The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1893-07-22
Vienna mamma if matrimony

understand him to rank as the most sue
cessful lady-killer in Vienna society. In
fact, his one vocation in life seems to be
to go about turning heads and breaking
hearts; and this is the man who for ten
days is to dwell under the same roof with
my girls-upon my word, it's letting the
wolf into the sheepfold."
every possibly the wolf is not so black
as he is painted" Miss Wilkins cautiously
suggested.
"He is blacker, at any rate, far, than he
ought to be, and it will require both your
vigilance and mine to checkmate the
empty headed loye-making with which he
is sure TO pass his time. l have been
turning over the matter in my mind, and
have come to the conclusion that during
these ten critical days you must be the
constant companion of my two elder girls.
1t is the only possibility of averting the
danger that threatens.
"And Elsbeth?"
'sLet the child have holiday 1t will
do her no harm to shut up her books and
run wild for ten days."
Miss Wilkins shook her head, but so
entirely were the Baron's thoughts taken
up with his elder girls that he never even
noticed the disapproving gesture. Els
beth was a child, still safe in the school
room; the day when she took to long
skirts would be time enough to begin wor-
rying about her.
When, at the end of half an hours pri-
vate consultation, the gaunt English wo-
man left the Baron's presence, she was
primed with warnings, and yet, for all
that-so obstinate are some fbres in hu-
man nature-the spark of matchmaking
enthusiasm, was not utterly quenched in
her eye Silently, but not the less irrevo-
cably, was the middle-aged Englishwoman
determined that this opportunity should
not be lost 1t was with an eye to the
main object that she encouraged both Anna
and Helene to pass their wardrobes in re-
view, and made various Well-meant but
not overskilful attempts in the direction of
freshening up tumbled founces and pro-
curing new lease of life for hats which
had borne the brunt of the summer. Dur
ing this week of preparation such things as
turned ribbons and half-curled feathers
belonged to the common features of the
apartments, though the approach OF the
Baron generally caused them to disappear.
In their heart of hearts both girls had set
upon those ten prospective days hopes
which as yet they had not acknowledged
even to themselves. Even the domestic
virtues, of which both possessed fair
share, could not blind them to the fact
that it was rather hard to be aged respect
lively twenty and twenty-five without ever
having seen the inside of Vienna draw
ing-room. Their own gentle resignation
filled them with wonder, but, nevertheless,
did not prevent occasional meditations be-
ing made on the possibility of husband
dropping from the skies. Count Conrad
Kestler's proposed visit seemed exactly to
answer to that description of event, and
was, therefore, duly prepared for.
"Will be be big or little man ?" was
the doubt which skunk in and out of the
souls of both Baronesses. The first sight
of the stranger would help greatly to clear
the situation, for big Anna could place no
hopes on scrap of man, while the min
iature Helene would never have the eour-
aye to fall in love with the giant. And
vet, when the day came and the moment,
and when from behind the window-cur-
tains two pairs of blne eyes peeped at the
new arrival, nothing like definite conclu-
sion was come to. Upon an identical I'M
pulse, Anna and Helene looked at each
other and laughed. Not word was said,
but they understood each other perfectly.
The glance exchanged between the two
sisters said as much as 81 must have
another look at him before | make up my
mind, but he is certain to do for one of US
two
This was the conclusion which Miss
Wilkins likewise had reached, though she
would have greatly preferred If Count
| Kestler had not been one of those men of
indescribable height, whom it would be in
correct to describe as tall, and who yet are
unquestionably not short. So long as the
prospective husband was not distinctly as
signed to one of her charges she eoRld not
feel as though the campaign were opened.
But the first evening passed without
betraying to Miss Wilkins anything be-
yond the fact of Count Kestler being q
lady's man in the fullest sense of the word
When he was talking to Anna, the watch
full Englishwoman felt ready to stake her
soul that he had succumbed to that young
lady's massive charms, and yet the mo-
ment he approached Helene he appeared
to have eyes for nothing but her fairy-like
grace. As for the poor oyer-conscientious
Baron, he spent not only the evening, but
most of the night, upon thorns, tossing
about from side to side, aud passing in re-
view before his minds eye all the symp-
toms of love-sickness which he was con-
WINGED of having noted in both his daugh-
ters. Had not Anna forgotten to hand
round the sugar, and Helene twice dropped
her handkerchief in the course of the