Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1899-05-18
DIPLOMACY.

little or nothing of the-er-lady's con-
%nections," said Lord Merton, carefully
adjusting his eyeglasses. "However
charming the lady herself may be, you
must allow that the prospect Of welcom-
ing a host of unknown relatives is rather
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. people, I am sure, to
be classed among those thoroughly good,
respectable persons who carry their praise
worthy independence to the extent of de-
clining to submit to any trammels-even
of an 'aitch.' Does the father of the young
lady follow any particular profession or is
he a gentleman at easep"
"Mr. St. Denis has been very unfortu-
nate" said his son shortly. "He is, l be-
lieve, at present somewhere On the con-
tinent."
"Something somewhere on the con-
tinent! Probably a billiard marker at
Boulogne. Now, / hardly think, Talbot,
that you would find a billiard marker a
congenial companion, let alone an agree
able father-in law. And Mrs. St. Denis
is she also on the c%ontinent?"
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, l understand, is-er-
an actress"
eyes" replied the son, staring modify
out of the window, "Dora is on the stage"
"You've a very nice place here, my
boy, said his father after u pause. sGood
collection of pictures too. That's a 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 a girl. 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"
"Ah!" remarked Lord Merton.
And with a significant shrug he dropped
his eyeglass and resumed his seat
The young nan pulled himself together.
"My mind is made up, sir, he said. II
am d~etermined-I trust, with your con-
tent--to mako Miss st. Denis my wife"
Too old a diplomat to affect anger or
surprise, Lord Merton shifted his ground.
"You have of course obtained the lady's
consentP" he said.
But though disconnected the young maj
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 I want the matter settled. Haye
I your consent or not?"
SIT would be unjust both to the lady
and you to decide so important a question
without consideration" his father an
swered gravely. besides. there is your
mother to 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,
s'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
L. H. f,~l 1-l NTart1v, IoJ 1off toxy,,
ION urgent business connected with the
coal mines or 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 olinched 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 q private
inquiry agent. Very little time sufioed
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 galnbled
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
a most devoted daughter.
"Disreputable father, invalid mother,
devoted daughter" unused Lord Merton.
Surely a devoted daughter would be will