Show 41 1 A cm IJ handwriting was unmistakably that of a woman L ato A v TH ic T B TT JACQUES autrelle TRELLE rU ty ay MG COPYRIGHT 1903 1908 VE THE associated SUNDAY COPYRIGHT 1909 ty hy TOR THE MERRILL company CHAPTER I 1 mix miss isabel thorne all the world rubs elbows in W washington asb outwardly it la Is merely a city of evasion of conventional conventionalities I 1 ties sated bated with the commonplace pleasures of life listless blasa even and always exquisitely albeit frigidly courteous but beneath the still suave surface strange cur cuarenta rents renta play nt at cross p purposes ur intrigue la Is endless and the merciless war of diplomacy goes on unceasingly occasionally only occasionally casio nally a bubble comes to the surface and when it bursts the echo goes trashing around the earth sometimes a dynasty Is shaken a nation trembles a ministry topples over but the ripple moves and all to la placid again no man may k know now all that happens there for then bo be would be diplomatic master of the world there Is plenty of red blood in washington remarked a jesting legislative isla tive graybeard gray beard once upon a time but its always frozen before they put it in circulation diplomatic neg negotiations otla are conducted in the drawing room but long before that the iho fight Is fought down celia the diplo matisjr meet at table and there any broken crockery but you can always tell what the player thinks of the dealer by the way he be draws three cards everybody Is after results and lots of monarchs of europe sit elt up tip nights polishing their crowns waiting for word from washington so this la Is Washingto nl and here rt at dinner are the diplomatic representatives senta tives of all the nations that Is the british ambassador that stolid faced distinguished looking elderly man and this Is th the french eFrench dor dapper volatile plus correct here dussias Rus sias highest representative wags a huge blond beard and yonder Is the phlegmatic german ambassador scattered around the table brilliant splotches spot ches of coor color aro are the uniformed formed envoys of the orient the smaller the country the more brilliant ahe he splotch Bp lotch it la Is a state dinner to be followed by a state ball and they are all present the italian ambassador count dl roalnd was trying to interpret a french bon mot into english for the benefit of the be dainty doll like wife of the ahe chinese minister who was educated at radcliffe when a servant leaned over him and laid A sealed envelope beside his bis plate the count glanced around ht the servant excused himself to mrs quong LI wl amrid opened the envelope inside was a single sheet of embassy note paper vird find a n terse line signed by his bla secretary A lady Is witting waiting for you here she says saya she must see you immediately on a matter of tho the greatest importance the count read the note twice with wrinkled brow then scribbled on it 16 if pencil impossible tonight to night tell her t call at the embassy tomorrow to morrow morn in ins at half balf past ten lie he folded the note handed it to the servant and resumed his bis conversation with mrs wl wi half an hour later the same sam servant placed a second sealed envelope beside his plate claie recognizing the superscription the ambassador impatiently shoved it aside intending to disregard it but irritated curiosity finally triumphed and he opened it it A white card on which was written this command was his reward it la is necessary that you come to the embassy at once there was no signature the handwriting won unmistakably that of a woman ana just as unmistakably strange to him lie he frowned a little as he stared at it t wonderingly then idly turned the card over there was vias no name on the reverse side only a crest evidently the count recognized this for his impassive face reflected surprise for an instant and this was followed by a keen bewildered interest finally he arose made his apologies and left the room his 1119 automobile I 1 waa at the door to the embassy he directed the chauffeur and within live five minutes he was waa there hla his secretary met him in the hall the lady its s waiting in your loftice 1 ho he explained apologetically 1 11 I aft gave e her your message but she said she aha must see you and would write you a line herself I 1 sent it quite correct commented the ambassador bas what name did she give none was the reply she said none was necessary the ambassador laid aside hat and coat and entered his office with a slightly puzzled expression on his race faco standing before a window gazing idly out into the light spangled night was a young woman rather tall and severely gowned in some rich glistening stuff which fell away from her splendid bare she turned and he found himself looking into a pair of clear blue gray eyes frank enough and aad yet in thele their very frankness possessing an alluring indefinable subtlety he would not have called her pretty yet her smile slight as aa it was wag was sing charming land and there radiated from her a something personality perhaps which held hla his glance ito he bowed low and closed the door 1 I am at your service madam lie said in a tone of deep respect please pardon my delay in coming coining to ou it is unfortunate that I 1 write the first note she ehe apologized graciously cious ly it would at least have hat 0 saved a little time you have tho the bardt ll 11 he produced it silently