Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1842-01-08
From the Lady's Book for December.
AND FA SBION ;
Or, the Countess in spite Of herself
BY MRS. EMMA C. ENBURY.


Il don't doubt it,.
The newly arrived Count Hundsforth will be
there
4 dare say he will; Mrs. Maleron likes to
form collections of wild animals
Mary for shame! your sarcastic temper will
be the ruin of you
Nay sister, you misunderstood me, do not
mean to be i'll naured, but will not go to the
party in question, because most heartily despse
the mistress of the FEAST
why so inveterate in your dislike OF poor |
Mrs. Malleron, Mary? She has very elegant
manners. is hiqhly accomplished, and gives
splendid entertainments
You well know my objections to her, Julia;
after lifting the lover Of her youth, she married
decrepid old man, solely for his wealth, and now,
leaving her suffering husband to the mercy of
hirelings, she is dissipating with free hand the
price at which she sold herself while she is ex,
posing herself to the worlds laugh by her nds.
criminate coquetry She may be a woman Of
elegant accom- lishments, but know, and so do
you, Julia, that she renders herself contemplate
by her pride of purse, dangerous by her love Of
scandal, and something more than indiscreet by
her desire for notorety.
Quite cabinet picture, Mary, upon my word;
did not think you were so skiltul in making
sketches, but you must excuse me, sis, if tell
you that such pictures lack the varnsh Of charity
which covers many defects, and brings out many
beauties.
1T may be so, Julia, but il were disposed
to carry out your figure, | should say that the
most hdeous portrait that ever was drawn by
malice, or colored by SANDER, would be allowed
place in the saloon of fashion, if it were only
decked with gilded frame. However, there is
! Of tba I ,,-ll
visit one whose character despise, so that ques.
ton is settled and now let me help you dress
for this splendid party, since papa will soon be
waiting for his game of chess
You are strange girl Mary; begin to think
you are only fit to be the vile Of country par
son. To think OF your giving up such party to
stay at home and play chess! But perhaps you
expect visters and Julia looked archly in her sis
ter's placid face as she spoke.
i deserve no credit for staying home with
papa tonight, for dare say, it | anticipated as
much pleasure as you do, should be selfish
enough TO leave him alone again, as have often
done on other occasions
Julia was silent, for she was busily employed
in the arrangement Of a stray rnglet, and the
engrossing duties Of the toilet put a stop to all
conversation save that which related to the i'm
portan! business then in progress.
There now, you look beautiful, Julia, said
Mary, as she kissed her sisters cheek, pray do
not waste your smiles upon any terror.faced
count toni ght
How you do hate foreigners, Mary
you are again mistaken, Julia; have no such
narrow minded pre- udce as would induce me to
condemn men because they were born in another
country but do most heartily detest the ahec-
tations and pretence Of those who come here
with no other gift then impudence and whiskers,
to speculate upon the gullbity Of us Yankees.
| will venture to wager my new bonnet, that
Count Hundslorth is tall, starved looking indi.
vdual, imprisoned in tight lrock coat, plenti-
fully bebraded and be-frogged-with a face
covered with yellow hair, through which peep
two little grey eyes-a face, in short, something
honest expression.
'Fe, fe, Mary'
We'll, let me have more accurate descrip-
ton when you return said Mary, laughing as
she tied on her sisters cloak.
Pray Mary, where did you ever see Count
Hundslorth?' said Julia, as she took her seat at
the breakfast table the next morning.
d have never seen him., replied Mary, with a
look of surprise.
'Ysu described him so exactly said Julia
that | really thought you must have met witt
him. wish you had been with me last night
for you would have found excellent food for you
wit among the circle which the title Of the illus
rious stranger drew around him. Seated on
divan in the centre Of one Of the rooms, directly
under the blaze OF an immense chandelier, sa
little shrvelled-up man, such as you described
but W tn this difference, that if he resembleC
Ponto, it must have been when the poor dog wa
very sleepy, for more stupid, heavy looking in
divduaI | never beheld crowd of ladie
were around him. Mrs Maleron having beef
careful to take every body up to him as they en-
tered the room, as if he had been sovereign
prince receiving homage, until at last the crea
ture deliberately rose from the midst Of them
sauntered carelessly round the room, and spyn
convenient corner, settled his head against tn
wall, and actually lUent to sleep! 1t required al
Mrs. Malleron's tact to cover such a fagran
breach Of good manners; but he was noblemar
Of sixteen quarerngS, and so he was excused
4 suppose his drmorial bearings lacked SUI
pOrterS, and he was therefore overcome by thei
weight, said Mary laughngy.
He was overcome W ith something but whetf
er it was heraldic honors, Rhenish wine, or n;
tive stupidity | could not discover Mrs. Ma
leron tried TO make him show off to advantage
but he required as much goadng as the poor oil
lion in the menagerie, and when stirred up, col
tented himself like the wearied beast, wit
stretching out his talons and showing his teeth.
Then you did not dance with him., said Mary
why yes could not resist the temptation
being envsd by all the bellies in the room. Fl
= declared he should only waltz once, lust TO civ