The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1891-06-10

ROSamOnu sat looking OuC ot tue WILL
dow with sparkling eyes, and lips half
parted in an involuntary smile, while
Miriam ran after her mother, pleading
to be allowed to go, too.
"Isn't 1t nice about Rosy and the
count, mammal said she, breathlessly.
"Won't it be splendid to talk about my
sister the countess9' Do you suppose
she'll have a chateau on the Lake of
Como and pslezzo in Rome? OF course,
she'll have Phebe and me to stay with
her very often"
Mrs. Deifold smiled complacent
smile. The idea of titled son-in-law
was inefably dear to her heart.
"Do you suppose-he really is-a
count, mammal"
There stood yellow-haired Phebe,
close at their elbow.
"Really count!' sharply echoed Mrs.
Dedfold, "Why, of course, he Is. l did
not suppose, Phebe, that daughter of
mine could stoop to the degrading vice
of jealousy
Phebe colored scarlet.
"NIamma, said she, II am not jealous;
but"
Mrs. Dedtold broke abruptly in with
short ana sudden directions as to the
marketing and dinner, and presently
Phebe was left alone.
"Mamma, said Miriam, "can't you
see it all7 Phebe is simply infatuated by
those Fortnums. She and papa have
neither of them any pride. What will
Count Scagliosa think of country doctor
for brother-in-law2"
sIt mustn't be allowed to 90 on!" said
Mrs. Dedfold, authoritatively. "Now
is just the turning point of all of your
lives. If we can keep up q certain ap-
pearance and style for the next two or
three years-and if papa will only take
nv advise--we can easily secure as bril-
liant matches for Phebe and you as Rosa
mond has already obtained"
And with her heart swelling with
pride, Mrs. Dedfold sailed into the Fon-
tanoy Flats and asked to see "the vacant
apartment. :"
The regular ianitor, genteel creature
in black, with English side whiskers and
a white tie, was out; but his deputy, a
good natured little Irishman, came
promptly forward.
"Is it the fourth floor, ma'am, or the
one over D'Artagnan's?" asked he.
"I'll look at both of them" said Mrs.
Dedfold, with the dignity of future
householder.
"Well, ma am" said the janitor, ''lf
you'll excuse the pastry cook"
"The what?" exclaimed Mrs. Ded-
fold.
It's D'Artagnan's new cook, " explained
the smiling Irishmau. "He gets a power
O. wages, an kapes his pianny an his
poodle, like giutlemau, an he only
works at the pasthry three hours in the
maarnin' an three IN the afternoon.
An they tell me he's going to be married
to a rich lady an turn gintieman alto.
gether pretty soon. Sure it's foine
thing to be furrincr, wild resate for
claret punches an paddyfoy-grass, that all
tie gerthry's wild afther And D'Ar-
tagnan is buildin' a boodewar for him at
the back, but he's settled down moightY
comfortable in the Imply fiat till it's let,
so he is. But if ye don't mind the pianny
an the poodle" :"
And thus speaking, the attendant
flung the door open, shouting:
Ladies' to LUX at the fiat, Misther
scaggles!'
The strains of piano ceased some
what abruptly, shaggy little dog ran
forward, shrilly barking, tall man in
negligec velvet jacket and tasseled .ez
perched sidewisc on his locks, rose and
turned halfway around, revealing a
swarthy complexion and opaquely dark
eyes.
Count Scagliosa!" cried out Mrs.
Dedfold.
"Surc an ye're mistook altogether"
said Patrick. Its the new cook,
me'am, from D'Artagnan's restaurant be-
low stairs"
The culinary count staggered back and
volunteered never word in his own de-
fense. The little dog barked ceaselessly;
the Irishman looked from one to the
other with puzzled mien.
"P'raps you'd rather see the other fiat,
since the puppy's SO unceevil,H y said he.
And he added, as they went down stairs,
"Yez'll plaze to excuse the furriner,
ma'am. He drinks good deal, and he
isn't always presentable."
Miriam looked with agonized eyes at
her mother.
ell don't think we'll look any
farther to-day, mamma she faltercd.
And the two ladies left the Fontenoy
Flats without arriving atany definite con-
clusion.
Fortunately Rosamond D,dfold's heart
was less involved in the Scagliosa alli-
ance than her pride. But pride, as we
all know, is u sensitive spot, and the
wound was deep.
Honest Mr.. Dcdfold never knew why
the counts stock went down so sud-
denly in the domestic market.
"Not but what ain GLAD Of it," said
he. 81 never did believe in foreign hus
bands for American girls. and so you've
all come around TO my view of the mat
ter, have you9 Well, don't think you'll
ever regret it. And as for the new
home-eh2"
II think, upon the WHOLE" said Mr..
Dedfold, "that country air will be
good for the girls, and rents seem to be