The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1885-07-24
SELECT STORY.
A SCARBOROUGH SCANDAL.


The season at Scarborough was at
its height. Tho hotels were crowded
and inn-keepers and tradesmen were
dong a roaring trade. Not only were
there the usual holiday.makers, York
shire manufacturers, sprigs of nobility,
overworked city men, with thir wives
and superabundant families, but the
cholera had sent over goodly con-
tingent of foreign nobilties with high
sounding names, and of more or less
distinguished appearance. There were
French Marquises and Counts, German
Barons, and an Italian Duke there
was a Russian Prince, and there were
dozens of wealthy Hebrews of every
nationality, "rivaling the sun in Ori-
entail splendor.' Many of these per-
sonages were accompanied by their
wives and daughters, and most of them
were exceedingly affabo in their de-
meanor, joining in whatever amuse-
ments the place afforded, and dancing
away at the periodical assemblies with
an energy which, if somewhat misdl-
rec.ed, was obviously well.meant. The
Miss Mungos, from Bradford, and the
Miss Shoddys, of Halifax, grew quite
sated with the adulation of foreign
noblemen,an if it had not been for the
advent of the brilliant and fascinating
Count Splitzentoff at the Regalia Hotel
there is no knowing but the affections
might have returned to the somewhat
deserted Toms, Dicks and Harrys of
their native county. But before the
Counts superior attractions all minor
consultations waned into insignif-
cance. He was young, apparently about
| 32 or 33, he had lovely teeth and mag
nificent black hair he was evidently
possessed of untold wealth, wore lit
tie iewelry, and drove an admirable
mall phae,on and pair of horses. With
one consent. therefore, the maidens O
Scarborough fell down and worshippec
him.
The Count was accessible, aud speed
lily made vast number of acquain
tances. He was universally popu
lar. The women all liked him
and the men, though not little jeal
GUS of his success, were forced to con
fess that he drove we'll and played {
remarkably good game at billiards. IL,
spoke moderately good English, will
strong foreign accent, and converse'
+ fluently in French with any one VIII
had sufficiently mastered the intrica
cies of that language. There were, o
course, certain envious persons at Scar
borough who hinted broadly that tn
fascinating Count was no Count at all
but all individual in very much hum
bier station OF life. The Baron vol
Stufguzz, for instance, insinuated tha
d he had met him before in a gamblin!
hell in Vienna, and that his duties
: there wern of a character both menta
and disreputable, while the Marquis d
Tombola Ferrara said he was courier
but as neither of these gentlemen ad
duced any evidence in support of thei
!. assertions, they were pretty universal
J " disbelievcd. Moreover, as both tn
Baron and the Marquis-and, for tn
matter of that, quite half OF the mos
eminent personages in the hotel-ha
yery good reasons for wishing tina
their own antecedents and pretension
t, should not be too closely investigated
they were content as arule,to act upo
Q the excellent proverb which regulate
y the conduct of those who live in glas
9 houses. So the Count increased
Q favor with all his acquaintances, an
q became quite leader of the social 81
ciety. Just when he was at the zenit
7 of his popularity, there arrived at tn
Repalia Hotel an American gentleman
= accompanied by two young ladies. III
party attracted no little interest. Tt
American was a spare, dried'up lool
ing man of so or thereabouts he ha
an abrupt, decisive manner, and !
gave his orders with the air of one a
Il customed to be obeyed with promp
ness and precision. His name, accor
inc to the visitors book, was j. /
Dexter, and he had scarcely retired
, his private sitting room before he WI
recognized by the hotel gossips as OF
of the largest and most successful sp
!, culators in Wall street. There was !
. doubt at all about Mr.. Dexters mi
" lions men looked upon him wit
awe and admiration, while needy sciol
Of nobility hung upon his lips, eag
ne for the slightest indication of Il
es course of the markets. The two your
- ladies rather puzzled the company
the Regalia Hotel. Mr.. Dexter W
known to be childless, and he had sir
ply entered his name in the visitor
OF hook as "Julius II, Dexter and part
New York" One of the girls was a
. parently very delicate; she alwa
went to the Spa in bath chair, clos
, " wrapped up and wearing Thu
J, veil. the other being in constant atte
dance. The second, who was OF 81
ficiently attractive appearance, dress
plainly but well, and seemed to emf
excellent health. Mr.. Dexter himst
,ol never alluded to them excepta Solar
and "Annie;' and the male visito
grew prodigiously anxious to ma
their acquaintance. But week pa
ed. and the foreign noblemen, spril
CAPTAINS, tailors, money-lenders a.
seedy honorables had not succeeded
attaining the object of their aspiration
tn Matters were growing desperate,
IA the Count was deputed to devise
scheme which might produce the des
= ed effect. -,
"Clara, my dear, remarked Mr. Dc
= ter one evening to the invalid, .'tf
black whiskered Italian brigand loo
chap, who calls himself Count, wal
US to ioin in a driving excursion son
where"