The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1898-01-08
HIS LORDSHIP'S =
> THANKSGIVING.
by CLINTON ROSS.
fCopyright. ISL

Nov Of Thanksgiving. the day or
IN dained by our forefathers, have
a story to tell-and rafting good
story. too, II you will pardon the slang
IA Thanksgiving for which ever have
been giving thanks.
It begins with Kilien my Cousin
Kilien.
Kilien is surely the best-looking girl
In the town, and the very best fellow
quite as good at sports as any Of the
boys. She can make as good drive
as any man 1 know, or take as high q
fence, or swim as far. AS for women,
she could once outfiirt 'em all; she
could now If she wanted to; perhaps
she does o bit, now and then, but it's
not for me to say. We grew up to-
gether, cousins by propinquity; her
aunt married my uncle; the Danbys
and the Westmores have been pseudo
telatives for more than q century.
When we began to 60 out to functions
In town, liked to have Kilien along;
she made the rest of the women a bit
inferior. But I never fell in love with
her-oh, mol reserved that privilege
for other girls. Az / say, we both had
our Affairs; I think had about q score,
and should have had more If my in
come had permitted, and hadn't been
80 busy trying to get on in Buy & Sells
Office down in the street. And since
Kilien was one Of the handsomest, jol-
lest girls in the town. and one of the
richest as well. suitors charged up the
hill and fell like the heroes at Balac-
lava. Some of those fellows / didn't
like any too we'll; but there was none
ever disliked so much as that little
Englishman, the earl of Stayers.
When l first saw him after dinner at
the Cosmopolitan club, / felt that /
was going to dislike him; knew what
he was over here for, in the tow of his
mamma, the dowager countess = the
restoration Of Fenley house, Mon
mouthshire. And Kilien was obviously
the most important Of the young wom-
en- who were to be paraded for the in
spection of Lady Stavers' lorgnette-
for when I saw the earl, didn't be-
lieve he would have much to say about
It. He was just little stockily built.
red-faced, fair-haired chap, sr;tk Q
smile that y-was bound to acknowledge
washgreeable, and easy good manners.
with none of that patronixing manner
that marks your second class Britisher.
Nobody at the club noticed him par
ticrlarly until Teddy Brooks, who had
him In tow, had made some introduc-
tiofn; then they crowded about him q
bit, for though titles are common
enough here in these days, we don't
object to being seen with an English
nobleman any more than the great
Thackeray, who confessed to the desire
to promenade Picadilly with lord on
each arm.
"Eh. Charlie" said Teddy, as proud
as baby with new rattle. "let me
introduce Lord Stavers-Lord Stavers,
Mr.. Westmore."
~How dye do" said Lord stavers,
Jolly fine day."
@How dye do" said 1; yes, jolly
flne."
"You two probably will meet at the
Danbys'. Westmore 10 always down at
their house at Dale" said Teddy.
"Deuced fine girl, Miss Dandy" Stav-
ers remarked.
''Yes, ! think 60" commented, TAX
ing his measure.
But tho next morning I was to see
his mother the countess down ct Dale,
and / understood at once that he was
the led, not the leader. This old wom-
an was one Of the greatest gossips it
ever has been my fortune to know.
Betty Burton, whom took In to din
ner, whispered to me; "Isn't she aw-
full? Yet l like Lord Etavers."
6tavers had Kilien, of course. and
Kilien's eyes werc dancing for HIM
The countess. too, paid my delightful
cousin lot Of attention.
"Whats the matter, Charlie p Betty
Burton asked. "You seem nervous.
Then, seeing where my eyes were, her
laughter rippled.
"It's Kilien."
"Oh, you know" I hsstened to saw
Kilien = too nice girl to marry ID
England"
II think she can take care Of herself. y
Betty said; and I acknowledged that
my cousin usually could. But a. I
watched them came to zee that Stays
- nffor all was a rather affrarx;v. q,