The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1894-08-01
ELSBETH'S HOLIDAY.

''NO escape this time" said old Bar
on Dorenburg, glaring somewhat saw
agely at an open letter in his hand. L
was a letter from an old school fellow
now the representative of government
in distant province of Austria, and in
il the baron was warmly appealed Il
ON behalf of that school fellows son.
At first sight there was nothing very
appalling about this fact, and yet thi,
was the moment which the widowed
father of three daughters had been
dreading for years.
The men who make successful chap
erons are extremely few and far be
tween. \ male duenna is either over
scrupulous or overnight in the fulfill.
ment of his duties. The baron belong
ed TO the former order 10 the extent Oi
making life burden to himself perpet
ually and not infrequently to other
also. Young girls We're treated by him
as dangerous explosive, within amilC
of which no match should be struck
for fear of catastrophe, and so faith
ful was he to his theory that his friends
frequently felt it their duty 10 reason
with him
''But Dorenburg, how do you expect
ever to get rid Of your daughters ifyou
keep them shHtup behind gratings?'i
"Bless the man, he's surely not going
to have three old maids help him into
his grave?'' Such and such like re-
marks flew past his ear, but left him
unmoved. \ male chaperon is 50 far
easier 10 satisfy than female one that
the latter has no peace until her charge
has made brilliant marriage, whereas
the former is content if she has not
made disgraeeful one.
When on this September morning
Baron Dorenburg had done glaring AT
his old comrades letter, he reached the
same conclusion ne had begun with,
No escape this time - After which
he promptly sent for Miss Wilkins.
Miss wilkins was his youngest daugh'
ter's governess, for the baron still had 4
daughter i'm the schoolroOm, and sh,
was likewise the English instructres'
of the elder baroness. Ii had cost &
I,.-l f;,.t,t l..f.r, .sl,a I.l l..ar, aa.trF..I
and peace with her. Being past 90 and
bald and equity, the baron had foolish
IL supposed that he would be unmOlest
cd by the fair sex. Various had been
the frauleins and mademOiselles who
had passed in professions through the
house of DOrenburg, each one of whom
would have been ready to overlook
both the bald head and the crippled
Joints for the sake of sharing with hin
the crown Of seven points Miss Wilk
ins was not only the Oldest and plain
est governess he had been able to un
earth for love or money, but had some
thing distinctly puritanical about hel
person, reassuring to any one with 81
shaky an opinion of female human na
ture As had this particular baron.
Miss wilkins, said Baron DOren
burg, addressing the gaunt, middle
aged English woman as she entered
II have had some very unpleasant
news. My old friend, Count Kestler
writes to me here, saying that his sol
Conrad had just returned from hi
American tour and is very anxious fo
some shooting. His own deer forest
have not Vet recovered from the diseas'
which infected them two years ago
consequently he appeals to me. | se'
no escape but to ask Conrad Kestler fo
10 days. II i to consult with you as t.
the precautions to be taken that l hav'
requested your presence here. In TIN
first place.
II presume the young man IS unmar
riod? asked Miss wilkins abruptly
and a spark of some quite newly bOrI
interest seemed to illumine her usually
chilly gray eyes.
''Of course, Conrad is unmarried,
confirmed the baron in some astonish
ment.
"And the Kestler's name has a goo,
sound, and the fortune is considerable.
Mis- Wilkins was warming To her sub
ject n she spoke "Oh, Baron DOren
burg, | do believe that letter from YOU
old friend Is nothing but an interposi
ton of Providence. Why, don't yol
see as clearly as possible that this mean
husband for one Of your daughters p
"Hold, there said the baron gruffi.
flushing dark red from vexatiOn. Il
ever | believe that any woman eoul'
keep her fingers ont of the matehmak
ing pie. | took you To be that woman
Miss wilkins, but lido believe your
made of the same stuff rs the other
Husband, indeed Marriage COun
KestIer of Fohrenstein would long ag'
have fallen a prey to some enterprisinl
Vienna mamma ifmatrimony had beel
in his line. / have not seen COnra'
since he was boy, but his fame a.
naangeur de occurs has long since pene
trated even these woodland retreats
/ understand him to rank as the mos
successful lady-killer in Vienna soeie
IN. In fact, his one vocation in lif
seems To be to 20 about turning head
and breaking hearts, and this Is tn
man who for 10 days i to dwell unde
the same roof with my girls. Upo
my word, its letting the wolf into tn
sheepfold-''