Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1904-08-18
DIPLOMACY AND TIE LADY.

your chief The lady likes it and
when she wants a little variety, hav-
ing heard all your best speeches
twice over. she generally goes 70 her
husband and suggests that he gets you
better appointment. and you both
start your round again with fresh part
ners. Your chief likes It.; he is re
leased from the arena Of tea cups and
allowed to play the big game in his
own fashion. / made a successful
start and might have been a mighty
god among Anglo-Indians only
made a big mistake: ! fell in love.
| Viola Hampton was adorably pretty,
and years younger than Sir George.
What on earth induced him when on
iong leave to marry a child of eigh-
.een and bring her to Simla fresh
from the schoolroom was a question
asked by all his friends; but Sir
George knew his wife better than we
did was young in those days, and
| may add good looking.
Violet informed me one morning
that she was a wicked woman-and
in the same breath that | must love
her eternally; also adding that l must
always remember that she was Sir
Georges wife and that she must re
spect his name.
A few days after / received the
offer of much better appointment
the first step, really, on the big ladder
of Civil Service promotion, a lucky
plum to fall into a youngsters mouth.
When I told Violet she burst into
passionate tears. and asked me If
could be cruel enough TO accept 1t
and leave her. She sobbed in heart
broken fashion.
looked at Violet; she was tremb
ling with grief and passion. She wore
come white muslin gown. and looked
aitifully girlish, and Oh so awfully
pretty. Tears suited her. did
as she a girl. l took her little sob
bling figure in my arms and promised
as she chung to me that l would re
fuse the appointment and stay on, her
husbands humble secretary. Violet
whispered brokesly that she would
love me forever. and that l was the
dearest boy In the world.
1t was very nice to feel her soft
warm kisses on my mouth. and her
little fingers ruffiing my hair; nicer
than fame. position. riches, dreams OF
power
l kissed Violet Hampton that Ian
guild, lazy afternoon, and l sold my
hfrfhriOht FOR . voacc OP pnKfo0o
Sir George gave me keen glance
under his bushy eyebrows when
told him I had declined the excellent
appointment offered me. "Of course
you know your own affairs best" he
said, slowly; "and for my part
should have been very sorry to loose
the best secretary it as ever pleased
the fates to send me; burt in declining
this rise you are acting like fool
and singing your diplomatic death
warrant. Are you wise, boy? Is
anything worth it,
Time passed. l watched my juniors
climb on and pass me. Men, my in
feriors in brains and class. began to
patronize me. was talked of as the
man who had mulled his chance;
missed his opportunity. attained
the dignity of the pointed-out moral;
| was considered an excellent example
of a fool.
And Violet, she loved me after her
fashion, and at all events never re
placed me by rival; but little by lit
tie schoolgirl Violet blossomed out
.pto great lady and woman OF am
bition.
Violet was ruled by her head. not
by her heart. had the the fresh early
fragrance of her heart certainly. but
by degrees Violet realized that hearts
are inconvenient Injuries, aud really
not worth cultivating.
She was always sweetly gracious to
her husbands secretary, and some
times more than gracious. OF course
It was an understood thing that we
should marry when 1t pleased Sir
George Hampton to close his eyes on
Ibis weary world. Apropos of our
marriage, a remark Violet made on the
subject will explain how far our de-
votion went, and show how much
had got for my youth.
''How foolish 1t is for women to
tire men of them before they marry
theml You would be sick to death
of me by now. Jack, If had not dis
covered that morality pays better
than vice. AS it is, you anticipate
our marriage. Yes. you actually look
forward to some unknown day of
happiness. Thank me, Jack. for be-
ing so WISE
Sir George died. died as he would
have chosen, suddenly and in harness.
Violet broke down absolutely, and
mourned him bitterly.
81 never pretended to love him."
she cried. turning savag Ely on me.
1--WE will work up position to-
gether." l said.
your she shot a half-contemptu-
Gus glance at me. "Oh, you're no
good you lost your chance years
ago"
l looked at her. She had the grace
to flush and begin some half sentence
of apology. but took myself out Of
her life from that hour.
When Lady Hampton's year of