Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1886-08-12
ROLLERS VICTORY.
A Genuine Love Affair at a Water
ing Place.


genuine love affair occurred at a water
place that the one between Roller and
the French governess was regarded as a
succession of phenomena. The Bran
don was the latest type of aesthetic sum-
mer hotel-a large Queen Anne man
sion, surrounded with cottages equally
Queen Anne, high in altitude as in
tariff, as the Anglo-Saxons say. The
cottages were the resort of those favor
ties of fortune who. wearying of New
port and LenoN, sought place where
they could have fortnight's rest from
the business of pleasure. The style of
dress was severely plain among the
women, and the men affected Norfolk
jackets and shooting coats. These pc
culiaritios were unknown to the Burt
Robinsons when they took the most ex-
pensive cottage for the season. They
only knew it was very high priced and
very exclusive. The time came during
the soiourn when they blushed for the
numberleSS gorgeous toilets displayed
by Lillian Burt-Rob,nson. and for Mrs.
Burt-ROb nSOn's diamonds as large as
peas, which she wore every evening.
The Burt-RObnsOns had been evolved
thus: FIRST. there was Josiah b. Robin
son, hardware merchant and dealer in
agricultural implements, then a fine
house on Fifty-ei@ht street, and cards
engraved Mr.. and Mrs. josiah Burt
Robinson;" next a box at the opera,
noticed in the society papers as that of
the Burt-R0binsons; and at last simply
Al Il, Al
Howard de Redclvtfes.
to the level of the Howard de RedcIyffes,
or they would not have been found at
the Brandon House, with Lillian the
daughter, and Clarence the son, and lit
tie Gwendolen the baby, with her French
governess, Miss Lefevre, as they all
voted it poIy, and only came because of
the acquaintance to be made. Miss
Lillian had thought to do great things
with her pretty blond hair bowed over
her blue eyes and her innumerable fluffy
white toilets. She had suggested bring
ing the governess along, thinking in the
depths of her heart that Miss Lefevre's
dark skin and trim black dresses would
make good foil for her own bright
beauty. The governess was certainly
very dark and had no clothes to speak
of; but she had eyes rs black us sloes.
and the way she wore her simple gowns
was truly Partisan.
There was one thing Lillian did I'M
derstand, and that was music. The
Brandon did not indulge in any thing
SO commonplace as a regular orchestra,
but it had Il couple of young Germans.
one of whom played on the piano and
the other on the cornet, while Roller
al IL -hr 4 Il
Wagner, Schumann and Raft most arts
tically in the great dim drawing-room
every morning and evening. Lillian,
although given to atfectation, could
truly say that she ..adored'' to hear
them play; but there was a mystery
about Roller which attracted her. True,
he was only the violinist at a summer
hotel but there was Il delicious aroma
of s.familv" floating around him.
Somebody said he was a count, or had
been Il count, or was going to lie a count;
and one morning, as the Burt Robinsons
sat listening to the last strains of con-
certo. Mr. Prescott Fairbanks, the most
fashionable acquaintance they had in
the world, came up to speak to them.
and seeing Roller, started visibly. Then
he went up to him and said. holding out
his hand: why, Count-eXcuse me. but
surely am not mistaken knew Count
Maurice Roller so weIlr'
Roller colored up to the roots of his
curly yellow hair, and awkwardly ac-
cepted Mr.. Prescott Fairbanks out
stretched hand. ''Yes, l am Roller, but
in somewhat hard circumstances. |
would prefer my family did not know
Then he stopped short. 1t was equal
" embarrassing to MIR. Prescott Fair
banks. Don't let me interrupt you,
he said, hurriedly, waving his hand as
if Roller were playing for his own
amusement. Presently We'll have q
talk. y
Roller went back somewhat tremu-
lous and excited to his everlasting con-
certos and nocturnes. Miss Lillian seized
Mr.. Fairbanks. 'sDo tell me all about
him. and what brought him here" she
whispered. rs he bent down.
Cant, my dear young lady. Never
was more surprised in my life. Last
time saw him 1 was at his father pal
ace in Munich. Most embarrassing rem
cOntre."
That was all, but that was enough.
Mr. Fairbanks presently escaped from
the ladies; was seen no more until some
one caught him coming out of the cot
tage where the musician lodged, and
left on the night train. Nobody else
but the Burt Robinsons had witnessed
the Fairbanks episode, and they tacltly
agreed to keep it to themselves. But
TO Lillian glorious vista opened up.