Daily camera., 1901-05-20
IA LITTLE DIPLOIACY !
By L. D. Csatse.

IN II. REGINALD DE PEYSTER Bill
IvI LETTE was not an Intentional
IaGy killer. Indeed, it was only his
tenderness of nature that made him re-
spond to every girl Of the Washington
set who fell y victim to his fetching per-
SON and charming manner.
Mr.. Billette had great expectations
from an aged and wealthy grandmoth-
er, who was altogether in the swim.
Upon her he drew quite literally. and
thus managed, with his salary, to exc
out bouquets, bon-bons, opera boxes
and golf clubs.
With the coming Of Lent, Reggy
spoke to the old lady of threatened
nervous prostration, that made abso-
lutte rest essential and that,would keep
him from the house party at her smart
residence beyond the Heights. Then he
packed his suit ease and fed to Grass
Vile. suburb of the capital noted for
its pretty women.
In the smartest and fastest set Of
that town Maymye Smythe and Daisy
FiSIAS SNftN uVlu tuC uCuu Vi VIC 0ONI0S
rack. dividing beaux, hon-bons and
leadership so evenly and with SO little
rivalry apparent as to be town mar
wells.
oproof is extant that at the end OF
week Hillctte had not, in h:s usual
way, pledged vows Of eternal fidelity
to Miss Smythe; but it is certain that
he had poured words of burning pas.
ion into the ears Of Miss Fields
Strolling homeward from the golf
links. that plump. blond beauty sud
denly raised her baby blue eyes from
admiration of his plaided calves. and
fixed them on his face in tender search
as she whispered:
"Ah! how could you, Mr.. Billette? l
WAS weak to let-youi for l know-l
feel"-a little hesitation, a quick ffut.
ter Of the bust under the golf jacket
II feel you have kissed Mayme, tool"
Heaven Forbid" was the fervent
reply. "She is your friend. Daisy. II
l seemed to care for her. it was for
your sake, sweetest and dearest Of
girls!" And Billette shifted the golf
clubs to his off hand. leaving The near
one free. as he artfully ended:
kissed Maymye? Never! Ask
her!"
''She is my dearest friend" Miss
Fields murmured. in tones broken by
seeming emotion. II would not cause
her pain for worlds! would never let
her suspec, but that trust her"
"As trust you." he finished for her:
''as we twain must ever trust one an
other!"
Miss Maymye Smythe was enticingly
dressed. and decked with smiles. when
the city knight pranced gannntly
across her carpet to the draped bay
window. She made cushion room for
him. but held up a frail defense of man
icured hands, as she cried:
NO. no. You must not. How can
tell hut you would do the same with
Daisy"
How? BY looking Into my heart.
sweetest and dearest of girls! After
all the dear. sweet condolences between
us. Maymye. how can you doubt me ?"
He sat very close TO her and took her
hand. The girl turned away her head.
The laces over her shapely bust rose
and fell with violent and ill-repressed
emotion. Then she mastered II: the
black eyes glanced Shyly round. and
she gurgled:
And tomorrow you go back to the
perils, the temptations, of the dreadful
city. All. there you will meet your
.quals; women of the world-clever.
sxperienced-,o whom poor little l
will seem So"
$50 peerless and pure, best, dearest
one." the ardent Reggy gushed! "For
one touch of those pure lips would
give all the world of city puppetsi"
The mans fine head oent to prove his
sincerity; but the girl drew away in
shy reserve. crying:
II cannot-cannot. l never have
kissed man unless engaged to-. Oh,
my"
Reginald Billette arched perplexed
brows. How could he respond to that
broken avowal without ENHANCEMENT.
So the girl went on. choking down a
sort of sob:
"oh, Reggy! How can do without
Jon. when you go?"
"If l Idared-ifI felt myself worthy!"
he evaded. systematically. "If did
ask you to go with me, Maymye. what
would you say?"
THAT il was-very-xudden! Her
voice was broken; again the corsage
laces rufI!ed under her bowed chin.
Yet--even in that nome MT Of triumph
the breaker of hundred hearts half
believed the ripe iips-so near and yet
20 far--twitched with repreksed
smile. But he answered:
"Sudden! Nonsense! Why. we have
known each other nine days! All,
Maymye, to nature such as ours"
The up-flash OF her black eye halted
him short. In them was merry
sparkle. and the gurglc in it nearly
stopped the rich voice, that asked:
"Are you usure-very sure-you never
said that to-Daisy2"
"Never. / swear! Nor to any other
woman!" he answered.
"And when you come back-if you
come back"
"If comet" he broke in. "Why.
Maymye, can there be q doubt, when I
love you-?"
"And-Daisy!" she sobbed, In inter-
ruption.
''She knows whether 1 love her!"
From his tallest kopie Reggy
launched his last lyddite shot: ASK
herl"
"She Is my dearest friend" Miss
Smythe murmured. II could not pain
her; could never let her dream that
/ suspected"
Later, at his hotel. he slowly re-
read letter from his grandmother,
that day forwarded from the depart
ment. In more polished phrase, but
In full effect, Mrs. Ganscvoort -Schuy-
ler-Brown wrote that nervous pros;
tration and diplomatic complications
with China and the Philippines might