The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-04-29


general custom, will sigu with you," IL.
Dufre replied gravely.
Very well: here is contract drawn UP
by my lawyer. You had better read it, for
| it Is one of those ironclad agreements that
prove hard to break"
| The ladies' tailor examined the document
| carefully, asking occasionally for an ex-
! PLANTATION of s clause, and then put his sig
| nature at the place left blank for it.
! At She first night of the opera season
Miss Mangrove appeared in box rented
| from family that was in mourning
When she slipped out of her cloak and
| stood for q moment in the front of the box
| while the maiden aunt who acted as her
chaperon was seating herself, there was .
/ leyeilng OF lorgnettes in every part of the
! house. Her dress was pronounced perfect
| by every woman in the audience who was
! possessed OF an opera glass, and the society
| women obviously admitted that the Gre
! ator OF that costume was a genius. Who
| had make it? That was an inquiry that
more than one OF the ladies asked of herself
| in wondering way, and resolved to in
struct her maid to quiz Miss Mangrove's
maid at the first opportunity.
On the second night Of the opera season
Miss Mangrove appeared in different Co.'S
| tune, but one as beautiful as the one worn
by her on her first appearance in the sacred
precincts known as 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 impatientIy
till Miss Mangrove appeared. Then they
leveled their opera glasses to see whether
Miss Mangroye had at last been compelled
to make one of her costumes do duty the
second time. In this they were disappoint-
ed, for she was never seen twice in thu
same costume
When it was rumored that II. Dufre, a
new man on Fifth avenue, had created her
marvellous costumes society smilingly said
that it was good advertising story, but
one to be skeptical about till admitted by
Miss Mangrove herself.
But at the beginning of the second year
OF NJ. DUfre's contract with Miss Man
grove, it was whispered that NJ. Dufre was
a genuine count, who had temporarily
abandoned his title while he repaired his
finances by engaging in trade. This report
was one that aroused the most intense in
terest among the -Four Hundred, and an
investigation was set on foot at once The
result of the inquiry was the conviction
that real nohleman had set up on Fifth
avenue in the tailoring business. The evil
dence adduccd 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 ona
of the oldest titles in France. That settled
it. Society was willing to patronize him
as M. Dufre, but to open its doors to him
as Count De Nino! OF course his contract
with Miss Mangroye preciuded his filling
orders for any one else, but he was at
liberty to accept the invitations that were
showered upon him.
Soon he was seen everywhere, and being
affable, polished and well educated, he be-
came general favorite. 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. |
Every body knew what that business mat
ter was, and smiled at the veXaSion the /
item would cause ''the Mangrove," who .
was known to be a studious reader of So
ciety gossip. The season was well under
way when the count suddenly departed TO,
Europe, leaving behind him a lot of hastily
penned regrets for social functions. Society
felt hurt and thought it horrible of 'the
Mangrove" to send away their delightful
French nobleman 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 900 900 francs
He had come back to report in full, and
Miss Mangrove was listening with excite
ment to his story of how much tact it had
required to obtain the real Count de Nino's
consent to remain forever plain citizen,
while NJ Dufre used the title abroad.
and now there is no danger of any one
verdiscovering you are boguss" Miss Man
grove asked.
None. l have all the family papers.
patents, heraldic devices, etc They and
the counts continued silence cost a big
sum, but it is not TO be paid to him in
lump, and if he betrays me the payments
will stop"
Good. You are very clever"
"Ah, Mile. Mangrove, it is you who are
clever. You have created me the Count
lie 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?"
Il rebuke your presumption" said Miss
Mangrove playfully. "by consenting to do
you that honor"
A moment later Miss Mangrove sum
noned her aunt, the chaperon, and startled
hat worthy lady by the announcements:
''Aunty the Count de Nino has asked me
% be his wife and have accepted him"
The chaperon promptly rendered her con-
,ratulations to the couple, and then in
luired with apparent solicitude, That
ign over there it will come down."
Certainly" said Miss Mangrove, ''sincs
rom this day there is no longer NJ. Dufre,
aides tailor"
Society WAS staggered whole day by the
news confirmed by publication in The
Herald. that after all "the Mangrove" had I
aptured the latest imported genuine J
iobleman, but in the evening society wrote i
Ter name on the eligible list.-Alexander
:. hinkead in Epoch.
A Perfect Preservative.
The curator of the Columbo museum has
discovered that coeoanut oil mixed with .
arbeac acid rs perfect preservative Ok I
.nlmal coioES The most delicate frogs and
makes retain their sv.necrart ti,fS -Laa ! f,