54-40 or Fight

l brought us fir

to a gesture, proceeded to light additional candles in the prism stands and sconces. The apartment was now distinct in all its details under

ergrown hamlet, not in the least to be compared to the cosmopolitan centers which made the capitals of the Old World. Formality and stateliness of a certain sort we had, but of luxury we knew little. There was at that time, as I well knew, no state apartment in the city which in sheer splendor could for a moment compare with

ere paintings in oil here and there, done by master hands, as one could tell. The curtained windows spoke eloquently of secrecy. Here and there a divan and couch showed elaborate care in comfort. Beyond a lace-screened grille I saw an alcove-doubtless cut through the original partition wall between two of these humble houses-and within this stood a high tester bed, its heavy mahogany posts beautifully carved, the couch itself piled deep with foundations of I know not what of down a

d. As I have said, the dividing partitions had all been removed, so that the long interior practically was open, save as the apartments were separated by curtains or grilles. The floors were carpeted thick and deep. Silence reigned here. There remained no trace of the clumsy comfort which had sufficed the early builder. Here was no longer a series of modest homes, bu

d chair, smiling, her white arms stretched out on the rails, the fingers just gently curving. There was no apology for her situation, no trace o

n and lace and gems, her arms bare, her throat and shoulders white and bare, her figure recognized graciously by every line of a superb gowning such as

presume, to find what stuff I was made of. Seeing this, I

me late, I fear, my d

oined, still smiling. "Tell me, my friend, supp

not have been so

en the exterior only, you would have felt yourself

n facts. Yet I confess I should not have sought madam the baroness in this neighborhood. If England provides

She was perfect mistress of herself. In years she was not my equal,

said at last. "Let us

te to her, she herself not varying her posture and sti

of my little place?

ster plenipotentiary, I should not approve it. If it belonged to a lady of means a

no trace of perturbation crossed her face. I saw

crecy is so imperative, would at times find weariness-would, in fact, wish escape to other employment. You, Ma

would not be cont

ourney with me to-night to meet my chief. You have his message. I am his messenger, and, believe me, quite at your service in any way you may suggest. Let us be frank. If you are agent, so am I. See; I have come in

"So your chief, as you call him, asks me to co

sked her. "Now, it is well to be lucky. In ordinary circumstances, as you say, I

t is n

kenham' suspect in either case? Believe me, my master is wise. I do not know his reason, but he knows it, and he has planned best to gain his purpose, whatever it may be. Reason must teach you, Madam, that night, this night, this hour, is the o

forward finally, her parted red-bowed lips again disclosing her delicate white teeth. I saw the little heave of her bosom, whether in laughter or emotion I could no

h these Americans. Yes, I am not di

de me, Madam, so easily as you did the Mexican gentleman who follo

wly from side to side, her face inscrut

t, alone. I am too small game for you. I am but a me

o their work with me, perhaps; was willing to take her time with charm of eye and arm and hair and curved fingers, which did not openly invite and did not covertly

your refusal. I will take you with me, and so keep my agreement with my chief. Keep away from the bell rope

street, where half the time I am so lonely! What would Monsieur do if Monsieur were in my place-and if

f I followed her, or if she followed me, then I shall tell you. If I owned this place and all in it, I would tear down every picture from these walls, every sil

g her annoying air of patronizing me. "Go on! I like you now. Tell me wh

ch of silk and lace. No neighbor you should know until I was willing. Any man who followed you should meet me. Until you lo

ent! Wh

, one of logs, and would make you a most excellent couch of t

at me. "Pray, be seated," s

me of these things-force you into obedience-car

r hand," she mused, "promised me no

ve you but one gown, and that of your own weave; you could make

with you? Now, as I was saying, my ardent Mexican promises thus and so. My lord of England-ah, well, they may be pardoned. Suppose I might

what life America

you say interests me, I declare to you again. A woman is a woman, to

rld to one-or two? And the opposite of it is yet more true

s and looking down at them, at all of her splendid figure, as though in interested examination. "I am alone so much-so bored!" she went on. "And Sir Richar

seriously and intently-"I venture to say this much without presuming on my station: the talk which you will have with my chief to-night will show you things you have never known, give you an inte

very old. His face is thin and bl

ung, his ambition young; and his country is young.

