Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1911-06-01
A ROMANCE OF THi HOUR.
How cwendoIyn wassmith Became .
Countess Without Any Expense.

Countees Wttnout ANY Expense.
HOLONEL wAGSMITH sat In his
u office. his face a picture Of
gloom. Reputed captain Of
finance. II had now become necessary
for him to confess to the failure Of
his schemes. he had just signed GER
tain final papers which cleared the
way for a receivership when the Office
boy entered the room bearing a card.
The colonel read its superscription,
and his face cleared. 1t read as fol-
lows: 1.-The Countess Burgstaller."
"Show the lady right In. Henry"
said the colonel. rs any one with
herY'
"Yes. sir" said the boy. "a tall
Teller with a red mustache. Looks
like he thought he was the yemperer
of Choymany. SIR
"Goodr' said the colonel. "rll see
them right away"
The office boy disappeared. and the
colonel threw his head back and In
dulged In silent outlaw.
81 thought It would work." he NUT
tered to himself.
The door opened, and the colonel's
daughter. followed by a tall military
looking individual. entered the room.
"Fatherw she cried.
"what! You-my daughterr return
ed the colonel. the laughter fading
from his face. ''Why, this card says
the Countess OF Burgstaller."
81 am she." said Gwendolyn. rosy
blush mantling her cheek. "Adolph
and IT,
I've han elopit. Colonel vag-
schmidt" put in the count. seeing that
the girl hesitated. II lofe her so.
undt all de vorldt lofes loafer. We
hope for your forgifness."
In an instant the count was upon
one knee, and the countess arms were
intwined about her fathers neck.
"Forgivenessw reared Wagsmith.
freeing himself gently from the en-
brace. Forgiveness! Why. my dear
count. what have to forgive? l am
delighted perfectly delighted"
The count rose quickly and eyed the
magnate with curious eyes.
"Telighted. Colonel vagschmidt ~ he
inquired in a tone Of deep perplexity.
That's what said. count" return
ed the colonel. Perfectly delighted"
But" said the bewildered count. II
do not understand. Dit you not for
bitt me de house alrettyr
"Ha-humw calculated Wagsraith.
"Come to think of It, old man. l did.
/ told you-let's see. just what did
say?"
"You saidt dot ir I come to de
house vunce more again you would haf
de putler take me to te door yet again
vunce more undt show 1t to me. mitt
der policeman on dher oudside."
"Hum! said, wagsmith. Yes. be-
lieve did say that, count-I did"
80 ven l come around diss mornink
ven you vass down to dher office undt
take Miss Gwendolyn to de Liddle
Church up by dher Corner" resumed
the count. II haff done Something's dat
call for your forgiffness. votT"
mot at all-not at all. my dear fell
low" said the colonel, rising and seiz-
ing the count by both hands. You did
exactly what wanted you to do"
"Vot - you wanted = me- to-dow
echoed the count. astounded.
Certainly. my dear man." said the
colonel. "And you fell into my plans
perfectly. When l saw that Gwendo-
Ign had set her heart upon having you
L made up my mind that she should
have You If there was any way under
hoova,. % hrin,, a. abo,t md it,ct pnxv
that was the only way"
"Dher only vay?" repeated the count,
rubbing the top Of bis head as though
something had stunned him. II guess
1 haff lost my Engklish. do not UNI
dherstant."
81 have never denied my daughter
anything-not even the things could
not afford" said the colonel. "She
wanted you. and my plan was that she
should have you"
"Den w you forbitt me dher houser'
protested the count.
$50 that you would do just what you
have done-elope with her." said the
| colonel.
"Yon Wished dher elopementw de-
handed the count, more perplexed than
| ever.
"Yes. my son. said Colonel wag.
smith. Il did. So here Is my bless
ing
"But vyr cried the count.
swell, If you must know. count" re-
| piled the colonel. IL am going into the
hands Of a receiver tomorrow morning.
and to tell you the honest truth |
couldn't afford the expenses of swell
wedding"
Bonner undt blitzenw murmured
the count as they laid him gently In
the ambulance. "Donner undt blit-
zenw
And that Is how Gwendolyn Wag-
smith became the Countess Burgstaller
without its costing her father cent
Harper's Weekly. .o.-S,s
- sz.-.zsss sf,rurfss Ss<ssS ss'rse.
Some Fall.
You were In on the ground door Of