Camas Prairie chronicle. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1901-1917, 1911-10-20
AN ARISTOCRATIC
CIRCLE
By DONALD ulAMBERLIN
Copyright by American Press Asso-
citation. 1911.

Tom Tomkins. the son n, 81 r;.A
packer, having no occasion to work.
went abroad. He landed at NAMES
ana took train for Rome.
Inc railway coaches over there are
Duilt In compartments, and in n
compartment with Tom was lady
travelling with her maid. The mistress
appeared to be highborn dame. and
ner maid treated her with unbounded
reverence. The two conversed in a
foreign language, though Tom. not be-
ing linguist himself. couldn't tell
whether 1t 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
iady kindly came to his assistance In
broken English. This started cor
versation between her and him, dusinr.
which 1t came out that she WINS. the,
Princess Bobbeloni and that be- was
MI. Thomas Tomkins of the United
states. Furthermore. Tom. bet out dur
ing the ride to Rome that his father
was an American millionaire. He
didn't tell it in so @any words, but
managed to get It n SO that he might
show something to make him seem
worthy of the notice Of an Italian
princess.
ana here Il should be explained that
princes and Processes In Italy don't
necessarily belong to the royal family.
ltaly Formerly was broken up into
smaD tracts or principalities. They
are now united in kingdom. but their
princely families retain their titles.
Before reaching home the Princess
Bobbeloni 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. But he was
not to call for a week. since the place
had been closed and needed to DO open
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
impatientiy at his hotel without receiy.
Ing any word from the princess. But
couple Of days later a iiveried servant
called and presented a little note with
crest on 1t containing an invitation
for s O'Clock English tea at her villa.
Tom presented himself at the hour
named and found the lady in a stump.
tuous home.
"Ah. Slgnor Tomkins." she said in
charming broken English. Il am glad
to see you. l confess that having met
you as stranger I thought it prudent
to make inquiries about you. And
am happy to announce that they have
resulted satisfactorily. II 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 a delightful hour with her;
then she dismissed him. saying:
81 will be happy to have you meet
some Of my friends. Let me see-this
evening there is a court ball: tomorrow
dine with the Duchess of Chevrini;
Thursday l am free. Have you any
for that evenlng?"
Tom said he had. but he would break
1t for the inestimable privilege Of
meeting the princess friends. His
evening was free. but with true Ameri-
Gun instincts he didn't propose to
cheaper himself.
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
er. and other magnates They were
all very civil to Tom. considering that
be was a titleIess American, and he
was delighted at mingling for the first
time in his life with a real aristocracy.
Card tables were set. and the princess
proposed bridge whist. Tom was hon.
pred by being placed at the hostess
able and especially so by having her
'or partner. One of the gentlemen
to make the points 3 francs.
)ut the princess would not consent TO
more than a franc.
Tom did not wonder that she object |
ID to siza BILE stake. for she proved a |
1ery poor player. She and Tom be-
ran to lose with the first game and |
ost steadily. Then the princess fig |
lred that she had lost $500 francs. or
500 This seemed to trouble her. and !
he proposed to make the points stand
or 10 francs each In order to recoup. |
'om was loser equally with her. but
Id not object. Meanwhile refresh
nents were served, including wine
AS the princess lost she kept pro-
osing to double the stakes. and at
Midnight Tom found himself playing
or $50 a point and had lost $1,000.
Lis partner was plunging desperately
, regain her losses and raising the
takes with every plunge. At in the
forming Tom and the princess were
,sers each to the amount Of $4,000.
nd Tom. who usually could drink as
luch as any one. found himself af-
,cted by the wine. At daylight he
ave checks on his bankers for his
sses. and. as the princess begged him
do the same for her. he consented.
The next afternoon Tom woke up
i'd went to his bankers. to find that
, had Given checks for S7H O0O