Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1915-05-28

Va Suut GDeAla
We were about to go forth for a
stroll on 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
slight shiver as picked off the thread
and cast It away.
"A Thousand thanks" he murmured
mechanically, glancing after the thread
with strange expression. But ne
realized hat had observed his singu-
lar agitation, for he Immediately went
ON to say:
you ask yourself, perhaps, what 1t
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 /
had just been promoted to the rank Of
charge daffaires In this capacity
was entrusted with the French mission
to the court of one of those barbarous
principalities 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
ICED countries would be dismayed.
AT the time Of my arrival In the
principality to the court of which had
been accredited, ] found things In b
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
pMrEued 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 was preparing to walk
warily among the pitfalls which sur
rounded me, / was surprised one day
shortly after my arrival by visit from
the Russian minister, Baron Douren.
ski.
sT havo cr.,,a , ~ .a3d =. aa.r !.
he had taken a seat and exchanged the
usual compliments, to inform you that
am Obliged 10 leave for Russia in two
days time. The business which re-
quires my presence il important, and
win. perhaps. detain me four or five
weela.'
7 bowed and murmured a polite ex
precision of regret at the idea OF losing
the society Of the minister for 30 long
> period.
That Ii not al, however, he pro
ceeded to say. I have at the Legation
NO one whom can trust to take nj
place properly while / am away. shal
I be trespassing too much on your goo,
nature II ask you to take charge 0
the interests Of Russia for these few
weekBT
Il was not altogether surprised S.
this request At these petty courts
where there are no experienced secre
tAriea OF legation to act during the at
sance OF their chiefs, It Is not unusua
Tor diploma4ists to undertake thes
services for each other II was, more
over. compliment to me to ask me :
Mct ON behalf of a minister. whose ran
fm the diplomatic body is above that Z
a charge d'a1rairea. as you perhap
know
Yes. . minister ranks next to a
Ambassador. does ne notTs l eaid. q
hSs excallancy appeared TO pause "a
I'M answer.
@Exactly. It Ii only the greater Doy
sxs which are represented at each oil
a's courts by ambassadors. SmaIle
states send and receive ministers. an
those below them are satisfied viii
charges d'aTairea. Az matter OF Ia,
only Austria and Russia thought
necessary to be represented by mini
tsFB at the court OF which am spea
ing, . circumstance due TO tkcir co
dieting interests In the Balkan reni
sula- But perceive that | am becor
ing excessively tedioun."
] shook my head ont Of compIs
sanee- But the ambassador had
!. ready gone on
Some OF these details we're. pe
hapa. necessary. AS have said. Bare
Dourenski's proposal was natural, al
) even gratifying. Nevertheless / did n
AZ once give my consent
7 am too much honored by u
confidence ron place in me- sal
hut reooIlect, II you please. my de
DOurensh. that have only recent
arrived n this country. and knG
nothing Of the political situation. II,
Jon mot better apply to some coIleag
of oader saanding-to Sir Graham, I
Instance, the British charge d'affaires
-He made an emphatic gesture
diaappruval as pronounced this nan
Not for worlds. my dear fello-
That man Is mere tool OF the Al
trian minister's. No, must have son
0ns whom can trust. someone Of RI
undergraduates and judgment Besid
cur two countries are friendly:
should leave the affairs OF mr. legatl
IN your hands with the same cor
dksuQa II In fTlgl@a M 4 faTInxw znogtu4-