The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1899-06-23

'''''''> -
gold and hung about with chains.
"Ah, dear countess. tell me how
! your dinner went oil last night. |
hear it was Il great success
The countess frightened: her sigh
of relief was audible '!Now. that does
me good to hear So she said: "bccausc
thought it was 4 slap-up frost. Pora
gave me list of who was to 90 in
with who, and who was TO 90 in after
the other; bat | lost it, and got late
trying to find it; an, when | went in
to the room, all the princes and minis
ters an things were there. Sakcs! |
was flurried. One of my crowns is q
bit too big for me, and l was wearing
that, an my fool of Il maid had for
gotten to plug it up at one side with
4 bit Of hair, SO, when came in, it
slid over one eye. An got so mixed,
| spoke to all the wrong people first"
The Roman lady expressed her
sympathy. Zones first official dinner
is always trial. she remarked. But
| understood her enusion; she was IA
nous for her limitations, and had come
to make a study for the reproduction
of the countess's dinncr-partv.
care you entertaining much this
season." she asked.
II guess so, an the folk are jest
painting to come to my big reception
next week, sending letters all day
long for tickets. You've only jest got
to hang mutton-chop on your door
knob, an all Rome will come to your
parties -
| wondered if my little heroine OF
the rolling-pin was less simple than
she seemed; the Roman lady evident
ly came to the conclusion that she was
approaching masked batteries, for she
rose, and said with undiminshed sweet
ness: "Well goodbye, dear conntcss,
until next week"
"1 1ou wrote for ticket didn YOU:
asked the countess.
''1ou were kind enough to send me
card, replied the other, making her
escape. But, knowing the lady, |
knew that 'Melia Ann had bought her
victory at very high price.
you'll come to my reception" the
countess said to me. ''It's next week.
Three hundred tickets have gone out,
and they are writing for more Popa's
hugging himself silly; he arranged it
all. I'll send you ticket, but don't
say anything about Arcadia street.
I'll tell Popa you promised. :"
l saw the countess to her carriage
a vehicle as glaringly impossible as her
dress, and promised faithful attend
ancc at her reception.
During the week | found that tue
Tchertskoff meaoge, established in one
of the most magnificent of the prince
ly palaces of Rome, was the laughing
stock of that world ofcosmopolitanism
and all Rome was going to the coun-
tess's first reception as it would 90 to
a comedy, or to the performance of
popular buffoon.
The poor little countess, laden with
jewels, L tiara that had once glittered
upon royal head wobbling insecurely
on her red hair, received at the entrance
to suite of rooms hung with brocade
and crammcd with the art treasures
collected by great italian connoissuer,
whose children appreciated Mr.. Cyrus
j. Miggs's rental dollars more than
their heritage. Her husband, more
languid, more characterless than when
| had seen him at the Savoy, hovered
about like an uneasy bird; Mr.. Cyrus
j. Miggs beamed beatitude from above
an inordinately high collar He
avoided me with a circumspection
that verged upon the criminal.
The Roman world had come to
laugh; it certainly had its fill. Blum
der after blunder, Jetise after Jetise, did
the countess, with her tiara becoming
more and more insecure, lay before
them Tor their mockcry. Poor little
little soul. there was no one to give her |
a kindly hint or suggestion, and Area
dia street and the slums of New York |
are not the most satisfactory training
grounds for official receptions in the
whole diplomatic world.
Late in the evening | had been sent |
in search of Il lost fan by one of my
fl lends, and, in passing from room to
room, | lost my bearings. Finding
myself before some double doors. all |
carved aud gilded, and hearing the
music of the band | pushed them open,
that | was close to the
apartments from which | had started
The room | entered was dimly lighted,
and on sofa was a huddled-up figure
sobbing bitterly. 1t was Mclia Ann.
Before | could retreat she had risen.
and stood facing me delantly, much in
the manner in which she had faced the
crowd of Arcadia street.
"Oh, it's only you," she said, and be-
gan to sob airesh.
What is the matte:?''
THAT woman who asked me about
my dinncr-party-yo know the day
met you-has been taking me Off
heard her, | saw hcr-ovcrything |
Il : L. q. I !