The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-04-03

! bo,so Her dress was pronouhcen pe'i'o"
~, a,,crv woman in the audience who was
,,,.sossed Of an opera glass, and the society
-, OBVIOUSLY admitted that the ere
80 ~ tbat costume was genius. VINO
had make t' That was mn inquiry that
,,,ora than one OF the ladies asked OF herself
,n a wondering way, and resolved TO in
sfr,,ct her maid TO quiz Miss MaDgrove's
maid at the first opportunity.
On the second night of the opera season
Miss Mangrove appeared in adifferent cos
tune. but one rs beautiful as the one worn
by her on her first appearance in the sacred
precincts known rs the millionaires' boxes
The third night she was again gowned in a
no less becoming dress. but one that she
had not yet worn in public.
The society ladies became excited.
"What will she wear tonight" they asked
one another, and they waited impatiently
till Miss Mangrove appeared. Ihen they
leveled their opera glasses to see whether
Miss Mangrove had at last been compelled
to make one of her costumes do duty tne
second time. In this they were disappoint-
ed, for she was never seen twice III inc
same costume.
When il was rumored that NJ. Duire'
new man on Fifth avenue, had created her
marvellous costumes. society srnihngly SAID
that il was good advertising story Du1
one to he skeptical about till admitted oy
Miss Mangrove herself.
But at the beginning of the second year
of NJ. Dufre's contract with Miss Slan
grove. il was whispered that NJ. DufrR was
a genuine count, = 10 had temporarily
abandoned bis title while he repaired his
finances bv engaging in trade This report
was one that aroused the most intense IN
forest among the -Four Hundred and an
Investigation was set on foot at once. The
result Of the inquiry was the CONVICTION
that real nobeman had set up on Fifth
avenue in the tailoring business. The evi-
dcnce adduced TO bring about this convic-
ton was a series of letters written from
Paris by one Of the matriarchs She had
inquired at the establishment where NJ.
Dufre had learned his trade, and after
carefully following up the clues TO his
identity she had assured herself that he
was the only living representative OF one
of the Oldest titles in France. That settled
it. Society was willing to patronize him
ms NJ Dufre. but to open its doors 10 him
nc Count De Ninol OF course his contract
with Miss Manerove precluded his filing
orders for any one else, but be was az
liberty TO accept the invitations that were
showered upon him.
Soon he was seen everywhere, and being
afTable. polished and well educated, he be-
came a general fayorite. Soon the society
reporter stated that he was engaged to one
of the bellies, but the announcement OF the
betrothal would not be made till certain
business matter of the counts was settled.
Everybody knew what that business mat
ter was, and smiled at the vexatlOn the
item would cause "the Mangrove," who
was known 10 be a studious reader of so
ciety gossip The season was well under
way when the count suddenly departed for
Europe. leaving behind him lot of hastily
penDed regrets for social functions. Society
felt hurt and thought it horrible Of 1.-The
Mangrove" to send away their delightful
French nobieman just at the height Of the
season. Envious of his brilliant social
success. she had ordered him to Paris
about some new dresses for her. Such was
the popular explanation Of his absence.
He returned the week before Easter and
was enthusiastically received by the -Four
Hundred.
The only knowledge Miss Mangrove had
had of his movements during his trip
abroad was short cablegram
Have bought it for 1000, 900 francs.
DUFRE.
He had come back TO report in full, and
Miss Mangrove was listening with excite
ment to his story of how much tact 1t had
required to obtain the real Count de Nino's
consent to remain forever plain citizen,
L l. fro abroad
"And now there is no danger Of any one
ever discovering you are bogus" Miss Man
grove asked.
"None. l have all the family papers,
patents, heraldic devices, etc They and
the counts continued silence cost big
sum. but it is not TO be paid to him in a
lump and if he betrays me the payments
will stop"
Good. You are very clever"
"Ah, Mile Mangroye, it is you who are
clever. You have created me the Count
de Nino. Is it too presumptuous-may
hope it is not?-in me to ask you to do
me the honor to become the Countess de
Nino?"
II rebuke your presumption, said Miss
Mangrove playfully, 'by consenting TO DO
you that honor"
A moment later Miss MangrOve sum-
moned her aunt, the chaperon, and startled
that worthy lady by the announcement:
"Aunty, the Count de Nino has asked me
to be his wife and have accepted him"
The chaperon promptly rendered her con
CALCULATIONS to the couple, and then in
quired with apparent solicitude THAT
sign over there. il will come down"
certainly" said Miss MangrOve, "since
from this day there is no longer NJ. Dufre,
ladies' tailor"
Society was staggered whole day by the
news, confirmed by publication in The
Herald, that after all 1.-THE Mangrove" had
captured the latest imported genuine
nobleman, but in the evening society wrote
her name on the eligible list.-Alexander
l.. kinkead in Epoch.
Bessie's Opinion.
| Bessie went to church that morning;
| She had never been before.