Show qu 0 e n anne s B lace i i by B y frances parkinson keyes 06 francos frances parkinson xerox keye I 1 service CHAPTER X continued 23 panting but placid mrs hammel wove her way into the gallery galler Y anne squeezed que zed behind her and her two distinguished companions edged down the tha crowded steps to the designated places and settled down to look about her the senators gallery was already packed to the last row except for the unoccupied seats which were roped oft off for mrs shaw the presidents wife there was a shining brass plate on the balcony railing she noticed requesting visitors not to lean their elbows or place small personal posses eions mions upon it and she wondered why so BO trivial a thing should have caught lier her attention all the galleries were crowded and the one above the clock bade back of the rostrum the press gallery was seething the senate chamber anne tb thought ought as aha fihs resumed her contemplation of 0 f it was ras ctr strangely angely unimpressive for so important an apartment it was drab dingy close the senators were beginning to come in now not very impressive either I 1 anne was disappointed many of them were bald nearly all of them were gray some were very lean or badly overweight one dressed with faultless informality a dark carnation in his buttonhole was quite superfluously striking attitudes his roving eyes caught annes and rested for a moment on her face then he bowed slightly she felt quite sure she aha had not met him but she returned the tha salutation angry at herself for blushing and conscious that sirs mrs standish sh whom nothing seemed to escape was watching her senator lassiter Lass lter tills this lady remarked her sweet voice a trifle dry the beau 13 nr rummell of the senate also nh ah the Mv lovelace elace I 1 believe you know clarence hathaway well something the same type anne was grateful for the rap of the vice presidents gavel the chaplain offered prayer anne watching neal was experiencing a deeper emotion than interest she was remembering poignantly the day she had joined the church the testimony to her falth faith that she had bad given before the assembled congregation in the bare little building with its slender spire pointing towards the green hills behind it this oath that neal was taking seemed to her no less solemn no less sacred did he she wondered feel the same way about it she hoped prayerfully that he did at all events he had not forgotten her in this great and pregnant moment of his life ile he had hardly taken his seat when lie he turrie turne swept the gallery with his keen eyes and smiled as he found her and saw the expression of love and emotion on her face for a moment they looked full at each other anne felt her composure returning her vision clearing she was able to return his smile then apparently satisfied he nodded and looked away again giving his undivided attention to the business of the day this did not last long the vice presidents gavel descended the crowd began to stream out anne was co conscious n that mrs hammel was speaking to her come to the house tomorrow of course and hear the president read his message oh of course I 1 I 1 miss it for anything 11 As a matter of fact she had not intended to do anything of the sort her interest I 1 in n public affairs was stilt still bounded by neals participation in them and neal who had find been a figure of importance today would have no part in the morrows proceedings dut but it was wag evident that mrs hammel e expected X her to return to the capitol the next day and mrs hammel should never be disappointed in her her determination was rewarded when neal came home that night he gave her a beautifully engraved little card upon the back of which she discovered the number tow row and section of a reserved seat armed with this she penetrated to the house of representatives senta tives without difficulty and having found her appointed place she sa saw W that mrs hammel mrs hastings and several other ether women whom she knew were all near her and when mrs shaw accompanied by a military aide came in and sat down immediately in front of her she experienced an unexpected thrill in being presented to the first lady of the ian land d and after that the president with his escort of senators and representatives rep besenta t ives advanced slowly end mounted the rostrum dignity and power emanating from his presence pie sence when the prest dent began to speak annes sense of stimulation increased she listened with rapt attention suddenly aly she realized that her fit attention toad had bl begun gun to wander perhaps because she was hungry she was relieved when the president stopped reading and inclined hla his head to a gohd knowledge the applause of hla his listeners mrs lira show shaw bowing graciously in every direction was preparing to leave the gallery and mrs hammel IIa romel touching annes arm was asking her a question you are coming over to the luncheon of coursel course the luncheon yes the senate ladles