Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1895-09-14
AN ACQUAINTANCE.

One evening in August the diligence
from s anstadt stopped OH the ROAD below
the Sonnenscbein hotel 1t Engclbcre TIC
let down two Passengers, tall, d"rk
young man Of distinguished demcanor,
with a discreet locking person Of tho I'M
mistakablc valet type in attendance.
The Sonncnscicin visitors, awaiting tho
table d'hntr, were assembled on the terrace
in front Of the hotel Tho newcomer, us
he took his way through them with u
li.ht. swinging step was the object Of
many cJrious pllrccs. especially from
feminine eyes. handsome young men of
seeming distinction and attended by val
cts are no: cGr:incn as Swiss mountain re-
sorts Il group of ladies seated togo thor
Lady Hunter ard Hon. Mrs. Pci-son,
with their respective daughter Rosie and
Amy-stTdicd him with great attention.
TLcy belonged TO the class VII 80 l.inci.
pal fields of operation arc foreign hotels.
Both faniiiies had lived much abroad, tho
girls speaking several languages with ma
tive fiuency. They were friends, as Irish
landlords and tenants might be between
whom questions Of propric.orsi.ip in spe-
cial property ire liable to arise The ladies
bad been puzzled 10 decide the strangers
nationality. Though lie looked foreign,
there was something English in his gait
and manner. The entry i'm the visitors
book next morning settled the matter,
M. lc Vicuintc dc louisville 1t domcs-
tiIuc, Paris. "
An English viSa0unt--with a verifying
Drbgctt IL appeal to in the casc--would
IF, HI,..,
the IIuiturs nor pcarsons had insular
.judic's, beyond possessing "A certain
amount Of ncrv0us dread of a basman
''unlvarC,. " Tho latter feeling made them
hesitate to make the yicomtc's accuaint-
area while they endcayorod 70 obtain
further Information through. tAc usual ho-
tel channu!s. Discretion, however had
not been yainly written on tho lincanents
Of The viGumtc's valet, and Che widest la
dies maidS found him unapDrolchablc.
Meanwhile public opinion III tho Son
EensoIlclu was Unanimous on tho POINT
that VI. &c Euisy Hos manncrs were as
distinguished as his looks and bore the
best social stamp. Caution ard reserve
had ~ hard struggle to hold their own with
the Hunters ard Pearsons, especially as
VI. do louisville showed unmistaka bic
though well bred signs of n desire to MAKE
tho English ladies' acquaintance. Were
they who had lived but to grasp tho skirts
of such chance; now losing the best Cp-
por;unity which had ever come within
their reachy While kesitating, the two
mothers kept close watch on each other.
Four or fvc day Lad passed 2shcn Amy
LII
Ioora enc morning.
Tho Hunters have found out soma
thing"
How? Why" Mrs. Persons excite.
mont cqualod her daughters.
II saw Rosio talking to NJ. do Boisvillc
in the woods just now.'
"Goo;! gracious, And they have kept
II scc:Jt from Us! What rueanncss! Blu,
will bc ovon with Maria Hunter, for all
that"
Shortly attorwarL Mrs. Pearson had an
interview with tho head waitcr-s!,ort, but
hnsinCsslihc In tho c.cuing she did not
occupy her usual place at dinner opposite
the hunters. she and Amy sat ut the
other end Of the table, with NJ. do Bots.
villo between them.
Tho Hunters on taking tl.oir seats,
were first aware of tho change and wCr,
naturally filed with surprise and chagrin.
Tho Pcarsons have found out some
thing Rosie exclaimed, and l was &c
chilling with tho man this morning when
Ln picked up my skctchhooi in the woods. u
She cast IL vindictivo glance at Amy, who
was being anything but chilling to the
viCumtc ut the moment.
1T will he easy to correct tho mistake
Isnr nd kp yn, al hp hot tpr
Tho Pcarsons h3vo found out something
very satisfactory. Trust Caroline Pearson
for thatI' said Lady Hunter You mus
Lo polite To- VI. do, Boisvillc in tho draw
ing room after dinner and Introduce hin
to me-
On tho basis Of false assumption, which
plays such n leading part In lifc's transac
tions, tho struggle for the viconitc began
that evening. Tho Hunters and Pcarson
were SD evenly matched that the contest
once entered on, engaged all their attpn
ton. Doubt, caution and reserve wcr'
completely abandoned. What need to liar!
back on thcm' Each party felt absolut,
trust In tho worldly wisdom and discrimi
nation of the other.
The students Of humnnity-less respect
fully called gossips--who ahoundcd in tn
hotel, were obscrvant from the beginning
The vicomtc seemed ductility itself in tn
hands of the rival mothers and RESPONDED
with polite alacrity to every ruse which
threw him into tho society Of the riva
daughters The fact that be only spok
French made no difference in either case
both girls soaking that language rs flu
entity rs their mother tongue The battl
had varying fortunes. For some time TIL
sharpcst observation failed to detect bal
anoc IN either direction. After n fort