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About Conyers weekly. (Conyers, GA.) 1895-1901 | View Entire Issue (Sept. 7, 1895)
V OL. XV. ^ACQUAINTANCE. One evening in August the diligence from Ptanstndt stopped on the road below •Icaiicnsohcin hotel at Engolberg to let down two passengers, a tall, dark voung man of distinguished demeanor, Ivith a discreet looking person of tho un¬ mistakalde valet type in attendance, file Sonnenseheln visitors, awaiting tho TTYTkA s- 't'AcTTTT light, swinging step, \,as ti.o »-,-»* cojCe,. _f many curious glances, especially from f.'siinino eyes. Handsome young mon of Koniing distinction and attended by val ets arc not common at Swiss mountain ro ‘ E A group of ladies seated together— M, Lnli > Hunter and Hon. Mrs. Pearson, with their respective .. daughters . Rosio and i Amy— studied him with great attention, They belonged to the class whoso princi pii fields of operation aro foreign hotels, Bolli families had lived much abroad, tho dds speaking several languages with na tiro fluency. They wero friends, as Irish landlords iaiR and tenants might bo between . whom questions . of . proprietorship . ... . in spe¬ cial property are liable to arise. Tho ladies bad boon puzzled to decide tho stranger’s nationality. Though he looked foreign, there was something English in his gait slid manner. The entry in tho visitors’ book next morning settled tho matter, "M. lo Vicomto de Boisvilio et domes tique, Paris.” . An English viscount—with a verifying Debratt to appeal to in tlio caso—would havo been mere satisfactory, but neither tho Hunters nor Pearsons had insular prejudices, beyond possessing a certain amount of nervous dread of a bagman ■'unawares. ” The latter feeling made them_ hesitate to make tho vicomte’s acquaint¬ ance, while they endeavored to obtain further information through tho usual ho¬ tel channels. Discretion, however, had not boon vainly written on the lineaments of the vicomto’s valet, and tho wiliest la¬ dies’ maids found him unapproachable. Meanwhile public opinion in tho Son nenschein was unanimous on tho jioint that M. do Boisvillo’s manners wero as distinguished as his looks and bora tlio best social stamp. Caution and reserve had a hard struggle to hold their own with tho Hunters and Pearsons, especially as M. do Boisville showed unmistakable though well bred signs of a desire to mako tho English ladies’ acquaintance. Were they who had lived but to grasp the skirts of such chances new losing the best op¬ portunity which had over come within their reach? Whilo hesitating, the two mothers kept closo watch on each other. Four or five days had passed when Amy Pearson ran breathlessly, into her mother’s room ono morning. “Tho Hunters havo found out some¬ thing!” “How? Why?” Mrs. Pearson’s excite¬ ment equaled her daughter’s. “I caw Rosie talking to M. do Boisville in tho woods just now!” “Good gracious! And they havo kept it secret from us! What meanness! But I will be even with Maria Hunter, for oil that.” Shortly afterward Mrs. Pearson had an interview with tho head waiter—short, but businesslike. In the evening sho did not occupy her usual place at dinner opposite tho Hunters. She and Amy sat at the oilier end cf the table, with M. do Bois¬ vilio between them. Tlio Hunters, on taking their seats, were first aware of tho change and wero naturally tiled with surprise and chagrin. “The Pearsons havo found out some¬ thing,” Rosie exclaimed, “and I was so chilling with tho man tills morning when lie picked up my sketchbook in tlio woods. ” She cast a vindictivo glance at Amy, who was being anything but chilling to tho vicomto at tho moment. “It will bo easy to correct tho mistake, dear, and tho sooner you do it tho better. Tho Pearsons havo found out something for very satisfactory. Trust Caroline Pearson that!” said Lady Hunter. “You must be polito to M. do Boisvilio in tho draw¬ ing room after dinner and introduce him to me.” On tho basis of false assumption, which plays such a leading part in lifo’s transac¬ tions, the struggle for the vicomto began that evening. Tho Hunters and Pearsons were so evenly matched that tho contest, once entered on, engaged all their atten¬ tion. Doubt, caution and reserve were completely abandoned. What need to