The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1892-11-02
Storp.
The Countess.

Henry Saunders was seated alone at a
somewhat late breakfast in the dining
room of his very comfortable residence on
Prairie avenue, in the city of Chicago. He
had become accustomed to these solitary
repasts of late, for his wife and laughter
had left nine weeks before for trip tc
Europe aud had not yet returned.
1t was nearly s o'clock, and yet this
worthy merchant though, generally speak
ing, punctually ut his desk at half past, had
shown no signs of moving. "Old man
Saunders" MS his neighbors called him,
just sat still with his untasted coffee grow
ing cold before him and kept on think
ing.
A telegram on the table confirmed a let
ter which he had received from his wife
the day previously from New York. To one
paragraph of this letter doubtless this I'M
usual upsetting of his accustomed daily
routine might be ascribed
II write to tell you that have persuaded
my charming friend, the Countess Hon
heur to visit us for n few days on her way
to San Francisco, where she has large real
estate investments. She is certainly most
refined and accomplished woman and was
80 kind to us on board the steamer. will
telegraph you when we shall arrive. The
countess is travelling incognito, rs so many
Of the nobility of Europe do nowadays
think it was Emily's French which at.
tracted the countess, Notwithstanding
those rude people in Paris pretended not
to understand it.
AS a result Of this communication he
put on his best clothes and was on hand to
receive the party just as the train steamed
into the depot.
"Henry, let me present you" said his
wife as the party stepped on the platform
Old man Saunders turned and saw a
tall, handsome woman, a trifie unde'
thirty perhaps, and looking little tired
and faded after her night in the sleeper
A profusion of light ringlets futtered in
elegant disorder about her face, Her
dark brown eyes, with incipient crows
feet underneath them, limited that theii
owner had lost quite deal of what the
doctors call beauty Sleep in her lifetime.
The next instant he found himself holding
in his own broad palm tiny gloved hand,
which he had reached for and secured
Mr. Saunders, honest but vulgar man, did
not know that it was a shocking solecism
to shake hands on first introduction.
For the next two weeks uninterrupted
gayety reigned in the establishment or
Prairie avenue. Mrs. Saunders never
rested until every friend and acquaintance
She possessed had been introduced to my
friend, the countess" Old man Saunders,
however, while he tolerated refused to &C
into raptures over the newcomer.
How longs this visit of hers goiD tc
last, Mariar?" he kept asking impatiently
at Jest makes me sick to see her putin or
SIGH airs in the house and criticism every
body and everything"
Mrs. Saunders was too much shocked tc
reply.
There will be grand event Tuesday
week, dear" she said to her aristocratic
guest that afternoon. ut will be one Of
the greatest affairs of the seasonal little
mixed perhaps, but then all charity balls
in America are"
at ees 20 in my contree madame
lisped the countess, with her delightful
foreign accent. II suppose Get ees pare
fectly properre to wear zee diamonds. BY
zee way, I don't link you ave zeen my
diamonds"
She took from her jewel case a magnif-
cent necklace and tiara, with long, droop-
ing sprays for the corsage to match, and
adjusted them about her superb neck and
grandly shaped bust.
'Zey aire vat you call-zee-zee heir
loom. ley once belong to zee Marquise de
Honheur Aire zey not yer preety?"
do you know" said Mrs. Saunders re-
fectively, 81 should hardly like to go into
a public ballroom with those diamondsf
They might be cut from your neck or
dress or stolen in some way. You can't
tell what might happen"
A friend of hers was on the committee of
arrangements She made him promise
that at least two men in dress suits from
O celebrated detective agency should be
present
But one detective came to the charity
ball, however. He was rather young man
who had been drafted west from New
York, but he knew his business.
There was quite futter on the floor
when it became known that the Countess
de Honfeur had arrived. She was an ex-
cellent dancer and her card was filled rap
idly The young man from New York
strolled into the ballroom from the vesti-
bule. A magnificent woman, leaning upon
the arm of a member of the committee OF
arrangements, swept by him in a cloud OF
soft laces and with suggestion of subtle
odors, her jewels sparkling and scintillat-
ing upon the whiteness of her neck and
shoulders. A joyous light was in her eyes
her little feet, daintily shod in white satin
kept rhythmic pace to the music.
A peculiar smile passed over the detect
ives mouth as he watched the countess
and her partner sweep down the length Of
the room.
'I'm glad you sent for me-" he said pres
emily to the committeeman. "Notwith-
standing your vigilance / see some queer
characters have crept in here. It's best to
be cautious"
"What do you meanP" asked the COM
mitteeman in establishment and some
alarm. Exclusiveness was his hobby. At
the Union League club they called him
'the McAlister of the west"
"Well, there's a great deal of jewelry
shout" replied the detective carelessly.
"That diamond spray of your friends, the
countess, for instance. 1t would be a com
paratively easy task for an expert to get
away with it. III speak to her."
"Youp
"Why, certainly. Just introduce me
It's all right. wasn't always detective
you know"
"Who is that distingue young mar
waltzing with the countessi" asked Mrs
Saunders. "They seem to be well &C
quainted. A New Yorker, you say
Really, must see that he is introduced II