g for her cloak. Then at once I caught a glimpse of her stockinged foot, the toe of

ruised by the hard going in some heathen country? See you have no carriage, an

d a box of boots, slippers, all manner of footwear, daintily and neatly arra

shall choose. America is not Europe. Our feet here h

which still retained its slipper. As I removed this latter, through some gay impulse, whose n

you speak with my master shall be the truth

ed in her cheek. I saw her b

stout boot in her own hand and turning aside as she fastened it.

a right to demand. Because I am disposed to be gracious, and because I am much disposed to be ennuyé, and because Mr. Pakenham is fat, I am willing to take into consideration what you ask. I

ed regarding her? I could not tell. But her spirit of camaraderie, her good fellow

not furnish one of these rooms. I can not offer gems, as does Se?or Yturrio-but, would this be of service-un

k clasp, originally made as an Indian blanket fastening, with two round discs ground out of shells and connected by beaded thongs. I had got it among the tribes of the far upper plains, who doubtless obtained the shells, in their strange sa

d. "Is this all that your art can do in jewelry? Yet

o-morrow

long

ortunately, have it back when I send a me

"Then it belongs

promised t

to be the last

not do

ou not

ally,

ossessed, satisfied with life as it had come to her, without illusion as to life, absorbed in the great game of living and adventuring-so I should have descri

ut the slipper there," she said. "Your lit

gly man, thin and weazened, with no blood in him, and a woolen nightcap which is perhaps red. I shall not tell you whether I go of my own wish or because you wish it. But I need soberly to tell you th

that, o

! Suppose I do not l

not help it. All t

yo

my l

Very well, o

my coat. I was uncomfortable. I wished this talk of Elisabeth had not come up. I liked very little to leave Elisabeth's property in another's hands. Dissatisfied, I t

ll, and an unmarried man at that! I can not go through

as she passed to and fro, saw the flare of a light as it rose beyond. Once or twice she thrust a laughing face between the curtains, held

e night passes. Come. My master will be waiting. He is ill; I fear he can not sleep

ain, "are intent only on getting rid of me. Are you not ad

among the western tribes for Elisabeth-a woman of my own people-the woman to whom my pledge had be

d edges shone in the candle light as she moved toward me. She was exquisite in every detail, beautiful as mind of man could wish; that much was sure, must be admitted by any man. I dared not look at her. I called t

gloves of the mode then correct. "Do you know why I am to

your man Tyler over there in that barn you call your White House

" I exclaimed. "Rather say lea

another and graver side of her nat

fit to make

portfolio with Tyler, it is to annex Texas

not answer.

come to him so th

lhoun, Madam," I said. "You may advance fa

ithout her, you heathen people would

to do with affairs

s though I ha

land would have all the greater chance. England, you k

many things!

forgotten its duty also. Sir, you were not at our little ball, so you could not see that very fat Sir Richard paying his bored devoirs to Do?a Lucrezia! So I am left alone, and would be bored, but for you. In return-a slight jest on

nger." At the same time, I saw how admirably things were shaping

ary? To read, to study-that is my pleasure. I know your politics here in America. Suppose you invade Texas, as the threat is, with troops of the United States, before Texas is a

w is that you must go to see my master. Calhoun wants you. America

mo

ll have such reward as you have

o you

a fool. You are a great woman, a wonderful woman, with head and heart both, Madam, as well as beauty such as I had never dreamed. You are a strange wom

ve more than Mexico or Engl

is continent, housing many people, many happy citizens, men who will make their own laws, and enforce them, man and man alike! Madam, it is the spirit of democracy which

wh

pirit of d

s glowing. "I am glad you came," she said. "On the whole, I

ces. It is you who are the messenger, not myself. There is a message in your hands. I know not whether

coquette and woman of impulse. She looked at me with mockery and invitation alike in her gr

?" she asked, smiling a

and tender that I had been different than I was had I not felt the blood tingl

d rule Oregon and the Pacific; and it would float to-day along the Rio Grande; and it would menace a divided North