Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1904-06-16
MADAME THE COUNTESS.


through the half-closcd windows the
freshness Of the moonlight and the muir
muir Of the 13avarian forest entered INK"
"a clrcss. The chase that day had b"cn |
a fatiguing one, and in the choice circle |
which gathered around his HighncSs, the |
conversation became familiar and with |
our constraint II was in the midst OF TINS |
that tho valet swung open the doors ana |
announced the Count and Countess OF
Alleneck, and ELL heads were turned with |
eyes full of curiosity Even the Prince. |
ordinarily so blase. sat wondering what
might come.
It was the FIRST time that the Count Of
Alleneck had appeared socially for many
wears, and many foolish and untrue
stories had been circulated about him.
lIc had married. so it was said but far
below him, and lived, retired, on his own
estate and yielding only to the formal
demand Of the Prince had come to pre-
sent his wife to the intimate circle of the
court.
But what difference between them.
He was q nan of noble appearance, of
fine face and noble bearing, and she,
a common woman with short hair and a
PEASANTS face, wearing black dress
which fittod her badly and without taste.
The circle which unpitahly stared at
her did not stop TO see the rare grace of
her eyes nor tho kndliness which COW
cred all her features 1t only saw the
hirthmark, written in undcnable traits
Plebcian,
She came forward with timiditv, made
a rustic courtesy, and said cordially in
high voice:
Il thank you for this honor. Sir Prince.
Ny husband has always said that We
have most most kindly Prince for
master. We have named our boy Louis
Ferdinand. out of respect to our Prince.
AS she SPOKE she looked furtvelY at
ner husband. Had she said the wrong
thing that the room was so silent? Il"
; understood the ill-concealcd mockory of
the company. and felt the GOODNESS Of
the Prince, who heard the words with
out reply. and the big slash in the fore
81 head reddened
Turning to his wife affectonately. he
said
Come Arnie Marie, | wish to show
D YOU tho park and the hothouses There
r are some splendid specimens of ccdars
and orchids there"
Nc one do~ine1 them. They went out
in the moonlight
? A silence of stupefacton followed their
t departure and then babel Of voices FILL
Cd the room.
The Prince slowly. slightly Struggling
| HIS shoulders said; 1T is ridiculous This
was the signal the raising Of latch
. which opcnci the door to the torrent Of
90 criticism. hat a fine opportunity.
Y She's no lady" Poor Alleneck" SAID
= another" too bad that it seems to SAT-
listed" Crafty woman. wonder how
e. she inveigled him" said a third
f Major Xvlandor the favorite both of the
Prince and of Alleneck answered General
=, Van Orn iokinely
. 'ihe is not a woman Of quality" the
Q General had said
Z reg pardon. to me she has many oual.
n flies
but she is low born
= Wrong again she was horn In little
9 village 400 feet above the sea level
= ooh ,,ou are an incorrigible Joker. What
q may her name be-"
II "Anna Marie Scholastika Hnsl" saiC
n Nvlandcr with as mucn importance a,
d If he was detailing the complete pedigr,
n of 4 Duchess.
a. Evervbodv laughed
II ''%ov said tn. Mavor with tho pernis
sinr of the Prince lot mo tell Won ;
q. story. II reads like a fairy tale. hut va,
y well may be assured il is perfectly true
1T II commences at Sedan where forty-thro.
T. Thousand dead and wounded strewod th
~ bill tors Of Jllv and HONG
NJ The German ambulance found thor
m that dav a man stripund of evor-vthin,
ii and literally covered witn un,ini- a.,
10 hanc tnken 10 Tho r,i,itarv noeni,.l i
was weeks before he hogan IN recover
p I'm, ne his strength or Inr, ircre,soi
,e his Intelligence made no nrorro-.s II
~ cr,.n,hored nothing ,c,+bar HE rar,e
q nor his country ~ rho hoenitai he va
ii L,cun nv he nur,ho,. n,l, t,,n ri,olf
~ discharged from there. his comrades VIII
~ lontigoI him .,siler, v.ilt;,,, - ,,.do n,
n arrauremcn. for him IN 60 with a work
n, NAV a rnnson. ana to vrr,. fnr mic Ii,.i,,,