Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1916-03-07
NUMBER 10

howledging that she had received Q
proposition Of marriage from Count
Volinski and assuring her mother that
Il would be a brilliant match for her
since the count possessed a mAgnin-
cent estate In Austrian Poland and
was prominent politically. By this
time Mrs. Fleetwood had become
much interested In Mr.. Fitz Hugh and
on receipt of the letter showed It to
him. asking him II he might not have
been mistaken In his estimate Of vo-
linski.
81 think q time has come for q con-
fession," said the young raan. II met
your daughter and fell In love with
her, but, having nothing but my profess
sion to rely on, did not feel justified in
proposing marriage. Then came this
count and carried her OF her feet.
made inquiries respecting him and con-
vinced myself that he Mas no count at
all; that his estates In Poland were q
myth
"Oh, heavens" exclaimed the mother,
'is my daughter In such dangeri Can
nothing be done to save her? II she u
fascinated 1t Will do no good for me to
disinherit her. She Is self willed and
will walk into the trap laid for her,"
Had that impostor kept away an
other month l believe I could have
won your daughter, and 1t requires no
conceit to say that even would be Q
more desirable man than an adven-
turer." replied Mr.. Fitz Hugh.
II wish to heaven that your modesty
had not prevented your capturing Dor
othy while you had the chance"
do you mean that you would have
consented to my marriage with your
daughter provided had won herr
II would most certainly consent to
your marriage with her provided you
could save her from bogus count"
Fitz Hugh arose from the chair In
which he was sitting. evidently abb
sorbed in deep thought Presently he
said:
"If 1 could convince her I believe I
could win her."
"Have you proofs Of this mans des-
picable character" asked Mrs. Fleet
wood.
II have"
II suppose" said the lady lugubri-
ously, that shall have to go abroad.
I presume you will givs me the
proofs"
Certainly"
II dread the passage on the ocean,"
"Alrs. Fleetwood" said Fitz Hugh I'm
pressively after brief silence, II
have your consent to win your daugh-
ter I will return to Europe and ar.
range that she see the proofs have In
my possession that this Polish noble
man has victimized a number Of wom-
an and is intending to play the same
game on her"
"WiIl you" exclaimed the poor wo-
man, much relieved.
II will"
"But.if you fail to win Dorothy you
will not be repaid for your trouble"
"That, my dear Mrs. Fleetwood, Is
my risk"
"If you don't succeed will make up
your loss to you"
When the next steamer sailed for
Genoa Fitz Hugh was aboard armed
with Mrs. FleetwoOds written consent
to his marriage to her daughter. In
q few weeks the anxious mother ne
ceived letter from him recounting
dramatic interview with the impOstor
in her daughters presence, wherein
Fitz Hugh had shown the proofs and
the rascal had shrunk away like the
bastard he was. A postscript was at
tached which read, ~ have reason to
hope"
A letter came from Dorothy to her
mother announcing her rejection Of
the false count, and this was followed
soon by another informing her Of her
engagement to the man who had saved
her from a life Of misery. She was
pleased to know that her fiance had
won her mothers good opinion and
consent. In Difference to her mother
and her desire that she should be pres
ent at the wedding ceremony she would
return to America to be married.
What delightful change in her,"
exclaimed Mrs. Fleetwood, "and what
a splendid, thoughtful, honorable el-
low she is going to marry! I shall be
very proud Of him."
Dorothy's infatuation for man who
proved to be an impostor was not men
toned between her and her mother
when she returned, and no one else
knew anything about volinski. AS the
years went by and the story got out
some Of those who heard 1t were In
clined to believe that he was a myth
and had been created for the purpose
Of enabling Victor Fitz Hugh to win
Mrs. Fleetwood's consent to a union
with her daughter. These persons as
sert that when Fitz Hugh called on the
good lady he was engaged to her
daughter, the two being madly In love
with each other. Only two things are
certain-Dorothy inherited her moth
er's fortune, and no one was ever found
who had seen Count Volinski.
No, He Wasn't Sick.
The ocean liner was rolling uke