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Show QUEEN A N ERIE'S t!l lace J$mr '-wrr, ftl4ffif JFrfci service. CHAPTER X Continued 13 Her release from the pressure of domestic duties immediately gave Anne an increased freedom of both action and spirit. On the eventful evening of the dinner she sang as she put the studs in Neal's dress shirt and laid It on the bed beside the white velvet dress with the "glittery" "glit-tery" trimming. When Neal cume home she had already bathed and was sitting clad In her silk slip before be-fore her dressing table, her hair hanging like a cloud of gold above her. "Lorelei !" he whispered, laughing, laugh-ing, and his arms slid down around her slim, pliant body, and tightened there. He lifted her up, and sat down himself, holding her closely to him. "Darling Anne! I do love you so ! I don't say so often, I know, or show it as much as I might, and sometimes I know I seem preoccupied preoccu-pied indifferent neglectful even but " He did not try to go on. Indeed, In-deed, there was no necessity that he should. Anne understood, and made her understanding sweetly clear. When at last he set her on her feet ngain, he began to fumble a little weakly, a little shamefacedly, shamefaced-ly, in his pocket. "It is a long time since I have given you a present would this be pretty, do you think, with the 'glittery' 'glit-tery' dress?" "This," when taken out of the satin box with a little spring that clicked, and unwound from layers of flat cotton and twisted tissue paper, pa-per, proved to be a diamond pendant pend-ant hung on a slender platinum chain finished with a diamond clasp. Anne lifted it out breathlessly, starry eyed. "Oh, Neal ! Oh, how lovely ! Oh" "You can't afford It!" finished Neal mockingly, "of course I can't! A man can't afford not to give presents pres-ents to his wife every now and then. And, besides, you're not to worry, it is all paid for. I had an unexpected check today an account ac-count long overdue paid up. I attended at-tended to all our monthly bills, bang up, just like that! And still I had enough left over for this, too !" The pendant was pretty with the "glittery" dress. In fact, it was perfect. per-fect. And as Anne, followed by Neal, swept into the Lassiter drawing draw-ing room while the butler beside the silk portiered entrance announced, "Senator and Mrs. Conrad" both were swiftly conscious of the fact that Anne was unsurpassed in elegance ele-gance by any other woman present. Senator Lassiter, who was talking with the French ambassadress, detached de-tached himself immediately from her side and hastened forward ; while his mother, with less em-pressement em-pressement but with equal cordiality, cordial-ity, turned to greet them also. "We are so very happy to have you with us now let me sea I wish to be sure you meet every one here tonight. Have you met the Italian ambassador and Donna Martinelli? Madame Estavi is a friend already, I am sure the speaker of the house and Mrs. Hastings, Senator and Mrs. Lee, Senator and Mrs. Stone.' The even, cultured voice flowed on. Two servants in purple livery entered, bearing silver trays, laden with frosty cocktails, and tiny savory sa-vory sandwiches. Senator Lassiter offered his arm to the ambassadress, and advanced, with her beside him, at the head of the procession which wound its way to tlie strains of music mu-sic from an unseen organ through 1 a second great drawing room, across a galleried hall, and into a long, paneled dining room flanked with 1 great carved sideboards. Anne, feeling as if she had been transplanted to one of Monte Cris-to's Cris-to's banquets, hoped that she was successfully concealing the swimming swim-ming sensation which almost overcame over-came her as she seated herself between be-tween Senator Stone and Senor Estavi Es-tavi at the table. But rousing herself her-self she heard the small black-bearded black-bearded man with indefinable charm and distinction who was placed at her left asking hopefully, "Vous-parlez-francais. Madame?" "Mais oul," she answered breathlessly breath-lessly her head clearing instantly, and 'launching into her newly ac- . quired but fluent French, she began ?c .chatter pleasantly with the agree- nator appearing at ; her side apparently tn in an incredibly short time after i she had finished her coffee In the i drawing room assured her that she would be much more comfo tab on a deep brocaded sofa at he fron end of tire room than In t he s ma : high chair on which she .s then 1 rnns closed lips "that once, just once, I could take a young and pretty woman