Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1864-04-02
THE COUNT AND THE COUSIN.


down the steps of the City Hotel.
ssThat was Adelaide Walsingham, your
cousin and mine, Charles" said Horace !;
really you must have left your memory among
the beauties of Paris, if you cannot recog-
nize your nearest of kin"
"You forgot, Horace, that when first saw
Adelaide she was little lively hoyden, scarce
ten years old; the lapse of seven years
makes lady, whatever it magido with a gen.
tleman." Ill rE
Nay if you begin to discuss times changes,
Charles, must confess you cannot congrat-
late yourself upon having escaped touch of
his finger. Who, in that bronZed complex
ion and hirsute visage, could discover any
traces of the smooth-cheeked boy whom
last saw on the deck of the French packet
ship some seven years ago. But tell me,
why did you not write that you were coming
home ~ Il -tt laFI
Because did not know my own mind,
Horace; really was not quite certain about
until had been a week at sea. The odd pro-
nunciation of my German valet having caus-
ed my name to be placed on the list of pas
sengers as Mr.. Stanly, il occurred to me that
the mistake would enable me to return uacog-
aito, and thought would humor the joke,
if but to see how many of my old friends
would recognize me. / arrived late last even
ing, and should now be perfect stranger in
nv native city, had not accidentally met
you this morning; and even you, Horace, at
first did not recognize me" ~ $500
"Know you, Charles who the deuce could
even see you behind that immense growth of
brushwood upon your lip and cheek? Do you
really mean to wear those enormous whiskers
and moustaches ,"
"Certainly not longer than il suits my pres
ent purpose, Horace. When was in Ger
MANY learned to wear moustaches for the
same reason that / learned TO smoke the
observation-disclosures everybody else did it.
In Paris reduced them little, but did net
entirely Danish them, because there also /
found them in fashion. A lively little French
lady, passenger in our ship, wagered pair
of gloves that would not wear them a week
in America; accepted the bet, and for
one week you will see me "bearded like the
bard"
may, if you like them" said Horace
laughing, you need not seek an excuse for
wearing them; they are quite the fashion,
and ladies now estimate man, not as they
once did, by his altitude, but by the length of
his whiskers."
81 have no desire to win the ladies' favor
by wearing an unshayen face" answered
Charles; 81 nt pray Horace tell me some
thing more about our pretty cousin
She is as lovely in character, Charles, as
sne is in person, but she has one great fault;
like most of our fashionable bellies, she has a
mania for everything foreign. Her manners,
her dress, her servants, ali came from abroad,
anu she has declared to me repeatedly her
resolution never to marry an American"
what is it that my fair countrywonlen so
much admire in their foreign lovers asked
Charles.
"0h, they say there is a polish and ele-
gance of manners, which Americans never
possess. Two of Adelade's most intimate
friends have recently married scions of some
antedeluvian German family, and our lovely
cousin is ambitious OF forming equally
splendid alliance"
"If she were 20 marry a western farmer"
said Charles, with smile, "she would reign
over principality quite as large and perhaps
more hOurishing, than usually belongs to
these emigrant mobiles"
Adelaide is noble-hearted GIRL" replied
Horace, land wish she could be cured of
her folly.n
"lf she is really sensible girl, Horace,
and that is her only fault, think she might
be cured"
Horace shook his head. g0
. Come and dine with me, Horace; be
careful TO tell no one of my arrival and we'll
discuss the matter over a bottle of fine old
Madeira, if you are not too fashionable TO
drink It."
The windows of Mr.. Walsingham's house
poured flood of light through the crimson
silk curtains upon the wet ana dreary street,
while the music heard at intervals told to the
gaping crowd collected about the door, that
the rich were making merry. The rooms
were brilliant with an array of youth and
beauty, but fairest among them all stood the
mistress of the festival. Attired in a robe
Of white Grape, with no other ornament than
pearl bandeau combining her dark tresses,
she looked the persOnitcation of joy.
p. Cousin Horace" she exclaimed, as she saw
her fayorite cousin enter the room, "a you have
not been here these three days." and then, in
a lower tone, she added, ''whO was that SPLEEN
did Don WhiskerandO with whom l saw you
walking yesterday :"
Horace laid his finger on his lip, as a tall
figure emerged from the crowd at the en-
trance Of the room Miss Walsingham, al
low me TO present to you the most noble
Count Pfeiffenhammer."
The blood mounted into Adelaide's cheek
as the Count bowed low over the hand which
he fastened to secure for the next quadrilIe
There was mischievous sparkle in Horace's
eye, and deep and earnest devotedness in
the strangers manner, which made her feel a
little uncomfortable, though she knew not
why. A single glance suffced TO show her
that the Count was attired in a magnificent
court suit, with diamond buckles at the knee,
and diamond band looping up the elegant
ehapeau bras which encountered his arm. At
ter some minutes she yentured TO look more
courageously at him. He was tall and ex-
ceedingly well shaped his eyes were very
bright, but the chief attraction was Deauti-
full mouth, garnished with the most splendid
moustache that ever graced an American ball
room. Adelaide was delighted. He danced
elegantly; not with the stiff, awkward man,
ner of an American, who always seems half
ashamed of the undignifed part he is playing,
but with buoyancy of step and grace of mo-
ton perfectly unrivalled Adelaide was en-
chanted. He spoke English very well; a
slight German accent only betrayed his for
eign birth, and Adelaide did not like him the
less for that IL is true she felt little queer
when she felt herself whirling through the
waltz in the arms of an entire stranger, and
her brow flushed with something very like
anger when she felt his bearded lip upon her
hand, as he placed her in seat, but this was
only the freedom of foreign manners. 81
The evening passed away ike dream, and
Adelaide retired to her room with a burning
cheek, and frame exhausted by what is
deemed pleasure. She was too much excited
for sleep, and when she appeared at her faith
er's breakfast table Ia duty which she never
neglected. it was with such pale cheek and
heavy eye that he was seriously alarmed.