The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1907-08-16
The DAILY
Short Story
DIPLOMATIC CUPID,

Minnie Everett"
Stately Regina Palmer put up the
imposing pince-nez she did not need
but persisted In using, and through
it's medium surveyed her vivacious
| friend sternly. did you inveigle-
did you dare inveigle me up here
with any idea of-marrying me?"
Regina said the last words as IL
alluding to some species of deadly
poison.
Pretty Mrs. Everett calmly
watched the departing masculine
being who was the innocent cause
of this outburst of frigid emotion.
Don't IVORY, dearie. He's hope
lessly in love with village beauty
land comes in just about so often
for sympathetic word or two. If
you ever get the chance, just trans
fix him with few of your CYNICAL
remarks as discouragers. l want
you all to myself during this visit"
Its a good thing that that is the
state of affairs. I'm so tired of hav-
ing my married friends try to in
duce me to change my mind. This
will certainly be banner visit in
my existence" sighed Regina, hap
PLY.
81 am fond of my sex-but still
am rather inclined to agree with a
man know who says all women are
cats"
| Regina smiled inwardly at what
she fondly imagined was remark
almost sinister in it's clever import
This was Rodney Stones fourth
call. and he had not mentioned the
Village beauty" Regina, with
firmness worthy of better cause,
determined that he should speak Of
that feminine creature this very
night.
Mr.. Stone smiled slightly. "I
don't know very much about them.
so can't argue the point, through
lack of information"
But surely you must know at
least one woman well?"
SIS that a necessary part of a
mans education?"
Clearly the question was meant
to parry. Regina, on whom the bur-
den Of entertainment rested entire
ly tonight (Mrs. Everett said she
had nervous headache), redoubled
her attack.
you must have called quite Of
ten on somebody" she insisted, for
getting to use the pince-nez in the
verbal excitement Of the moment.
This gave Mr.. Stone his very first
. rational opportunity to note that
Reginas eyes were exceptionally
handsome. And also, since no ar
ticle of crystal and gold interfered,
he discovered that she was almost
beautiful enough to match the eyes
yes, l have. I'm calling on YOU
There was a quietly amused ring
in this second parry that nettled
Regina.
Some facts are self-evident.
events, she said, somewhat tartly.
She was utterly interested now in
pursuing confession to it's very lair
and in her interest allowed Mr.. Rod
Jney Stone to witness a very fascin-
ating transformation from a some
what stately and cold woman of the
world into an eager, bright-eyed
girl.
"And | have no past-that is, no
4 woman-haunted past to discuss"
What nonsense! Every mans
pastor near past-is permeated by
the ghost of some woman. Are you
afraid of your own specter?"
mo I'm only to willing to admit
the possibility of her advent into
my life"
| Mr.. Stone rose and reached for
his hat Regina felt a small sense
Of triumph, mingled with shade of
regret. She had almost won, since
a confusion of weakness lay in his
retreat from MS batte of words.
cts early yet" she suggested
mischievously.
I'm going because l haven't any
particular right-that is, | haven't
known you long enough-to say
what l want to say" And Mr.. Rod
ney Stone bowed himself out into
the moonlit dusk of the village
street.
Regina laughed wickedly, as she
ran-yes, actually ran--upstairs to
report to Mrs. Everett.
4
Two short weeks later Miss Pal
mer, no longer protesting, received
Mr.. Stone, without even headache
apology for the absence of Mrs.
Everett, in the rose scented dusk
of the wide veranda.
1--WE come to tell you something,
Miss Palmer" began Rodney Stone,
in voice that trembled slightly.
eff you're going to tell me about
her"-Regina had seased IL days
ago trying to break down his bull
wark of evasion-"do let me give
you little caret cup first. This
weather is SO very depressing"
1.-THE claret cup can wait. The
weather is all right-but I've got to
tell you this thing before lose my
nerve I'm not clever with pretty
phrases, but-Regina, there is a
woman in my life--and it's you Will
you-cant you--love me, dear?"
| Regina gasped, fiuttered, and
finally came out of her astonish-
mpnt IN find at someone WAS