"Yes, Henry was quite right in what he said," stated Mr. Comstock. "I
read of many such incidents in the papers; but there are laws now which
slowly but nevertheless surely are making people understand that the
enlisted man in uniform may no longer be treated with disrespect. A
better class of men seem to be joining the colors these days, and they
are calling their defamers to a strict accounting. But this is not
getting something to satisfy our appetites. You boys hurry up now and
get yourselves ready."
After a bountiful luncheon at one of the best hotels in the city a tour
of the capital was proposed and an enjoyable afternoon of sightseeing
followed. In Dick’s spare moments during his stay in Washington he had
visited nearly every one of the public buildings and he took great
pleasure in showing his sister about. The three young people even
climbed the thousand steps of Washington Monument, scorning the
slow-moving elevator which carried their elders up the five hundred feet
which still left them fifty-five feet beneath the apex of the wonderful
shaft.
Ursula was enchanted with this superb view of the "magic city," as she
was pleased to call it, and for a long time they all enjoyed the
panorama of land and water, field and forest, country and city, spread
before them to the distant horizons.
After this they walked back to their hotel, and while Mrs. Comstock
enjoyed a little rest before dinner and Mr. Comstock departed on a
business engagement the trio of young people occupied themselves in
animated conversation in one of the ornate reception rooms.
Feeling that Ursula and Richard might appreciate being alone together
for a while, Henry excused himself, promising to return in time for the
evening programme, which would not end until after the roof garden
supper following the theatre.
After his departure Ursula and Dick strolled over to one of the low
windows and pushing aside the long curtains which reached to the floor
they stepped into the vacant space of a small narrow balconied window
ledge and stood looking at the passing traffic. A group of palms, the
half-closed blinds and the long curtains effectually concealed them from
the view of people inside the room.
The mere fact of being together was happiness in itself for these two
devoted young people and gradually a silence fell upon them as they
stood absorbed in the scenes outside.
A subdued murmur of voices came from the room behind them, and Dick
heard someone say:
"Here is a quiet place where we may talk freely."
Glancing over his shoulder the boy saw three men seating themselves and
deliberately placing their chairs near the window where he and his
sister were standing. He was wondering why they took such care with the
chairs, when again the same voice gave him the reason.
"We can see from here whomever comes into the room, gentlemen, and it is
well to observe caution while discussing this question."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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