wom-an out to dinner! But it is always al-ways my fate to have middle-aged, not to say elderly, ambassadresses at my side it is unthinkable that any man should indulge in airy per-sillage per-sillage with dowagers of rank !" "Because .they would resent it as an Impertinence? or because they offer no Inducement to levity and indiscretion?" in-discretion?" asked Anne, who was beginning to enjoy herself again. "Both, my dear lady. You have no idea how virtuous I am when there Is nothing about to tempt me. But in the presence of lovely young matrons with perfect complexions and a gift of repartee I sometimes forget myself." "But they, I suppose, always jog your memory?" said Anne demurely. "Oh, no not always. Sometimes they are forgetful, too How's your memory?" he inquired, with a slight drawl. "Excellent," said Anne, with emphasis. em-phasis. But Senator Lassiter did not seem to be daunted; and when a little later she told him that she thought perhaps she and Neal should be leaving, leav-ing, he Informed her, with even more of a drawl, that they could not go until the guests of honor had departed. de-parted. "But they will go," he said, "exactly "ex-actly on the tick of ten-thirty. That Is the law of the Medes and Persians. Per-sians. The worst of it is, that after that you will be free to go, too ; you will no doubt take advantage advan-tage of your freedom; and I do not feel at all sure when I shall see you again." "Neal and I have been asked to another dinner," said Anne. "In honor of the Hammels. The Stand-ishes Stand-ishes are giving it. I think It is most awfully kind- of them to invite in-vite us. But what I started to say was perhaps you will be there, and I might meet you then." "I see," said Lassiter, suddenly grave. "Thank you. I shall be there." Anne had the sudden, uncomfortable uncomfort-able feeling that she had made an appointment with him. With his usual intuition he guessed this and with his usual smooth skillfullness restored her composure. "And at many other festivities which you will attend," he said casually. cas-ually. "We are certain to move in Interlocking circles, if not actually the same one, as I rather suspect may be the case. I hope you dance? I shall permit myself to look for you at the children's hospital ball." He bowed slightly, in kind and superficial tribute. Near them a gilt clock chimed softly and struck the half hour. The ambassadress, who was favoring Neal with a few formal remarks, instantly extended her hand in farewell, and sought the ambassador with her eye. ."What did I tell you!" laughed Lassiter softly. "Good-by dear Lady Delight" CHAPTER XI LUNCHEONS, teas, dinners, calls. Official receptions, charity balls, evening musicals, calls. Tuesday noons at the senate office building, Friday afternoons at the Congressional Congres-sional club. Calls. Calls. Calls. Anne had been swept breathlessly, Into the swing of it, almost before she realized what had happened. She grew very thin and she slept badly. Her beauty took on a slightly haggard quality, and there were dark circles under her eyes, fainter color in her cheeks; but what she lost in fresiiness she gained, subtly, in sophistication and distinction. And she loved it. She was progressing pro-gressing with a rapidity which was sufficiently rare to be remarkable even In that capacity where so many others have been tested and have proven beyond any possible question the fine adaptability of the fine American woman. Nothing, perhaps, was more indicative in-dicative of her advance In savoir-faire savoir-faire than the difference in the de-giee de-giee of composure with which she approached the White House. When she first drove under its white-pillared porte-cochere to deposit her card and Neal's on the small silver salver extended to her by the manservant man-servant in livery her fingers trembled trem-bled so that she could hardly lay clown the neatly folded hits of card-hoard card-hoard The deference which doth .he in a king" and which-deny it though we may -seems to many of s to hedge in a 1'resident also, rose before her in its grandeur. tern-Mn tern-Mn her with its significance. W sense of awe persisted all the afternoon: and when Mrs. nanime! told her she should follow up this ceremony of card loav.ns. after a little interval, with a note to Mi-Vinson. Mi-Vinson. Mrs. Shaw's se.ro.arv requesting to he rerened b t..t President's wife, her reluctance to take this bold step was as evident in her face as it was in her voice. "Why, Mrs. Hammel, I couldn't ! Surely I ought to wait for her to make the suggestion, if such