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8YN0PSIS.
Senator John Calhoun le offered the
portfolio of aecretary of state in Tyler's
cabinet. He declares that if he accepts
It means that TexaR and Oregon must lie
added to the Union. He plans to learn
the Intentions of England with regard to
Mexieo, through Baroness Von Kit*, se¬
cret spy and reputed mistress of the
English ambassador, Pakenham. Ho
sends his secretary, Nicholas Trlst, to
While bring tbe baroness to his apartment.
searching for the baroness’ botrie,
a carriage drives up arid be is invited to
enter. The occupant is the baroness, who
Bays she is being pursued. The pursuers
are shaken off. The baroness consents to
aee Calhoun Nicholas notes that she
has lost a slipper. She gives Nicholas the
remuir^ing slipper as a pledge that she
will tell Calhoun ail, and. as security,
Nicholas gives her a trinket he Intended
for hi* sweetheart. Elizabeth Churemll.
Nicholas Js ordered to leave at once, for
Montreal oh stale business, by Calhoun,
who has become secretary of state, and
plans to he married that night. Tyler
warns Pakcriham that interference by
England In the affairs of this continent
will not be tolerated. The west lie¬
mantis that the joint occupancy of Ore¬ lias
gon with Great Britain cease, and
raised Eight.” the cry of "Fifty-four, Nicholas Forty or
The baroness tells she
will do her best to prevent his marriage.
Blio returns the trinket and he promises
to return her slipper. Nicholas enlists
the services of Congressman Dandridge,
a rejected suitor of Elizabeth’s, to assist
In the arrangements for the wedding and
entrusts him with the return of the slip¬
per to the baroness. The congressman
gets drunk and sends the slipper to Eliza¬
beth. The wedding Is declared off, and
Nicholas is ordered from the house by
Elizabeth's father. Nicholas is ordered
to gain access to a meeting of the Hud¬
son Bay directors in Montreal and learn
England’s Intentions regarding Oregon
Nicholas sees the baroness leave the di¬
rectors' meeting In Montreal, where lie
had failed to gain admission. She warns
him that his life Is In danger and he ac¬
cepts an Invitation to pass the night at
her home. She quizzes him as to whether
his wedding took place, and gets no sat¬
isfaction. She tolls him that the slipper
she gave him contained a message from
the attache of Texas to the British tun-
bassaddr, saying that if the llniled
States did not annex Texas within 30
days, Oregon. she would decides lose take both the Texas and
He to message
to Calhoun. Nicholas meets in Montreal
a naturalist. Von Rlttenhofen, who tells*
him that England will fight for Oregon.
He invites him to Washington. The
baroness has left Montreal hurriedly, and
a British warship disappears quietly.
CHAPTER XIX.
The Gentleman from Tennessee.
Women distrust men too much in gen¬
eral. and not enough in particular.—
Philibert Commerson.
Now all the more was It necessary
for me and my friend from Oregon to
hasten on to Washington, Rumors
abounded, I found as soon as I struck
the first, cities below the Canadian
line, It was In the air now that un¬
der Calhoun there would be put before
congress a distinct and definite at¬
tempt at the annexation of Texas.
Stories of all sorts were on the
streets; rumors of the wrath of Mr.
Clay; yet other rumors of Interesting
possibilities at the coming Whig and
Democratic conventions. Everywhere
■was that strange, ominous, indescri¬
bable tension of the atmosphere which
exists when a great people is moved
deeply.
Late as It was when I reached
Washington, I did not hesitate to re¬
pair at once to the residence of Mr.
Calhoun; and 1 took with me as my
best adjutant my strange friend Von
Kittenhofen, who, I fancied, might add
detailed information which Mr. Cal¬
houn would find of value. We were
admitted to Mr. Calhoun, and after
the first greetings ho signified that
he would hear my report. He sat, nis
long, thin hands on his chair arm, as
1 went on with my story, his keen
eyes scanning also my old companion
as I spoke. I explained what the lat¬
ter knew regarding Oregon. 1 saw
Mr. Calhoun’s eyes kindle. As usual,
he did not lack decision.
“Sir," said he to Von Rittenhofen
presently, “we ourselves are young,
yet I trust not lacking In a great na¬
tion's Interest in the arts and sciences.
It occurs to me now that L) yourself
we have opportunity to add to our
store of knowledge in respect to cer¬
tain biological features."
The old gentleman rose and bowed.
*'I thank you for the honor of your
flattery, sir," he began; but Calhoun
raised a gentle hand.
"If it would please you, sir, to defer
your visit to your own country for a
time, I can secure for you a situation
In our department in biology, where
your services would be of extreme
worth to us. The salary would also
allow you to continue your researches
into the life of our native tribes.”
Von Rittenhofen positively glowed
at this. "Ach, what an honor!” he
began again.
"Meantime," resumed Calhoun, “not
tp mention the value which that re¬
search would have for us, we. could
tlso find use, at proper remuneration,
for your private aid in making up a
let of maps of that western country
which you know so well, and of which
even I myself am so ignorant. I want
to know the distances, the topography,
the means of travel. 1 want to know
the peculiarities of that country of
Oregon."
