Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1895-07-25

az A&AAN Alo
style in which l lived. No one in all
the numerous families OF distinction
that eagerly sought my acquaintance
cared whether l had intellect or in
trinsic personal worth; ii sufficed to
them that | kept a carriage and pair,
an elegant and costly equipage. softly
lined with satin and drawn by two
Arabian mares as black as polished
ebony. The value OF my friendship
was measured by the righteousness Of
my box at the opera and by the dainty
fittings of my yacht, q swift trim yes
sci furnished with every luxury, and
having on board a band of stringed in
struments which ~discoursed sweet
music when the moo emptied her
horn OF silver radiance on the ripping
water. In a little while / knew every
body who was worth knowing in Ma
pies; everywhere my name was talk4I
of, my doings were chrOnicleG in the
fashionable newspapers; stories of nv
lavish generousneSS were repeated
from mouth TO mouth, and the most
highly colored reports of my immense
revenues were whispered with q kind
of breathless W at every cafe and
street corner. Tradesmen waylaid my
reticent valet, VincenZio, and gave
him douceurs in the hope that he
would obtain my custom for them
tips" which he pOcketed in his usual
reserved and discreet tanner, but
which he was always honest enough
TO tell me of afterward. He would
most faithfully give me the name and
"ddTess of this or that particular
,empter Of his fidelity, always adding,
AS TO whether the rascal sells good
fhfnUS nr ha1 nur n a1u nnIx, rn-
but truly he gave me thirty francs to
secure your e~xcellency's good will.
Though for all that l would not rec
ommend him II your e~xcellency knows
Of an konester man.
Among other distinctions which my
wealth forced upon me were the law
ish attentions OF matchmaking moth
ers. The black spectacles which l al
ways wore, were not repulsive to
these diplomatic danes; on the con-
trary, some Of them assured me they
were most becoming, so anxious were
they to secure me as a son-in-law.
Fair girls in their teens, blushing and
ingenious, were ~artfully introduced To
me-or, l should say, thrust forward
like slaves in a market fer my insI,ec-
tion-though, to do them justice, they
were remarkably shTewd and sharp
witted for their tender years. Young
as they were, they We're keenly alive
TO the Importance of making a good
match; and no doubt the pretty inno-
cents laid many dainty schemes in
their own minds of liberty and en-
joyment when one or the other OF
them should become the Countess
Olivia, and fool the old black spec
tacled husband to her hearts content.
Needless to say their plans were not
destined to be fulfilled. though I
rather enjoyed studying the many de-
vices they employed TO fascinate me.
What pretty ogling glances l received
what whispered admiration OF my
beautiful white hairr' $50 distinguer'
what tricks Of manner, alternating
from grave to gay, from ripping mirth
to witching languor! Many an even
ing l sat at ease on board my yacht,
watching with a satirical inward
amusement one, perhaps two or three
of these fair schemers, ra%nsacking
their youthful brains for new meth
D to entrap the old millionaire az
they thought me, into the matrimonial
net. l used TO see their eyes, spark
ling with light in the sunshine. grow
liquid and dreamy in the mellow ra-
dance of the October moon and turn
upon me with a vague usefulness
most lovely TO behold, and most ad-
mirably feigned. / could lay my hand
on a bare round white arm and not be
repulsed; l could holS little clinging
fingers In my W as long as / liked
without giving offense; such are some
of the privileges Of wealth.
Ito be Continually