hark hack cn them? Each party felt absolute trust in the worldly wisdom and discrimi¬ nation of the other. The students of humanity—less respect fully called gossips-who abounded in the hotel, were observant from tho beginning, The vicomto seemed ductility itself in tho bands of the rival mothers and responded with polito alacrity to every ruse which threw him into tho society of the rival daughters. French The fact that ho only spoke made no difference in either cate, both girls speaking that language as flu curly as their mother tongue. The battle bad varying fortunes. For some time the sharpest observation failed to detect a bal¬ ance in either direction. After a fort night, however, the opinion that victory was inclining to the Hunter girl began to prevail. Mrs. Pearson could not shut her eye3 to the situation. One hope kept her up. This hope centered in a voung Englishman, Johri Vavasour. He had been supposed, in the previous spring, at Cannes, to be engaged to Rosio Hunter. The affair, er's—had however—through no fault of Lady Hunt- objec not been finally settled, tions having come from the Vavasour impression family. Absence had not obliterated" the made by Rosie's big blue eyes <m Vavasour’s heart.' His appearance at Fngeiberg Yhe might be looked for any before day. arrangement had been made the advent of M. de Boisville, and though it now weighed heavily on Lady Hunter could not, for many reasons, be canceled, No clement of doubt or hesitation, how *ver, added complications to Lady Hunt «'s uneasiness. John Vavasour was not a Lriiliantj arti like the vicomte.. In such mmk% /i o w SATURDAY, SEPT. 7, 1895. a situation a mother might sigh, Out never | I falter. Nevertheless Mrs. Pearson, from her point of view, foresaw dramatic possibil¬ ities in John Vavasour’s appearance on the scene. Her delight was unfeigned when f.iie long desired event happened one ■afternoon. The time could not havo been more opportune. Only that morning Lady Hunter had scored her greatest triiilnpli. She and Rosie, with the vicunitc, had set out at an carl; hour on an excursion to Trubsee. Mrs. Pearson and Amy, in the absence * the fliintcrs, C.kl il-.o honors ot Engel sx^r5^S5r** T sK3 nows, M. do Boisville naturally figuring prominently in it. .Naturally, too, tho at tractive foreigner aroused his strongest in tcrest. Tho Pearsons did full justlco to the vioomte’s powers of fascination. No wcak Jealousy made thorn minimi?,o Ro sto's evident conquest of the Frenchman. John Vavasour heard nothing but tho truth _ it wa3 his misfortune rat her than their fault if it rankled. Tho rankling process became very evi dent in tho drawing room after dinner. Tho excursionists had not returned. Vn vasour’s distraction of mind and uneasi Dcss ™ro unconcealed. Aftor fidgeting for some time ho finally jumped up and went out on tho terrace. From the end tho read winding up to tho hotel showed clearly in tho moonlight. Just as tho first sounds of a carriage ap¬ proaching tho hotel reached tho drawing room Vavasour reappeared. There was a curious change in Ills face, though ho in¬ quired, wit-h affected indifference: “What other man, besides the Vicomto do Boisville, was with tho Trubseo party?” “No other man,” said Mrs. Pearson. “Havo you seen them? Aro they coming?” “ Yes; I saw the carriagoon Ihc road bo low. Do Boisvilio is dark, with straight, strongly marked eyebrows?” “That is ho,” said Mrs. Pearson. “Very foreign looking ns to the face. His man¬ ner and his tailor arc more English.” Under tho circumstances John Vava¬ sour's undoubted peculiarity of speech and expression seemed natural, though tlio Pcarson3 wore puzzled to detect tlio feel¬ ing that prompted it. Was ho jealous or piqued? How would he meet the Hunters? Ho was not likely to make a sceno, but neither was ho a man to walk‘captive in tho train of a triumphant rival. Tho situ¬ ation could hardly fail to havo interesting developments. with John Vavasour faced it at once characteristic determination. When tho Trubseo party entered tho hull from tlieir carriage, ha stood there to greet them. Both mother and daughter instantly rec¬ ognized tho importance of tho moment. No surprise had overtaken them; they wero fully equipped with tho armor of forewarn¬ ing. Lady Hunter’s