Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-08-27

shortest cuts TO serve my friends
The talk might have drifted into a meta
physical drone II Miss Bennison had not
been informed that a messenger awaited
her, and she at once withdrew, with a
pleasant word that left the pair at ease
Genie at once, in very busineSs-like way,
explained to Mr.. Hogg what her object was
in putting that question.
Now, Ill just tell you everything; but,
mind this, you must not let the ghost of a
shadow of what I say slip out I'm going
TO trust you, dye see, not because you're a
man, but because you're a-diplomatist' ~
and she flourished him a sweeping curtsey
that would have made Lady Teazle envious.
He essayed a courtly bow that sent the
accomplished pixie into her merriest laugh
at its hopeless clumsiness. Then, taking a
chair close opposite to him in the bow win
dow, she graveiy unfolded this story of
hers.
You remember when auntie and were
in England last yearl Well. You remember
meeting Us At the coming-of-age festivities
of Lord Brasthorpe2"
''Oh, yes, at Chorley Abbey
And wasn't it jolly! Very well; there
was q gentleman-his name I think was
Ierrick, or something ike that
why, you mean Tyrwhitt, spelt Tyr
Whit, but pronounced Thrift
THAT'S the name. DO you know him."
Very well, indeed, Miss Dabchic; have
the pleasure to call him friend-one of my
best friends over there, in fact I'm glad
you like him."
Now, no nonsense, Mr.. Hogg. I don't
even know his name, you see, so how can
like him? We girls don't all fall in love
with good looks.''
That gives me shred of hope yet, Miss
Dabchic. l kiss your hand in sheer graft
tude"
'Iou shouldn't tease NE when YOU see
I'm in dreadful earneSt-that isn't good
diplomacy. I'm sure. Listen, you wouldn't
know my friends name if I gave it you,
which l shan't, but she's the dearest, clev-
crest girl-a girl, mark you--that ever was,
and she has friend who is close friend of
your friend, Mr.. TRICKS that right"
Sir John Ponsonby Tyrwhitt, Baronet."
70, what love of a name for an English
man! Wen never mind that. So you see
my English friend wants to know for her
friend what my New York friend now be-
fore me knows of the MIR. Blarnaby whom
he wrote so warmly about to her friend
There, now, you've got it all. Mr.. Diplo-
matisti'
This was undoubtedly startling to Mr.
Hogg. Not that he thought there was any
thing serious, or even important, in il but
the comical roundabout inquisition set his
ample wits to work, and at once he told his
arttuliy artless inquisitor exactly what was
III LlS MI. bldTHdDI. he Sdlu, HdQ IN
no way exceeded the limits of the acquain-
tanceship between them in asking for let
tiers OF introduction; neither had he (Hogg)
gone hairs breadth beyond strict propri-
ETY. in commencing that gentleman to his
friends in London. He regarded
Mr.. B!arnaby as one of the ablest public
men of the hour; not agreeing with him in
many points, perhaps not approving of
much IN his past performances; but. be-
ieving that he had the commanding abili-
ties, and the facilities, and the ambition to
figure prominently i'll national affairs, he
(Hogg) held it to be the duty-to say moth
ing Of other considerations-of citizens like
himself to surround any such rising man,
because association with the more refined,
leisured, responsible and stable section of
society has a powerful influence for good
upon him who aspires to govern society at
large.
Perhaps this satisfied Miss Dabchic as a
budding philosopher; but it did not as a
practical negotiator, for she came back 20
her point with charming directness.
That's all very proper, l dare say; but
my friend says that her friends are going
to invest quite lot of money in certain
speculation entirely on the strength of your
friendship. with Mr.. Blarnaby, and they
seem to think that you are in partnership
with Mr.. Blarnaby, or whatever it is"
Good heavens. no Why, Tyrwhitt knows
better than that; let them ask him. May
ask who in particular is interested in writ
ing to you to ask me this9''
II won't tell you who my correspondent
IS, but she is good friend of Lady Ossul-
stones, and
ooh, no! So that's how things are going.
eh OF course 1 will lose no time in writing
% Tyrwhitt to guard him against any false
notion that have either an interest in OF
knowledge of Mr.. Blarnaby's enterprises,
and you are quite free to say this much to
,our friend''
hats ali l wanted but
But what, Miss DabchicR"
ooh, was only Neutrality-suspicious. some
lay grow into diplomatist, like you, YOU
Know, guess l should diplomatize in letter
writing rather more carefully than in talk
ng-that's all"
'Aliss Dabchic'' he would have continued, |
lad not his slightly indignant remonstrance |
,een interrupted by the entrance of Miss |
who, with the sweetest of |
miles, protested her deep regret at the in |
rusion.
Il really thought you had gone, Mr.. |
1ogg" The perceptible embarrassment Of |
he couple was not unpleasing to her. and |
was easy for so amiable critic to accept |
senies blunt utterance as ruse, to divert |
uspicion:
''Oh, Auntie dear, Mr.. Hogg isn't real |
riend of Mr.. Blarnabys, after all-only in
diplomatic sort Of sense, you know!" And |
er ringing laugh produced a rosiness
hitch was easily mistaken for the sunset
[ a blush.
As for poor Mr.. Hogg, he was in guam
airy between self-defense, self-sacrifice,
nd good policy. Miss Benuison anticipated |
i'm.
I'm afraid Genie has been asking incon-
enient questions, and you have felt
Not at all, Miss Bennison, assure You.
i fact Miss Dabchic has, in her own de-
ghtful way, been giving ME very sound
mo, have been receiving it, Auntie!'
Perhaps L had better say at once, Miss
enniSOn-"
Miss Bennison here seated herself in a
Igh-backed arm chair and took out her
'ent bottle.)
That my-er- my-liking, that is-my
'iendship for-Nlr. Blarnaby-(N Miss Ben
ison here suddenly recovered her original |
almness and posture) is not SO enthusiast
C as some appear to think am not init
ate with him, nor have 7 any relations
18th him whatever Indeed, it is public
'operty that he has poured his scorn upon |
y political attitude and | have publicly |
more than one of his party ma |
euvers.''
Il think that is pretty generally under
God, Mr.. Hogg, and it would be absurd |
r anyone to assume that Mr.. Blarnaby's |
caslonal appearance at some of our social
Ither1ngs implies that we are sponsors for
: SOiuuS |