Morris tribune., 1909-09-04

pectations. It's true he was rather
short and inclined to embonpoint
chats a delightful word for fiat,
which we learned from our trip
abroad). but he had beautiful dark
eyes and a very lovely waxed mus
tache and little pointed beard and
white hands, with two diamond rings
on them. He sat opposite to us, and
to our delight papa began a converse
ton with him over handing the sauce.
Gle had looked at Laura pretty often
during ''soup") Before dinner was
over we were all on very friendly
terms, and he spoke English very
well, so we hadn't to trouble about
French. I must add that, though papa
had been so anxious to "parley-voo"
again while we were still at Paw
tucket, yet he never let us hear any of
1t. He always sent us on in front
when he had to speak to native.
Boulogne was quite a different place
to us from the day the count came.
He was our constant companion, and
it was delightful to go about with a
real live nobleman. We used to say
count" especially loud when we pass
ed English people. 1t made them ''sit
up," as Jim said. It was pity the
count was so pOor-papa always had
to pay for him-but he used to apollo
gize in such charming way and bring
us punches Of flowers the flowers ar
ranged in rows, with a glorified dish
paper round them) and say: II wish
could lay the treasure Of the east at
your feet, mademoiselles. Helas, the
gift is poor, but it is rich with thoughts
of esteem and regardv' 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 he was so poor was
that his estates were confiscated owing
to the part his ancestors had played in
lawsuit on to recover them. He show
ed us photos of them, and they GER
tainly looked beautiful.
never 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"
I had noticed his attentions to Laura,
and 1 knew which way the wind blew.
But papa grew more and more en-
thusiastic as our friendship ripened.
"a fo Ii1ofn m tho en11TofsG
charming manners when we were
alone.
"That's the advantage of associating
with the aristocracy,' he would say.
"I'm 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 violent fancy to
him. He spoke so feelingly, she said,
of his mother, who was dead, and of
marriage and mans duty to woman.
And Laura blushed still more.
We were very sorry when our stay
at BouIogne came to an end, for we
feared our 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 to see him, and we parted
with many expressions of mutual re-
greet. | 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 ether 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
borhood if her daughter were to be-
come a lady of title. l also felt it
would be distinctly pleasant to speak
in an ofhand way of my sister the
Countess de Marabout." I wasn't the
least bit jealous of her triumph be-
cause l really prefer Americans to
foreigners, counts though they may
be. 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
Stat as usual since we had the counts
visit to look for
w. ward to- Nam
n Ia N4 ma contrived to
!: !: !: !. /: |. !.
5&<ytk9 let the Rays and
CN WIZ old Miss Briggs
( MN ~ w know about it,
N alAA vi ! and the news
I >H-D WIKI was all over Paw
| M tucket in a few
II III n hours. know
III Il ESNsJ | that the Rays
n N/W were green with
bA I nm M envy. The girls,
IL ~ who had always
~ M been very stiff