Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1899-01-27
DIPLOMACY. y

must allow that the prospect of welcom
ing host of unknown relatives is rather
alarming-estimable people, l am sure, &c
be classed among those thoroughly good,
respectable persons who carry their praise
worthy independence to the extent of de-
olining to submit to any trammels-even
of an aitch. Does the father of the young
lady follow any particular profession or is
he n gentleman at ease?"
"Nlr. st. Denis has been very unfortu-
nate" said his son shortly. "He Is, be-
lieve, at present somewhere on the con-
tinent."
Something somewhere on the con-
tinentl Probably billiard marker at
Boulogne. Now, hardly think, Talbot,
that you would find billiard marker
congenial companion, let alone an agree.
able father-in-law. And Mrs. st. Denis
is she also on the continentp"
The young man flushed hotly.
II have never seen Mrs. st. Denis :" he
stammered. "She is too great an invalid
to receive any one"
$780," murmured Lord Merton sweetly,
father unfortunate, mother an invalid
promising relations, upon my word Miss
ST. Denis herself, understand, is-er-
an actress?"
Eyes, D." replied the son, staring moodily
out of the window, "Dora is on the stage"
you've very nice place here, my
boy, !" said his father after pause. Good
collection Of pictures too. That's charm
ing looking portrait by the door"
From his station at the window Talbot
heard his father rise and cross the room to
examine the portrait in question: very
pretty picture of L - Anxious to fore
stall the inevitable question, "Who is it?"
the young man squared his shoulders, bit
his lip and announced as coolly as he could:
"That is Miss st. Denis
"Ahp remarked Lord Merton.
And with a significant shrug he dropped
his eyeglass and resumed his seat
The young man pulled himself together.
"My mind is made up, sir, ;" he said. 81
am determined-I trust, with your con-
tent-to make Miss ST. Denis my wife"
Too old q diplomat to affect anger or
surprise Lord Merton shifted his ground.
'You have Of course obtained the lady's
CONSENT" he said.
But though disconnected the young man
answered as firmly as before
"Dora will not definitely accept my
offer until she knows my peoples views
upon the subject. You can understand,
sir, that l want the matter settled. Have
your consent or not?"
would be unjust both to the lady
ana y to decide so important question
witt consideration" his father an
swel Tavely. Besides there is your
moth 60 be consulted. Take my advice
and leave things as they are until tomor-
row. Come, my boy" he added as the
young man showed no signs of yielding,
''you haven't given either me or your
mother much of your time lately, and
we're not getting any younger. Leave
things till tomorrow and come back with
me to lunch"
Lord Merton was so rarely intimate, so
very rarely affectionate, that Talbot seemed
surprised, and even a little touched.
Twenty four hours was not long-he had
been neglectful of his mother lately-and
nothing could change his determination
to marry Dora-nothing
with the understanding that the mat
ter is settled tomorrow, then, sir, " he said.
And Lord Merton, having gained his
point, accepted the understanding, with
reservation.
1t had gone hard with better men than
Talbot to outwit his father, SO there was
no occasion for the young man to call
himself hard names when, the next morn
ing, he found Lord Merton had left town
ION urgent business connected with the
coal mines on his estate" The annoying
part was that, after all, it might really be
the mines, in which case there was no
knowing when he would come back. The
young man could have kicked himself for
not having clinched matters the day be-
fore.
Now in matters of diplomacy, the truth
is remarkably elastic, and therefore no
one need feel surprised to learn that, in
this case, the "mine" was simply one OF
information, as represented by private
inquiry agent. Very little time sufficed
to place Lord Merton in possession OF
ample information concerning Miss st.
Denis
Her father, at one time an artist OF
some reputation, had drunk and gambled
his chances of success away, leaving his
wife and child to manage as they could,
when at last he retired to the continent.
Dora had kept herself and her mother
since she was II, and, to all accounts, was
most devoted daughter.
"Disreputable father, invalid mother,
devoted daughter, unused Lord Merton.
Surely devoted daughter would be will
ing to exchange future possibilities, in the
shape of a good match, for present reali
tes in the form of additional comforts fol
Der mother. But when discreet and con
Edential agent of his lordship limited thai
should the young guardsman be cured Of
his infatuation recompense in the shape
Of 10000, 415,000, even e20, 900, would
be forthcoming, he found discretion the
better part of valor, inasmuch as the young
actress gave him her mind SO vigorously
and in such nervous English, that he fec
precipjtately down the stairs.
The move, in fact, proved disastrous IL
every way, for, irritated at what she con
tidered "unutterably oaddish conduct, D
Miss St. Denis threw over her pride to the
winds and accepted Talbot unconditional
~.
Lord Merton had received this last piece
Of information in curt note from his son
and all down Piccadilly and st. James
street on his way to the club the unfortu
nate nobleman was haunted by imaginary
posters of "those COMPOUNDED Radica
rags" startling Marriage In Higf
Lifep' 1.-THE Little Actress and the No
bleman's Sonp
He groaned as he saw the crowd outside
the photographers and heard the com
ments on his sons flancee. scandal wa
Lord Merton's adherence, and between |
scandal and his consent to the marriage
could see no way open. =.
"Compromisei' He hailed the idea VIII
delight Why not invite this oblectioI
able young person down to Maddox Hail
his country seat-say, for month"; IN
an0aOament To be made public at the On