The National tribune., 1897-01-07

Groups of officers aud civilians stopped
within arms reach Of him to exchange polite
commonplaces and then pass on, and women
of all stages and ages, mature matrons, and
society buds, moved by on the arms of their
escorts, stopping in the crush to exchange a
word or two, query about dancing engage
ments unfulflled, or date for the next run
at the Country Club.
The Ambassador was the central figure in
every combination of the shifting kaleid-
oscope, ruddy-visaged, white-haired and
marked by his broad shoulder scarf and
other decorations. He had an eye for every
one and word as well for most, assuring him
self that everyone was sufficiently and appro-
priately entertained, even though it was the
hardest detail that had fallen 10 his lot since
he was raised from the rank of plain Min
lister.
It was drawing toward the end of the
evening for the most of the guests though
the youngest and the oldest were certain to
keep the bah rolling till well toward day
light. So there was an ever-increasing stream
of passers-by from the ballroom and the
supper-room toward the door, and the dis
tant voices Of fOOtmen rang out more and
more frequently, "The Senator's carriage"
The Minister'S carriage" and "The Secre-
tary's carriage"
The Sporting Editor knew the most Of the
celebrities, great and small, by sight and
name, but few of them saw him, and fewer
recognized him in his retreat. He did not
care particularly whether he was recognized
or not, returning one or two mods Of greet
ing but Offering none unless required.
Attendants in the Embassy uniform, with
great piles of fluffy mantles and opera cloaks
in their arms, moved forward to aid one
after another of the parting groups, and the
rotund chief butler helped the white-bearded
Cattle King Senator into his Inverness cape,
when the Sporting Editor drew the first
quick breath that he had been moved to
take that night, for the Senator had his
daughter with him.
No, the Sporting Editor was not in love.
the cases. He had been through high school
and partly through college with the Sena-
tors daughter, and knew her well as girl.
He had not seen her for several years, as
they moved in distinctly different circles of
society; but this year she was one of the
seasons buds, and she did look unusually
handsome.
The Senator had been waiting for her at
the corner of the hall ,,and she, with another
girl, had been having q final and wholly in
formal waltz where the throng had thnned
out in the corridor. Both were ready to
leave, bareheaded, but with their long
swan-trimmed cloaks already on, and with
these futtering from their shoulders they
wheeled and floated like pair of great tropic
moths down the vista Of the palm trees. 1t
was one of the daintiest glimpses of the
The dancers swung apart, flushed and
merry, just in front of the Sporting Editors
retreat. The Bad. with wave of her hand,
turned her partner over to the Senator and
settling her cloak on her shoulders, took the
arm Of a young attache, who evidently made
one of the Senatorial party. As she did so
sue glanced toward the Sporting Editor and
recognized him. 1t was only a half glance,
but one of those i'll which eyes meet and
both parties recognize the recognition, what
ever they may say about it the next day.
The Sporting Editor, caught off his guard
for the first time in the evening, made the
mistake of taking the initiative, and half
moved his head to speak. But the Bud,
whose escort had also noted the stranger,
turned carelessly and moved off down the
hall, chatting as she went.
The Sporting Editor could not hear her,
but he kicked himself mentally for being
betrayed out of his professional calm and
imagined half hundred uncomplimeutary
things that his quondam school friend might
have said. but probably did not.
Almost the next individual who appeared
was Miss Traverse, flushed and pretty, in
very plain black gown, but nota whit out
OF keeping with the well-appointed throng
in which she had been an active figure. The
Sporting Editor took her under his wing, so
to speak, and guided her swiftly and safely
down to the night-liner, which Jones of the
nd xuha 1aJ -
the curb just at the proper moment. thereby
making the teams of Foreign Minister and
two Cabinet officers wait for his more dis
tnguished passengers.
The Sporting Editor had thought to make
his escape from the office unnoticed. as it was
considerably after midnight and his rightful
days work done. But the City Editor
caught him as he fed, and showed slip of
telegraph fimsy into his hand.
See here; old Hastings's sons been ar
rested down in Texas for embezzlement.
Big case, and it'll raise the devil. They
were talking about 3 place for him in the
Legation at Vienna, you know" said the
City Editor hurredly. "Ihaven't got man
IN the office, and we've got to have q local
end to it. Run up and see the old man, and
see II he's heard of il, and what he saws.
You've got about an hour. You know where
1t Is, out on Massachusetts Avenuen
The Sporting Editor knew where it was
well enough. Old Hastings was the Cattle
King Senator, and young Hastings was the
debutante's brother. ,9 as
The Sporting Editor hesitated moment,
and then did what he had never done before
IN MS iife-questioned an assignment.
See here" said he, "this amt nv funeral.
Can't you get anybody else to handle it?"
The City Editor had tins to be surprised,
even in the midst of his rush. "What's
the matter?" he inquired. Got date ?n
NO." replied the Sporting Editor, too
much absorbed in thought to even accept a
convenient ready made lie.
Well, then, chase out on it, and stop
iussing," said the City Editor, with a leni-
less favorite subordinate +" What's sticking
in you, anyhow?n -
don't want to, that's all there is to it,"
growled the Sporting eEhitor.