West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1884-11-28
COUNT" SPLITZENTOFF.
Miss Dexter's Ingenious Idea, and
What Came OF 1t.

The season at Scarborough was ut its
height. The hotels were crowded, and
innkcepers and tradesmen were doing "A
roaring trade. Not only was there the
usual holiday makers, Yorkshire manu-
facturers, sprigs of nobility, overworked
city men, with their wives and super
abundant families. but the cholera had
sent over a goodly contingent of foreign
notabilities with high-sounding names.
and of more or less distinguished APP
pearance. There were French Mar
quises and Counts, German Barons and
an Italian Duke; there was a Russian
Prince, and there were dozens of He
brcws of every nationality rivaling
the sun IN Oriental splendOr.' MANY
OF these personages We're accompanied
by their wives and daughters, and most
of them were exceedingly affable i'm
their demeanor, joining in whatever
amuSements the place afforded, and
dancing away at the periodical assem-
blles with an energy which, if some
what misdirected was obviously we'll
meant. The Miss Mungos, from Brad
ford, and the Miss Shoddvs, of Halifax.
SitN AiitiAt 0ultu WIFI inc atilllAllOn OF
foreign noblemen, and if it had not
been for the advent of the brilliant
and fascinating Count SplitZentof
at the Regalia Hotel there is no know
ing but their affections might have re-
turned to the somewhat deserted Toms.
Dicks and Harrys of their native coun-
ty. But before the Counts superior at
fractions all minor consultations waned
into insignilicance. He was Young. ap-
parently about two or three and thirty:
he had lovely teeth and magnificent
black hair, NE was evidently possessed
OF untold wealth, wore little icwelrv.
and drove an admirable mail phaeton
and pair of horses. With one consent,
therefore, the maidens of Scarborough
fell down and wOrshiped him
The Count was accessible, and speed
lily made vast number of acquaint-
ances. He was universally popular.
the women all liked him. and the men
though not little jealous Of his sue
cess, were forced 10 confess that ne
drove very well. and played remark
ably good game Of billiards He spoke
moderately good English with "a strong
foreign accent, and cOnvcrsed fuentIv i'm
French with anyone who had -u1i-
GENTLY mastered the intricacics Of that
language. There were. OF course. GER
tain enviOus persons 40 Scarborough
who limited broadly that the fascinating
Count was no Count at an. bun an in
dlvidual In very much humber sta
ton Of life The Baron Won Stufguzl
for instance. insinuated that he had met
him before in gambling hell i'm Vienna.
and that his duties there were Of "a char
acter both mental and d-reputablc.
while the Marquis de- Tombola Forrara
said he was q courier. but. "a. neither Of
these gentlemen adducpd any evidence
IN support Of their assertions. thoy were
pretty universally di-bclieycd. More
over, a. both the Baron and the Mar
qus and. for the matter Of that. quite
half Of the most eminent parsonage I'm
the hotel had very good reasons for
wishing that their own anteccdcnt- and
pretcnsiOn- should not br too closely in-
ye-tigated. they were content. ash rule.
10 act upon the excellent rrpvcrb which
regulate the conduct Of those who live
in glass houses. So the Count i'm
creased iu favor with aIl hi- acquaint-
ances. and became quite % leader of the
social society just when hp was lt Tie
zenith Of hi. popularity. there arrived at
the Regalia Hotel an American gentle
man, accompanied by two young ladio.
The party attracted no little interest.
me American was square. dried-up
looking man Of fifty Or tbereaboul- hr
had an abrupt decisive manner and
be gave bis order with an air Of one
accustomed 70 be- Obcvcd with PROMPT
ness and precision Il name. ..c1rd-
ing TO the visitors book. was Julius X
Dexter aud Doe bad scarcely retired TO-
.Ha| n. 90.
recognized hF One hotel go-tu- One
Of The largest and most successful re.-
ula'ors in Wall street. There wa mo-
doubt 600 alI about Mr Dexter, rirTfp..
men looked upon him With a-. and aa-
mraiion. while needy e.o1s OF nobility
hun2 upon DIS .ip eager ior tho slight
est Indication of t.. ,0.r.. ,f fi,. .,''.,.
kcts The two Young ladies rather
puzzled the company 20 .he Fa0f.e
Hotel. Mr. DH,er va known ~ ye