Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-07-30

way, explained to Mr. Hogg what her OBJ
ject was in putting that question.
Now, I'll just tell you everything; but,
mind this, you must not let the ghost of a
shadow Of what l say slip out! I'm going to
trust you. dye see, not because you're a
man, but because you're a-diplomatistr u
and she fourished him a sweeping curtsey
that would have made Lady Teazle e6yions.
He essaved courtIy bow thaS sent the
accomplished pixie into her mefrieSf laugh
at its hopeless clumsiness. Mens Taking
chair close opposite to him in theibo vii
dow, she gravelv unfoldef thy story ~
hers 80
in England last year? Well, Aypu re5Hember
meeting us at the coming-of-asee festivities
of Lord Brasthorpe,'
'Oh, yes, at Chorley Abbey"
And wasn't it jollyi Very well: there
was gentleman-his name, think, was
Terrick, or something like that"
Why, YOU mean Tyrwhitt, spelt Tyr
Whit, but pronounced Thrift
That's the namei Do YOU know him?''
Every well indeed, Miss Dabchic: l 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. 1 don't
even know his name, so how can like him?
We girls don't ali fall in love with good
looks
THAT gives me shred of hore yet. Miss
Dabchic. kiss your hand in sheer graft
tude."
You shouldn't tease me when you see
I'm in dreadful earnest-that isn't good di-
plomacy, I'm sure, Listen, you wouldn' t
know my friends name if l gave it YOU,
which | shan't, but she's the dearest, clev-
crest glrl-a girl, mark you-that ever was,
and she has friend who is a close friend
of your friend Mr. Tirrick-is that right?'
Sir John Ponsonby Tyrvhitt, baronet. :"
''Oh, what love of a name for an Eng
lishman Well, never mind that. So, you
see, my English friend wants to know for
her friend what my New York friend now
before me knows of the Mr.. Blarnaby
whom he wrote so warmly about TO her
friend There, now, you've got it all, Mr..
Diplomatist?''
This was undoubtedly startling to Mr..
Hogg. Not that he thought there was any
thing serious, or even important, in it; but
the comical roundabout inqusition set his
ample wits to WORK, and at once he told his
artfully artless inquisitor exactly what was
in his MIND. Mr.. Blarnaby, ne said, had
in no way exceeded the limits of the ac-
quaintanceship between them in asking for
letters of introduction; neither had he
(Hogg) gone hairs breadth beyond strict
propriety in commencing that gentleman to
Blarnaby as one of the ablest public men of
the hour; not agreeing with him in many
points, perhaps not approving of much i'll
his past performances: but believing that
he had the commanding abilities and the
facilities and the ambition to figure promi-
nently in national affairs, he (Hogg) held it
to be the duty-to say nothing of other
conSiderationS-of citizens like himself to
surround any such rising man, because as
sociation with the more refined, leisured.
responsible and stable section Of society
has powerful influence for good upon him
who aspires to govern society at large.
Perhaps this satisfied Miss Dabchic as
budding philosopher; but it did not as Il
practical negotiator, for she came back to
her point with charming directneSS.
That's all very proper, 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 III partnership
with Mr.. Blarnaby, or whatever it is
Good heavens, no! Why, Tyrwhitt
knows better than that; let them ask MIN.
May / ask who in particular is interested in
writing to you to ask Inc this!"
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.
Ell! OF course will lose no time in writing
to Tyrwhitt to guar6 him against any false
notion that have either an interest in or
knowledge of Mr. Blarnaby's enterprises,
and you are quite free to say this much to
your friend
''There-thank you so much, Mr.. Hogg;
that's all wanted: but"
'But what, Miss Dabchic!"
sob, was only thinking-suppose some
day grow into diplomatist, like you, you
know, guess / should diplomatiZe in letter
writing rather more carefully than in talk
ing, that's all
'sNliss Dabchic." he would have continued,
had not his slightly indignant remonstrance
been interrupted by the entrance of Miss
Bennison, who, with the sweetest of smiles,
professed her deep regret at the intrusion.
81 really thought YOU had gone, MIR
Hogg !'cThe perceptible embarrassment of
the couple was not Emphasizing to her, and
it was easy for so amiable critic TO accept
Genie's blunt utterance as ruse, to divert
suspicion.
ssOh Auntie dear Mr.. Hogg isn't reals
friend of Mr. Blarnaby's. after all-only ina
a diplomatic sort of sense you know!' And
her ringing laugh produced rosinesS
which was easily mistaken for the sunset gf
a blush.
AS for poor Mir. Hogg. he was in a buaiis-'
and good policy. Miss Bennison antici-
pated him.
Pm afraid Genie has been asking incon-
venient questions, and you have felt re-
luctance-"
Not at all, Miss Bennison, assure YOU
In fact Miss Dabchic has, in her own delight
full way, been giving me very sound instruc-
tion"
mo, 1 have been receiving it. Auntie.'
s.parhanS had haftar ar Misc
Rennison-''
Miss Bennison here seated herself in a
arm chair, and took out her
scent bottle)
That my-er-, my-hking, that is-my
friendship for-Mr. Blarnaby-(Nliss Ben
nison here suddenly recovered her original
calmness and posture) IS not so enthusiastic
as some appear to think | am not intimate
with him, nor have l any relations with him
whatever. Indeed. it is public property
that he has poured his scOrn upon my
political attitude, and L have publicly de-
nOunced more than one of his party
I think that is pretty generally under
stood. MIR. Hogg, and it would be absurd
for anyone to assume that Mr.. Blarnaby's
occasional appearance at some OF our social
gatheringslmplieS that we are sponsors for
his doingsr'
''Of course we are not said Hogg,
warmly; land perhaps it is time we began TO
say So"
The two ladies somewhat eagerly began
to speak at once and in the same moment
servant came in to announce visitor:
The Honorable Dewitt NJ. Blarnaby,''
The distinguished gentleman was, at
Miss Bennison's order, -ushered in. Mr.
Hogg waited, with well performed air of
easy Indifference, until the ladies' saluta-