The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1911-06-15
Miss isabel Thorue.


Miss isabel Thorue.
All the world rubs elbows In Wash
tngton. Outwardiy II is merely city
OF evasion. OF conventionalities. stated
With the commonplace pleasures OF
life, Iistless, blase even. and always
exquisitely. albeit frigidly. courteous;
but beneath the still. suave surface
strange currents play at cross pur-
poses, intrigue 10 endless. aud the
merciiess war OF diplomacy goes on
INCREASINGLY. Occasionally. only &C.
casiopaily. a bubble comes to the sur
face, and when Il bursts the echo goes
crashing around the earth. Some
Zines a dynasty is shaken. a nation
trembIes. q 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
isiative gray beard. once upon a time.
but it's always frozen before they put
Il In circulation. Diplomatic negotia-
lions are conducted in the drawing
room. but long before that the fight
f. 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
ut 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 ambassa-
dor. dapper. volatile. plus-correct;
here Russia's highest representative
wags "A 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 spIotch. II is a state dinner. to
Ne followed byfa state ball. and they
are all present.
The Italian ambassador Count oil
Rosini. was trying to interpret
French bon mot into English for the
benefit OF the dainty. doli-like wife OF
the Chinese minlster-who was edu-
Gated at Radcliffe-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. Quong LII WI,
and opened the envelope. Inside was
a single sheet of embassy note paper.
and terse line signed by his secre-
tary:
a lady is waiting for you here.
She says she must see you immediate
IL, on a matter OF the greatest i'm
portance."
The count read the note twice. with
wrinkIed brow, then scrubbed on It In
pencil:
impossible tonight Tell her to
call at the embassy tomorrow morn
ing at half-past ten o'clock"
lie folded the note, handed 1t to the
servant. and resumed his CONVERSE
tion with Mrs. WI.
Haif an hour later the same servant
placed a 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
~ 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 q
woman. and Just az Enthusiastically
strange TO him. He fr0wned little
as he stared at II wonderingly. then
idiy tur6ed the card over. There was
no name on the reverse side-only a
crest. Evidently the count recognized
this. for his impassive face reflected
surprise for an instant. and this was
followed by a keen. bewildered inter
est Finally he arose. made his apollo
giles. and left the room. His automo-
bile was at the door
ITO the embassy" he directed the
chauffeur.
And within Ave minutes he was
there His secretary met him In the
hall.
The lady Is waiting in your ONCE
he explained spolosetically Il gave
her your message. but she said she
most see you and would write you q
line herself sent It.
Quite correct" commented the am
SAssador. What name did she giveY'
None" was the reply. "she said
none was necessary"
The ambassador laid aside hat aud
coat and entered his ONCE with q
slightly puzzled expression ON his
FAC. Standing hsfore a window. gar
ing !aly out into TIE ghtspsogled