The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-09-16

tsOf course, am only specializing;
nothing has been done as yet.
Then something is going to be
done9' asked the American, clearing
his voice.
!" One day or another. If we cannot
find the clerk, we shall look. higher. We
should consider million francs well
a great power. But let us drop the
subject and turn to something more
agreeable to US both. Your daughter
is charming. / honestly confess to you
| that | have not met her equal in any
country. Pardon my presumption, but
ried9n s :
| Not to my knowledge VASTLY
surprised and at the same time pleased.
Are you averse to foreign ALI
ances7 ~ The diplomat dipped the end
Of a fresh-lighted cigar into his coffee.
MY dear count, [ am not averse to
foreign alliances, but I rather suspect
that my daughter is. This aversion
! might be overcome, however,
What vista was opened to this
Wretched father! If only she might
marry riches, how easily he might con-
| TESS what he had done, how easily all
this despair and terror might be dis
perseS! And here was man who was
known in the great world, rich, young
and handsome.
The other gazed ,d!reamily at the
about the coffee-room, with its gather
ing of coffee drinkers, and at length
came back to his vis-avis.
"You will return to Washington"
he asked.
II shall live there for the winter;
that ah is, Expect TT to-: .hau 60 :, 49,
this winter, then ''-and the count
threw away his cigar, babe his compan-
ion good night, and went to his room.
How adroitly he had sown the seed!
At that period he had no positive idea
upon what kind of ground he had cast
it. But he took that chance which all
far-sighted men take, and then waited.
There was little he had not learned
beautiful daughter. How he had
learned will always remain dark to me.
My own opinion is that he had been
|, studying him during his tenure Of of
fee in Washington, and, with that pa
thence which is making Russia so for
midable, waited for this opportunity.
I shall give the Russian all the justice
! of lmpartiality. When he saw the girl,
! he rather shrank from the affair. But
j., he had gone too far, he had promised
t too much; to withdraw now meant his
r own defeat, his governments anger, his
: political Oblivion. . And there was a zest
e in this life Of his. He could no more re-
e sist the call of intrigue than gambler
. can resist the croupier's "Make your
: game, gentlemen!'' believe that he
}. loved the girl the moment he set eyes
+ upon her. Her beaut yand bearing dis
Y tinguished her from the other women he
/ had met, and her personality was SO
s engaging that her conquest of him was
o complete and spontaneous. How to win
/, this girl and at the same time ruin her
s father was an embarrassing problem.
|, The plan which finally came to him he
t repealed again and again, but at length
Il he surrendered. To get the parent in
his power and then to coerce the girl
l. in case she refused him! To my knowl-
/ edge this affair was the first dishonor-
IS able act of a very honorable man. But
It love makes fools and rogues of us all
n You will question my right to call
Is this diplomat an honest man. AS I.have
s said elsewhere honor is comparative
= Besides, diplomat generally falls into
Is Is the habit of lying successfully to him
y self. ~-.
e When the American returned to the
y world, his cigar was out and his coffee
A. was stale and cold.
"a million francs!'' he murmured
e "Two hundred thousand''
T. The seed had fallen on fruitful
II, ground.
h (To Be Continued Next Saturday,