Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1892-10-15
THE COUNTESS.

This society story first appeared In Demon
est's and is said 10 have come from real life.l
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 daughter
had left nine weeks before for trip to
Europe and had not yet returned.
II was nearly o'clock, and yet this
worthy merchant, though, generally speak
ing, punctually at his desk Mt half past, had
shown no signs of moving. "Od man
Saunders" rs 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 let
ter which he had received from his wife
the day previously from New York. Toone
paragraph Of thisletter doubtless this I'M
usual upsetting Of his accustomed daily
routine might be ascribed.
81 write TO tell you that have persuaded
my charming friend, the Countess Hon
fieur, to visit us for 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. Twill
telegraph you when we shall arrive. The
countess is travelling incognito, as 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
70 understand it."
As result Of this communication he
L. 81, hon md nj a.,
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 a 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 their
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 gloyed hand,
which he had reached for and secured.
Mr.. Saunders, honest but vulgar man, did
not know that IL was n shocking solecism
to shake hands on first introduction.
For the next two weeks uninterrupted
gayety reigned in the establishment on
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 20
into raptures over the newcomer.
How longs this visit Of hers goin u
last, Mariarf" be kept asking impatiently
ut Jest makes me sick to see her putin on
sich airs in the house and criticism every
body and everything"
Mrs. Saunders was too much shocked q
reply.
"There will be grand event Tuesday
week, dear" she said TO her Hristocrati'
guest that afternoon. at will be one o.
the greatest affairs Of the season-a littl'
mixed perhaps, but then all charity ball
in America are"
ut ees 10 in my contree, madame,
lisped the countess, with her delightful
foreign accent. II suppose eet ees pare
fectly properre TO wear zee diamonds 81
zee way, / don't link you ave zeen m!
diamonds"
She took from her jewel case a magnifl
cent necklace and tiara, with long, droop
ing sprays for the corsage to match, an'
a01uhtel lutll hDDhN htI 1hptID heSh hi'
grandly shaped bust.
"Zey aire vat you call-zee-zee heir
loom. ICY once belong to zee Marquise d
Honheur. Aire zey not yer preety"
"Do you know" said Mrs. Saunders re
fectively, ~ should hardly like 10 go int
a public ballroom with those diamonds
They might be cut from your neck 0
dress or stolen IN some way. You can
talI xybat rnfsshf hqupgn -
A friend Of hers was on the committee o
arrangements. She made him promis
that at least two men in dress suits fron
a celebrated detective agency should b
present
But one detective came to the Chart
ball however. He was rather young ma
who had been drafted west from Ne'
York, but he knew his business.
There was quite fiutter on the doc
when IL became known that the Counties
de Honfleur had arrived. She was an e1
cellent dancer and her card was filled raj
idly. The young man from New for
strolled into the ballroom from the vest
bule A magnificent woman, leaning upo
the arm Of a member Of the committee
arrangements, swept by him tn cloud
soft laces and with a suggestion OF snDt
doors, her jewels sparkling and scintiila
ing upon the Wilderness OF her neck an
shoulders. A joyous light was In her eye
her little feet. daintily sbod In white ssfil
kept rhythmic pace TO the music.
A peculiar smile passed over the detec
Se1 al - as --sa---- -