Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1884-09-05
THE UNWILLING GUEST.

.ssing, but soon began his story:
/ think, my friends, you have all
ard of the Countess Repey>-the
buneer, of course-the bewitching lit.
: sprite, my little black-eyed Prin-
Nine! 1 only wish she were mine.
ou must all know her. 1 suspect you
ave all lost your hearts to her, as
We done: yet ], insignificant as l am,
we been most favored. 1 drove in
e same carriage with her for a whole
ght! True, there was a chaperon
csent, but l will not have my good
ok disparaged.
One evening, in an evil hour, it oc-
trred TO her that her presence was in
spensable at a ball whichwas to take
ace at Arad on the following night.
She Immediately ordered her car
ace. Twas the only person near at
kad. please, dear Baron" she
lied, escort me to Arad."
dear Baron, dear Baron!" What
bswer could L give her?
Countess, ma deesse, it is dark as
ebus; the carriage will be upset; we
bye to ross three rivers-it will be q
onder if even two have safe bridges.
shall be drowned, Countess; our
ad lies through a forest of vast ex-
It, lonely a. the grave, and infested
h thieves and murderers. We shall
assassinated-I could not protect
alone! Besides, why should we hur-
p? Let us have an early cup of tea
set out in the morning; we shall
II Arad by noon, and you will have
whole afternoon for your toilet. Let
start tomorrow, Countess"
ply representations were futile-she
build start instanter. You know how
stinate she is. She said she "did not
sh to postpone everything till the
st moment,n she wished Ito recover
pm the fatigue of the Journey" .'How
n step straight out of the carriage
to the ballroom after being heated,
lied, crushed and tumbled by the
i've"
And, besides, she has a mania fol-
wing at night is $50 lovely, SO
mantle; the stars, the frogs, the
Ponbeams." These were all pretexts
She was determined TO satisfy hel
hlm at any cost.
h4fln, what should do? accompany
r, or stay alone in the castle-a
Teet alternative. l chose the former
urse; in her gratitude she allowed
the privilege Of sitting opposite hel
the carriage.
The truth will out; it was mighty
easant; | was almost oppressed with
arks Of the Countess favor. First,
e coniided a bandbox to my care,
en her muff, then her travelling bag:
EtlN, pair Of goloshes. Next, she
asleep-deaf to all conversation
e slumbered soundly; occasionally
pen the carriage jolted over a stone
. would wake with a start: "Where
me trareling-bag? Where is the
~! Are you sure you are not sitting
ne bonnet-box? For heavens sake
he care, dear Baron!" Then she
i asleep again; then the %chaperone,
lo"as suffering from migraine, began
Iaerulous conversation, ~whimpering
!eously the while. l closed my eyes
Fshlng sleep. Suddenly the carriage
Ppped and began to heel over on one
It, as II it also was about to seek re
Inc coachman jumped off the DO,
u came to the window.
AM almost afraid, your ladyship
:, We have lost our way"
w hat maftore D33 oncrroroI &ht
MESS; docs not the road lie before
Drive on, OF course"
mere is a road, my lady, but where
rs II lead?"
~ must lead somewhere"
put am afraid it will lead US to .
s wv not altogether safe"
nat a fool you are! Every place
.ae,where are we now?:"
AZ M me forest of Szalonta."
"ell' this forest ends somewhere
n,emember right, it only takes tive
"is 10 drive through it either way
n'l the coachman is afraid" IVen
lS he paid for being afraid?"
nG IS afraid, dear Countess, tina
@IihnnlIn,g may happen to YOU"
n1hat's no affair of his"
Vslhat the horses"
ven, that's his lookout"
h tnaI there are some poor devils il
iG'sst who try to get their living
VII himselfp' p0'
an VI, yes; but he means those poo
MIG are in the habit of relievin,