Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1890-09-11
CAPTURING AN EARL.
A Moment Of Triumph and Then
Complete Humiliation.

ia mel- exclaimed Mrs Jenkins to
her daughter Matilda, ''who do you
think has arrived at the hotel?7
ANY of our friends?" inquired the
daughter.
81 wish could say he was, said Mrs.
Jenkins. NO" Matilda, it is no less
than member of the British nobility"
How do you know mother?'
Because l happened to be in the
post-office few minutes since, and with
my own eyes l saw letter upon the
wheel directed to Earl Spencer, Jones'
boro' Hotel. So l went right over to
the hotel and found that it was so. The
landlady pointed out the young man to
me. o, Matilda, he is such an elegant
young man, and all that air of high
breeding and SO on, which you only find
in the nobility"
Really, mother, you quite excite my
curiosity"
But I've got moro to tell you, Ma
tilda. I've managed to get an invita-
ton from the landlady TO come over and
take tea, so that we shall be introduced
to him. Only think Of that! And if
only think-he should take a fancy to
you and, Matilda, though l ought not
to say it, you are very pretty-just the
very picture of what l was at your age
-as was saying, | don't think it at all
improbable, at least impossible, that
you should attract his attention, and
think what a fine thing it would be if
you should become countess"
Mrs. Jenkins paused to take breath
after this long and rather loosely joint
ed speech, to see what effect it would
have upon her daughter. The latter
seemed quite as much affected as she
could wish. She was like her mother,
not only in form but in mind, and her
mothers words had stirred her ambi-
ton.
La, how fine that would bel" she ex-
claimed. ''Iguess Ellen Hawkins would
not show her airs any more. The mean
creature, l wouldn't take any notice of
her, except just to invite her to the we'd
ding so that she might have chance to
envy my good luck"
every true" said her mother, approx
ingly. 'But you know good deal must
be done before this can be accomplished.
You must endeavor to look your pretti-
est tonight, so as to produce an impress
sion upon the young man, if possible. /
think you had better wear your green
de lame"
mo. mamma that doesn't become
me. shall wear my plum-colored silk,
and you must lend me your gold chain"
But, +" said Mrs. Jenkins, reluctantly,
81 was going to wear tn at myself.
81 don't see, said her daughter, toss
ing her head, that it is of much con-
sequence how you look. presume you
don't expect the young lord will marry
you. But it is very important how l
look. If / can't go looking decent 1
won't go at all. OF course all the la
dies in England have gold and jewels to
wear, and l know he won't say word
to me unless have something Of the
kind"
Perhaps you ought, Matilda" said
her mother. Il am sure it is my sole
aim in life to promote your success, and
if could only live to see you the wife
of an earl should die in peace"
Notwithstanding the apparent disin-
terestedness of this remark, it is prob
able that unless Mrs. Jenkins expected
to share in the prosperity of her daugh-
ter she would have cared considerably
less for her alliance with the nobility.
That was busy day for Mrs. Jenkins
and her daughter. 1t took them up to
the very moment of departure to ar
range their toilet At length, resplen-
dent with the best their wardrobes
could furnish, they went over to the
hotel. 1t may be remarked, by the
way, that Mrs. Jenkins, with the cum
ming natural to such an admirable man
ager, had not whispered word of her
Interior designs to the landlady. She
even cautioned her daughter not to adj
dress the nobleman by his title in the
hearing of any one else.
Six O cloc found them seated at the
hotel table. 1t so CHANGED that the Earl
Spencer was the only guest (the reader
must remember that it was small
country inn), and accordingly Mrs.
Jenkins and her daughter had tho dis
tinguished stranger quite to themselves.
Itsuited Mrs. jenkins to appear quite ig
norant of the earls station-even of his
nationality, unless he should himself
reveal it.
1t would have been somewhat difficult
to decide wherein lay the marks of high
birth which Mrs. Jenkins professed -
find in the stranger. He looked much
more like a third-rate clerk. He wore
flashy waistcoat, extensive cravat and
gorgeous watch-chain which might
have been gold, but looked more like
the snowy articles VIII ich remind one of
the old proverb that 'all is not gold
that glitters"
But Mrs jenkins was not woman of
great discernment. She saw nothing but
what might be expected OF an earl, and
murmured in the ear of Matilda that his
appearance was very distinguished-b
the way she pronounced the word in
way of her own.
Matilda nodded assent to her mothers
remark, and began to play off her airs
and graces upon the distinguished
gentleman. Her delight was great to
find that she was creating an impress
sion The earl listened to her very at