The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1885-02-25

am | to say ?" he began.
/ "Oh let him have her, by al
} means
"But l don't believe he will, un.
less he thinks she is an heiress, and
| don't intend to peUure myself or
her account, though of course,
shall give her something when she
marries."
THAT is a little awkward" said
Miss Clara, musing. "We musI
think it over. Have YOU made any
inquiries about him ?n
4 Yes, and l have no reason to be.
lieve that he is not the man he rep.
resents himself to be. He is well
known both at Paris and Cannes
And yet | believe he is fraud"
THAT is quite possible but if he
is really Count Spitzentoff, don't
see Why Annie should not marry
him."
But he thinks she is worth a
million"
"Let him think So"
| Il am not going to tell the man a
pack of lies"
Il don't want you to-" said the
invalid, with animation. Attend
to me When Spitzentoff proposes
you must positively refuse to hear
1t, without word about her pros
poets"
'And then ?"
Why, then they will elope OF
course !"
Mr.. Dexter burst out laughing.
We'll, that is certainly an ingen-
,ous idea. But | am afraid he will
ill-treat her when he finds OUT
oh, nonsense She is very we'll
able to take care of herself, and you
Will make her decent allowance.
So Mr.. Dexter went to meet the
count, having made up his mind to
put his nieces plan into operation.
The interview was brief. TIE count
avowed his devotion to Miss Annie
Dexter, and formally asked for her
hand. Dexter, whose repugnance to
the fascinating foreigner, rather in
creased than diminished. point
blank refused to entertain the pro-
posal. The count waxed eloquent
and expostulatory enlarged upon
the splendor of his family and the
extent OF his possessions, went even
so tar as to produce a number of
papers which established his identi-
" beyond all reasonable doubt, and
invited Mr.. Dexter to come into his
private room and inspect a quantity
OF foreign orders and patents of no.
bility. But the American was OBJ
durate; and, seeing that all the
pleading was in vain, the count went
off in a terrible rage.
The next few days were somewhat
trying, both for uncle and niece.
As soon as Miss Annie heard the
dreadful news of her lovers rejection
she attacked her guardian with ev-
cry species of argument and abuse
she could invent, and was only paci-
fed by the threat that he would dis
close her identity. Failing to make
an impression upon him she resort
ed to Clara, whom she pestered for
her good offices and reproached Bit
terly tor having marred her pros
poets in life.
"My dear Annie" protested Clara,
| assure you it has nothing to dol
with me, | should be delighted to
see you the Countess of Spitzentoff. |
Uncle takes such violent dlslikes,
you know. If | were you | should
elope; he will be sure to come
round afterward.
My dear Clara, what a magniti-
cent idea p cried Annie, embracing
her, effusively.
As the days passed, the love lorn
young lady's temper improved ma-
terIally the count was as devoted
as ever In his intentions, though
less obstruslve, and the Dexters, un-
Gle and niece, proposed to take no
notice of the affair The st. Leger
week came on, and the hotels were
crowded to suffocation. The night
before the great race there was a
ball at the Regalia of unusual splen-
dor.
Il suppose you are going to night,
Annie? :" inquired Clara.
Yes, with Mrs. Mungo; and |
have a great favor to ask-perhaps
ii may be the last, ..Aid the young
lady drmurely.
What Is it?"
Il want you to lend me your dia-
monds. | am so anxious to look
well to night"
"Oh, yes you may have them,
answered Clara, smilingly. Don't
forget to leave them behind, though"
80 Miss Annie went to the ball
arrayed in Miss Dexter's jewels, and
enjoyed herself immense
ly.
The next day nearly everyone in
the hotel went of to Doncaster. The
Scarborough air had done Clara so
much good that she determined to
her uncle. Annie, how
ever, pleaded fatigue and a bad
headache, and Dexter did not press
her to go. Just before starting
Clara entered her Uncle's room.
Lend me f20O," she said laugh.
ing.
"What for?" he asked, with a re-
sponslve grin.
Now you know you are not to
ask questions, but to do as you are
told"
Arriving on the course, Dexter
disposed of his niece and began
strolling about the ring. Presently
he felt touch on his sleeve.
81 beg your pardon, sare," said
some one with strong foreign ac-
cent, "but haf I re pleasure to ad-
dress Mr.. Dexter ?"
That's 30" said Dexter, turning
round.
Two men stood before him, one
all and somewhat distinguished
looking, the other shorter, with a
sharp, hatchet face and business-like
appearance. Dexter fancied be had
,een the tall man before. Odly ,
be was singularly like Count /