The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1911-06-16
Miss isabel, Thorne.

Miss Isabel Thorne.
All the world rubs elbows in Wash
ington. Ontwardly it is merely city
of evasion. of conventionalities, 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
merciless war OF diplomacy goes on
increasingly. Occasionally. only &C.
casional]y. bubble comes to the sur
face, and when it bursts the echo goes
crashing around the earth. Some
times dynasty is shaken. nation
trembles, a 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 testing leg
islative gray-beard. once upon a time,
but it's always frozen before they put
It in circulation. Diplomatic negotia.
SAOAAo ~ NoAuuSlCu III Vic
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-
sentatives Of all the nations That is
the British ambassador. that stolid-
faced, NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. elderly
man: and this is the French an1bassa-
dor. dapper, volatile. plus.correct;
here Russia's highest representative
ways 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. It is state dinner, to
be followed by a 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 edn-
Gated at Radclitfe-when a servant
leaned over him and laid a sealed en-
velope beside his plate. The count
glanced around at the servant, ex.
cused himself to Mrs Qnong 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
~. on matter of the greatest i'm
portance."
The count read the note twice, with
wrinkled brow, then scrubbed on it in
pencil:
Impossible tonight. Tell her to
call at the embassy tomorrow morn
ing at ha]f-past ten o'clock"
He folded the note, handed 1t to the
servant. and resumed his conversa-
ton 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 1T 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:
1T is necessary that you come to
the embassy at once"
There was no signature. The hand.
writing was Enthusiastically that of a
woman. and just as Enthusiastically
strange to him. He frowned a little
as he stared at it wonderingly. then
idly turned the card over. There was
no name on the reverse side-only q
crest. Evidently the count recognized
this. for his impressive face rejected
surprise for an instant. and this was
followed by keen, bewildered inter.
est. Finally he arose, made his apo,o
gies. and left the room. His automo
bile was at the door.
l
To the embassy" he directed the
chauffeur.
And within five minutes he was
there. His secretary met him in the
hall.
The lady is waiting in your Office, >
he explained apologetically. II gave
her your message. but she said shf
must see you and would write you 3
line herself. ! sent it."
Quite correct" commented the am
bassador. What name did she give? ?
None" was the reply. She sai{
none was necessary,
y The ambassador; laid aside hat and
coat and entered his once Win /,
slightly puzzled expression on III,
face. Standing before s window, eaa
ing IDLY ont intos the lisht-spangls.