Marion Marlowe in Washington, or, Meeting the President — page 12: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

Lo - MY QUEEN. The two gentlemen followed him from the room, and then Miss Allyn spoke very slowly. “If Miss MacGregor is the colonel’s sweet- heart, I am sorry for her, Marion. He’ll have no eves or ears for her while you remain in Washingtort.” “Really, I think you wrong him, Alma,” said Marion, soberly. “He was nice and at- tentive, but nothing more; still, | must ad- mit I do not understand his manner toward her, and she bowed and smiled so sweetly, too—it is a mystery, Alma.” “Mark my words, he is fickle,’ was her friend’s decided answer. “He may be a brave colonel and a clever Congressman, but a pair of gray eyes that I know of have com- pletely dazzled him. Miss MacGregor will have to play what is known as ‘second fiddle.’ There'll be no duels over her while you stay in the city.” CHAPTER VI. IN THE WHITE HOUSE. Such a thrill of happiness as Marion felt when she entered the great gate of the White House and approached the door of the President’s home! Carriages were coming and going and, as their own prancing horses drew up at the steps, their new friend, the colonel, ap- peared upon the porch and they were ad- mitted with as much courtesy as though they had been wives of the Cabinet members. Neither Marion nor Miss Allyn knew ex- actly how it had been arranged, but they were allowed to enter the presence of the President with a small number of other visit- ors immediately after the reception of the Diplomatic Corps, and were permitted + to chake hands with him in the most informal manner, Marion’s cheeks flushed with delight as che felt the President’s genial grasp, and the cmile of admiration which he bestowed upon her was the crowning pleasure of a day of pleasures. | Miss Allvn was right behind her and, as the two moved on, she overheard a remark made by one of the members of the Cabinet: OWhat a remarkably handsome girl!” The compliment was intended for Marion, and Miss Allyn blushed with the pleasure of being able to repeat it. | She, too, had shaken hands with the Chief Executive, and, although it did not affect her as it did Marion, she was really highly elated. If she were only back at her old work as newspaper reporter, how she would enjoy writing up this scene! It was a magnificent spectacle from start to finish, still the de- tails of each inauguration were almost simi- lar and every one was familiar in some de- gree with the ceremony. She glanced over the groups of ladies whom she saw in the different rooms of the White House and decided that, while many of them were handsome and stylish, there was not one as truly beautiful as her com- panion and dearest friend. As soonsas they were out in the grounds again, she spoke her thoughts freely. She was positively overflowing with ambition for her friend’s future. “Oh, Marion, if you could only be in the position of one of those ladies, the Cabinet ladies, I mean! Wouldn’t it be grand?” she cried, enthusiastically. “Or, if you could be the wife of some future President! That would be better yet! Why, you would grace any position with your wonderful beauty and my, oh, my! wouldn’t the nation be proud of you!” “How perfectly absurd, Alma!” said Mar- ion, laughing, but there was a flush on her cheeks as she listened to her friend’s enthu- siastic utterances. They had reached the street now and were making their way through the crowds, which were not quite as dense now as they had been in the morning. | “Vou are ever so much prettier than the prettiest,” went on Miss Allyn, “and that is saying a good deal, for some of them are remarkably handsome! But, dearie, did you see Miss Emilie MacGregor staring at you in the Blue Room? I did, and I fancied there was a bit of jealousy in her face. She may not have enjoyed seeing you in the colonel’s carriage.” “T wonder what became of him?” said Marion, suddenly. “Of course, we knew he couldn't he with ws. she. tine, but I