motherly manner was unchanged, except for a subtle shade of difference as between universal and par¬ ticular motherliness. Aiimiph Rosie’s composed greeting was a in its way—the smilo and outstretched hand apparently as of old, and yet how glacially different! Plain words might havo conveyed to Va¬ vasour more coarsely, but net more clear¬ ly, that all was changed since tho parting in tho Cannes railway station, not many months before; changed, too, since the dispatch cf a charming missive, which boro on Engolberg postmark not yet a month old. M. do Boisvilio had politely passed on during tho interchange cf greetings, and Vavasour had not been brought face to face with his successful rival. Lady Hunt er. however, had said to tho latter at past¬ ing: “Au revoir! Wo shall meet again in the drawing room, and you must toll mo all your nows, tho dear old homo news from England. Wo havo had no dinner and are starving. We are going to dine with M do Boisvilio. You must know him. I shall introduce you after dinner. He is quite charming.” gracefully dealt The suggestion of a coup do grace in her ladyship’s words had not been lost on John Vavasour. The Pearsons had necessarily missed tlio meet¬ ing in the hall. They wero ublo to form a very accurate guess of what had occur¬ red, however, when Vavasour joined them in the drawing room as they sat there with Lady Hunter. They had not expect¬ ed such prompt action on tho Hunters’ part. Mrs. Pearson realized with a sharp pang what a complete triumph of Rosio it meant. The vicomto must have all but declared himself. John Vavasour had C ____j 01110 too late to create even complication or doubt, for at that moment, while Va¬ vasour sat with them, calm, but pale, Ro¬ sie was walking outsido in the moonlight with the vicomte, the young people having gone out on the terrace from the dining room, allowing Lady Hunter to join the party in the drawing room alono. “I hopo Miss Hunter is not kept in her room by fatigue,” John Vavasour had formally said to Lady Hunter, who had then explained her absence with somewhat elaborate deliberation. Mrs. Pearson was not in an amiable mood naturally enough. It was hard, con - of . sidering the numerical disproportion the sexes, that Rosie should have bad a choice of two men, and to the ousting of Amy. Vavasour s position instead of e* citing compassion in Mrs. i carson s breast, moved her in the other direcuom Sho showed a decided disposition to turn the conversation on the vicomte rub him in, ’ as it were. is M. de Boisville? \avasour , in “Who quired at last. “You must hear Lady Hunter’s elo qnence on tlie subject,” said Mrs. Pear with meaning smile. Mine ,, would M son. a hardly do mm justice, Lady Hunter was not to bo drawn. She merely responded by sr, J^S she would’presently introduce the vicomto to Vavasour. , “I have been a good deal m .trench so ciety this year, V avasour remarked. was staying with \\ ooutown a-* t le em bassy. His father is the embassador to Paris, you know, and his mother is a Frenchwoman. Does your friend know the embassy people? all *bo right “He knows every one, peer pie, so many of our Liends. - knows the Forrests in Pans, y ex said. “He has often spoke of Lord Vood town,” struck in Amy, ‘ and seems quite intimate with him.” “Ob, indeed! ’ exclaimed V avasour. ; dryness of his tone escaped The peculiar just at the moment Rosie observation, for an d, the vicom tejgssvd _qfi «H»r4eU8Sfc The race ot rr.o ratter, happening' Co tie turned toward the hotel, was caught by the liglit of the electric lamp on the veranda. lt showed quite clearly to the party in tho drawing room. “That is M. do Boisville, ” Lady Hunter said to Vavasour, “not a man to bo easily forgotten. Do you remember to have met him?" “ Yes; I do recognize the face, ” said Va vasour slowly. “Do you know him?” Something in tlio speaker’s voice and manner made the In¬ quiry come sharply from Lady Hunter. The Pearsons looked at him also with eager interest. “Yes; I know that man.” The significance of iiis voice was now unmistakable. Tho ladies started. Lady Hunter hastily exclaimed: “What do you mean? What do you know?" , “That man”—Vavasour spoke with great deliberation—“is not a French¬ man. ” “Nonsense!” Lady Hunter interrupted, with a laugh