Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1890-08-13
CAPTURING AN EARL.

IAI i O1C11NV aAV GIA4lAs "
A Moment Of Triumph and Then
Complete Humiliation.
LA met" exclaimed Mrs jenkins to
her daughter. Matilda who do you
think has arrived at the hotel?"
Amy OF our triends?" inquired the
daughter. ......-....
II wish could say he was, said Mrs.
Jenkins NO" Matilda, it is no less
than a member of tho British nobility"
III ow do you know, mother"
because happened to DO in the
post-ofilce few minutes since, and with
my own eycseI saw q lettor upon tho
wheel directed to Earl Spencer, Jones'
boro' Hotel. So I went right over to
tho hotel and found that it was so. The
landlady pointed out tho young man to
me. 0, Matilda, he is such an elegant
young man, and all that air Of high
breeding and so ON, which you only lind
in the nobility"
Really, mother, you quite excite my
curiosity"
But I've got moro to toll you, Ma
tilda I've managed to got an invita-
ton from tho landlady to come over and
take tea, so that wo shall be introduced
to him. Only think of that! And if
only think-ho should take a fancy to
you and, Matilda, though | ought not
to say it, you are very pretty-just the
very picture OF what 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 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 SEQ what effect it would
have upon her daughter. The latter
seemed quite as much affected as sho
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 tine that would bc!'' she OK
claimed. ''lguess Ellen Hawkins would
not show her airs any moro. Tho mean
creature, l wouldn't take any notice OF
her, except just to invite her to tho we'd
ding so that she might have chance to
envy my good luck
'"Very true" said her mother, approx
ingly. ''But you know a 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 laine."
NO. mamma, that doesn't become
me. shall wear my plum .colored silk.
and you must lend mo your gold chain"
But" said Mrs. Jenkins, reluctantly,
Il was going to wear tn at myself"
II don't sec," 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
look. If I can't go looking decent
won't go at all OF course all the la
dies in England have gold and jewels to
wear, and | 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 a 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 a word of her
Interior designs to the landlady. She
even cautioned her daughter not to ad-
dress the nobleman by his title in the
hearing of any one else.
Six o'cloc k found them seated at the
hotel table. 1t 50 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 the dis
tinguished stranger quite to themselves
Itsuited Mrs. Jenkins to appear quite ig-
norant of the earl's 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 to
find in the stranger. He looked much
more like third-rate clerk. He wore
hashy waistcoat, extensive cravat and
a 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 She saw nothing but
what might be expected of an earl, and
murmured in the ear of Matilda that his
appearance was very distinguished-by
the way she pronounced the word in
way of her own.
Matilda nodded assent to her mothers
remark, and began to play of her airs
and graces upon the distinguished
gentleman. Her delight was great to
find that she was creating an imnres