Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1883-12-03

An AxERIcAN GIRL WITH SHAKP EYE
10 THE MAIx CHANCE


A young American lady made her ap-
pesrance in Rome in the early part OF the
season who created sensation because
of her wonderous beauty. She was trihe
under the medium figure, with wealth
of blonde hair and dark eyes (the posses
sion of blonde hair with dark eyes is al.
WAYS attractive). the most wonderful
figure and the daintiest feet and hands
ever attached TO feminine form. Then
her manner was splendid. and her tax
was as good as her manner. She had
travelled much. and could converse very
intelligently in English, and the little
Italian she spoke gave piquancy to her
conversation, because Of its badness.
She lived at the best hotel. had de-
lightful waiting maid to attend upon her.
and she paid promptly for everything and
lived very literally; it was supposed that
she was one of those rich, eccentric Amer
lean women who delight in travel and
in living a very free life.
The noble Count Buskerino saw her
and was smitten with her. He had been
smitten a great many times. but being
simple and ugly. and, having very bad
habits, il was rather difficult for him to
capture any American woman with means
It was her supposed money that attracted
him, and 1t would have been the same
had she been as old as Methuselah and as
ugly as sin.
The mother of the count tried very hard
TO ascertain exactly the financial condition
of the fair American, but with little sue
cess. When the subject was delicately
referred to Annette Chat was her name)
always replied laughingly that she had
enough to live on in the style that suited
her, and always would have, and kissed
the aged noblewoman, and talked OF
something else in so delicious way that
as to make further converse anent money
impossible.
The count did not like to fasten himself
without knowing precisely how much he
was to get with her. but ne was in des-
perate way financially. and besides. the
girl-or woman rather-was so entirely
charming that he was as much in love
with her as an Italian is capable OF being
In love with anybody, and 30 he and his
mother determined to take the chances.
He proposed in the ELUSIVE Italian man.
ner and Annette accepted very promptly.
and the twain were made one with so
much of pomp and circumstances as his
stratened circumstances would admit, and
in due season the happy pair were INSTALL
ed in the Buskerino palace.
A few days after the count made very
cold-blooded demand as to her property.
asking that she make a statement as to
how much. where and how it was invested
and all about it.
why. darling. haven't got cent"
What ~ exclaimed the count.
"Cockatrice - Kissed the countess.
mot cent, my beloved. not a cent.my
mother !" calmly replied the wife OF a
few days mot so much as one little
centlssime | was at the end of my string.
as we say in the practical west, and if you
had not married me as you did. should
have been compelled to skip ere short
week had rolled over my head"
Then who are you, without money!"
"Me! Oh! l was variety actress in
America. and had an engagement in Paris.
but somehow ] didn't catch on there. Then
[ came to Florence as one of the maids Of
q rick California widow, me and Louise.
Louise is my maid now and has been since
Mrs. Mallow VENT back to America and
left us out in the cold. and then | came
here and set up as a lady on my own ac-
connt, and Louise consented TO act as my
maid for time. We had saved a few hun
bred dollars. and Mrs. Mallow was care
less OF her clothes, and we have had a
good time of it. and only Think am a
countess!"
But how are we to live? We haven't
lire !"
IL know that; but you have several
millions of lire in art rubbish
YES" Kissed the count; 'but we can't
coll 70 ho,ansa IL Ia opfaila1 ~
II know that, and it's mighty lucky for
you that it is Had it not been entaied
YOU and the whole lot would have gone
have to live upon. There are to-day 80. 900
strangers in Rome. and they are all crazy
to see art collections. You have permit
ted everybody to come here, wearing out
your floors. for nothing. they only giving
a few coppers to Giovanni as a compliment.
We won't do this any more. We will
put up all umbrella and overcoat stand at
the entrance to the grand hall. we will
advertise the Buskerino collection, not in
the newspapers, as though it was COM
mon show. but /. being in society. every
American will want to know a countess
and can do the proper steer, we will
put Louise in the ticket office-that is
at the umbrella and cane stand and she
will yank lire out Of every sucker whom
| rope in-the count and countess sup
posed this variety show slang was the
most unexceptional American English
and we'll corrall mighty pile every day"
The two Italians gritted their teeth.
which she observed.
..Oh. it's all we'll enough to grit your
teeth. but we have stomachs. Louise and
l have. Then We keep eight horses and
as many carriages. We will just paint
off the coat Of arms from them carriages.
and put six of them on the street doing
regular work the same as the other horse
banditti do. and a very good revenue can
be got out of them. And then the palace (!
Just think OF it. II occupies a square.
four and FIVE stories high. How much
can we occupy? We can't any of us sleep
in two rooms at once, and there are a
hundred Of them. We shall live 10 the
grand apartments hereafter, and the
rest OF it we shall rent to rich people
who want quarters near the nobility
Nobody will know how much of the
place we occupy, and we won't appear in
it anyhow. Louise will do the business
and handle the shekels. l will watch
Louise. though the girl is honest il she
isn't TEMPTED too much, and between tho