of relief. “There is no doubt on that subject. You havo mistaken the man.” “The question ’S^casily decided.” Va¬ vasour loso abruptly from bis chair. “Might I ask you to come with mo to the terrace, ladies? Pray bo calm, Lady Hunt¬ er. I havo no wish to make a scene. There is no need to do so. ” Tho Pearsons, surprised and expectant —after nil, something was about to result from John Vavasour’s appearance on the scene—and Lady Hunter, vaguely alarm¬ ed, followed Vavasour to tho terrace. Tho party had it almost to themselves, owing to tho into hour. Vavasour, going in advance, paused un¬ der tho eloctrio lamp to survey tlio ter¬ race. Were not two figures apparent in Hie distance? Ilo waved his hand toward them. “They are coming,” ho exclaimed in a moment. “They havo seen mo. i cannot seo them just now. They arc hid¬ den in tho shadow of tho buildings.” What was going to happen? Lady Hunt¬ er felt distinctly uneasy. Tho Pearsons thrilled with expectancy. The situation was sensational. Tho time, tho piace, tlio waiting, with all eyes turned in tho same direction, guvo it an indefinable air of mystery. At last a figure slowly emerged from tho darkness—ono only. No others followed! Rosio nlono appeared in tho light walking toward them. Tho sceno which ensued was dramatic enough to satisfy tho most highly pitched expectancy. John Vavasour made his ex¬ planation. Ho knew tho man well, his striking appoaranco making identification easy and sure. Do Boisville was an as¬ sumed name. Tho supposed vicomto was no Frenchman, but an Englishman. Here Lady Hunter and Mrs. Pearson broke in, appealing to each other simul¬ taneously. “But surely you can contradict this? You know ail about tho man." Then tho worst camo to light, tho appall¬ ing discovery of Iheir mutual and mis¬ placed trust in each other’s knowledge. Panic seized on tho ladies, and they rushed forthwith to tho most desperate conclu¬ sions. Tho man was a bagman, a valet, a burglar or worse. Tho caso was too dreadful for tlio Pearsons to exult at hav¬ ing their rivals’ supposed triumph turned into such crushing disaster. For them, too, tho affair was horrible. Ail the days and hours passed in tlio wretch's society wero awful to think of. Rosio’s faltering account of what had occurred on the ter raco gave tho finishing stroke to tho situa¬ tion. Tlio man, she now knew, had dis¬ appeared at once on recognizing Vavasour on tho veranda. “Ho had tho impertinenco to say an ro voir as lio left,” Rosie wound up, with a catch in her breath and a shudder. “I don’t think lie will trouble you again. Yon may make your mind easy on that point. Miss Hunter. Tlio man will not reappear,” said Vavasour decisively. “Who is he? What is the mystery? Is it something dreadful? For heaven’s sake, explain,” chorused the ladies. Vavasour was human. Ho had been ruthlessly thrown over for this hotel ac¬ quaintance, this supposed French noble man. Ho may have been actuated by a desire to punish tho Hunters in somo way by not being explicit, or did ho wish to spare them the horror of somo ghastly reve¬ lation? At any rate, lio would give no fur¬ ther information. Entreaties, persuasions, even tears on Rosio’s part, were in vain. Tho man was not what lio h.-xl represent¬ ed himself to be. But no harm had boen Cone. Tho ladies would probably never see bim again. Next morning tho news of tho De Bois vilio affair ran liko wildfire through the hotel and naturally lost nothing in the teiling. As Vavasour had predicted, the sup¬ posed vicomto did not reappear, but van¬ ished with his supposed servant, an ac¬ complice, no doubt—either late at night or early in the morning, gossip could not discover which—from the hotel. The au¬ thorities of the hotel management main¬ tained reticence and expressed absolute ignorance of any imposition in the affair. The visitors, especially the women, were absolutely certain that ono of the greatest criminals of the age had been secretly in their midst and shuddered to think of the various escapes from murder, robbery and personal violence they must have had. The Hunters wero made the victims of an in¬ tense sympathy. At the same time both they and tho Pearsons were blamed se¬ verely for having been the chief means of giving the man a prominent position in