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

But, of course, an explanation was to
be demanded; and, as soon as the dinner
was over, the Baron sought and obtained
a tete.a-tete in the corner of the sale des
Danes. We all had the decency TO read
Galignani, or play bezique, or otherwise
to throw veil over our curiosity, as We
anxiously watched the development of
the plot, and tried to hedge our bets be-
fore it was too late.
Suddenly the Baron started to his feet
and uttered loud exclamation which i
decline to translate. His soul now most
clearly betrayed its passionateness, but
there was rather more light than sweet
ness in his eyes as he glared around the
room in search of the hapless American.
We all sprang to our feet, too; the
ladies near the door rapidly retreated,
and the men looked at one another, half
amused, half angrily.
"If knew who had poisoned the mind
OF madame would 'dilaniate' hin, tear
him to pieces, shrieked the baron. That
viper Of an American"
at was not an American answered
the Count, coming quickly out Of a recess.
The Baron so far forgot the perfectness
Of his manners and evident desire to
please, as with his open palm to slap the
Count on the face but in another second
he found himself in that physical check.
mate known as chancery--he had got his
head under his rivals left arm, who ives
holding it down to a convenient level for
the right hand to bob his nose; and there,
before the princess, in the sale DIS Danes,
was being displayed a scene from the
British ring, chairs and tables going
everywhere as the quadrupedal monster
performed its erratic evolutions, amid the
screams of women, the shouts of men, the
groans ofthe maitre, and the indescriba.
bic cries of astonishment uttered by the
whole staff Of the hotel, which had been
gathered together at the door by the first
EXPLANATIONS of the baron.
The Anglo-Saxon nationality having,
in spite Of the principle of non.nterven-
ton, separated the Latin and the Teuton !;
the defeated combatant was assisted to
his room and looked to by an English
doctor, who had happened to be at the
hotel, and who reported that. with the
exception Of couple of broken teeth,
nothing of consequence was to be appre-
hended, beyond further requisition OF
his services at a rencontre Of a different
character. which, however, would not be
possible for some little time, owing to a
difficulty his patient had in seeing. And,
the next morning, we found that the mai
tire had given the Baron notice to quit the
Bon Vivant forthwith and so we saw no
more of the Baron Monteggiana-Taver
nellie.
In ten days or so, the Count received a
letter from him dated at Florence. In
it the Baron demanded satisfaction, and
requires that the Count should meet him
at Florence, or, if more convenient, at
Rome. In reply, the latter expressed his
readiness for an interview, but positively
declined to fatigue himself with an un-
necessary journey. The affair could very
well be settled in the place where it began.
The letter was carefully and fully directed,
registered, and posted by the Count him.
self
In the ordinary course Of events, an
answer was due in four or five days at the
furthest; but fortnight passed without
any, and at length he received the fol.
lowing, dated from Rome.
"SIR; beg to acknowledge the honor
which you have done me by addressing ;
letter to me at my house in Florence
and must apologize for nv inability to un
derstand it. Yonr name is strange to me
| was never in the place from which you
write; | have not been in Florence fol
several months and must conclude that
there is some mistake. 1t is possible that
my name has been assumed by rascally
valet who robbed me, last year, of seyera
private papers and a considerable sum o.
money, but whom | could not convenient
| ly prosecute
Then followed description which tai
lied exactly with the appearance of ouT
baron. 1t seems that the letter, being
registered, had been sent OH to the real
Baron at his residence in Rome, instead
of being delivered to the false one at tho
address given by him at Florence.
The Princess was no doubt Oyerwhelm.
ed with shame to find that she had beer
encouraging q valet instead Of his master;
for she at once admitted the Count to the
privilege Of paying her more attention
than ever. think. too, she really liked
him. Anyhow, he had proved himself
substantially able to protect her; and
the scuflle with his rival had III no degree
lessencd him in her esteem.
OF course we were not behind the
scenes, and could only judge of the prob
able course Of events by such little evi
dences as chance might throw in our way
but it was rumored that the marriage was
to take place from our hotel before Lent
"The sooner the BETTER" said my wife;
''if another man comes forward with bet
ter prospects, she'll throw over tho
Count, Just as she did the Baron"
But you see he wasn't a baron
my dear" | demonstrated not a real
one, mean, as the children say"
"Wcll; and perhaps that is not a rea
count"
"Oear me- what joke il would be il
he turned out TO be somebody's butler
| wish some Yankee would come and ash
him little about his place. We want I
little life here now"
That day we had another fresh face a
the table d'hotel; this time an English
man. lie was very taciturn, hut led Il