The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1909-09-09

The count almost came up 10 our cx-
pectations. It's true he was rather
short and inclined TO embonpoint
Chats a delightful word for fat"
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 conversa-
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. l 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
it. He always sent us on 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, and
it was delightful to go about with q
real live nobleman. We used to say
count" especially loud when we pass
ed English people. 1t made them ''sit
up," as Jim said. 1t was q pity the
count was so pOOr-papa always had
to pay for him-but he used to apollo
gize In such a charming way and bring
us punches Of flowers the flowers ar
ranged in rows, with glorificd 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 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 he was so poor was
that his estates were cOnfiscated owing
to the part his ancestors had played In
some revolution or war. but he had a
lawsuit OH to recover tic@a. He show
ed US photos Of them, and they GER
tainly looked beautiful.
Ineyer 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 l knew which way the wind blew.
But papa grew 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 associa ting
with the aristocracy." he would say.
I'm plain man myself, but respect
blood. Nobility Of birth produces no
billty 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 Il mans duty to woman.
And Laura blushed still more.
| We were very sorry when our stay
at Boulogne came to an end. for we
feared our friendship with the count
might end too. But he said he was
coming over to 1.-The States" on bust.
ness (he looked at Laura as he said
IT., and he hoped that he would he
permitted to visit one Of Americas
merchant princes in his home. You
should have seen papa's face when he
heard himself described as merchant
prince! OF course We said we should
be delighted to see him, and we parted
with many expressions of mutual re
gret don't know what he said te
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-
was very silent and pensive on thu
home journey. and papa and mamms
exchanged knowing mods. ! knew
mamma was picturing to herself thu
sensation it would cause in the neigh
borhood if her daughter were to be
would be distinctly pleasant to speai
in an offhard way of "my sister th'
Countess de Marabopt." wasn't tn
least bit jealous OF her triumph. be
cause really prefer Americans t
foreigners, counts though they ma.
be. There's young man in the Paw
tucket National bank-well. but tina
has nothing to do with the count.
The return journey did not seem a
''fiat" as usual since we had the count
visit to lcOk fol