Marion Marlowe in Washington, or, Meeting the President — page 21: what you’re looking at

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

ee ® i a A r - up. “MY QUEEN. fore,’ exclaimed Bert, darting from the apartment, “Tall, military, about forty-five, blue eyes, long mustache,” he rattled off, as he came back. “That describes them both,” said Marion, slowly. “But the genuine colonel is as gray as a badger! Now, our friend with the carriage was only a little gray, so | guess we'll have to call him the bogus individual! Now, will somebody please tell me what he is driving at, anyway, or is that just a passing jest of one of our dignified Congressmen?” “We'll answer all your questions later,” said Dr. Brookes, smiling ; “or, better, we will let the genuine colonel answer them the’next time we see him.” “Oh, I have an idea!” cried Marion, quick- ly. sleby is a stranger in town? He may be here just for the day, and we have mixed them It isn’t at all likely that they both are Congressmen; and yet they both may be friends of the President!” “We'll give them the benefit of the doubt, anyway, chimed in Miss Allyn; ‘and, as the doctor says, they will speak for themselves, for we are sure to meet them both at the ball this evening.” “That settles the question for the present, then,” laughed Bert, as he started toward the door again. “This is the one day of our lives that we are not to be bothered solving riddles and enigmas! Come on, all hands! We must finish painting the town! I’m off fora look at the War Department!” CHAPTER XI. THE INAUGURATION BALL. i It was nearly midnight before Marion en- tered the ball-room in the Pension building. When she did her eyes were dazzled by the blaze that greeted them. Everywhere were patriotic emblems and gay decorations, and such a brilliant assemblage she had never be- fore gazed upon. Her escort was dressed in his colonel’s uniform, and looked very grand. indeed; but from the moment of their leaving the hotel the young girl thought he acted queerly. He was not so gay as he had been during the drive in the morning. Not a word did she whisper of her un- pleasant suspicions, for the gentleman was so courteous in his attentions, that she could not bear to accuse him. It was better to have the explanation come from some other source than to take the chance of committing an error. “Who knows but that one Colonel Ap- - 19 “How perfectly grand!” were her first words, as he led her to a seat; then she looked. up at him a little wistfully as she saw where he was seating her. “Oh, please don’t seat me here! It is too conspicuous,’ she murmured. “See, there are a lot of people staring at me already!” “Perhaps they know you are the brave girl who saved the President,” was the smiling answer; as the colonel looked down into her beautiful face admiringly. “T do hope not,” said Marion, with a little gasp. “Oh, it will be dreadfully embarrass- ing if any more people look at me!” The colonel had taken a sharp look in the direction that she indicated, and “an expres- sion of satisfaction fairly shone on his feat- ures. “That is Miss MacGregor and her party— the lady I showed you this morning,” he said, almost indifferently. you your glorious hair, no doubt, Miss Mar- lowe; while that gentleman at her right 1s envying me. He is one of our Senators, who is quite infatuated with Miss MacGregor.”’ There was a rush of words to Marion’s lips, but a crash of martial music from the band prevented her from speaking them. Suddenly she turned to her companion with a charming smile. It had come to her to criticise her own simple garments. “V’m afraid I ought not to have let you bring me,” she said, as softly as she could. “My dress is so plain, and | have no dia- monds. If it had not been for me, you would have escorted one of those ladies.” The look of admiration in the colonel’s eyes made her blush a little as he replied, without the slightest hesitation: “In spite of your simple dress, which is exquisite, if you will allow me to say so, the ladies are all staring at you with envious eyes. Is it possible that you are too modest to know what that means, Miss Marlowe ?” Marion’s’ gray eyes fell before his ardent elance, and just at that instant the other Colonel Appleby came toward them, accom- panied by Miss MacGregor. Marion glanced up just in time to see a curious look flash into her companion’s eyes. The next moment, with only a salute, the eentleman passed, and she noticed that Miss MacGregor was leaning heavily on his arm. and that she was glaring at her as if she fairly hated her. What was the meaning of that look? She asked herself the question, and then turned abruptly to ask it of her companion. Oh, here you are, Marion! Isn’t_ it grand?” cried a voice in her ear. Bert, with Miss Ellis on his arm, was just “She is envying > COnniclboooks (CO)