The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1911-07-26
A ROMANCE OF THE HOUR.

Office, his face a picture Of
gloom. Reputed captain of
finance, it 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 receivership when the Office
boy entered the room bearing a card.
The colonel read its superscription.
and his face cleared. It read as fol-
lows: 'The Countess Burgstaller."
"Show the Lady right In. Henry"
said the colonel. rs any one with
her"
eyes, sir" said the boy. "a tall
feller with a red mustache. Looks
like he thought be was the yemperer
Of Choymany, air."
"Goodr' said the colonel. "PI see
them right away"
The Office boy disappeared. and the
colonel threw his head back and in
dulged in a silent gunaw.
'T thought 1t would work." he NUT
tered to himself. .......
The door opened. and the colonel's
daughter. followed by tall military
looking individual. entered the room.
"Father!r' she cried.
''What! You-my daughter?" return
ed the colonel. the laughter fading
from his face. why. this card says
the Countess of Burgstaller."
81 am she." said Gwendolyn. a rosy
blush mantling her cheek. "Adolph
and p =
ave haff elopit, Colonel Vag-
schmidt" put in the count. seeing that
the girl hesitated. II lofe her so,
undt all de vorldt lofes a 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.
"Forgivenessr' roared Wagsmith.
freeing himself gently from the en-
brace. forgiveness! Why. my dear
count, what have l 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. "Perfeetly delighted"
But" said the bewildered count. Il
do not undherstant. Dit you not for
bitt me de house alretty?"
"Ha-hum!' CALCULATED Wagsmith.
"Come to think of it, old man. did.
l told you-lets see. just what did
say%
"You saidt dot if I come to de
house vunce more again you would haf
de putler take me to te door yet again
vunce more undt show it to me. mitt
der policeman on dher oudside."
.'Hum!" said Wagsmith. Yes, l be-
lieve L did say that, COUNT did,"
$50 ven 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. Il haff done Something's dat
call for your forgiffness. vot?'
"Not at all-not at all. my dear fel-
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-do"
echoed the count, astounded.
Certainly, my dear man." said the
colonel. "And you fell into my plans
perfectly. When l saw that Gwendo-
lyn had set her heart upon having you
1 made up my mind that she should
have you If there was any way under
heaven to bring it about, and just now
that was the only way"
"Dher only vay?" repeated the count,
rubbing the top Of his head as though
something had stunned him. II guess
I han lost my Engklish. l do not un-
dherstant"
'I have never denied my daughter
anything-not even the things l could
not afford" said the colonel. "She
wanted you. and My plan was that she
should have you"
Den w you forbitt me dher house."
protested the count.
$50 that you would do just what you
have done-elope with her," said the
colonel.
"You Wished dher elopement?" de-
manded the count more perplexed than
ever.
Eyes, my son." said Colonel Wag-
smith. Il did. SO here is my bless
ing
"But vy?' cried the count.
"Well, if you must know. count" re-
piled the colonel. Il am going into the
hands of receiver tomorrow morning.
and to tell you the honest truth l
couldn't afford the expenses Of a swell
wedding."\
"Donner undt blitzenw murmured
the count as they laid him gently in
the ambulance. "Donner undt blit-
Zenv'
And that is how Gwendolyn Wag-
smith became the Countess Burgstalier
without its costing her father a cent
Harper's Weekly.