The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1896-01-30
DIPLOMATIC HASH.


tectly we'll Rumors of his infatuation
had already reached her. He was coming
to tell her that he was engaged to marry
Miss Daisy Dornton, who sang for q oou.
pie Of pounds q week in the chorus of the
Coronet theater. Lady Whichels groaned, |
and her lips were pursod in annoyance.
"Your brother Is an idiot, PhilipW she |
said sharply to young man who entered
the room moment later. HE is the
worst kind of an idiot, for he is not only
idiotic, he Is pigheaded."
Sir Philip Whichels twirled his mus
taohe and grinnod.
Has the climax arrivedp' he asked.
what Is the matterr
"Bortie will be with us today. He
wants to see mo on q matter of impor
tanoe.' The matter Is, Of course, that he
has proposed TO that creature and has been
accepted, aud now he Is coming TO try to
gain my consent.
"Advise me- Philip" she said, "how &c
bring this ninny to his senses"
"Im sure l don't know what you can
do" Sir Philip replied. IF you bully
him, he'll marry her tomorrow II you
cajolo him, he'll try TO bully you. don't
sec what you can do, upon my soul. 1t
Is a cul-do-sao."
The lady, however, was not disposed tc
be beaten so easily. 1t was 10 o'clock,
and the flanco might be expected at the
Firs by tho express train which reached
Threcgates at 4:15. Six hours for med.
itation, and in six hours an idea might
occur to her The post lay on the table
beside her unheeded, and beating a devils
tattoo on her dress, she sat staring out
ut the lawn with puckered brows. The
baronet meanwhile had lounged out into
tho kennels, and presently she uttered an
exclamation and dispatched a servant &c
fetch him.
"Philip," she exclaimed IT have a no.
tion at last. The Miss-Miss Dornton is,
of course, impossible There can be nc
question about that. it Is only necessary
to make BERTHE SEQ it,"
Philip, who had been amusing himself
outside and did not relish having been
brought in so summarily, murmured some.
thing to the effect that to "make him see
1t" was the original difficulty.
II know all that" said Lady Whichels
impatiently, "but know also how to dc
1t now. She is, of course gauche, awk,
ward and as ignorant rs she can bo, He
has seen her with the glamour of the foot.
| lights on her and in the poky little lodg'
ings where she lives. Now he shall see
her herel l shall invite her down to stay
with us and ask lot of people to meet her
BERTHE is not brilliant but he is as sensi'
tive as girl. When Miss Dornton has
committed half dozen solecisms, and hC
feels that people are ridiCuling her, he will
be as anxious TO break his engagement of
as 1 am to see it broken"
"By Jove" said Philip, "you ought tc
have been n diplomatist, mother"
"It is good, isn't itY" said Lady Which
els complacontly. "I felt there must be
way out, and now I've found it. thinl
your brother will be rather astouished by
my reception of his news this afternoon
Let us have luncheon.
He arriyed-the young man who haC
projected the mesallianoe-at the hour ex
pected. He certainly was astonished a
his mothers demeanor.
He had looked for remonstrances, tear
and threats and been doggedly prepared
for all. Instead of these he was met will
smiles and cordiality. He could not un
derstand IL.
81 had heard something Of the matter,
said the widow well, it is democrati
age, and if you yourself are satisfied no
body has any right to complain. Her ia
ther was linen draper, l believe, and he
mother Is quite respectable person, VIII
lets or lives in lodgingsP"
"Er-they are living in apartments
yes" said BERTHE. "But - er-s she
charming. l am sure you can trust m
taste"
"Emphatically 1 can, and am not &c
ing to be SO absurd as to raise any objeC
tion, my dear boy. You want to MARI
T,,, I,,, h,y.
full and free consent, and / should like t
be introduced to her too. When shall
see herP'
"I really don't know" stammered tn
boy. Whenever you like" The ques
tion was so entirely unexpected that h
was almost speechless.
"Well, the best way will be to ask he
down hero for two or three weeks. Ca
she conner"
"It could be arranged-oh, yesl She
at the theater every night, but want he
to leave the stage and-oh, yes, she woul
come as soon as you please"
"Then will write and ask her for th
beginning OF next month";" said Lad
Whiohels conolusively. And now yo
must tell me all about 1t and how nobod
ever loved girl SO madly before in all th
world"
Lady Whichels dispatched her charmin
letter to her prospective daughter-in lay
on the morrow, and on the day after cam
the answer, thanking Bertie's mother fC
her kindness and gladly accepting the II
vitation.
She wrote her notes, and q crowd {
friends accepted, and SO the days went b
until a full drawing room sat on tentC
hooks one afternoon awaiting Miss DorI
tons entrance.
The clock on the mantelshelf had tipkle
the hour of 4. The dogcart, with Bert
driving had long gone to the station. Ii
dy Whichels glanced at the baronet an
, smiled. The baronet pulled his mustacf
and inwardly reflected that, ass as h
brother was, all this was trihe rough O
him. The company, slipping their tea an
nibbling petits fours, and mullins strul
gled inetfeC tually to conceal their curios
ty and impatience. Then there was I'll
sound Of wheels on the drive, and ever!
body fixed pair of eager eyes upon I'll
, door.
1t opened, and Miss Dornton came
and advanced to be presented to her hos
, ess. Lady Whichels started, and the bar,
nets eyebrows went up. Nothing coul
, have been quieter or In better taste tina
the manner of the girl who crossed the bi
room under an ordeal which might hay
, shaken the oomposure OF a society belle
, half dozen seasons, Her costume, to-
, was perfect, and her words, when spokel
, were all that the most fastidious oou
/ have desired. Moreover, she was not pre-
: ty, but beautiful-the most beautiful 81
present. There was no good disguisir
the fact-if Miss Dornton's first appoa
ance was TO be taken as typical of Mi