The Scranton chronicle. (Scranton, Miss.) 1897-19??, 1901-05-18

hJAT ELL, girls. put on your war
wv paint said Cousin Fred, as
he threw himself into chair on the
veranda; your opportunity has ar
rived-or Is about To. A German
count, rtal thing, you know, fam
lily castle and ancestral portraits
and estates and orders, and a name
longer than trolley line. Coming to-
morrow, so brush up on German and
the history of the Won schimmielheim-
er family, and plan the most fetching of
costumes"
In an instant Cousin Fred was the
center of six excited girls, and was
piled with so many questions that the
very atmosphere seemed one great in
terrogation point.
How do | know? A little bird told
me. Besides, Frank Lacy showed me
q letter from the counts secretary;
Frank knew him at the university.
lie has to leave for the west, and wants
me to do the honors in his place. Yes,
the count is unmarried, young and
eligible; probably hunting for a girl
with barrel of money. That gives
Fannie and Belle rather the inside
track. Although imagine Aunt Marga-
ret would make some sacrifices to give
Dora and Helen show to be a count
ess. | guess, Iona, you will have to
sit on the fierce and see him go by.
OF course Mary will sass him and be
sarcastic with all concern ed"
That's where your heads leyel," re-
sponded Mary. 81 haven't money or ex-
pectations enough TO buy dry goods
clerk, and if had a million, and had
to buy a husband, l don't know but
the dry goods clerk would be the best
investment"
81 confess that I wouldn't object to
wearing a coronet," remarked Fannie.
'Good," responded Cousin Fred.
"One entry for the prize. Do l hear.
another bid?'
Il hope he's handsome" remarked
Dora, as the six. cousins started for
their rooms todress for dinner.
The next day the count arrived with
his secretary, who apparently was also
his companion. In the evening the two
were presented to The girls by Cousin
Fred. They were intelligent gentle
men of 2s or 30.
After the introdnctions there fol-
lowed an immediate appropriation of
the count by Fannie and Dora, with
languid effort on the part of Belle to
interest the titled person, and iIef-
fectual attempts by Helen and Iona to
maintain their parts.
Mary soon found herself in conrersa-
tion with the private secretary, who
was slightly taller than the count.
Soon they were joking away with the
utmost freedom. When Fannie took
the counts arm and swept out on
the broad ve1anda for a promenade,
giving the other girls a glance of tri-
umph, Mary could not resist saying
sweetly to Mr.. Schwartz:
"Your European aristocracy never
make a mistake in picking out the girl
with money"
II beg your pardoni" replied her
companion, surprised.
"Oh, yes he has instantly discovered
the richest one of the party" Then
noting the astonishment on his face,
she continued:
'You mustn't be surprised at any
thing do. No one is, after they know
me. am the incorrigible' of the fam
ily.'
Then Miss Curtin is very wealthy?"
"Yes. indeed. Money on both sides
of the house-nothing lacking but
count or a duke or something of that
sort"
"Then the count is esteemed great
catch?"
"By those who want that sort of
thing and can afford to pay for it,"
she replied
He laughed with rather more mirth
than the occasion seemed to demand,
and offered his arm for a promenade.
During the days that followed the
two Germans became more and more
intimate with the Curtin party. which
intimacy was duly approved of by the
mammas. Fanny retained her lead
with the count, although he took Helen
riding and always danced more with
Belle, but she was by all odds the best
dancer. while the private secretary
and Mary found themselves thrown to-
gether great deal. He liked her
sharp tongue and unconventional
comments. The mammas of the party
were reconciled (Mary's mamma was
dead). and they even commented that
''it would be just like Mary to marry
some secretary or somebody who had
neither money ror position-but dear
knows. they had done all they could.
spd she vas fpeh hsadF'Feug piece