The Fayette falcon. (Somerville, Tenn.) 190?-current, 1920-05-28

but please don't get the IDEA tn&l
the man annoys u.s." interposed Mrs
Farnsworth.
Far from It'll" cried Alice.
you've seen enough of us perhaps
to understand that we enjoy little ad
ventures" said Mrs. Farnsworth. ''The
man pretehds to be interested In Mr.
Bashford'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
tlful."
'The mystery Is solved! It is easy
to understand why he has haunted the
place."
"Yes; quite easy. Count Montani Is
very anxious to see the porcelains."
II wasn't referring to the pottery :
but shan't press the matter"
Il advise you not to; your remark
was highly improper from nephew to
an aunt l have told you about all
know Of this Italian gentleman. am
going to ask a favor. He telephoned
from Stamford this afternoon to know
whether we had arrived, and bade
him call tonight. | should be glad IL
you would remain until he leaves.
should like to know what you make "
him."
Certainly" ! assented, pleased that
she had taken me into her confidence
and deeply curious as to the Italian
cOnnoisseur What she had told NE so
frankly and plauslbly 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
followed the women across the Pacific.
Count Montani arrived shortly and
was received In the drawing ROOM The
ladies greeted him with the greatest
cordiality. AS he crossed the room I
verified the limp and other points Of
AntOines description. His bearing
was that of gentleman; and In his
very correct evening dress he hardly
looked like man who would disguise
himself and attempt to rob house.
He spoke English all but perfectly aud
proceeded at once to talk great deal.
II was sad when / found had 90
narrowly missed you at Seattle, and
again at Chicago. You travel far too
rapidly for one Of my agel"
His age might have been thirty. He
was suave, polished, sophisticated
person. Nothing was more natural
than that he should pause in his tray-
els to call upon two agreeable women
he had met on a Pacific steamer. Pos
slbly he was In love with Alice Bash
ford; this was not a difficult state Of
heart and mind for man TO argue
himself into. She was even more
strikingly beautiful tonight than had
thought her before. She WAS again IN
white-it was only in daytime that she
wore black-and white was exceeding
ly becoming to her. AS we talked she
piled listlessly a fan-a handsome
trinket Of ostrich plumes. A pretty
woman and fan are the happiest
possible combination.
There is no severer test Of grace
than woman's manner of using fan.
A clumsy woman makes an implement
of this plaything. fiourishlng it to en-
phaslze her talk. or. what Is worse,
pointing with II like an instructor be-
fore a blackboard. But In graceful
hands II is unobtrusive, mere bit of
decoration that leases and fascinates
the beholder's eye.
With all his poise and eQuanimity ]
was distinctly conscious that Monta-
MIS- dark eyes were intent upon the Idly
swaylng fan. ! thought at first II was
her hands that Interested him as they
unfailingly interested me, but when.
from time to time. she put down the
fan his gaze still followed It. And Jet
there was nothing novel In the delicate
combination Of ivory and feathers. !
had seen many fans that to all appear
ances were just like II. Once, as she
picked 1t up and lazily opened II, I saw
him bend forward eagerly, then. and
ing that had noted his eagerness. he
rose. pretending that brass screen
before the fireplace had caught bis eye.
and asked whether II was not Flor
entlne production. which shook my
faith In his connolsseurship. as I had
bought the thing myself from New
York brassworker who had made II to
my order.