Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1915-02-02
Il symuathy or more than sympathy,

It sympathy or more than sympathy.
that enabled this scion Of noble house
to do his duty as servant In the house
of the girl he had met and loved IN
far different situation with coml'osure.
When Mrs. Rathbone entered the din
ing room with her guests both Wini'
fred and the count fixed an anxious
eye upon her. dreading lest she recog.
nize the nobleman In the waiter. How
ever, she was too preoccupied with her
duties as hostess to notice him. Once
during the dinner Winifred saw her
mother looking at the waiter with
puzzled expression, but 1t was plain
that she failed to place him.
Winifred treated the count as a serv'
ant, though her directions were spoken
rather as requests. When the dinner
was finished she arose with the Others,
but remained In the dining room and
when there alone with the count said
to him:
"Come tomorrow at g."
There was no change from the tone
in which she had spoken to him be-
fore. He bowed without speaking and
was retiring from the room when she
added:
"You will come. will you notT'
Their eyes met. Winifred saw that
without some insistence she would not
see him again and put a pleading In
her look.
"Yes. fraulein." be said at Inst, Il
will come"
Fraulein is the word by which he
had been used to address her In Der
lin.
The next day when Count Caspar
Gotwaid made his toilet before calling
on Winifred Rathbone be took out a
suit of clothes that he had not worn
since he reached America. They were
not in the latest fashion. but were In
the height of fashion at the time they
were purchased.
Count" Winifred said to him when
be appeared, father did not recognize
you. and mother only fancied she had
seen some one very like you. Will you
tell me what happened to effect this
outward change in your
He told her what she did not know
before-that he had inherited an estate
which had been exhausted by his an
cestors and that he was enjoying a
respite before going out into the world
to accept what fate would provide for
him. Winifred. who knew that he had
been beset by women In high life In
Berlin, some of whom were rich. ask
ed him why he had not married a for
tune. as was customary in his coun
try.
Because, fraulein," he replied. 81
loved one who would inherit great
wealth. in whose country honorable
men who are impoverished would not
offer marriage under such circum
stances"
A brief silence followed these words
which was broken by the young lady.
80 you took 1t upon yourself" she
said, Ito decide for her"
II could do nothing else" was the
reply, without demeaning myself"
"Was not an injustice to her de
meaning yourself" she asked
he made no reply. The two stood
regarding each other for moment.
then Winifred put out her hands.
From this point the romance OF this
story must remain untold. There Is
lady In Chicago who Is entitled to be
called countess, but she does not claim
the title. Her husband Is the manager
Of her estate and has represented the
United States in a prominent diplo
matte position abroad In this family
when Christmas comes much is made
Of It Why. the children sometimes
wonder. for on that day their father
and mother seem to have secret be
tween them which Is all their own
Indeed. 1t Is their own, for M one hn'
themselves knows that the pretty Miss
Rathbone. who could have married al
most any Of the eligible young men OF
her set. gave herself to man with n
napkin on his arm
On Christmas day. when the dinner
Is served. the turkey carved and the
children's plates have been filed then
the father. pouring glass Of wine for
the mother and one for himself. holds
his glass aloft and looks at his wife
Smiling, she looks ut him and says:
"Kellner" (waiter).
And the father gives toast to "tbaI
eventful Christmas"