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

colored up ard grew so confused that
she gould hardly answer. 1t was de-
lightful to be able to show her how
coolly and unconcernedly we treated
aristocracy.
For the next few days we saw rs
much of the count as we did in Bou-
logne, and The Rays fairly writhed
when they saw how attentive he was
to Laura. Mrs. Kay swept our dining
room all day long with her opera
glasses and sent the two girls in at
all hours of the day with trivial mes
sagcs. but il was Of no avail. On the
fifth day after his arrival the count,
who was boarding near us. sent a
note round TO papa, and in the even
ing he came. and was shut up with
papa for q long while In his study.
Then Laura was summoned. and man.
ma and / were On tenterhooks till
papa burst into the room. very red in
the face and excited. and exclaimed:
laura is engaged to the countw
We quite expected it, and still we
were very excited. A titled son and
brother In law was beyond our widest
dreams!
Papa said the count had spoken so
beautifully when he asked for Laura's
land. He had compared woman to
the tender fern. which man. the strong
forest tree, must shelter and protect
from the storms Of the world. He
would be able. he said, to surround her
with Injuries fit for princess when
the lawsuit should be decided in his
favor. Meanwhile they would live the
happiest CT lives on the princely allow
ance which his liberal and dear fu-
ture papa" had decided TO confer upon
them, from which | g;,eler that papa
had, as jim terms it, "coughed up" to
a considerable amount. Still, no one
could blame him for sacrificing some
thing to such an alliance. After all
though l wouldn't own it to the
Kays-papa used to serSs. i'll the store.
Well the news didn't take long to
travel round Pawtucket, and the next
day the papers were filed with 1t,
and a whole host Of congratulatory
visitors poured in. We were the SEN
sation Of Pawtucket, and it was an
hour of unalIoyed triumph. Mamma
sat in state in her best satin dress, and
the count handed round tea and de-
lighted every one by his affability.
Many people who had patronized us
before and had only honored us by a
call once Il year looked in to see "thc
lion" and were most gushing. Such Is
the way of the world.
When every one except the Kay girls
had gone and we were feeling quite
tired out some one proposed a stroll in
the garden The suggestion was eager
ly welcomed. We had to pas sshrough
our little sitting room, where Miss
Croft was fixing all evening frock of
Laura's, for the count was going with
us to dance the next evening.
AS we came in Miss Croft rose in
deprecating way. The count and
Laura had fallen behind the rest of
us, but 1 heard him saying In his soft
foreign accents as they entered the
room, II am much enchanted, my dear
est Laura, to make the acquaintance
Of your boudoir-of anything that be-
longs to you, my goddess"
was STOPPING to unbolt the door
which led to the garden when sud-
den sharp cry from Miss Croft made
me look round.
"Pierre!"
The count started and looked at her
for the first time. He grew pale; his
jaw fell. We stood GREATNESS, but the
count seemed turned to stone.
Laura was the first to speak. Her
hand rested Ii the courts