Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1907-04-04
ssssessesssOsssseeseseess.
(: A DIPLOMATIC
I: POINTER.


her husband-that is, she had the
mannerislns Of society. which her hus.
band had not. Mr.. Compton laughed
rather loud. while Mrs. Compton laugh
ed very softly. though an expert in
caste would have detected that it was
rather artificial than natural.
The minister from Aurania-there is
no such country as Aurania: the name
IS used to stand for a kingdom which
would not do to mention oDenly-be-
seine devoted to Mrs. Compton. Either
this OF Mrs Compton became devoted
to the ambassador We must have a
name for the minister SO we will call
him the Marquis of Carihas. He was
regarded as one of the brightest of the
diplomatic corps and withal the most
reticent He had way Of furnishing
items to reporters without giving them
information which, though it did not
satisfy, never antagonized them.
Marquis" said Mrs. compton one
evening when with tie ambassador
there is a rumor that the war between
your people and the Wisterians"-an-
other fictitious name lis about to
cease. hear the United States will
intervene"
"AlI depends upon the emperor Of
! Wisteria."
Indeed! What DO you Auranians
expect>him to do?"
1--WE expect him to do nothing"
That implies that he is bent on do
ing something"
IF so it is the first time he has ever
done anything He is the LATEST SOW
ereign on the face of the earth"
Il thought possibly that you would
trust me just little since we have be
come such good friends" said the lady,
with a hurt expression. Il don't see
how you diplomats ever marry; you
must always have secrets from the wo.
man who loves you"
AS Mrs. Compton spoke the last
words she looked up meaningly at the
marquis.
My dear Mrs. Compton," he replied,
81 know nothing as. yet of the subject
you are mentioning. Ask nae some
thing that / know-the methods, for
instance, by which we diplomats act
and 1 will show you that any woman
who-who loves me will be repaid for
her devotion"
"Well, then, how do you communi-
cate important information to your
sovereign without having it known to
the worldT
"By a cipher code"
"What is your codeT
at is too complicated to make you
familiar with II except by considerable
instruction"
Mrs. Compton pondered; then she
asked, whats your word for peace%
Pax" replied the marquis.
PAX? What funny word! What's
your word for war;"
"Vobiscum."
PAX and vObiscum! Seems to me
I've heard something like that some
where"
Mrs Compton had made a step in a
plan she had formed and began to
consider her next one. Presently ave
added:
Promise noe one thing"
Anything"
Telephone me when you are about
to send your cablegram on this subject
TO your sovereign"
IF there is time"
keep me posted as to when you ex-
pect the matter to be settled. and
will go at moments notice"
at Y1rop,fco
. A few days later Mrs. Compton was
summoned to the Auranian embassy
Calling a carriage, she proceeded thith-
er at a rapid pace. She was ushered
into the marquis private office.
u am sending an important message
to my government he said 1T is
impossible without betraying a sacred
trust to show it to you l am going
into the other office for a few moments,
and you will he alone here"
Ho looked ncaningly at a paper lying
ON his desk and went out. Mrs. Comp.
ton rushed to the paper and ran her
eye over q number of words which to
her were meaningless But one attract
ed her attention-the word pax. When
the marquis returned she gave him
look indicating her profound apprecla
ton of his act. Returning to her hotel
she found her husband waiting for her.
"WellT he exclaimed eagerly
ITS peace"
Without word he rushed % his tele,
phone and calling up his New Yori
stockbroker, ordered BIN to buy mi
lion in Auranian bonds Immediately.
Mr.. and Mrs. COmpton's expectation
that peace would be announced and
the bonds rise in price was disappoint
ed. There was no Intervention. no
peace. She did not see the MARQUIS OF
Carabas again. for he soon after took
his vacation. The bonds sank in price,
and Mr.. Comptons were sold out at a
loss
One day the couple went to a Roman
Catholic church to hear some fine mu-
sic, and during the services the priest
pronounced the words PAX vobIscum."