a suggestion sug-gestion Is ever to be made !" "Certainly you ought not. Do you imagine that Mrs. Shaw spjnds ler leisure moments glancing through the cards that are showered upon her and deciding whom to favor with an invitation? She never sees those cards. She has no leisure moments. But Miss Hopkinson, the grim old dragon and a pretty good sort, too, when you get to know her! has you all neatly docketed and knows whether you have done right by our Nell, and all that. So run along home, Goldilocks, and get your note written !" Anne used up sheet after sheet of her new monogrammed paper before, be-fore, she achieved a letter that pleased her; but finally it was written writ-ten and dispatched. When no answer an-swer was immediately forthcoming she experienced a sensation of shame sureiy she ought never to have written that note! She was being snubbed for her temerity! Then, when she had resolutely dismissed dis-missed the matter from her mind, Dora came to her one morning wreathed in smiles, and extended a small square envelope engraved on -one corner with the magic words "The White House" in small gold block letters. "This just came, Mis' Conrad. I thought mebbe you'd like it right away." The flap crackled under Anne's eager hands. A neat card, surmounted sur-mounted by a gilt eagle was disclosed. dis-closed. Anne read : Mrs. Shaw will be glad to receive Mrs. Conrad Wednesday, January seventh at five o'clock. "There !" said Dora triumphantly ; for Dora had been told, of course, all about the note to Miss Hopkinson. Hopkin-son. But Anne did not feel triumphant. She felt frightened. And when, at quarter before five on Wednesday, January seventh, she went down her front steps dressed in the sapphire velvet, she grew hot and cold by If M I fiw Luncheons, Teas, Dinners, Calls. Official Receptions, Charity Balis, Evening Musicals, Calls. turns. But she walked steadily across the White House porte-cochere, bowed slightly and serenely to the man who opened the door for her, and regarded the tall formally dressed man wdiom she encountered just outside the entrance with composure. com-posure. "This is Mrs. Conrad, Senator Conrad's wife. I have an appointment appoint-ment to see Mrs. Shaw at five." "Yes, Mrs. Conrad. Mrs. Shaw is expecting you. Would you like to leave your wraps here? Now if you will come with me into the Blue room Mrs. Shaw will be there In just a minute." "How nice he is!" The tall figure fig-ure had vanished and, relaxing a little, she looked about the circular apartment with its long draped windows win-dows giving glimpses of the garden beyond and the white flowers massed about the gilt clock on the mantel piece. The door at her left clicked and opened, and the tall spare formally dressed man came into the room again. "Mrs. Shaw," he said in an impressive im-pressive whisper. Mrs. Shaw extended her hand. She sat down herself and asked Anne to do so ; and then pleasantly, casually, casu-ally, and fluently she began to talk. Anne, answering at first almost in monosyllables, found herself, at the end of five minutes, talking pleasantly, pleas-antly, casually, and fluently also. For the President's wife amiable, composed, unpretentious, at once put her visitor completely at ease. Anne liked her, immediately and immensely. im-mensely. She forgot all about everything every-thing deferential. She remembered remem-bered that this woman, sitting beside be-side her "the first lady of the land" hnd in her youth worked her way through college, taught school, gone to Europe as the paid chaperon for a group of young "society girls," and married an Impecunious young storekeeper whom she had endear. ! ored to inculcate with her ideas of culture. Anne he.'an to realize something of the simple both for him and his wife that must have preceded his ascent to the position of a prosperous eosniopn:;;ni nier-cliaiit nier-cliaiit of a cabinet m.-mh.-r of President of the l'nit.-l St.'iP's. Must a minute. Mr. Cooper," Mrs. j,aw was saving calmly. Anne turned and saw that the tall formally for-mally dressed figure was standing in the doorway bowing. "Mr. Cooper Coop-er has come to let us know that our fifteen minutes together are over, Mrs. Conrad. I am so sorry. But I hope to see you very soon again. You will come to the congressional reception, of course?" Anne had not Intended to do anything any-thing of the sort. But she answered eagerly. "Yes, of course! 