Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1915-05-06
THE WHITE THREAD

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Pardon, M. pAmbassadeur, but
there Is piece of thread on the back
Of your coat. -
We were about to go forth for
stroll en- the boulevards-I had just
helped his excellency ON with his over
coat. AS bent forward to remove the
strand Of white cotton which had at
tracted my attention, the ambassador
turned his head with startled move
ment. even fancied that he gave a
slight SILVER as picked of the thread
and cast it away.
"A thousand thanks" he murmured
mechanically. glancing after the thread
with a strange expression. But he
realized that had observed his singu-
lar agitation, for he Immediately went
on to say:
"You ask yourself, perhaps, what it
Is that has disturbed me SO much in
this trivial circumstance? Do me the
Justice to believe, notwithstanding,
that have not been agitated without
q real cause.
1T was not long after the mysterious
affair, which have related to you. in
connection with the death Of Abdul
Aziz," began his excellency, land l
had just been promoted to the rank of
charge d'affaires. In this capacity /
was entrusted with the French mission
to the court of one of those barbarous
municipalities in the southeast of Eu-
rope. which have hardly yet recovered
from their centuries Of vassalage to
the Turks. In these unsettled societies
acts of lawlessness and violence are
rendered possible at which more civil
lied countries would be dismayed.
."At the time Of my arrival in the
principally to the court of which had
been accredited, / found things in a
very disturbed condition. AS is always
the case in these petty states in the
region Of the Danube, Russia and Aus
tria were intriguing for the predomi-
nance, and the whole population was
rent into factions accordingly, which
pursued each other with the bitterest
hatred.
This rivalry between the two pow
ers have named had even extended to
the palace, where the Austrian incli-
nations of George, the reigning prince,
were counterbalanced by the Russo
phile sympathies of his consort, Cath
crime, princess of Russian extraction.
While l was preparing to walk
warily among the pitfalls which sur
rounded me, l was surprised one day
shortly after my arrival by visit from
the Russian minister, Baron Douren-
ski
have come he said, as soon as
he had taken seat and exchanged the
usual compliments, to inform you that
am obliged to leave for Russia in two
days time. The business which re-
quires my presence is important, and
will, perhaps, detain me four or five
weeks
II bowed, and murmured a polite ex-
preston of regret at the idea of losing
the society of the minister for 80 long
period.
That is not all, however, he pro-
ceeded toAsay. I have at the legation
no one whom can trust to take my
place properly while l am away. Shall
be trespassing too much on your good
nature If ask you to take charge of
the interests of Russia for these few
weeks?'
am too much honored by the
confidence you place in me- / Said,
but recollect, If you please, my dear
Dourenski, that l have only recently
arrived in this country, and know
nothing Of the political situation. Had
you not better apply to some colleague
Of older standing-to Sir Graham, for
instance. the British charge d'affaires?'
He made an emphatic gesture of
Not for worlds, my dear fellow!
That man Is mere tool of the Aus
trian minister's. No, must have some
one whom can trust, someone Of real
independence and judgment. Besides.
our two countries are friendly;
should leave the affairs of my legation
in your hands with the same conf
dence as in those of fellow-country-
man.
yMThus pressed, could find no ex-
cIso for declining the honor which
Doura7 IJttp confer on me.
He
but tend to this tut which !
them when you need s.,iI cues
good screen this year sane find
AVIS
>. n
we have just received a bra,
doors. We have something
screen doors this year and t
higher. Come in add look t
We haven't one screen OF scr
we have carried over. Ever!
oade Of
vvyr -