Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1896-03-26
CHAPTER XXI.
A NOBLE COUNT.


'News, news, news! What will you
give me to tell you the most wonderful
piece of news you ever heard?" Mr.
Woodgrove asked at breakfast one
morning.
Now, though the young people had a
house of their own across the way, they
took their meals in the Woodgrove
mansion, and consequently were pres
ent at this exciting moment.
''Good or bad?" Mrs. Woodgrove
asked.
''Good, royal, grand"
''Of whom?" demanded Elsie.
''Of friend of yours, my dear"
sob, do tell; 1 am burning to know it. "
"Then hold your tongue, love-" Mrs.
Woodgrove said, laughing, ''for Mar
Gus could not keep a secret for five con-
secutive minutes"
SWELL" remarked the old man, 81
may as well paralyze you at once-Mrs.
Clarence Grindlay is going to be mar
ried."
sob, Marcus, at her time of life!"
Eyes, and what's the worst of it
mean the best of it's that she is 60
ing to wed German baron"
"Not Count Won Thun?" Elsie asked.
''Oh, did not like him"
Ibid you not, darling? Well, it's all
settled, SO it's no use crying over spilled
milk. Now, here's where we come in.
Marion is going to give ball on
Wednesday evening to exhibit her lord
ly captive, and we are hidden guests
now, who will go?"
''Not l." Mrs. Woodgrove said, de-
cisively, ''but 1 should like Frank to
take Elsie, and you, Marcus, must &C
company them out of respect to Mar
ion."
Perhaps in no city of the world can
such unbounded, reckless extravaganza
be witnessed as in New York, the capt.
tai of the land of republican simplicity.
Ostentation and rank seem more natur-
ally associated, but, bless your life,
when John Smith, who never had a
recognized grandfather, has made his
pile" he knows how to lord it with the
best of them.
The Grindlay mansion on the night of
the ball outrivaled Aladdin's palace.
The flowers for decoration cost five
thousand dollars: gorgeous servants
twenty years ago one saw no liveries in
the Empire city-brilliant in plush and
tinsel, fitted like plumed birds amid a
tropical blaze of gold and purple.
In the center of the spacious hall a
fountain was erected-a lovely marble
basin, from whose depths naiads blew
forth jets of eau-de-cologne or rosewa-
ter, while from the dropping, bell
shaped flowers of a group of astras
hung dainty petals tipped with tiny
electric lights. Rooms hung with rich
draperies, floors covered with carpets
from the looms of Turkey, soft and ir-
ceilings hand-painted and glowing in
rich color; fantastic tables and chairs
of quaint device; costly inlaid cabinets;
rich vases; priceless china-it was like
a vision of fairyland, only, after all, as
sensible Marcus Woodgrove observed,
it was the fairyland of the stagc-one
could not help expecting to sec Earle-
quin plunge through an old family
picture" % or Columbine pirouetting
on the polished floor.
No man in his senses would dare
description of the fair owner of these
delights. She was radiant as dream,
for Worth had out Worthed himself for
the occasion; yet. as one gazed at the
diamonds. sparkling like dew drops over
skirt and bodice, one couldn't help
wondering how much she would fetch
at auction if sold just rs she stood.
Baron Won Thun must be proud
man this night to survey these count
less signs of untold wealth and say: ''In
seven days all this shall be mine"