Few could resist the persuasiveness
Bf Mr. Calhoun’s speech, certainly not
Von Rittenhofen, who thus found of¬
fered him precisely what he would
have deshed. I was pleased to see
him so happily situated and so soon.
Presently we dispatched him down
to my hotel, where I promised later
to make him more at home. In his
elation over the prospect he now saw
Gefere him. the old man fairly babbled
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"We Still Have the Dona Lucrezia and Her Little Jealousies.”
Germany seemed farthest from his
mind. After his departure, Calhoun
again turned to me.
“I want you to remain, Nicholas,”
said he, "because 1 have an appoint¬
ment with a gentleman who will soon
be present.”
"Rather a late hour, sir,” I ventured.
"Are you keeping faith with Dr.
Ward?”
“1 have no time for hobbles,” he
exclaimed, half petulantly. "What I
must do is this work. The man we
are to meet to-night is Mr. Polk. It
is important.”
Perhaps half an hour later, Mr. Cal¬
houn’s old negro man ushered in this
awaited guest, and we three found
ourselves alone in one of those mid¬
night conclaves which went on in
Washington even then as they do to¬
day. Mr. Polk was serious as usual;
his indecisive features wearing the
mask of solemnity, which with so
many passes as wisdom.
“I have come, Mr. Calhoun,” said he
—when the latter had assured him
that my presence would entail no risk
to him—“to talk over this Texas situ¬
ation. How do you stand in case war
should be declared against Mexico?
That ought to be a popular measure.
The Texans have captured the popular
imagination. The Alamo rankles in
our nation’s memory. What would
you say to a stiff demand there, with
a strong show of military force be¬
hind it?"
"I should say nothing as to a strong
showing in any case. 1 should only
say that if war came legitimately—
not otherwise—I should back it with
all my might. 1 feel the same in re¬
gard to war with England.”
“With England? What chance would
we have with so powerful a nation as
that?”
“There is a God of Battles,” said
John Calhoun.
The chin of James K. Polk of Ten¬
nessee sank down into his stock. His
staring eyes went half shut. At last
he spoke, tentatively, as was always
his way until he got the drift of
things.
"Well, now, perhaps in the case of
England that is good politics,” he be¬
gan. “It is very possible that the peo¬
ple hate England as much as they do
Mexico. Do you not think-so?”
"I think they fear her more,”
"But I was only thinking of the pop¬
ular imagination!”
"You are always thinking of the
pbpular imagination, Jim. You have
been thinking of that for some time
in Tennessee. All that outcry about
the whole of Oregon is ill-timed to¬
day." ,
“ ’Fifty-Four Forty or Fight;’ that
sounds well!" exclaimed Polk; ’eh?"
"Trippingly on the tongue, yes!”
said John Calhoun. “But how would
it sound to the tune of cannon fire?
How would it look written in the
smoke of musketry?”
“It might not come to that," said
Polk, shifting in his seat. "I was
thinking of it only as a rallying cry
for the campaign. Dash me—I beg
pardon—■* he looked round to see. if
there were any Methodists present—
"but 1 believe I could eo into the con-
vention with that war cry behind me
and sweep the boards of all opposi¬
tion!”
"And afterwards?"
“But England may back down,” ar-
gued Mr. Polk. “A strong showing in
the southwest and northwest might do
wonders for us.”
"But what would be behind that
strong showing, Mr. Polk?” demanded
John Calhoun. "We would win the
combat with Mexico, of course, if that
iniquitous measure should take the
form of war. But not Oregon—we
might as well or better fight in Africa
than Oregon. It is not yet time. In
God's name, Jim Polk, be careful of
what you do! Cease this cry of ta¬
king all of Oregon. You will plunge
this country not into oqe war, but
two. Wait! Only wait, and we will
own all this continent to the Saskatch¬
ewan—or even farther north.”
"Well,” said the other, “have you
not said there is a God of Battles?”
"The Lord God of Hosts, yes!” half
screamed old John Calhoun; “yes, the
God of Battles for nations, for princi¬
ples—but not for parties! For the
principle of democracy, Jim Polk, yes,
yes; but for the Democratic party, or
tile Whig party, or for any demagogue
who tries to lead either, no, no!"
The florid face of Polk went livid.
“Sir,” said he, reaching for his hat,
"at least I have learned what I came
to learn, r know how* you will appear
on the floor of the convention. Sir,
you will divide this party hopelessly.
You are a traitor to the Democratic
party; I charge it to your face, here
and now. I came to ask of you your
support, and find you only talking of
principles! Sir, tel! me, what have
principles to do with elections?”
John Calhoun looked at him for one
long instant. He looked down then at
his own thin, bloodless hands, his
wasted limbs. Then he turned slowly
and rested his arms on the table, his
face resting in his hands. "My God!”
I heard him groan.
To see my chief abused was a thing
not in my nature to endure. I forgot
myself. I committed an act whose re¬
sults pursued me for many a year.