crest down and handed it to her bor she struck a match lighted the card and it crumbled up in her gloved hand the last tiny scrap found refuge in ft a silver tray where she watched it burn to ashes then sho she turned to them the dor with a brilliant smile I ile he le was still standing the dinner over yet she ahe inquired no madam not for another hour perhaps then theres no harm done she ahe went on oil lightly the dinner of any consequence but I 1 should like very much to attend the ball afterward can you arrange it for me 1 1 I dont know just how I 1 would proceed madam the ambassador objected diffidently it would be rather unusual difficult I 1 may say and but surely you can airanne arrange it some way she interrupted demurely the highest diplomatic depre representative enta of a great nation should not find it difficult to arrange so simple a matter as as this she was smiling pardon me tor for suggesting it madam the ambassador persisted courteously but anything out of tho the usual attracts attention in washington I 1 dare say from tho the manner of your appearance pe arance tonight to night that you would not care to td attract attention to yourself she regarded ded him with an enigmatic smile im afraid you dont know women erz count she said slowly at last theres nothing dearer to a womans comans heart than to attract attention to herself she laughed a throaty silvery note that was charming and it if you hesitate now then tomorrow to lo morrow why to morrow I 1 am going to ask that you open to me all this washington world this brilliant world of diplomatic society you see what I 1 ask now is simple the ambassador was respectfully silent and deeply thoughtful for a time there was perhaps something of resentment struggling within him and certainly there was an uneasy feeling of rebellion at this attempt to thrust him forward against all precedent your requests are of so eo a nature that he be began in courteous protestation there was no trice trace of impatience in the womans comans manner she was waa still smiling it Is necessary that I 1 attend the ball tonight she explained ayo you u may imagine how necessary when I 1 say I 1 sailed from liverpool six days ago reaching new york at half past three this afternoon and at half past four I 1 was on my way hero bete I 1 have been here bore less than ono bour I 1 carne came from liverpool especially that ahat I 1 might b be present and I 1 even dressed on the train so there would he be no delay now do you see the necessity of it diplomatic procedure is along well oiled grooves and the diplomatist who steps out of tho the rut for un tin instant hap pens upon strange and unexpected ob ab st ata clea acles knowing this tho the dor der still hesitated the woman apparently parent ly understood 1 I had hoped that this would not be necessary she aha remarked and she produced a small sealed envelope please read it the ambassador received the en veloso with uplifted brows opened it and road what was writt written len on a folded sheet of paper some subtle working of hla his brain brought a sudden change in the expression of his face there was wonder bouder in it and amaze mont and more than these again ho he bowed low 1 I am at your service madam he repeated 1 I shall take pleasure in making any arrangements that are bee necessary again I 1 beg your pardon and it ft will not be so very difficult after all will it she inquired and she smiled tauntingly it will not be at all difficult madam the ambassador assured her grave gravely ly 1 I shall take steps at once to have an invitation issued to you tor for tonight to night and tomorrow to morrow I 1 shall be pleased to proceed as you may bug gest she nodded lie he folded the note replaced it in the envelope and returned it to her with another deep bow she drew her skirts about her and sat down ho he stood it will be necessary for your namo name to appear on the invitation the ambassador bas wont went on to explain it you give me your namo name ill havo have my secretary 11 oh yes my name she ahe interrupted gally gaily why count you embarrass me you know really I 1 have bavo no dame it awkward 1 I understand perfectly madam responded the count 1 I should have said eald a name she meditated a moment well say bay miss thorne miss isabel thorne she suggested at last that will do very nicely dont you think very nicely miss thorne and tho the ambassador bowed again please excuse me a moment and ill give my secretary instructions how bow to proceed there will be a delay of a fow few minutes ito ho opened the door and went out for a minute or more alsa aless T thorne horne sat perfectly still gazing at abe t 0 blank wooden panels then she roso rose rind and went to the window again in thedis the distance hazy in the soft night the dome of the capitol rose mistily over to the right was the congressional library and out there where the lights sparkled lay pennsylvania avenue a thread of commerce miss thorne saw it all and suddenly stretched out her arms with an all gesture she stood so for a minute then they fell beside her and she bhe was motionless count dl rosint entered everything Is arranged miss thorne lie ho announced will you go with me in my automobile or do you pre ferto go alone ill go alone please she answered after a moment 1 I shall be there about eleven tho the ambassador bowed himself out and so bo miss aliss isabel thorne came to washington TO HE BE CONTINUED |