Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1920-06-02
"DellghtfuI !" I exclaImed.

| FarnswOrth.
"Far from II :" cried Alice.
You've seen enough OF US perhaps
10 understand that we enjoy little adj
ventures" said Mrs. Farnsworth. The
maa pretends 10 De interested in Mr.
Bashf0rd's art treasures. Antoine's
story about the disguise Is rather
against that: but we will give him the
benefit OF the doubt. What we are
hoping is that something really anus
ing may come OF his persistent pur-
suit. With you and the army OF serv-
ants here we feel perfectly safe; so
we're for giving him every chance TO
show his hand"
He is the Count Giuseppe Montana"
said my aunt. "who represents himself
as a cOnnoisseur-a lover OF the beau
tiful."
The mystery Is solvedi II IL easy
TO understand why he has haunted the
place"
Yes; quite easy. Count Montani Is
very anxious 10 see the pOrcelains"
Il wasn't referring 10 the pottery :
but I shau't press the matter"
Il advise you not to; your remark
was highly improper from a nephew 70
an aunt! I have told you about all
know OF this Italian gentleman. am
going 10 ask a favor. He telephoned
from Stamford this afternoon to know
whether we had arrived. and Dade
him call tonight. | should be glad IL
| you would remain until he leaves.
should like 10 know what you make VI
! him"
Certainly" assented pleased that
she had taken me into her confidence
and deeply curious as to the Italian
/ connoisseur. What she had told me so
frankly and plausiby did not. how
ever. touch upon the matter of the in
terest shown by the American state de-
partment in my aunt's arrival at Bar
ton. which troubled me much more
than the antics OF the Italian who had
follow "a the women across the Pacific.
Count Montana arrived shortly and
was received In the drawing room. The
ladies greeted him with the greatest
/ cOrdiality. As he crossed the room
verified the limp and other points Of
Antoine's description. His bearing
was that Of a gentleman; and in his
very correct evening dress he hardly
looked ike a man who would disguise
himself and attempt TO rob a house.
/ lie spoke English all but perfectly and
| proceeded az once 10 talk a great deal.
Il was sad when found I had 81
narrowly missed you az Seattle. and
again at Chicago. You travel far too
rapidly FOR one OF hy age"
His age Nigh. have been thirty. He
was suava. polished. sophisticated
person. Nothing was more natural
/ than that he should pause in his tray-
Z els 20 call upon two agreeable women
he had met on a Pacific steamer. Pos
s.bly he was'in love with Alice Bash
1 ford: this was not a difficult state Of
I heart and mind for a man 10 argue
! himself into. She was even more
strikngly beautiful tonight than I hal
thought her before. She was again N
F whitc-it was only In daytime that she
wore black-and white was exceeding
( ~ becoming 20 her. As We talked she
piled llstleSsly fan-a handsome
rrinlet Of ostrich plumcs. A pretty
woman and a fan are the happiest
I possible combination.
There Is no seyerer test Of grace
/ than a woman's manner OF using fan.
+ A clumsy woman makes an implement
OF this playthlng nlurishing It TO en-
I nhasizc her talk. or. what Is worse
I pointing with e like an Instructor be-
fore a blackboard. But in graceful
I hands it Is uu0btrusive a mere bit OF
decoration that leases and fascinates
7 the beholder's eye.
With all his pOiSc and eQuanimity |
! was distinctly conscious that Mouta-
/ mis- dark eyes were intent upon the idly
swaying fan. I thought at first Il was
I her hands that interested him as they
unfailingly interested me. but whea.
l from time % time. she put down the
fan his gaze still followed il. And yet
| there was nothing novel in the delicate
! combination of ivory and feathers. [
had seen many fans that 70 all appear
ances were just like il. Once, rs she
! picked IL up ana lazlly opened II. 7 saw
I him bend forward eagerly. then. find
ing thar | had noted his eagerness. he
+ rose. pretending thar \ brass screen
I before the fireplace had caught his eye,
aud asked whether IL was not Flor
entine production. which shook my
7 faith In his conno.sseurship. as I had
bought the thing myself from New
I York brassworiier who had made iL 20
my order
Count Montana and Aunt II