"Mr. Polk, sir,” said I, rising and
facing him, “damn you, sir, you are
not fit to untie Mr. Calhoun’s shoe! I
will not see you offer him one word
of insult. Quarrel with me if you
like! You will gain no votes here
now in any case, that is sure!”
Utterly horrified at this, Mr. Polk
fumbled with his hat and cane, and,
very red in the face, bowed himself
out, still mumbling, Mr, Calhoun ri¬
sing and bowing his adeaux.
My chief dropped into his chair
again. For a moment he looked at me
directly. "Nick,” said he at length
slowly, “you have divided the Demo¬
cratic party. You split that party,
right then and there.”
“Never!" I protested; “but if I did,
’twas ready enough for the division.
Let it split, then, or any party like it,
if that is what must hold it together!
I will not stay in this work, Mr. Cal¬
houn, and hear you vilified. Plat¬
forms!”
"Platforms!" echoed my chief. His
white hand dropped on the table ,as he
iw
■»
•1
still sat looking at me. “But he will
get you some time, Nicholas’" he
smiled. “Jim Polk will not forget.”
“Let him come at me as he likes!”
I fumed. j
At last, seeing me so wrought up,
Mr. Calhoun rose, and smiling, shook
me heartily by the hand.
"Of course, this had to come one
time or another,” said he. "The split
was in the wood of their proposed
platform of bluff and insincerity.
‘What do the people sav?’ asks Jim
Polk. ‘What, do they think?' asks
John Caihoun. And being now, in
God's providence, chosen to do some
thinking for them, I have thought."
He turned to the table and took up
a long, folded document, which I saw
was done in his cramped hand and
with many interlineations. “Copy this
out fair for me to-night, Nicholas,"
said he. “This is our answer to the
Aberdeen note. You have already
learned its tenor, the time we met
Mr. Pakenham with Mr, Tyler at the
White House.”
I grinned. “Shall we not take it
across direct to Mr. Biair for publica¬
tion in his Globe?”
Mr. Calhoun smiled rather bitterly
at this jest. The hostility of Blair to
the Tyler administration was a fact
rather more than well known.
" Twill all get into Mr. Polk's news¬
paper fast enough," commented he at
last. “He gets all the news of the
Mexican ministry!”
"Ah, you think he cultivates the
Dona Lucrezia, rather than adores
her!”
“I know it! One-third of J m Polk
may be human, but the other two-
thirds is politician. He will flatter
that lady into confidences. She Is well
nigh distracted at best, these da/s.
what with the fickleness of her hus¬
band and the yet harder abandonment
by her old admirer, Pakenham; SO
Polk will cajole her into disclosures,
never fear. In return, when the time
comes, he will send an army of occu¬
pation into her country! And all the
while, on the one side and the other,
he will appear to the public as a
moral and lofty-minded man.”
“If we temporarily lack the Bar
oness von Rltz • to add zest to our
game,” I hazarded, “we still have the
Dona Lucrezia and her little jealous¬
ies.”
Calhoun turned quickly upon me
with a sharp glance, as though seized
by some sudden thought. “By the Lord
Harry! boy, you give me an idea.
Wait, now, for a mbment. Do you go
on with your copying there, and ex¬
cuse me for a time."
An Instant later he passed from the
room, his tall figure bent, his hands
clasped behind his back, and his face
wrinkled in a frown, as was his wont
when occupied with some problem.
CHAPTER XX.
The Lady from Mexico.
As soon as women are ours, we ar#
no longer theirs.—Montaigne.
After a time my chief re-entered
the office room and bent over me at
my table. I put before him the draft
of the document which he had given
me for clerical care.
“So,” he said, “ 'tis ready—our dec¬
laration. I wonder what may come of
that little paper!"
So now, till far towards dawn of
the next day, we sat and talked. I put
before him full details of my doings
across the border. He sat silent, his
eye betimes wandering, as though ab¬
sorbed, again fixed on me, keen and
glittering.
"So! So!" he mused at length, when
I had finished, “England has started a
land party for Oregon! Can they get
across next fall, think you?"
“Hardly possible, sir," said I. "They
could not go so swiftly as the special
fur packers. Winter would catch
them this side of the Rockies. It will
be a year before they can reach Ore-
gon.”
"Time for a new president and a
new policy,” mused he.
"The grass is just beginning to
sprout on the plains, Mr. Calhoun,” I
began eagerly.
“Yes," he nodded. "God! if I were
only young!”
”1 am young, Mr. Calhoun,” said L
"Send me!”
"Would you go?” he asked suddenly.
“1 was going in any case."
"Why, how do you mean?" he de¬
manded.
1 felt the blood come to my face.
‘"Tis all over between Miss Elizabeth
Churchill and myself," said I, as calm¬
ly as I might.
"Tut! tut! a child's quarrel.” he
went on, “a child's quarrel! 'Twill all
mend in time.”
"Not by act of mine, then," said-1
hotly.
Again abstracted, he seemed noi
wholly to hear me.
(TO BE CONTINUED.)
Will Not Be a Success.
Patience—My brother has written a
society play.
Patrice—What on earth does ht
know about dresses?
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