Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1902-07-17
The Counts
|Ambassado
By LUCE FRANCE PIERCE
Copyrighted by Daily Story Pub. Coz


n URING certain lucid intervals it
occurred to Van Horton that pos
sibly he had made a mistake, after all,
in marrying the blue-eyed, yellow
haired darling who had been the talk
of the resort the winter before. lie
fancied when-he won her love that she
had tired in a measure of the silly
adulations of the string of idle titled
foreigners and nOndescript ne'er-do-
wells who flock to fashionable sea-
side resort during the winter months
and live on the proceeds of the gaming
table. However Lily Van Horton could
not resist knowing the French arrival,
Count Boni de Noir, late of Paris, and
decorated with several conspicuous
orders which at least looked impor-
tant.
The count had won SO, 900 from Van
Horton, one week after arriving and
the little Frenchman found himself on
good terms with the world, and espe-
cially with Van Horton, to whom he
repeatedly expressed admiration of
the beauty and grace Of madame. Not
haSing met her as yet, and watching
her from a distance, he was secretly
amused at her extraordinary effusion
of manner.
Lily, not knowing of the $4,000, de-
termined to invite the count to dine
with them at the charming little Van
Horton nest just down the avenue be-
yond the gardens of the hotel. He had
called several evenings before at Van
Horizons suggestion, especially to
meet his sister Marie, and not finding
the ladies at home, he had written an
expression of sincere regret along the
edge of each card which he left. Lily,
though never found to be openly self
ish, cherished a little feeling of rival
ry now, when she fancied that her ST.
ter-in-law might be clever enough to
fascinate the count and so deprive her
of some of theattention which she con-
stantly crayed.
The two young women were in a
futter of expectancy when the counts
note of acceptance arrived on the day
of the dinner. They failed to notice
the rudeness and the implied sheer in
its delay. They put on their golf rigs
and walked to the country gardeners
and purchased great armfuls Of bach
elor-buttons for the table decoration
because Lily thought that the beauti-
full blue blossoms might serve as a
wedge to open the conversation con-
corning the counts domestic life.
Van Horton himself was amused and
disguised with the buzz of half-sup-
pressed excitement which the women
exhibited. Their eyes were wide and
brilliant from emotional unrest, their
tempers far from sweet, and their COM
plexions a source of persistent cod
ding and attention. The forgotten
head of the house drew on light top
coat and sauntered toward the hotel
garden, and then sat down in the vague
shadow of the palms, wondering mute
" how he could get out of meeting that
/ y
Frenchman again, and still keep peace
in the household. He was wishing
that the count would drop dead, or be
arrested or recalled to Paris or any
thing, so long as he could be freed from
the disagreeable duty of breaking
bread with his financial despoiler. He
watched his own front door for two
hours. and until almost five o'clock,
and seeing no messenger of any kind
approach the house, he knew his guest
meant to keep his engagement. He
fancied the women had begun to dress,
and he could imagine the nature of
their nervous condolences and the care
they were taking with their dinner
toilets. Arousing himself to apitch of
unrestrained antagonism toward the
foreigner, he finally made resolve.
Walking briskly across the hotel
park, he boarded a car bound for the
inland city, and on reaching an OBJ
scure hotel away from the center he
hurriedly sent telegram to his wife
apprising her of the fact that he was
compelled to come to the city on ac-
count of serious business matter and
she must present his excuses to the
count. Then he sent another message
to the count begging him to join fic'
titious party of friends at poker
scarcely hoping that he would take the
bait.
The telegram to the two women sur
t prised them but mildly. They were
| futtering about the drawing-room
and the dining hall with the suspense
of Young smitten damsels, entertain
ing a coronet for the first time. Lily
was disconnected for moment, but
presently gGsined her composure, and
each finally acknowledged to heother
that she felt actually relieved because
now they could converse freely with
the count without fear of future ridi
cule from Van Horton.
Fifteen minutes before the hour OF
dinner the doorbell was rung
Gracious, he is delightfully."- early
isn't he, Marie?" gasped Lily. The
women glided into the drawing-room
and posed in becoming and conspicu.
Gus corners. Neither had ever met the
count. nor beheld him except from q
great distance, and each was running
over French phrases in her mind, won
dering at the same time whether thei1
guest had become sufficiently attached
to American habits to learn fluent Eng
fish.
A slender, dapper, very much per-
fumed and polished little man ap
peared at the drawing-roOm door, and
before he could speak or the servant
could announce him, the two young
women rushed frantically at their IT,
tied guest, grasping his hands with
kind of warmth and cordially that
seemed to overwbelm him.
"Dear count, we are charmed-in
deed we are, perfectly charmed So
sorry we were not at home the other
evening" both women were saying at
once.
"But, madame" gasped the little