Waterbury evening Democrat., 1895-08-07
LYDIA'S LOVERS.
ICopyright, 1895. ]

ICopyr1ght, lS9o
 liked Lydia Lawson. never told her she was beautiful or an angel. That is all romantic twaddle, and despise TO- nance. But told her liked her and s.M it was my idea that we'd be very com fortable if we should step off together: But she said that though she felt great friendship for me she could not think of it because 1 took such dreadfully common. place views of life. So dropped it, but continued to board at Mrs. Lawson's. Lydia's mother kept gentccl boarding house. I remember perfectly that it was q cloudy morning, and most of tho boarders in the dumps, when Mrs. Lawson said to us:
 "Ladies and gentlemen, I have some thing to say to you. l want to ask you if you'd mind dining in the front basement, instead of the back parlor? It ain't so gentcel, know, but it's really quite snug and the dinner comes in warmer. If no body objects, I'll make tho change tomor- row."
 II don't care whcrc I get my dinner, so get it." said the fat man.
 ''All right, Mrs. Lawson,' said one of the other boarders.
 II don't know about that, one of the ladies muttered.
 "Well," said Mrs. Lawson in a melan- choly tone. "Ive had a good offer for it from a nobleman-a count. It would be an advantage"
 "A nobleman?'' said the lady who had objected. "Myr'
 "A handsome young man as ever 1 saw," said Mrs Lawson. 'Wears dia- monds, and so polite! Said ho heard the society in my house was so good he want ed to cOme."
 ''Well, if he don't mind the basement, wo needn't, said the objecting lady.
 The next day the change was made, and on Sunday Count Nicilopini was intro duced.
 He was good looking on small scale, and he dressed wonderfully. l saw that he was not roasted chestnuts or fruit stall, but ho was not genuine, 1 felt sure, and that first day he began to make big eyes at Lydia.
 He was romantic, if you please, and I give you my word that before the week was over she was madly in love with him. She sang with him now, not for me-she walked with him on moonlight nights. She looked awfully silly, and mighty pretty, too, and the women began to whis- per together, and Mrs. Lawson was in a futter.
 "You're such kind friend, MT. Chip per-" said she, one day, "that I can't help
  l to be a countess. Count Nicilopini is most | attentive. Well, she deserves it-she's q | good girl.
 "Tell me- Mrs. Lawson," I asked, ''does Nicilopini pay his board bills?' "Well, not yet" said Mrs. Lawson. ''But that is because the remittances from | hisN estate have not arrivcd-the Italian steamer is delayed, you know" That evening I called on detective knew and had q talk with him. said nothing in the house, and when Nicilopini asked me to lend him $25 I did it. | thought he would pay something on his 1 board with it, but he didn't. Poor little Lydia How flushed with de- | light she was! How full of dreams of TO, nance! 1 almost wished that it was all l right about the count, but when 1 had 6 few interviews with my detectives I haG no hope of it. and I began to feel it my l duty to keep awake of nights. 1 was glat | I had done so when at last I heard list | slippers going up stairs and down. hat | list slippers, too, and a light foot, and l followed them. The count was creeping about the house with dark lantern, and | crape mask, and a false key. He visited Mrs. Lawson's desk and robbed 1t of mon ] ey; he put the spoons in one pocket ant the silver cream jug in the other. H.
 
 he stepped in at my door and was helping himself to what he liked when I walked in and collared him and yelled "Thieves! ! l and "Murder!" and brought all the mel to my assistance.
 "I've caught burglar" said. "Hell mo tie him.
 We diG that with a couple of silk nuf fers, and when I had taken away q mast. little knife tho count had in his belt tn fat boarder sat upon him while we search ed him.
 The ladies were there by this time, ant they all screamed when their property wa handed back to them. Poor Mrs. Lawson almost tainted when gave her her pock etbook and silver.
 At last the count began to suffocate The fat boarder weighed more than 20 pounds, and we let him up and looked a him.
 "Well, got anything to say?" asked. "Dis was a small misdakes," said tn count II am of dose somnambulist which walk in dere sleeps and know nc what dey do."
 "That explains it." said I. 1T suppose then, you did not remember you had countess living in South Fifth avenu when you declared yourself a bachelor, an that you dreamed about your estates? He shrugged his shoulders and spread ou his palms, and ten minutes after was O his way down tho street between two pt licemen.
 After 1 carried Lydia up stairs-W found her in a swoon on the parlor floor I did not see her for two weeks. ser her flowers every 'day-siek people hi them, you know-and one evening foun her playing softly on the old piano again
 "OhP' she cried as I bent over he l HOh Mr ChiunerlD
 In the light of the red shaded lamp sf looked as sweet and delicate as a wild ros
 "Lydia," said, "won't you think oV' that idea of mine now? Itell you why don't want your mother to keep boardel any longer, and she could live with u I've always practical reasons for ever. thing. No romance about me-"
 She hesitated a moment, and then saiG
 Well, if you want a psrfect fool for wife, you may have me"
 kissed her, and so it was settled.
 MARY KYLE DALLAS.