Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1896-04-02
CHAPTER xyI-CoNr1sUEp,

Elsie. in her white robe and simple
wreath of flowers, looked like snow.
drop which had tumbled into gor.
geous bed Of tulips. She had one little
shadow of disappointment. Frank, her
darling Frank, was not hawless, he, all
ungifted with the natural perception
of the beautiful, which his wife in
s.inctivcly enjoyed, saw nothing incon-
gruous, no lack Of harmony in all the
barbaric pomp around him, nay, even
revc,ed in its very gorgeousness.
Mr.. Woodgrove was, as he put 1t,
''Irad clean through"
'.She might have founded a hospital
with what to-ni2ht's flummery will
COS. her." he said indignantly, land all
in honor of foreigner"
Two gushing girls passed at that mo-
rent, and Elsie was amused to hear
thera c.urulur:
''Oh. the dear, dear baron"
Isn't he a 1ovc?"
$50 distinguished looking!'
''Such al air."
''But his accent, they say, is not very
coed"
''pshaw, dear. you couldn't expect q
baron 20 talk like a college professor.
Such man sets the fashion of pro-
nunciatioa."
ITO be sure he does. Oh, isn't Mrs.
G-indlay lucky to have captured him?
Why. hundred handsome girls with
oceans Of money would have jumped at
him"
But see! The baron approaches our
little group with his promised bride
upon his arm.
Elsie was overwhelmed with con-
fusion; but the older lady was too happy
to be ungracIous-
lily dearest" she grshed, 81 am
charmed to see you. Uncle, it is good
of you to have come. Let me present
the guest of the evening, Baron Albert
von Thuu of Carlsbad
Elsie curtsicd, the count bowed.
They had met before; but Mr.. Wood
grove scandalized his niece by seizing
the baron's hand and shaking it heart
lily and assuring him of his pleasure in
meeting him.
My husband, Mrs. Grindlay!" Elsie
blushingly vcntured, standing aside
THAT Frank might come to the front
''Ah. Mr.. Grey" said that lady all
smiles. Il am delighted to meet one
of whom have heard SO much. Per
nit me to make you known to my friend
Count Won Thun."
The baron, who had scarcely conde-
seconded to glance at the new acquaint-
aace and expecting the same provincial
heartincss he had experienced at the
hands of Mr.. Woodgrove, held out his
hand, when, to Elsio's horror, Grey,
who had half-advanccd his own, drew
it back, bowed. and said:
.Sir, we have met before!'
Had bombshell exploded, it could
not have caused greater CONSERVATION
among the little group
The baron's face turned livid with
rage. Elsie, whose brain was full of
duels, pistols and all sorts of foreign
denominations, felt ON the point of
fainting, but Mrs. Grindlay with ex-
quisite tact, as though having seen
nothing of contretemps, laid her hand
ON the counts arm and led him away,
saving with pleasant smile to Elsie:
"You must go to the children, dear,
they are Just wild to see you-"
I'm heavens name, man." gasped
::yoodgrove, incxpressibly shocked.
lido You know what you have donc?"
Perfectly well do 1 know what I
have DONE" Grey answered gravely
but firmly. s.That man is no more q
German baron than am He is"
s.Who?"
Herr Schlossinger, the socialist"
The old man was so shocked that for
. few momepts he could not speak.
Are You sure?" he asked May it
not have been case OF mistaken iden-
tfty?"
NAY. 1 am certain"
.sWhat Is to be done?"