The Meeker herald. [volume] (Meeker, Colo.) 1885-current, 1901-09-07
SVLI ELL. girls, put on your wa,
4 w paint" said Cousin Fred, Us

wv ELL girls ss,d Put ro0 on your prea war
be threw himself into chair on the
seranda, your opportunity has ar
rived-or is about to. A German
count, real thing, you know, fam
ny castle and ancestral portraits
sad estates and orders. and Ea,re
IL niger than trolley line. Coming to-
N orrow, so brush up en- German and
tie history of the Won Sehimmic!heim-
ur family. and plan the most fetching Of
costumes"
In an instant Cousin Fred was the
centcr OF six excited girls. and was
piled with so many questions that the
very atmosphere seemed one great in
tarrogation point.
'"How DO l know? a little bird told
uA.. Besides, Frank Lacy showed me
q letter from the counts secretary;
Frank knew him at TIE university.
He has to leave for the west, anS. wants
me to do the honors in his place. Yes.
the count is unmarried, young and
eligible; probably hunting fer IA girl
with barrel OF money. That gives
Fet.n and Belle rather tie Inside
track. Although Imagine Aunt Margn-
rat would make some sacrifices 10 give
Dora and Helen show TO le count
ess. l guess, Iona. you viii have to
sit en- the fence and see linn go by.
OF course Mary will sass him and be
sarcastic with all concerned"
That's where your heads level" re-
sponled Mary. ~ haven't money or ex-
pectitions enough to buy dry goods
clerk, and If had n million. and had
to bay q husband, / don't know but
the dry goods clerk would be the best
invest nent."
II confess that wouldn't object to
wcarisg coronet." remarked Fannie.
Cord" responded Cousin Fred.
Zone entry for the prize. Do l hear
another bid?"
II hope he's handsome" remarked
Dora, as the six cousins started for
their rooms to dress 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 80.
After the introductions there fol-
lowed an immediate appropriation Of
languid effort on the part of Belle to
interest the titled person, md inef-
fcctual attempts by Helen and Iona to
maintain their parts.
Mary soon found herself in conversa-
ton 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 veranda for promenade,
giving the other girls q glance Of tri-
umph, Mary could not resist saying
sweetly tn Mr.. Schwartz:
"Your European aristocracy never
make mistake in picking out the girl
with money"
II beg your pardon!" replied her
companion, surprised.
"Ob. yes he has instantly discovered
the richest one of the party" Then
noting the establishment on his face.
she continues:
"iou mustn't be surprised at any.
thing de-. No one is, after they know
me. am the incorrigible' of the fam
fly"
"Then hiss Curtin is very wealthy"
ayes, Indeed. Money on both sides
Of the housc-nothing lacking but u
count or duke or something of that
sort"
"Then the count is esteemed a great
catch?"
"By those who want that sort of
thing ana 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 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 he
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-
sharp tongue ard unconventional
comments. The msmmas OF the party
were reconciled (Mary's ma NINA was
dead, and lAsy even con mepted that
at wood ~ J.,st like A~ry 80 mur.y
some secretary or somebody who had
neither money nor position-but dear
knows. they had done all thoy could.
and she was such headstroug piece
that it was beyond guessing "nai she
would do next-perhaps be':ome =
school-teacher, and any marriage were
better than that"
The stay Of the foreigners, which
had been set for one week. len;fthened
to two, and then to three; AID here
it was the fourth week, and she sea-
son nearly over. It was evide mt that
matters were approaching cl-isis be-
tween Fannie and the count. 1t also be-
came evident one day that thure was