Connecticut western news., 1911-08-31
ANARISTOCRATIC
 CIRCLE By DONALD CHAMBERLIN Copyright by American Press Asso-
 ciation. 1911.

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 highborn dame, and ] her maid treated her with unbounded reverence. The two conversed in a foreign language, though Tom. not be- | ing a linguist himself, couldn't tell whether it was Italian or French. It might have been Latin for all he knew. Tom tried to get some information from the conductor, but failed, and the lady kindly came to his assistance in broken English. This started a con- versation between her and him. during which 1t came out that she was the Princess Bobbeloni and that he was MT. Thomas Tomkins of the United States. Furthermore, Tom let out dur ing the ride to Rome that his father was an American millionaire. He l 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 1t 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 municipalities. They are now united in kingdom, but their princely families retain their titles. l. Before reaching home the Princess Bobbeloni became very gracious to Si- | gnor Tomkins, as she called him, and invited him to visit her in her villa on the outskirts of Rome. But he was not to call for a week, since the place had been closed and needed to be open 1 ed. She took his address and prom ised to send him hers later. From something she said Tom gathered that 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 liveried servant called and presented little note with a crest on 1t 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- 1 tuous home. .s.
 "Ah, Signor Tomkins," she said in charming broken English. 'I am glad to see you I confess that having met you as stranger thought 1t prudent to make inquiries about you. And I am happy to announce that they have resulted satisfactorily. If there were titles in your country you would be at least baron"
 "Thank you very much" said Tom in bad Italian. .-#
 "How quickly you are picking up our language" replied the princess. You will soon speak 1t like a native" | Tom drank tea with the princess, spending delightful hour with her; then she dismissed him, saying:
 ''I will be happy to have you meet some of my friends. Let me see-this evening there is a court ball; tomorrow I dine with the Duchess of Chevrini; Thursday am free. Have you any engagement for that eveningT'
 Tom said he had, but he would break it for the tnesttmable privilege of meeting the princess friends. His evening was free, but with true Ameri- can instincts he didn't propose to cheapen himself. .t
 On the proposed evening signor Tomkins presented himself at the princess villa and was introduced to several princes, an English duchess, who was found useful as an interpret CT, and other magnates, They were all very civil to Tom, considering that F. l. was delighted at minghng for the first time in his life with a real aristocracy.
 Card tables were set, and the princess proposed bridge whist. Tom was hon. ored by being placed at the hostess table and especially so by having her for a partner. One of the gentlemen proposed to make the points 5 francs, | but the princess would not consent to more than franc.
 Tom did not wonder that she object ed to sizable stake, for she proved very poor player. She and Tom be- gan to lose with the first game and lost steadily. Then the princess flg- ured that she had lost 2.500 francs, or $500. This seemed to trouble her. and she proposed to make the points stand for 10 francs each in order to recoup. Tom was loser equally with her. but did not object. Meanwhile refresh ments were served, including wine As the princess lost she kept pro- | posing to double the stakes. and at midnight Tom found himself playing for $20 a point and had lost $7,O0O. His partner was plunging desperately to regain her losses and raising the stakes with every plunge At in the morning Tom and the princess were losers each to the amount of $25.OO0. and Tom, who usually could drink us much as any one. found himself af- tected by the wine. At daylight he gave checks on his bankers for his losses, and. as the princess begged him to do the same for her. he consented. The next afternoon Tom woke m