The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1885-04-10

present relations with the Count or our
approaching marriage. We are not to
be married in a dime museum" and the
lady curled her lips in scornful disdain,
"ror with fireworks and a brass band.
l esteem the Count very highly. and he
is devotedly attached to me. Our ac-
qualntance dates back nearly eight
years, and our union, when it takes
place, will be the result of mutual re.
spect and admiration between q gentle
man, who, though small of stature, is
EVERY INCH A MAN,
and a lady who fancies that the public
should by this time know her to be a
woman of sense"
There were seated in the room, be-
sides the reporter and the widow, Mr..
Sylvester Blocker, who for 81 years has
been the manager of this little lady,
and Mrs. Blocker, his wife. "The truth
is, said this gentleman, "the generals
widow has certain professional engag
ments to fill and her fiance is also under
contract fo1 some time yet. This renders
it impossible for them to fix a date for
their marriage, but 1t will certainly occur
before long"
Indeed it will, broke in the sprightly
relict of General Thumb, "for the count
has imperative duties connected with
the settlement of his estate in Italy
which require his presence in that coun-
try by the latter part of May and he is
resolved, that he will not return without
me-
"Do 1 understand then" said the re.
porter as decorously as possible, chat
Count Rosebud is?"-
"There is no Count Rosebud about
It'll" exclaimed the little lady with con-
siderable warmth. "My intended hus.
band is Count Primo Magri, q member
Of a distinguished italian family; a
Count in his own right, and an accom-
plished scholar and a perfect gentle
man,"
Il feel it my duty at this point
broke in Mr.. Sylvester BECKER, ''to as
suro you that the lady is not throwing
herself away upon any mere adventure.
l am in some respects the guardian oil
Mrs. Stratton, and was a lifelong friend
and partner of Ter husband. She has a
handsome fortune, including a beaut1-
full country seat at marlborough,
Mass. Count Magri is not, however, a
fortune-hunter. He, is himself a rich
man, and the match is in every way de-
sirable and equal"
HOW THEY MET n LOVED.
The generals widow, who during
this somewhat embarrassing explana.
ton had sat with downcast eyes,, her
bejewelled hands folded in her lap, new
looked up at the ceiling aad breathed a
deep sigh. sit is not" said she pres
emily, putting the corner of a lace
handkerchief, about the size of a childs
penwiper to her eyes, ''as if /
were not well enough acquainted
with the count. I have known
him for more than seven years. We
met first in Springfield, Mass. That
was before the General had passed away.
He was q member of our little company
during two seasons and was a warm
friend Of the Generals. After the death
Of the General in July, 1888. he wrote
me a beautiful letter of coincidence, and
we frequently met thereafter in our
travels through the country. I learned
to look upon him almost as a brother.
l was, you will remember, the wife Of
the General for more than 20 years,
having been married in Grace Church,
this city, February 10, 1863, I do not
know" (and here the little lace handker-
chief left the widows eyes and wander.
ed down to her lips, where it was held
coquetishly, as if she feared her tongue
would run truant with matronly wis
DOM chow my relations to the Count
gradually assumed that condition which
rendered a courtship possible. Per.
haps tho Count can tell you more
about that. ALI I need say is that
we met last fall in Baltimore,
Count Magri having obtained an
engagement at the same place in which
/ was performing, and that I consented
to become his wife. He is an accom-
plished gentleman between 35 and SO
years of age, master OF several Language
es, and a finished and dexterons
swordsman. 1t is u intention to be
married in this city in time to sail TO,
Italy not later than the middle of May.
l shall meet the Count two weeks from
to-day, and the details of our marriage
will then be arranged. Our plans for
the future are entirely indefinite, but
it is not at all improbable that we will
never return to this country, or only
perhaps, for an occasional brief visit.
We are not at all dependent upon our
profession for a livelihood. and are at
liberty to follow our own inclinations
in the arrangements for our future
lives"
Mrs. Stratton, who is A years of age,
is estimated to be worth more than one
hundred thousand dollars. She was, it
will be remembered, before her mar
riage to Tom Thumb, a Miss Lavinia
Warren. Her sister, Minnie Warren,
who married Commodore Mutt, died in
July, 1878. Count Magri, who is of
present in Milwaukee, is one inch and
quarter taller than the wealthy widow
he is about to we'd.
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