The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1916-02-28
CHAPTER l.
His Escelleney


at Paris. and minister TO Neither.
lands. Now. after five years OF
European diplomatic life he was
home on n vacation before taking
np his new post as ambassador 10
Spain.
Vendome was rich IN his own
right. an attribute almost neccs.
sary for the success OF United
States diplomats. young and e1-
trcmely good looking
Ilo eagerly anticipated the fag'
end OF the Washington season
where. IN the old days. he had
been social favoritc. and in his
dreams he was not disappointed.
lie was asked everywhere. and.
luckily enough. met soeiety'a lat
est acquisition at hts very flrHt
dinner after his arrival home.
II was when Vcndnme had drop.
ped In at his favorlte club 20 talk
over old times and gather up the
ends where he had dropped them
five years before that he first
heard OF the beautiful young
widow. Mrs. Tremaine. Her beauty.
her charm. her brllliancy all were
praised And that night he met
her. Tho next day he called only
20 find that the following morning
she was leaving for a country
house visit In Virginia.
ormo Nendome had not been a
member OF the diplomatic service
over five years for nothing IL
did not tako him long TO find out
that Natalie Tromaino was 20 be
a guest Of hts cousin. Betty Sin-
glcton.
About noon OF ,hs following day
Mrs. Trcmaina stroilei into the
station ten minutes before the
train left
There was no one in tho chair.
car that She knew A number 81
horpsY looking women and men 0c
eupisd one end she Was al the
other. She occupied herself with
her magazine. but from time TO
time she could hear tho crowd at
the other end Their talk was
loud. also their laughter.
Presently ono OF the men passed
on his war TO tho smoking com.
partment. She did not glance up.
re, shs know that hs had stared
a; her Ia n moment. h. came
back nlowiy--anf the stare was re-.
peated most srnrsniy.
She had long since gotten used
TO being stared NJ IN a gentleman.
ly way. and sometimes IN a way
not exactly gcrtlemaniy--it was
the penalty OF her boauty--b but
even che felt the lesr In this mans
stare.
Then from the rear % tho car
came a mans voice
II you chaps want 10 40. tho
pretticMt thing In pctticon,s that
you've ever clapped your binocu.
lars on. Just 20 forward to the
smoking compartment. and, as
you pass. look a, tho dream on the
fourth chair Ny word. she IL
some class"
You're an expert on chorus girls.
Blake" replied another. You
ought 10 know. 30 here rocs'~
Come along. Hudson"
In a moment the two vent by
stayed n very short time forward
and returned. And each time
Natalie felt herself looked over.
Yet there Was nothing TO do but
TO seem unconscious OF tho affront.
and to 10 on with her reading.
When Harrington. her dcstina.
ton. was reached. she did not stir
until Blake and his friends had
gone down the aisle.
When Natalie came out on the
station platform. they were climb.
Ing into their carts.
"Blake'" called one--"Thero's
your poaehr"
Il see herl" Blake answered.
wrestling with n skittish hackney.
Any one TO meet herr"
"Yes-young Mrs Singleton"
Hunt" grunted Blake.
The woman beside him laughed
and. with n wave OF her hand TO
the rest. they were gone.
The others followed Immediately.
bowling rather effusively 10 Mrs
IA they whlrled off.
Mrs. Singleton returned their
salutations with perfunctory nod.
You know them?' Mrs. Ire.
maine asked.
Some OF tho vulgar horsey
crowd" was the answer. The
horsey crowd are not half bad
but tho vulgar horsey crowd are
the limit. I'm not saueamiah. but
when II comes TO not knowing ones
own wife or ones own husband. |
do draw the line. Mrs. Hudson
drove off with Mr.. Blake. Mr.. An.
atruther with Mrs Blake. and Mrs,
Anstruther with Mr. Hudson"
And yet they are received ?"
asked.
Every one Ia received in Tar.
rington; some way somewhere
they get It. They all be.
long TO the Hunt club. TO the Coun.
try club; they have plenty OF
money. and are not afraid 10 spend
II: they are travelled. polished.
when they care To show Il. They
are birds OF passage. here awhile.
then gone. However. you know
them; you're no stranger in Tar.
rinRton."
"No-but this collection If new
sort 20 me-" said Natalie.
ANYTHING particular doing in
own" Mrs. Singleton inquired
presently. ms they left Harrington
behind and sped along the level
limestone pike.
The usual things at this sea.
on. a few dinners. II In pretty
lead"
Il see by the Post that my cous-
n. Orme Vendome. the new am
'assador to Spain. Is In town. Did
'ou happen TO meet him?"
Il met him the other night at
no Whipplingtons'. lie took me
n 10 dinner"
Didn't you like him?" said
ietty.