Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1888-04-12

A@AAhOiAoho was never visible except
at the roulette tables, where he played
moderate. calculating. well-under-
control game, at which he could not
have ruined himself in twenty years
had he lost every stake. which. to
render him justice, he was far from
doing; he spoke to and looked at no.
body. never seemed concerned or
elated, but watched the revolving ball
with the beautified expression of one
who has found his vocation. INA"
famed and rocked herself in her sunny
'parlor' with monotonous regularity,
and Della was in her element
Miss Mulholland. after one trial, had
pronounced gambling stupid" and
eschewed it. but she made acquaint-
ances with a rapidity and desinvolture
that was trnly remarkable. and some
times surprised even her little nil ad-
nairari, independent. republican mind.
She strolled on the terraces, wandered
in and out of the Casino, smiling. self
possessed and well dressed, entered
into conversation with any one who
occupied the same seat with her
in salon or gardens, never refused
an escort or disclaimed COM
pliment, had retort or provocation
ever at the tip of her tongue. and in
her quick, restless. aggressive and
piquant fashion almost at one became
the presiding goddess of a slavish and
fascina ting coterie. The two or three
American girls admitted into it had
dropped off as the season advanced.
and Miss Della alone remained the
idolized center of attraction of her
"beaux," as she called them.
The most conspicuous of these. cher
own team" were French Vicomte,
an Italian Marchese and German
Baron; without one or all three of
these she was never seen in public.
The women of the world looked at her
askance and disparagingly; the wom-
en- of all nations not of the world
looked at her disparagingly but envy
ingly; all, without knowing it, were
unanimous in marveling at her sue
cess; but, careless and unconscious
alike of envy and dlsapproval, Miss
Della went her own glad way.
In time-not long time-the
Vicomte had offered at her shrine COM
pliments and flowers; the Marchese.
| candied fruits and opera tickets; the
Baron. his heart, and nothing with it.
Miss Della was. to use her own ex-
preston, cute, and was not disap-
| pointed that none of her worshipers
should have supplemented his gener-
| Gus gifts with the additional tender
| of his hand. She had prompt
| " ascertained that the Vicomte
received a scanty monthly allowance
from his father; that the Marchese's
hereditary CASTILLO was in a rural
cheese growing district of Piedmont.
where he spent ten months Of the
| year in patriarcha al retirement; and
that the Baron had been engaged to a
| cousin in Pomerania since lie was six
| teen years old. She was determined
to marry title. but at no personal
sacrifice to herself, nor did she in
tend to regild it with pas money
not shei
Once or twice in the course of the
afternoon she would flash into the
salon de roulette, stand minute be-
hind Mr.. Benjamin j. W. Mulhol-
land chair. playfully toy with his
hair. look round on the company and
dance off with discomposing frou-
frou of skirts and patter of high
heels, escorted by her SWANS.
During one of these raids she had
noticed fair. tall, somewhat portly
man, faultlessly dressed. gardenia
in his tightly-buttoned coat, smooth,
short shiny hair, and close-shaven
face. IAN Englishman," had been
her first mute comment; "a hand
some Englishman, her second; Il
wonder who he is?" her third.
Miss Delia's chances must have been
eloquent as they were magnetic, for
the stranger not only met them fully,
| but, after the fourth of these silent
and distant meetings, followed her
boldly. contrived to pass the doorway
at the same moment and trod on her
| flowing dress.
Il beg your PARDON" he said re-
spectfully. raising his hat.
Miss Della, seeing her opportunity.
grasped it. She first volubly and
laughingly assured him there was no
harm done, then added:
You might just look anyway if the
frilling is torn off Mop l guess not
Dreadfully hot out here" she con-
tinued, stepping out into the sunshine
Pm going over there in the shade.
Good bye"
She had already asked her "team"
who the stranger was. but before she
could bid one of them go and inquire.
he had sauntered after her under the
palms; a casual remark 10 the
Vicomte, authorized by passing in
cident and the freedom of Monte
Carlo life, was considered by the
| group sufficient Introduction. and
Della began to chat with her new ac-
quaintance as glibly and confidential
ly as with others.
What hotel are you stopping atP"
she asked. presently.
Il am not staying here. but at Men
tone. l only come over for the day
when 1 do come"
Have you been in Mentone long?"
| "No-no-since January"
That's not so little, either. and
never saw you here before last
Wednesday," said Della. with a flat
tering cognizance of the stranger S
movements.
The first part of my stay. my duties
kept me away; l was particularly en-
| vaued and had little time 10 call nv