Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1911-01-21

! bpufIOuh PRINCE saw tHeu SlttluB W
gether in the Piazza Colonna drinking
and smoking. They both rose and took
or their hats to her, while she seemed
to be very proud of the Italian portion
of her company. After this she seem,
ed bent on driving by the Piazza Co
lonna frequently at an hour when she
knew her two discarded suitors would
be there. III Prince Colonna on these
occasions felt embarrassed he conceal
ed his embarrassment under that stolid
grandeur OF mien which was born in
him.
upon my word" remarked Count
Leo Barbarini to Prince Sforza, 81 be-
lieve our scheme will be success,
Our waiter will marry the American"
"You see, II required those Siberian
mines to make IT so. Though Amer
leans spend money like water, they
value 1t all the same"
"Who is the other fellow In the car
riage, wonders"
"An American. But whether he Is a
sutton, too. cannot matter much to US
that is, provided we can keep up the
sham. 1t is the Colonna name and the
right to write princess after 1t that
will win"
SIN any event we have had the sat
isfaction of passing waiter Off upon
her as prince, Did you notice how
proud she seemed to be of him as she
passed."
"And the smile she gave u.s."
And so the comedy went on, much
to the satisfaction of the conspirators.
Prince Colonna's capital was nearing
an end, and one day he mentioned be-
fore Miss Henderson that a dividend
from his mines had been delayed. She
promptly asked him how much he re-
quired for his present expenses, and
while he was refusing to be supplied
by lady she sat down at desk and,
writing check for 3, 900 Ira. handed
II to him.
'But my remittance win soon be
here" he protested.
"Take 1t and pay when your remit
lance comes" she replied.
The same afternoon Miss Henderson
telephoned to her bankers to know If
Prince Colonna had drawn the check
and, learned that he had done so. Then
she telephoned to the prince asking
him to call during the evening. When
he did SO, magnificent in a fresh ac-
cession of jewelry, she asked him to
be seated and said:
Giovanni
The prince started.
you are not Gregorio Colonna.
You are Giovanni Something-or-other,
and you have this afternoon commit
ted a fraud. Some one has been put
ting you up to this playing prince. and
I wish to know all about the scheme.
You are welcome to the 1900 Ira, but
hereafter own you, for the moment
you refuse to obey my orders or try to
deceive me you go to JAIL Do as i
direct and you are safe from the re-
suits of your crime"
Giovanni confessed that he had been
waiter at hotel at Frascatti and
that Barbarini and Sforza had hired
him to play the part of Prince Co
lonna and marry Miss Henderson II
possible. He further stated that he
had agreed to pay each of them an
annuity after his marriage.
"Indeedr' she said, with much sur
HhtSCs 4 viz iOt OhPPOoC mat
RIM and Sforza had sunk to that. How.
ever, since 1t was murder in the mid
die ages. suppose 1t must be swim
ding in the twentieth century. Go and
steal the paper you signed agreeing to
pay this annuity"
ut is not necessary, senorina. There
were duplicates made. l have one in
my pocket, but do not like to part
with It,"
Either give 1t to me Or She
went to telephone and took down
the receiver The waiter knew the
meaning of this, and Miss Henderson
knew that with the transmitter near
her lips she had little to fear. Clio
vanni opened pocketbook, drew out
a paper and handed 1t to her. She
took 1t. read 1t and said:
"Now go to Frascatti and tell the
keeper of the hotel at which you were
employed that desire dinner for four
persons to be ready at o'clock this
evening. Any failure to do as direct
VIII result in your arrest at once"
With 5000 Ira in his pocket and
jail as an alternative there was not
much expectation that he would dis
obey.
The next morning Count Barbarini
and Prince Sforza received an invita-
ton to drive with Miss Henderson to
the hills near Rome for dinner. She
said she had an important announce
ment to make to them. They accepted,
feeling assured that they would learn
Of her engagement to Prince Colonna
They called at her hotel and were In
troduced to Mr.. Blackwelder. Seeing
that they were surprised at not meet
ing Prince Colonna, she told them that
he would be of the party at dinner,
but would go In his own conveyance.
The four entered carriage waiting |
at the door and. driving across the
assembled the hill to Fras-
catti and stopped before the - hotel.
Dinner was served. but the prince did
not appear.
"He will be late" Miss Henderson
explained.
1t was not till the coffee was brought |
on that he appeared. and then 1t was |
In the dress of walter, with a nap, |
kin on his arm. The guests stared at |
him astonished. but he avoided the |