Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1893-09-01

OIL JuchSOu DOu1tNiIu, HOu1u l1hC "
meet d certain man, as yet not fully
identified, who claims to be i titled
EngIiShman with vast estates in Great
Britain. Dr. Fosters anxiety to meet
this man is about as great as the
mans anxiety seems to be to meet
Miss Edith foster, daughter OF the
doctor, but his purpose is vastly differ
ent The man laying claim to the title
and vast estates wild like to make Miss
Edith his wife, while the doctor would
! like to convince him that it would be
wise for him to cease annoying her.
! The unknown man says that he mas
met Miss Foster once or twice, but the
doctor has yet to meet him.
DR.. Foster and his daughter are
spending the summer 1T Geneva Lake
irving to unrayel the mystery that
surrounds certain letters she has re-
ceived Miss Foster is Il shining light
in West Side society and was naturally
regarded as a brilliant addition to the
social life Of Lake Geneva. She spent
a portion of last winter at the home
Of her uncle, General Noble, secretary
of the interior during the Harrison
regime. She made a distinct impress
sion upon Washington society and was
much sought after. But Miss Foster
was not an ordinary young lady. She
was a level-headed Chicago girl and
she listened to the soft nothings Of the
society youths, the old beauA and the
titled diplomatistS and while she was
into tnI
impressed and escaped heart free.
Soon after her return to Chicago she
received an anonymous note postmark-
ed Washington, l.. c. The writer as
sured Miss Edith that he had met her
at her uncle'S house and had fallen
desperately in love with her. He was
count had as high a social position
as any man in England and an income
to which that of Monte CriSto was a
beggarly pittance. In all his wander
ings he had never before encountered
Il woman who so nearly met his ideal
lis Miss Foster. His life would be a
hopeless wreck if he could not hear
from his love. Would she address
Count , at humber, Washing
ton, d. c.: The letter was clearly an
invitation to open Il correspondence
with an anonymous person. She
promptly turned 1t over to her father,
who tore it up and threw it into the
WaSte-baSket
A second letter Of similar import, but
reproachful in tone, was received and
met with like treatmen. A third and
fourth followed, and then several
months of silence. Incidentally Miss
Foster learned that a friend and rela-
tive in another city had been the re-
cipent of like attentions, and that the
, letter from the anonymous person had
also been treated with silent contempt
The annoyance having ceased Miss
, Foster had almost forgotten her
t anonymous correspondent when she
: was suddenly reminded of it i'll a
: peculiar and extraordinary manner. A
bah was in progress ut Camp Collie
the other evening when one OF the
Young men in attendance notified her
that Il gentleman who had known her
uncle. General Noble, and who had
: met her il Washington would like to
renew the acquaintance. She gracious
ly granted the request.
A tail man attired in evening dress
and Of generally faultless appearance
came forward. He was about fifty
years old, and she noticed that he
stopped slightly. The Introduction was
mumbled and she did not catch the
name. She did not remember ever hay
/ hafnpp concluded
that she must have met him, as she
had hundreds of others, at the numer-
; Gus Washington evelhs in which she
had participated, and the slip III the
name went by almost unnoticed IN the
hurry.
The visitor led Miss Foster to seat
and began at once to make violent
love to her. He revealed himself as
the anonymous count and begged her
to be silent on that point and also about
the object of bis visit to Lake Geneva.
She was almost paralyZed with as
constituent at the mans audlclty and
Just the least little bit frightened, but
summoning courage she sent for her
mother and in her company left the
IOOul. luS
stranger with a glance of scorD and
contempt. The man also hastily with
drew, and it was not long before the
story of the affair had been retold to
two or three gentlemen friends of the
Foster family.
i The Collie brothers, A. c. Story and
Hugh Hawkins constituted themselves
a committee of inquiry and visited the
hotel where the count had stopped
for the night. He had retired, but
they routed him out of bed and de-
manded an explanation. The stranger
declined to discuss the affair, where
upon he was Informed that if he did
not leave the camp by the earliest
) possible conveyance the next morning
he would find the atmosphere of Lake
Geneva exceedingly unhealthy. To be
sure that the warning was obeyed the
i gentlemen of the committe sat up until
Il morning The precaution was unne-
i cessary, however, as the stranger lett
I, on the early boat without waiting for
his breakfast. His march from the
hotel to the boat-landing was as thorny
as the poor victim who is called upon
to run a gauntlet between lines of hostile
! Indians. He was accorded parting
i reception he win not forget. The en-
tire camp was out to hasten LIS de-