River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1890-08-14
CAPTURING AN EARL.
A Moment of Triumph and Then
Complete Humiliation.

COmpl6Lo du1nllaJlOD-
''La meI' exclaimed Mrs. Jenkins 10
her daughter Matilda. ''whO do you
think has arrived at the hotel?'
ANY of our friends?" inquired the
daughter.
Il wish l 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 / happened TO be in the
post-ofice few minutes since. and with
my own eyes / saw a letter upon the
wheel directed to Earl Spencer, Jones'
boro' Hotel So | 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 Eve got more to tell you, Ma
tilda. I've managed TO get an invita-
ton from the landlady 10 come over and
take tea, so that we shall be introduced
to him. Only think of that! And if
onl think-he should take fancy to
you and, Matilda, though ! ought not
to say 1t, 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 see what effect il would
have upon her daughter. The latter
seemed quite IS 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 ber' she ex-
claimed. 'Iguess Ellen Hawkins would
not show her airs any more. The mean
creature. / wouldn't take any notice of
her, except just to invite her to the we'd
ding so that she might have a chance to
envy my good luck.
VERY 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, ii 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 me your COLO chain"
''But," said Mrs. Jenkins, reluctantly,
al was going to wear that 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 /
look. If I can't 60 looking decent l
won't go at all. OF course ali the la
dies in England have gold and jewels to
wear, and l know ne 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 l 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. IL 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 ad
dress the nobleman by his title in the
hearing of any one else.
Six o. clock found them seated at the
hotel table. 1t so CHANGED that the Earl
Spencer was the only guest 1.-THE reader
must remember that it was a 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 il.
1t would have been somewhat difficult
W QtCAut tAb ma No VI nag n
birth which Mrs. Jenkins protested to
find in the stranger. He looked much
more like a thirdrate clerk. He wore
a fashy 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 psoverb that ''all is not gold
that gli,ters.'
But Mrs. Jenkins was not a 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-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 impress
sion. The earl listened TO her very at
tentively, and even condescended to ex-
change a little playful badinage.
Il should judge" said Mrs. Jenkins, /
at length. that you were not an Ameri- /
can. There is something about you
which makes me think you an English
man.
you are right, n.a'am," said the earl, /
81 am from England"
MAY ask if you have been long in
our country"
Mrs. Jenkins hardly knew whether to /
say sir or not, but finally decided not 20
do so.
only few months, was the reply. I
"A few mon tbs, F." thought she. Then +
he must certainly be travelling incog. /
or We should have heard Of his being
here by the papers"
When they were ready to depart, the
managing lady turned to the English
man and said:
Il should be very happy indeed 10 see
YOU at our house to tea tomorrow even
inc, if you have no other engagement
have always had a very high idea of
the English and am glad to have an OPP
portunity to show il"
Thank you ma'am," the earl replied.
with alacrity. II viii certainly call.
At what time shall you supp
'At whatever hour will prove most
convenient to you" was the gracious
reply.
Indeed, na'am, you are very kind.
Suppose we name six them
Thank you, MY mean sir. We
shall look forward with great pleasure