The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-04-29

mighty poor lot take 'em as they run, and
l haven't seen one I'd hire for a coach
man. There's one fellow in particular d
break in two If 1 was twenty years young
er and could run him down. He's follow
ed us for a month, and the girl seems to
be dead-gone on him. Say, now, but 1
want you to do something for me. He
calls himself the Count Padova, and he's
dinged his title and castles and ancestors
into my ears till I want to kick him. I
want you to find out If he is a real count"
1t was matter of little trouble to dis
cover that Count Padova had a right to
his title, but 1t also came to light that he
was almost sixty years old, poor as a
church mouse, and had been twice mar
| ried. His character as man was very
unsavory, and 1t was easy enough to guess
| that he was after marriage which would
brinI him in money
1.-THE miserable old dodov' exclaimed
| Saunders. when 1 made my report. 81
| mistrusted that he was an old sinner and
| that he was trying his best to knock
twenty years off his age. Why. hang the
man, I'm sure he's got wax nose, false
| teeth and a wooden leg, and that without
his wig we'd find his head as bare as a
billiard ball! / want you to help me save
| Ellen"
But she can't marry without your con-
sent and assistance" l replied.
But she'll keep at me until I give my
| consent and assistance" he protested
| Think of it, will you-the daughter of
James Saunders, a straight-haired Yankee
| Doodle Dandee, picking up with a lop-
| shouldered, knock-kneed played out old
Italian grand daddy just for the sake of
being called Countess Padova! Why, 1
want to Upset the stove and break the
dishes wren think Of 1t! l want you to
have talk with the girl and tell her
what a fool she is making of herself"
I naturally refused to mix in the matter,
though willing to offer such outside
advice as might strengthen the
father. Indeed, one look at Eileen sat-
isfied me that at my first word she'd retail
late with mighty snub. 1t was our or
five days before 1 got sight of Count Pa
dovs. He had probably been obliged to
fish around to get his railroad fare from
Florence. l found him all that Saunders
had described him, and little more. He
had been washed and wrung out and
bleached until one could think only of en-
old towel on a clothes line. We didn't hit
it off at all. He saw in me rival, and
Strengthening up as far as possible and
assuming what he probably thought was
ferocious dignity ne advanced upon ma
and said
sir am the Count Padovap
"Well. what Of it?" I queried.
And the afnaneed husbsr1 Of Miss
Saunders"
I'm sorry for her"
] thought challenge would follow. but
it admit He toltered around and tried
to iooS blood thirsty. and finally shook his
finger at me and cried out In piping tones:
Beware, slr-bewarel No man shan
come between me and my owe and livei'
] think he went mp stairs and told his
lady love that he had seared me OFF the
track ana then discovered that / was no
rival, for he soon returned and begged my
pardon and offered me his hand. / Wa
reading "A newspaper and didn't see or
hear him. Saunders was laid up IN his
room that day, but he came down after
dinner end groaned out as he met me:
my last hope IL gone, Ellen tells me
she has accepted the Count, ana the bfg-
gar r. going 10 have the fact published to-
morrow"
"bpi suppose you refuse your sanction
ana order The ola beRRar 10 Eetf"
"Say you don't know Ellen. ! throat
enod 90 DO thas and she declared shed
Nlofe Win him"
And what u YOU tod tho Count h.