Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1899-11-13
THE SEQUEL.

There is a grace and reserved gra-
ciousness about well-bred foreigner
which all Americans have not, even
when members of that -maligned
and envied social strata, the one which
leads the world in this republic of ours,
just as it does in monarchical England
and imperial Russia.
The American usually presents him
or herself, whether in drawing-room or
on platform before a crowded audi
ence, with ease, and most creditably.
But there is fine, thin line of de-
markation, very distinct, which sepa-
rates the ease and simplicity of manner
of those accustomed, from times re-
mote, to that Difference paid to super
iority of merit and position, with the
self-assertion of the individual who is
forced to battle his way to the consid-
GRAFTON of others, and, however slight,
it can be detected without difficulty.
Count Corrielli, although in his six
ties, was still an eminently agreeable,
cultured, even charming man.
Slight and of medium height, with
hair abundant and white as the driven
snow, whose contrast of coloring was
vivid, with eyes dark, sleepy and i'm
penetrable, and his somewhat swarthy
complexion, not altogether free from
lines around the thin lips, which shut
firm and straight, unconcealed by
beard or mustache, for his was a clean
shaven face, made the count distin-
guished-looking man, while he was a
conspicuous and attractive figure wher-
ever he happened to be.
How delightful your solitude is," re-
marked the count, with sigh of con-
tent, taking the seat near the fire, and
her own chair, suggested by a faint
gesture of Estelle's pretty hand.
Looking keenly at the beautiful face
before him, the heightened color, the
gray eyes, in which a mist seemed to
linger sorrowfully, and the tremulous
motion of the fingers, fluttering rather
aimlessly among the silver of the tea
service, he drew his conclusions.
"A part lui," the count detested the
sight of samoyar.
There was no tea, Russian, Japanese,
English, nor other, which had the
slightest attraction for this descendant
of an old Neapolitan house, whose
ducal palace, somewhat abandoned
for the count was a confirmed wander
er, spending most of his life in Lon
don and Paris-looked solitary and
beautiful from the cliffs of the noun
tain side, where 1t stood among its
gardens, down on the blue waters of the
bay stretching out at its feet.
That grand old castle which Estelle's
thoughts had pictured to her as a fine
locale for bright Christmas gathering
Of American wanderers on the Con
tinent.
with pleasure-No Neither cream
nor sugar"
"If the feminine world has decreed
that one must drink the abomination, !"
the count once said privately to some
club friends, why, let it be without any
additions. They only make it worse"
"No callers? Why, it seems to me this
is an ideal afternoon for friends to drop
in. A little gossip, my dear young
lady, fits in admirably with the dull
weather outside, and would add to your
charmngly bright freside, where no
shadows would ever dare to gather, if
such a thing were possible"
What comedy of errorsl" said Es-
telle's thoughts with a shudder.
"Oh, yes; | caught glimpse of Miss
Bennington as their carriage crossed
mine" said the count slowly, while
with commendable virtue he sat slipping
Estelle's tea
"Oh If he would only go, Am | never
to have one quiet hour to myself?'
whispered Estelle's thoughts sadly. at
is maddening! But he stays and
urges"
why, surely you must put an end to
| it Estelle, once and for ALL" they com
manded. You'll be glad to get away
| from this country and from all these
dear, hateful people.
And after all very few men can equal
the count, as everyone says and thinks.
| You know he's devoted to you, and you
need not stay more than a month at a
| time In his ducal palace on the heights.
| OF course there have been marriages,
and births, and deaths, and joy, and
sorrow, and revelry, and crime, and
| wretchedness within its vast walls
| through all these centuries, and the
| spirits of the past must haunt its fres-
coed corridors and sigh through its
halls and conservatores and wander
through its myrtle and citron groves.
| But what do we care?
Anything to get away. Anything to
put the ocean between you. And conti-
nents, too, if possible, so that you will
never, never again hear his name
| spoken or learn OF It's successes and OF
those who willingly make up his daily
and hourly life"
And all the while her thoughts were
rambling on.
Estelle and the count sat chatting
almost confidentially of the scenes at
the horse show, the latest opera, and
the last novel, and the formal wedding
OF the forenoon, while the keen scrutiny
of the counts yelled eyes read deeper
into the young girls soul than she was
at all aware Of
"a very suitable marriage" he COM
mented, rising leiSlrely to put his half
empty cup on the tabouret.
Estelle's eyes flashed and her lip
curled. For those two," he supple
mented, reseating himself.
What is folly for one may be wisdom
for another. We are all on distinct
patterns, my dear young lady, although
in different degrees, We. possess With