Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1903-01-06
A CONQUEST.

After the usual round of flirtations
and conquests at the European wa
tering places, the little Baron Athe-
nodore de Condillac, ''the Irresisti-
ble," as they call him at the club,
foiled in all his moves by a bewitch-
ing Russian princess, and anticipat-
ing an ignominious checkmate, took
himself off to pastures new.
He is between 20 and 30years old,
with well-curled blonde mustache,
rather thin hair, correctly dressed;
not solidly educated, but proficient
in society's lingo; not intelligent, but
conceited; well yersed in the sciences
of polo, lawn tennis and pigeon
shooting, endowed with a true tai
ent for leading the cotillion, and pos
sessed of a comfortable fortune, not
too much incumbered.
Such is Baron Athenodore de Con-
dillac, one of the most exquisite
young men Of the present genera
ton.
As l said before, this interesting
gentleman betook himself to pas
lures new-to wit, Newport, towards
the end of the season.
Arrived at eight in the morning,
by evening he was madly in love
love at first sight. in me cleaning
he had met a young woman, a sylph,
a dream. Dressed in a costume Of
neutral tint of light material, she
walked, OF rather glided, gracefully
past him, like an apparition. She
was tall, slender, blonde, with ador-
able eyes. Athenodore bowed to her,
and she looked at him in a rather
astonished way, but returned his
salutation by an imperceptible mo-
ton of the head. This was not much,
but sufficient to encourage the baron.
His heart was terribly infamma-
BILE. The least spark will explode a
keg of powder; the least contact, a
word, a glance, sufficed to put him
beside himself. He was in love for
life; never varying in the ardor of
his sentiments, but varying often in
their object. The last woman he
met was the one he thought would
possess his heart forever, and he
swore, in good faith, mentally to her
an eternal love which lasted at most
for fortnight.
The first thing he did, after meet
ing this delicious vision, was to re-
trace his steps and follow her at a
distance; then, seeing her enter one
Of the finest hotels, he decided at
once to find her name and station in
life.
"Who is this divine creature?"
thought he. "a young girl? Mar
rled? Perdltlonl Maybe a widow?
Her garments are half-mourning.
Why should ! hesitate to lay my for
tune, my name, my life, everything
at her feet? I will marry her"
Having taken this resolution,
whose honesty was surely most com
mendable, he started to find the
name of the one he distinction the
present-to make his life's partner.
On the very steps of the Casino he
ran across young De Cheux, a mem
Der of his club, who was in quest of
rich American heiress to regild his
escutcheon. Athenodore questioned
him.
'Do I know her? Charming, de-
hcious, adorablel l compliment you,
my dear baron, on your good taste. .
"But her name?"
"Rob-Roberts- Robin - Robin
son. That is all I know. She lives
quite secluded; is never seen at the
hops, OF anywhere else. She is a
widow, they say" He was winking
"a difficult conquest, old fellow.
thought Of it myself, but it would
necessitate too much exertion, SO
gave it up. You may be more coura-
geous than myself"
Robinson-Robertson," cogitat-
ed the baron. 81 forget which; but
there is the place" and the impetu-
GUS Athenodore rushed at once to
the hotel, where he had seen the
beautiful unknown enter a few min
utes ago, and inquired whether Mrs.
Robertson lived here.
"Mrs. Robertson?" repeated the
clerk. eyes, sir; No. 10, second
floor; she just came in. Shall in
form her of your calIing?"
Uniform her, indeedl" thought the