indies luncheon dont tell me there Is another thing you heard about 1 well I 1 will explain as we go over in the subway we will say goodby to MM afro standish sh and mra afro hastings here they dont como come with us breathlessly anne anna followed mm 1111 hammel MInel through the crowd to the basement of the capitol and into a small open electric car it was full already but mrs hammel ammel II bowing right and left lef t was immediately afforded space for herself and anne the little car leapt forward and they bounded noisily away by raising her voice mrs hammel succeeded in making anno anne hear her above the clatter every tuesday marble room in the senate office building take turns acting as hostesses six at a time cold meat salad rolls coffee cake no more allowed cant have competition in menus make feeling im the president great fun see here we are get out 4 the marble room proved a most imposing apartment down its wide length ran a long narrow table covered i with a white cloth cl oth thermos bottles plates platea of rolls and jelly and large heavily frosted cakes were placed upon this at regular intervals and several well dressed women were fluttering about it pouring water and straightening silverware another group was clustered about a smaller table in a remote corner almost concealing the platters of cold meat and salad with which they were occupied the hostesses were already beginning to pass the great platters of cold meat and salad there was a good deal of informal merriment a much pleas anter medium for getting acquainted anne reflected this lunch luncheon on than those stiff brief calls A few of the women she had met already they welcomed her cordially and presented her to others when the rich moist ank cakes had been eaten from the same dishes on which the meat and salad had been served mrs hammel rose in her place at the end of the long table and announced the names ot of the hostesses for the following week mrs benn bean mrs brainard alnard Br miss bullard mrs clay mrs conrad anne found hersia carried off for a conference A salad it was decided was to be her contribution and would she please plan to be a little early the following thursday to help with preparations tile the hostesses usually did the merry little party broke up when the deliberations of the committee were finished the morning after the senate ladles luncheon mrs lee called anne on the telephone and asked it if she might not stop and take her to the congressional club reception on friday you have had an invitation to join of course yes but you see I 1 have been so busy making diplomatic calls 1 I know it Is hard to wedge both the calls and the clubs in the same afternoon a but everything Is over at the club a little after live five and that leaves almost another hour for calls afterwards afterward it if you yon tire are pretty well caught up tip you manage somehow 1 I believe I 1 could especially as 1 I would love to go to the club with you anne said frankly 1 I am so glad for I 1 would love to take you sou responded mrs lee cordially di bially rilly promptly at then in her eagerness to be prompt anne was standing on the steps of her house watching the street in both directions ions when mrs tee lee drove up and as she took her place beside the older lady in the big limousine mrs lee regarded her with covert but thorough approbation anne had on a dress and coat of sapphire blue velvet with close fitting collar and cuffs of ermine and her sapphire blue velvet hat bat was faced with white satin iier her white gloves her suede shoes and the beaded bag which she carried were all perfectly in keeping usually we have a program on friday afternoons mrs lee explained a concert or a lecture or something like that then a short reception afterwards but as this Is our first gathering of tho the season sen son the afternoon Is entirely given over to the reception it Is so pleasant it to have this meeting place for seeing our friends the crowd suddenly surged forward bearing mrs lee and anne with it up the stairs and into the great oval room at the top near the pillars at the entrance in front of a little alcove cushioned in green velvet tho the president pf af the club mrs gray and the two first vice presidents mrs gorham and urs mrs bean were standing to receive the guests at the front end of the room the marine band gorg ous in the scarlet gold and blue of full dress uniform was playing in a little dining room beyond an enormous basket of american beauty roses towered between two sliver silver candelabra on a table spread with a lace cloth and covered with delicacies mrs hastings sat at offe end pouring tea and mrs lassiter Lass lter at the other pouring coffee they both greeted anne cordially and mrs lassiter Lass lter detained her for a moment my aly son and I 1 were sorry to miss you when we called yesterday she said have you and senator conrad by any miracle a tree free evening lexi next week or the week after we would like so much to have you dine with us TO BE BBS |