Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1911-10-04
AN ARISTOCRAUC
CIRCLE
By DONALD CHAMBERLIN
Copyright by American Press Asso-
citation, 1917

Tom Tomkins. the son of rich
packer, having no occasion to work,
went abroad. He lanGed at Naples
and took train for Rome.
The railway coaches over there are
built in compartments. and in
compartment with Tom was a lady
travelling with her maid The mistress
appeared to be a highborn dame. and
her maid treated her with unbranded
reverence The two c0nverHpd Ill
foreign language. though Tom. not be-
ing a linguist himself. couldn't tell
whether it was Italian or French. 1t
might have been Latin for all he KNOW
Tom tried to get some information
from the conductor, but failed and the
lady kindly came to his assistance in
broken English. This started CON
versation between her and him. during
which 1t came out that she was the
Princess Bobbeloni and that he was
Mr.. Thomas Tomkins of the United
| States. Furthermore, Tom let out dur
ing the ride to Rome that his father
was an American millionaire. He
didn't tell it in so many words. but
managed to get it in so that he might
show something to make him seem
worthy of the notice of an Italian
princess.
And here it should be explained that
princes and princesses in Italy don't
necessarily belong to the royal family.
Italy formerly was broken up into
small tracts or principalities. They
are now united in a kingdom. but their
princely families retain their titles.
Before reaching home the Princess
BobbeIoni became very gracious to ST.
gnOr TOmkins, as she called him. and
invited him to visit her in her villa
on the outskirts of Rome, Put he was
not to call for a week, since the place
had been closed and needed TO be open
, ed. She took his address and prom
: ised to send him hers later. From
something she said Tom gathered that
a she desired time to ask the American
: minister something about him.
The week passed. and Tom waited
impatiently at his hotel without receiv-
ing any word from the princess. But
: couple Of days later a liveried servant
called and presented a little note with
!, a crest on it containing an invitation
for o'clock English tea at her villa
Tom presented himself at the hour
+, named and found the lady in a sump-
o tuOuS home.
= "Ah, Signor Tomkins," she said in
charming broken English. Il am glad
to see you. | confess that having met
:, you as a stranger 1 thought it prudent
!. to make inquiries about you And 1
n am happy to announce that they have
resulted satisfactorily. If there were
u titles in your country you would be at
v least baron"
IS Thank you very much" said Tom
r in bad Italian.
IN How quickly you are picking up our
language" replied the princess. You
m will soon speak it like a native"
r Tom drank tea with the princess,
IN spending a delightful hour with her;
y. then she dismissed him, saying:
81 will be happy to have you meet
some of my friends. Let me see-this
i, evening there is a court ball: tomorrow
- ~ l dine with the Duchess of Chevrini
g, Thursday l am free. Have you any
lis engagement for that EVENING"
Tom said he had, but he would breal
it for the inestimable privilege o
w meeting the princess friends. Hi
He evening was free. but With true Ameri
ry can instincts he didn't propose t
IN cheaper himself.
eo On the proposed evening Signo
- Tomkins presented himself at TIL
if princess villa and was introduced {
I'm several princes. an English duchess
he who was found useful as an interpret
~, err and other magnates They wer
hu nv all very civil to Tom, considering tina
ell he was a titleless American. and b
was delighted at mingling for the frs
time in his life with a real aristocrac!
ne Card tables were set, and the princes
ise proposed bridge whist. Tom was hon
M ored by being placed at the hostess
lad table and especially so by having he
ne. for a partner. One of the gentleme
Lhu proposed to make the points frame
d but the princess would not consent +
He more than a franc.
a Tom did not wonder that she ohjec
on ed to stable stake. for she proved
on very poor player. She and Tom bt
nat pan to lose with the first game an
no lost steadily. Then the princess is
rns ured that she had lost $500 francs. c
RS. $500. This seemed to trouble her. an
sed she proposed to make the points stan
OF for 10 francs each in order to recouI
eI' Tom was loser equally with her. bU
a+ did not object. Meanwhile refresi
ments were served, including wine
AS the princess lost she kept pre-
posing to double the stakes. and d
midnight Tom found himself playin
so' for $50 a point and had lost $7.O0t
NY His partner was plunging desperatel
'"e to regain her losses and raising th
y" stakes with every plunge. At in tn
io'' morning Tom and the princess wer
i"p losers each to the amount of S25.0Ot
for ~. - ,,,oI1-- o,,,5 5,i,,I. .