Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1888-04-25
winter at Monte Carlo or Cannes"
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orthodox Transatlantic fashion, and
Mrs. Mulholland had found on the
verandah of the hotel a rocking -chair
exactly to her taste; but of course
Della knew best, and the venuo was
eventually changed to Monte Carlo.
The superior wisdom of this strategic
al movement was soon made appar-
emit. Before the family had been set
tied five days Mr. Benjamin j. w.
Mulholland, was never visible except
at the roulette tables. where lie played
a moderate. calculating. wcll-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 1T no.
body. never seemed concerned or
elated. but watched the revolving ball
with the beautifed expression of one
who has found his vocation. INA"
famed and rocked herself in her sunny
''parlor' with monotonous regularity,
and Della was in hor clement
Miss Mulholland. after one trial. had
pronounced gambling 'stupid," and
eschewed it, but she made acquaint-
ances with a rapidity and deSinvoltatre
that was truly remarkable, and some-
times surprised oven her little nil ad-
msrari independent. republican mind.
She strollcd on the terraces, wandered
in and out of the Casino, smiling self
possessed and we'll dressed, entered
into conversation with any one who
occupied the same seat with her
in salon or gardens, never refused
an escort or dsclaimed COM
pliment. had rctort or provocation
ever at the tip of her tongue. and in
her quick, restless. aggressive and
piquant fashion almost at on CO became
the presiding goddess of a slavish and
fascinating '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
''be aux," as she called them.
The most conspicuous of these. cher
own team" were a 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
ly ascertained that the Vicomte
received 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 patriarch nj retirement; and
that the Baron had been engaged to y
cousin in Pomerania since he 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 she!
Once or twice in the course of the
afternoon she would flash into the
salon de roulette, stand y minute be-
hind Mr.. Benjamin j. w. Mulhol-
lands chair. playfully toy with his
hair: look round on the company and
dance off with dscomposing frou-
frou of skirts and patter of high
heels. escorted by her SWANS.
During Ola 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. "An Englishman." had been
her first mute comment; "a hand
some Englishman." her second; Il
wonder who he is?' her third.
Miss D,lia'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-
specially, 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, No? guess not
Dreadfully hot out here" she con-
tinued, stepping out into the sunshine,
'Tm going over there in the shade.
Good bye"
She had already asked her "team'