River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1875-09-03
MISCELLANY.
DECEITFUL APPEARANCES.

We-that is, my wife and myself were
enjoying few weeks at one of the large
hotels that are so numerously dotted
along the Mediterranean coast. 1t might
have been at Hyeres, Cannes, or Nice, at
Monaco or Mentore, Bordi ghere or San
Reno, Sayona or Pegli: or it might have
been at no one of all these. We had
been staying it is sufficient to say--at the
Hotel du Bon Vivant about a week, when
there appeared at the tabled hote a
very striking parsonage. As soon as din
ner was over, my wife found herself tby
accident near the visitors book, and dis.
covered that the new arrival had entered
himself as the Baron Monteggiana-Tever
nellie. We were chiefly English at the
hotel, there was no Italian there, and our
acquaintance with the national Burke was
limited; so we easily accepted the theory
that this lengthy appellation was one Of
the most ancient titles in the land. We
were subsequently informed by the Baron
that it was Sicilian, which made our ig-
norance more excusable.
| don't think it was his title, or at least
it was only that, which made us all so
charmed with him. 1t must have been
Ibis noble bearing, his perfect manner,
his evident desire to please, his modest
evasion of all topics bearing on his career,
and his handsome face. He appeared to be
about 80 years ofage, his black hair was as
glossy asa raven S plumage, and his black,
flashing eyes betrayed passionate soul;
while his thick mustache framed, rather
than concealed, a smile that irradated
his intellectual countenance with sweet
ness and light" Such, at least, was the
description given ofhim in one OF my wile's
letters to my mother-in-law and | am
glad | happened to look into that letter,
as it has saved me some little trouble IN
attempting to describe him in words of
my own.
The Baron mixed very little with his
own countrymen, and as | ventured to
suggest to my wife, see ned rather shy OF
them. He never vent to the public amuse.
ments, and declined to subscribe to the Cir
colo. She explained to me in reply, that
he was the only nobleman in the place,
and was, perhaps, little naughty toward
his compatriots Of lower rank. He had
also informed her himself that he had Sc
lected our hotel for the express purpose
of mixing with the English, as he was e1-
pecting shortly to receive a government
appointment, and, for the better discharge
of his prospective duties, little know-
edge of English was desirable.
| should have mentioned before that |
only speak my own language but my wife
can converse in Italian with ease and flu
ency, and the Baron very naturally talked
with her good deal, and occasionally con-
descended to speak to me by heiiinterpre-
tation.
Shortly after the arrival of the Baron
Monteggiana-Ta we were further
enivened by another. This time it was
a Russian lady attended by her maid.
There we're no other Russians at the Ho-
tel du Bon Vivant, and she appeared to
nave come there rather from necessity
than from choice. as there were no rooms
vacant in the inn usually frcquented by
those of her nation. She declined to en-.
ter her name in the visitors book, and
for the first two or three days dined in
her own room, holding herself aloof from
the rest of us. This, added TO the effect
produced by a stateliness, not to say
grandeur, of department and rich sobriety
of dress, prepared US all for the discovery
which in few days oozed out, that she
was a Russian princess, widow, who
wished to remain iRcOgnitO, and to live
quietly in the enjoyment of an unconven-
tional freedom from the obligations ofno.
bility-an enjoyment beyond her com.
mand at home.
We never fully understood how this
Oozed out. Her female attendant could
understand nothing, and therefore could
divulge nothing. The maitre d'hotel as.
sured his guests that he knew no more
than the rest Of the world; and, by hi,
mysterious shruggings, his sell.contra.
dictions. and, above all. by his manner,
impressed US all with the firm belief that
there was a secret in his possession
This, Of course, confirmed the truth OF
the report, and it became an established
fact that the lady was a Russian prin
cess.
After a few days of scclusion, she
youchsaled to make her appearance al
the tabled hotc, and retired with the
rest Of the ladies' TO the Sale des Dame,
afterward. Then il was that the Baron
exhibited his Unborn as well as inherited
nobility. lie attended TO her littl,
wants, placed her an armchair by thei
fragrant wood.iire, and, on receiving hei
thanks IL his mother tongue--his parents
pride no doubt bad prevented him froG
learning any other-he entered into 4
respectful and courtly conversation with
her. There were plenty other men in IN,
room who could have done IL, but tn,
Baron was naturally the fittcst persor {,
begin; and | will give him credit fol
boundless selfpossess mot to call j
impudence.
The acquaintance thus began grew