The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1911-05-11
CHAPTER |.
Miss Isabel Thorne.

Miss Isabel Thorne.
All the world rubs elbows in Wash
ington. Outwardly it is merely a city
of evasion, of conVentionalities, stated
with the commonplace pleasures OF
life, listless, blase even, and always
exquisitely, albeit frigidly, courteous;
hut beneath the still, suave surface
strange currents play at cross pur-
poses, intrigue is endless, and the
merciless war of diplomacy goes on
increasingly. Occasionally, only oc-
casionally, a bubble comes to the sur
face, and when it bursts the echo goes
crashing around the earth. Some
times dynasty is shaken, a nation
trembles, ministry topples over; but
the ripple moves and all is placid
again. No man may know all that
happens there, for then he would
be diplomatic master of the world.
There is plenty of red blood in
Washington" remarked a jesting leg
islative gray-beard, once upon time,
but it's always frozen before they put
it in circulation. Diplomatic negotia-
tions are conducted in the drawing
room. but long before that the fight
is fought down cellar. The diplo-
matists meet at table and there isn't
any broken crockery. but you can
always tell what the player thinks
Of the dealer by the way he draws
three cards. Everybody is after re-
suits; and lots of monarchs of Europe
sit up nights polishing their crowns
waiting for word from Washington" +"
So, this is Washington! And here
at dinner are the diplomatic repre-
Fentatives Of all the nations. That is
the British ambassador, that stolid-
faced, distinguished-lookin elderly
man; and this is the French ambassa-
dor, dapper, volatile, plus-correct;
here Russia's highest representative
wags huge, blond beard; and yon-
der is the phlegmatic German ambas-
sador. Scattered around the table.
brilliant spotches Of color, are the
uniformed ENJOYS of the Orient-the
smaller the country the more brilliant
the splotch. 1t is a state dinner, to
be followed by state ball, and they
are all present.
The Italian ambassador, Count di
Rosini. was trying to interpret a
French bon mot into English for the
benefit of the dainty, doll-like wife Of
the Chinese minister-who was edu-
Gated at Radcliffe-when a servant
leaned over him and laid sealed en-
velope beside his plate. The count
glanced around at the servant. ex-
cused himself to Mrs. Quong Lii Wi,
and opened the envelope. Inside was
single sheet of embassy note paper,
and a terse line signed by his secre,
tary:
"A lady is waiting for you here
She says she must see you immediate
| ly. on matter OF the greatest i'm
portance"
wrinklcd brow, then scribbled on 1t in
pencil:
impossible tonight Tell her tt
cali at the embassy tomorrow morn
ing at half.past ten o'clock"
He folded the note, handed it to the
servant. and resumed his conversa
tion with Mrs. Wi.
Half an hour later the same servant
placed second sealed envelope be-
side his plate. Recognizing the SUPER
scription, the ambassador impatiently
showed it aside, intending to disre
gard it. But irritated curiosity final
ly triumphed, and he opened it. A
white card on which was written this
command was his reward:
''It is necessary that you come tc
the embassy at once"
There was no signature. The hand
writing was Enthusiastically that of q
woman, and just as unmistakably
strange to him. He frowned little
as he stared at it wonderingly, ther
idly turned the card over. There was
no name on the reverse side-only 8
crest. Evidently the count recognized
this, for his jmpassive face reflected