The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1896-05-15
LYDIA'S LOVERS.

| liked Lydia Lawson. Incvcr told
her she was beautiful or an angel.
That is all romantic twaddlc, and ]
deSpsc romance. But l told her !
liked her and said it was my idea that
we'd be very comfortable if VIC should
step off together. But she said that
though she felt great friendship for
me she could not think of it because |
took such drcadlully commonplace
views of life. So ! dropped it, but !
continued to board at Mrs. LawSon'S.
Lydia's mother kept gcntecl board
ing house. | remember perfectly that
it was cloudy morning. and most Of
the boarders in the dumps, when Mrs.
Lawson said to US:
Ladies' and gentlemen, have
something to say to you. ] want to
ask You il you'd mind dining in the
front basement, instead of the back
parlor? 1t amt so gentecl, ] know,
but It's really quite snug. and the din
ner comes IN warmer. Ii nobody OBJ
jects. I'll make the change tomor-
row."
II don't care where l get my din,
ncr, so get it," said the fat man.
"All right. Mrs. LAWSON" said one
Of the other boardcrs.
Il don't know about that" one of
the ladies muttcred.
WELL" said Mrs. Lawson in a mel
ancholy tone. "Ive had good offer
for it from nobleman-a count. 1t
would he an advantage"
"a nobleman?" said the lady who
had objected. "My.."
"a handsome young man as ever
saw" said Mrs. Lawson. Wears
diamonds, and SO polite. Said he
heard the society in my house was 50
good he wanted to come"
"Wcll, if he don't mind the base
mcnt, we needn't" said the objccting
lady.
The next day the change was made,
and on Sunday Count Niciopini was
introduced.
lie was good looking on small
scale, and he dressed wonderfully. |
saw that lie was not roasted chest
nuts or fruit stall, but he was not
genuine, felt sure, and that first day
he began to make big eyes at Lydia.
lie was romantic, If you please, and
! give you my word that before the
week was over she was madly in love
with him. She sang with him now,
not for mc-shc walked with him on
moonlight nights. She looked awful
ly silly, and mighty pretty, too, and
the women began to whisper together
and Mrs. Lawson was in flutter.
YOU'RE such a kind friend, Mr.
Clipper" said she, one day, that ]
can't help telling you that l think my
Lydia is going to be u countess
Count Nicilopini is most attentive.
We'll. she deserves it-she's Il good
girl"
"Tell me, Mrs. lawson" / asked
"docs Nicilopini pay his board bills?"
"WelI, not yet" said Mrs. Lawson.
"But that is because the rcmittanccs
from his estate have not arrived-the
Italian steamer is del lycd you know"
That evening called on a detective
| knew and had a talk with him. ]
said nothing in the house, and when
Nicilopini asked me To lend him S25 !
did it. thought he would pay some.
thing on his board with it, but he
didn't.
Poor little Lydia! How flushed
with delight she was How full of
dreams of romance! | almost wished
that it was all right about the count,
but when l lad lew interviews with
my detectives had no hope OF II, and
| began to feel it my duty to keep
awake of nights. ] was glad ! had
done so when at last ! heard list slip.
pcrs going up stairs and down. ] had
list slippers, too, and light foot, and
| followed them. The count was
creeping about the house with dark
lantern, and Il Grape mask, and a false
key. lie visited Mrs. Lawson's desk
and robbed 1t of money; he put the
spoons in one packet and the silver
cream jug In the other. He called on
every boarder In turn. At last he