The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1918-09-06
A Diplomatic
Bent.


I wis tutoring a youth Of nineteen.
had fancy TO go abroad In the
diplomatic corps, but as I had no In
1uence to secure an appointment !
kept my ambition to myself My pupil.
Alec Kirk, should have been ready for
college. but he was not. and It was
my part to get him ready as soon as
possible. Ills father. aftqe" turning
him over 10 me, went to Europe. Be-
fore leaving he gave me single In
structlon- IL:
Don't let any woman snare him
while | an away"
\ made companion OF Alec, and he
seemed TO enjoy my society In prefer.
ence to tl.tt Of young fellows Of his
own age. lie gave me his confidence
IN everything but one. A woman
laid siege for him. and he did not tell
me Ills father had lectured him be-
fore celpg away on his susceptibility
and tod him that was empowered to
forbid his attentions 80 any woman.
Alec not only failed TO trust the mat
ter to me. Lat told the woman who was
trying 70 nsre him OF my charge. She
was smart enough TO keep aloof from
me. ard I ID not discover her or her
object tin was Informed of both by
The house.eeper. ] warned the house
keeper no. TO dlvulge the fact That !
knew of what was going CD. Ii /
could saw, the boy / would put bis
fatLer VI. obligations. Mr.. Kirk
had great t.l.lical influence.
Alec wislitG the lady to win my good
opinion. shr supposing that ! knew
nothing Of their affair, consented,
though relar;g,tly. l was introduced
TO Miss Mar,ha Colllngwood, aged
twenty eigl.! impecunious. passably
good Iooking and Of common family,
called or Der with Alec and during
the call manifested a frlendliness that
dlsarmed both But while extending
he olive branch / was sharpening TIE
sword I suggested that Miss Colllng-
wood and Alec use the TERMS court III
his home and even offered if we could
find another girl TO make Lp set with
I them myself l had In mind Miss
: Gladys Hoylc. young hdy who had
the faculty Of making che most rasp.
Ing remarks with the most kindly pre-
tended intentions knowing that there
Is nothing which Will turn man from
a woman Guirkcr than n feminine fight
l hoped to use Miss boyle for the pur'
pose OF drawing out whatever OF tenn
per Miss t1ingwood might possess
and intended that Alec should witness
the scri.nnaSe.
We secured Miss Hoyle, and ! chose
her Tor my partner. Miss Collingwood
opened the came. serving To me.
gent the bail back, aud she returned
II. 1t dropped just within the line. but
pronounced II foul.
"1'hat wasn't foul" said Miss Col
lingwood. r..
Hooked at my partner fdr support
Certainly il was" she said.
"My eyes must have deceived me. y
said Miss CoIlingwood.
"Some people can't play tennis al
ALL" returned Miss Hoyle. ION account
Of their eyes. thought / saw some
thing amIss with yours. It's quite
| noticeable"
There was en- ominous lash from
Miss Colllngwood. She made no re-
ply, and the game went on. My OWL
game had opened auspiciously. and
fortune continued to favor me. Miss
Hoyle In volleying close to the net
sent the bali against Miss Colling
woods nose. The latter dropped hcl
racket and caught n trickllng stream
OF blood in her handkerchief.
"You did that on purpose she cried
casting flashing glance a Miss
! Hoyle
"Yos fa;ter me- II could hit .
mark like that Ia enter for cham
pionsLip," replied Miss Hoyle
Miss Collingwood was getti9s read,
for a rejondev when aided Is he
rufiling by asking II she would pro
coed with tie game.
az don't :hink she'd better" kls
Hoyle put IL, with that nose tn b'
all the col,Ys Of the rainbow tomor
row. Ny aCelre Is Jaw beef"
"Some People are offensive Wit
their advi.e. snapped the sufferer.
Pleasure had gone out Of the game
Tor Alec lie proposed to stop playing
Miss Colltr wood started for the hous'
10 put cold water on her nose Alec
instead OF accompanying her. fouc'
occupation in gathering the balls ans
rackets. whispered TO him TO taxi
Miss BOyle home she smilingly a.
cepted his Invitation. As the tw'
walked away Miss Colllngwood- turne,
and dartcd n fiery spark. saw he
home, adding fuel to the flame by tell
Ing her that | thought Miss Hoyle ha'
sent the ball against her nose on pur
DOSE and was trying TO catch Alec.
| supposed that | had only made
beginning, cut i was mistaken. Whe'
Alec and met again he confessed {
ne that there had been an affair be
swecn him and Miss Colllngwood n
which | expressed great surprise). b.
hat n was ended. ! kindly offered {
give him r,y advice as 10 the bes
method OF dropping II. The illusio
had passed cot OF him. and nothin
, could bring II back.
{ When Mr.. Kirk returned from Fl
/ rope | made no mention OF his son
: escape, hut he learned OF II and aslSe
! ne about Il. I told him the story. q
the crd OF which he said: