The Harrison times., 1911-10-21
Miss Isabel Thorne.


All the world rubs elbows in Wash
ington. 0utwardly II is merely city
of evasion, Of conventionalltles stated
with the commonplace pleasures OF
life, listless, blase even, and always
exquisitely, albeit frigidly, courteous;
but beneath the still, suave surface
strange currents play at cross pur'
poses, intrigue Is endless, and the
merciess war of diplomacy goes on
INCREASINGLY Occasionally, only oc'
casionally, bubble comes to the sur
face, and when II bursts the echo goes
crashing around the earth. Some
times a 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 jesting leg
islative gray.beard, once upon time,
but It's always frozen before they put
II 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-
sentatlves OF all the nations, That Is
the British ambassador, that stoid'
faced, MISUNDERSTANDING, elderly
man; and this Is the French ambassa'
dor, dapper, volatile, pluscorrect'
here RussO's highest representative
wags q huge, blond beard; and yon'
der IL the phlegmatlo German 0mhos'
sador Scattered around the table,
brilliant spotchos Of color arc tho
uniformed ENJOYS Of the Orlcnt--tho
smaller the country the more brilliant
the splotch II is state dinner to
be followed by state ball. and they
are all present.
The Italian ambassador, Count di
Roslni. was trying 70 interpret a
French bon mot into EnglIsh for the
benefit Of tile dainty, doll.llko wife OF
the Chinese mlnlster-who was odu'
Gated at ROdollfro=-when servant
leaned over him and laid u sealed en-
velope beside his plate, The count
glanced around at the servant, ex'
cused himself TO Mrs, Quong III WI
and opened the envelope, lnsldo was
q single sheet OF embassy note paper,
and q torse line signed by his 0eero'
Gary:
"A lady IA waiting for you here,
She says she must zee you immediate
ly, on a matter OF the greatest I'm
portance,"
The coJnt read the note twice, with
wrinkled brow, then eerlbbled on II In
pencil
Impossible tonight Tell her TO
call nj the embassy tomorrow morn
ing at helf'past ten o'clock"
lie folded the note, handed II 10 the
servant and resumed his eonyefsa'
Non with Mfs WI
Half an hour later the same servant
placed second sealed envelope be-
side his plats, Recognizing the super,
serlptlon, the ambassador impNtiently
showed Il aside, intending 10 dlarea
gard H. Hut irrllated curiosity fnel'
ly triumphed, and he opened it A
whlto card on which was written thle
command was his reward;
"lt IN necessary that you come 20
tho embassy at once"
There was no signature, The hand
writing was Enthusiastically that Of q
woman and Just M unmlBtakably
strange 10 him, lie frownod a little
m he stared NJ II wondoringly, then
idly turned tho card over, There was
no name on the reverse alde=only a
crest Evidently the count recognized
this, for hls impassyo face reflected
surprise for nm Instant ana thla wNu
followed by u Keen howldored inter
est Finally he arose, made his apollo
giee and left the room, llie autom0
bile was at the door
MO The embassy" he directed the
chauffeur
And within flve minutes he wna
thoro, His eecrotOry met him In tho
hall
'Tho lady le waiting IN your office"
he explained hp0loaetleally If gave
her your message but she said shc
must sec you and would write you Il
liae herself sent lt"
"QuIie correct" commented the am,
baaaedor, "What pome did she glyeg'
"None' was the reply "she said
none WAS necessarily"
The nWbAfaador laid ualdo hat and
Goa. nnd ontored ma once win o.
znllRhtly puzzled expression ON his
Mace Standing before a window, glss
na IdlI out Into the lighl.spangled