Marion Marlowe in Washington, or, Meeting the President — page 9: what you’re looking at

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

MY QUEEN. wanted to, and the thing could be managed! Oh, there’s only one dad in the world, and that’s my newly-acquired governor! If all the boys had fathers like him, there’d be no ~ further use for jails or State prisons!” Bert was watching the crowd as he spoke, and had just caught sight of another familiar face, when Marion suddenly leaned forward and touched him on the shoulder. “Oh, Bert! Look quick! There are Mr. Temple and Miss Ellis! Won’t they be sur- prised to see us in this carriage!”’ “I’m afraid they won't see us,” said Alma Allyn, anxiously, , “Oh, won't they!” cried Bert, with a know- ing grin. The next second he stood up in the carriage and gave a war whoop that made - the crowd fairly hold its ears for the space of a second. . “Oh, Bert! How dreadfully. ill-man- nered!” cried Marion, with a glance at their host. “The colonel will think you are very rude to shout from his carriage!” “Let him shout! I like it!” was the laugh- ing reply. “I was a boy once myself, and a noisy one, too, I tell you; but did your friends see you, Jackson?” he added, looking at Bert. “I don’t think so, colonel! But, gee whiz! Look at that lady in the carriage! She is Staring at me as if I was a genuine Indian! No, it isn’t me, it’s you she is staring at, Mar- ion!” The words had scarcely passed his lips when the colonel raised his hat. He bowed indifferently to the lady in the carriage, and then smiled sweetly at Marion. “It is Miss Emilie MacGregor, one of our Washington beauties,” he said, in answer to her question. “You will see-her to-night at the Inauguration Ball, for, of course, you will attend that function, Miss Marlowe.” “Oh, I should be so delighted,” said the young girl, gayly. “Alma and I brought dresses, but we were not sure we could gO. You see, we depended upon Bert’s letter to you to get us an invitation,” she added, frankly. “If you will honor me with your company, Miss Marlowe, the favor will be inestimable, i assure you,” was the gallant response: “and 7 if the rest of your company would care to go, I think I can promise to get them tickets.” “Oh, how lovely!” cried Marion, again, and then she happened to think of something. “Our leading man, Dr. Reginald Brookes, has relatives here,’ she said, quickly. “His uncle, Mr. Fenton Brookes, is a United States Senator, so he is sure of getting in, with a lady, of course, so that will leave no one to be looked after but Mr. Temple and Mr. Olcott.”’ “We'll fix them all up,” said the colonel, smiling, and then a great shout from the crowd was followed by a burst of music from the band stationed just before the Capitol. “There he is! There’s the President,” cried Bert, excitedly, The ladies stood up in the carriage and stared with all their might. President McKinley and several members of the Cabinet were on the Capitol porch, and the din of music and cheers was positively deafening. ) CHAPLER VY. A GREAT DAY, An hour later Marion and her friend, Miss Allyn, were in their room at the New Will- ard, talking over the exciting events of the morning. “Wasn't the music grand, Alma?” asked the young girl, rapturously. “Oh, it seems to me I never heard anything so superb as the way they played ‘The Star Spangled Ban- tert” “And what an impressive ceremony,’ cried her friend, excitedly. “Just think of Mr. Mc- Kinley standing there so calm and dignified, with thousands of people cheering him! Why, my knees would have given way in less than five minutes, and I’d have collapsed completely before I was half through swear- ing.” “Oh, Alma! The President did not do that, surely!” cried Marion. laughing. “Certainly he did,” was the decided an- swer. “He swore he’d do all the things that were contained in the oath of office: but, oh, Marion, what is your opinion of Colonel Ap- pleby? Isn’t he just the loveliest thing that ever happened! I am sure now it isn’t true (C Go GOMIGIOOKS