Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1909-08-20

terms. and he spoke English very
we'll, so we hadn't to trouble about
French. | must add that, though papa
had been so anxious to 'parley-voo'
again while we were still at Paw
tuckct, yet lie never let us hear any OF
it. He always sent us Oh In front
when he had to speak to a native.
Boulogne was quite different place
to us from the day the count came.
He was our constant companion, ana
it was delightful to so about with a
real live noblcman. We used to say
count" especially loud when we pass
ed English people. 1t made them sit
up" as Jim said. 1t was pity the
count was so pOOr-papa always had
to pay for tim-but he used to apollo
gize in such IA charming way and bring
us lunches Of flowers 0he flowers ar
ranged in rows, with glorided dish
paper round them and say: Il wish
could lay the treasure Of the east at
Gift is poor. but it is rich with thoughts
of esteem and regard"' with more in
, the same strain, which Laura thought
perfectly lovely. 1t was rather too
poetical for me. The count told us
that the reason lie was so poor was
that his estates were c0nfscated owing
TO the part his ancestors had played in
some revolution or war, but lie had
lawsuit on to recover them. He show
cd us photos Of them, and they GER
tainly looked beautiful.
Inever saw papa so generous before.
We were always driving or going for
excursions. However, heard him say
to mamma after certain very heavy
lunch bill, after all, one doesn't meet
count every day"
had noticed his attentions to Laura,
and l knew which way the wind blew.
But papa grow more and more en-
thusiastic as our friendship ripened.
He used TO dilate on the counts
charming manners when we were
alone.
That's the advantage Of associating
with the aristocracy," he would say.
I'm a plain man myself, but respect
blood. Nobility of birth produces no.
bility of character and manners
Which sounded beautiful and made
Laura blush.
Mamma also took a violent fancy to
him. He spoke SO feelingly, she said,
of his mother, who was dead, and Of
marriage and a mans duty to woman.
And Laura blushed still more.
We were very sorry when our stay
ut BouiCgne came to an end, for we
feared cur friendship with the count
might end too. But he said he was
coming over to the States" on bust
ness Che looked at Laura as he said
it,, and he hoped that he would be
permitted to visit one of Americas
merchant princes in his home. You
should have seen papa's face when he
heard himself described as a merchant
prince! OF course we said we should
be delighted 10 sceahim. and we parted
with many expressions of mutual re-
I gret. | don't know what he said to
Laura as we walked to the station
the morning we left, but ! do know
that he held her hand much longer
than was necessary, although | pre-
tended to look the other way. She
was very silent and pensive on the
home journey. and papa and mamma
exchanged knowing mods. knew
mamma was picturing to herself the
sensation it would cause in the neigh
borhcod if her daughter were to be-
come a lady Of title. | also felt 1t
would be distinctly pleasant to speak
in an cffhard way of my sister the
Countess de Marabout." ! wasn't the
least bit jealous of her triumph, be-
cause really prefer Americans to
foreigners. counts though they may
lie. There's a young man In the Paw
tucket National bank-well, but that
has nothing to do with the count.
The return journey did not seem as
"fat" as usual since we had the counts
visit to look for