1 am looking forward for-ward to It ever so much !" She found that she really meant this; and during the next .veek her viewpoint did not change. The following fol-lowing Thursday she was athrlll with excitement as she put on the "glittery" dress and htr new pendant, pend-ant, and she seized Neal's arm with an exclamation of pure rapture as their car marked with its "blue card" swung into the slow line of shining limousines advancing, a few feet at a time, down West Executive avenue. They passed through the grilled entrance just behind Senator and Mrs. Lee. As the ladies went into the cloak room to remove their wraps, Mrs. Lee linked her arm cordially inside Anne's elbow. "Stay with us, won't you? We know the ropes, we'll show you just what to do and where to go so you will see the most " They went swiftly past a little room with Its many paneled cupboards cup-boards containing the china of former for-mer administrations, through the long corridors where the portraits of the wives of former Presidents smiled serenely down from their golden frames. In the space be-j be-j yond they could see the scarlet-coated Marine band grouped near the front door. Suddenly the selection which the band was rendering came to an abrupt end, and there was a moment of poignant silence. Then the strains of "Hail to the Chief rang out, and a brilliant procession turned from the broad stairway near the East room and advanced slowly toward the center of the hall ; the President with Mrs. Shaw on his arm ; the secretary of state and Mrs. Standish, who was regal in purple velvet and rose lace ; the other members of the cabinet and their wives. Anne was so close to them that she could have touched them as they passed on Into the Blue room ; and the secretary of commerce, a heavy, jovial sort of person, leaned across the silken rope and shook hands with her as he passed. Mr. Goldenburg greeting greet-ing her after a long separation would have welcomed her in much the same manner But there was no time to stand still, making happy comparisons The instant that the Presidential party had disappeared Mrs. Lee whisked Neal and Anne away Into the stately dining room, where they took their places in line with members mem-bers of both houses and their wives who were already gathered there. "Single file, please." The crisp voice of the aide standing stand-ing at the door of the Red room. Neal stopped behind Anne, as two ladies paused before an unresponsive unrespon-sive President. Then she gave her name and Neal's to the aide who bent to hear them. "Senator and Mrs. Conrad." She was shaking hands with the President, Presi-dent, whose tired face did not relax re-lax for an Instant from its lines of dark fatigue. But there 'as something some-thing personal and cordial in Mrs. Shaw's welcome. "So you did come!" she said pleasantly to Anne, recognizing her instantly. "I am very glad." "Is she always so nice?" Anne askej Mrs. Lee as, the brief instant of contact over, they were swept along into the Green room. "Oh, always! She knows the President isn't well, that all this is an effort for him, and so she tries to make up for his unresponsiveness. unresponsive-ness. Shall we go inside 'behind the line' here and get back to the Blue room where we can mingle with the members of the cabinet, or shall we join the hoi polloi in the East room?'' "The Blue room no, I think the East room oh, I want to do both! I want to do everything!" Anne exclaimed joyously. Neal teased her about It afterwards. after-wards. When at last they were on their way home, and rolling slowly past the orange-colored globes of light, he put his arm around her and drew her closer to him. "I'm glad you've recovered from your stage fright about the White House. You fit in there wonderfully. You'd do Just as well at the Job as Mrs. Shaw lerself!'' "Neal!" Anne exclaimed, "how can you?" But there was no reproach re-proach In her voice. By early spring. Neal was frankly frank-ly tired of the social strain and said so. He had taken It for granted (hat they would all leave for llins-boro llins-boro Immediately after the adjournment adjourn-ment of congress and had lioked forward to their home-coming hut as Anne pointed out, the children had their . chool year to finish, and she could not very well leave them; lioidcs. it would be almost impossible impos-sible to open their own house, turning turn-ing on the water and so on, until i. anner weather came. There was no jse In having de usions about Hinsboro weatlie, in March. - "Well, v. hat do you propose to d i'" aked Neal almost angrily. "1 can't sit around here until June iwhl'oing my thumbs. I hne got lo get kirk and tend to my priu-iire. II has been ii'-g'ected toy long f, ready." (to ee cont::.ti:d |