Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1922-08-25
A DIPLOMATIC coURTsHlP.
A Short story.
ny n. IRVING KING,
ICcpyrisht. is3a. by Mcclure Newspaper
SyndicatAl


SyndicAtAl
Harold Raymond had the reputa-
hon In Hillsborough OF being q local
hachiavells--A very deep young man.
the people called him-who attained
his ends by diplomatic ways and
wilcs. He called pcrsistently At the
house OF tho Widow Halstead and
was seen often In company with the
widows pretty daughter. Catherine.
He frequently took along KateS elder
sister. Martha, on their outings and
treated her with much difference at
all times. For that was the regular
thing TO do when ono was In love
with Kate. Everybody knew that tho
matrimonial key, as far an tho young
or sister was concerned. was in the
hAnds OF tho more austere and palmer
elder daughter OF the house OF Hal
stead.
ka,e wns a pretty, fiufry. little
thing with no end OF admirers and
always ready for a good time. while
Martha, like her scriptura name
sake. was careful and troubled about
many things. And that was OF ne
oessity. for Martha was really the
head of the family. though tho Widow
Halstead posed as such with much os-
tentation. However, II was a pose
only. Martha managed things-among
other things managed TO make both
ends meet IN a small family income
Mrs. .Hlstead was great suckler
Tor the proprietics. and strong in
what she called her principles"
among tho most cherished OF which
hA A,,
. daughter should not be married be-
fore tho elder.
Harold Raymond was such a deep
one" that there were more than a few
who prophesied that no would sue
cced where many before him had
failed. As 10 kate's feelings in the
matter there could be little doubt on
that score Tho pretty manner In
which sho blushed and looked down
when rallied about tho marked at
tention Harold was paying her was
\ delightful TO see. AT first Martha
took her pleasures rather sadly in
The company OF Kate and Harold
After . while Martha became un-
wontedly cheerful. and entered with
actual Eayety into the companion
ship OF Kate and Harold; gave UP
her custom OF watching them in
tenuy whom they were talking to-
eether - II she were trying TO de-
eide whether they really loved one
another or not; seemed to have do
cided the point. And at :hts same
time Harold. the diplomat. executed
what Ell Hillsborouxh regarded a. a
master stroke OF strategy. A college
friend OF his, Cyril Thornton, having
Just been graduated from 4 medical
school. came TO Hlllsborough 70
"hAnx out his shinSle" and become
. rising young doctor" just as
Harold had started In a. . ''raaing
young lawyer" And the very dyyt
thing Harold did was 10 introduce
tho doctor TO tho HAlstsAd sirla. and
thereafter what had boen IN lnsap-
xRrAble Trio became an tnDeparabto
quartet
Martha received this accession 10
their little coteris with such evident
pleasure that the gossips. uAle and
female. wcre seen saying: Deep
fellow. Raymond--he has got the
doctor and Martha hooked and now
has plain sailing with Kate No
not all tho goasips said this. There
were wise ones who replied;
,"Bosh, Martha Halstead is a pre-.
destined old maid. She'll never
y marry. The doctor - trying to GU
out tho lawyer and the doctor hai
Kot on the right side OF Martha. Il
;s easy enough to see that shs favovl
the medicine man more than the mar
cf law"
II was a fact that when the fou,
were out IN tho doctors car Marthi
| somehow seemed alwayN 10 rnaoacv