WINTER. long looked as if he might die of spontaneous com- bustion any minute. One debilitating April morning, after a sleepless night, he sat at the breakfast-table in his dressing- gown, and ordered the morning's paper. In it he read the announcement of the marriage of Mme. De Beaulieu. Five njinutes later a groan, followed by the thud of a heavy fall, was heard by the faith- ful Pat Maloney, who ran quickly and found the Senator foaming at the mouth and breathing stertorously. "Och," says Pat, "run man, it'll be murther, an' I be kilt iatirely." The sixteen doctors sent for pronounced it apo- plexy, just as his soul, in charge of its attendant demons, fell into Hades. Mrs. Silvester Spangler was first aroused by the unusual stir in the household. When told that her husband had suddenly died, as not unfrequently happens when some great emotion calls into power- ful force all the remaining strength, she rallied. It was thought that the shock would kill her, in her then enfeebled state, but, like an electrical power, it saved her. As Senator Spangler left no will, the property all THE WINTER'S END. 247 went to her ; although it was found, as is often the case in the settlement of estates, that there were so many debts as to absorb much that remained. But Mrs. Spangler was considered a wealthy widow, and perchance might marry another senator, who would not ask for a divorce from a new and rich wife. And the claim of Mme. De Beaulieu ? Alas for the ingratitude of republics ! Although this most righteous claim had papers in proof of its state- ments, signed by General Grant, although the Congress of the United States never denied its justice, to this day it remains an unpaid debt of a nation not bankrupt. University Press: John Wilson and Son, Cambridge. University of California SOUTHERN REGIONAL LIBRARY FACILITY 405 Hilgard Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90024-1388 Return this material to the library from which it was borrowed. NON-RENEWABLE APR ,99, DUE 2 m FROM i RECEIVED A 000 031 371 8