the hotel society. They should, witli their fuller opportunities, have known better, especially as it now appeared that every one else had all through suspected the im postor All kinds^f theories regarding De Bois v tu e floated about, none being too wild or Improbable for acceptance. Vavasour was t[jc „ rcat CC ntor of interest, though tho ))e p] aye d in tho matter was only tnown Tcry indistinctly to the gossips, Keitlier wort j nor hint could, however, be extracted from him toward any further so lut , on of tbe mystery. j n t i, e painful awkwardness of the situ ation tho Hunters took tho most natural course open to them—retreat. j 0 i, 8 Vavasour was seated in the veran d a, cujojing coffee and a solitary cigarette, when the carriage to Iicar away tho Hunt | er3 drew llp a t the hotel door. His face > W£)g dee piy tbought'ul; his hands absently and, rc fo i'icd a-lclt erko ba d .. ba a ! reading—rereading; for Tie had tecclvotl ft on awaking in the morning, ; "I shall bo half over the Joch pass bo¬ : fore get tins. By ail gods, old you my \ chap, I swore to save you from tho pretty little campaigner and her mother. Voiln, mon ami, it is dune. If the process of open ing your eyes was painful, believe mo, you will get over H. Tire end justifies li:e means, and, by Jove, the Jekyil ami 1 lydo business was sport. My dual nationality came in gloriously. Pity you did not meet Do Boisville. Such a capital follow; worth two or three of Wpodtown any day. The flaw in tho affair is Hint I couid not iso tho denouement For which am I most generally taken—anarchist, thief or bagman? Poor Mother Hunter! Poor lit¬ tle llosie! But one does not pity tho spider who fails to catch tho dear old—saving your presence—stupid fly. I Icavo myself entirely in your hands. Toll all or noth¬ ing, at your own discretion. Adiou. Au revoir at Grindelwald. ” Would lie or would ho not tell? Vava¬ sour pondered the subject carefully. His eyes had been opened. Tho operation had not been wanting in pain. Ilo now saw the Hunters in their real characters and fully understood tlio deceit and baseness in their treatment of him. He was not vindictivo. They deserved some punish¬ ment, but it would be too much fo loavo thorn under tho tcrriblo impression of hav¬ ing been tlio victims of an impestor who was a deep dyed villain cf somo kind or other. To know tho real truth would bo enough. Tho ladies had taken their places in tho carriage when he jumped lip from his scat and name quickly forward. Lady Hunter looked sadly crestfallen. Rosio was quite pale and dejected. “I did not tell you all that I knew last night.” Vavasour addressed Lady Hunter quickly, the horses being about to start. “Tlio man was not M. do Boisville, not a French vicomto. He is an English vis¬ count, Lord Forrest’s son, Wocdtown—an incorrigiblo practical joker. I dare say you have heard of him. ” Tho plunging, impatient horses would bo no longer restrained. Tho expression on tlio ladies’ faces as they weft) whirled away long remained vividly impressed on Vavasour's memory.—London Truth. CHOOSING A WIFE. r,Y ,1. N. PARKER. Never marry-a woman who talks too much. Y’ou always will be tired, and never will have any family secrets. Never marry a girl who does not love her mother ; she never will love you, and if she permits her mother to do the housework while she pounds the piano, primps, powders, paints and re¬ ceives callers, it is the best evi¬ dence that she does not love her. Never marry a girl who wears dresses long enough to sweep the ground. Such a woman is not cleanly and tidy, and will make a slovenly, dirty house¬ keeper. A tidy, cleanly girl will never wear such a dress, no mat¬ ter what the "fashion is. Never marry a flirt. Flirt and and virtue are never on intimate terms. Never “fashionable 7 J marry a girl; she will prove to be a spendthrift, besides being de¬ void of many womanly virtues Never marry a girl who is no* industrious, and is not willing to work. Never be too hast}’ about mar¬ rying a rich girl, Very few of them make good, gentle, affec¬ tionate wives. Nev.er marry a girl who laces tightly. A small waist is almost always synonymous with doc tors’ bills. Never marry a girl who desires to board after marriage. Never marry a girl unless she knows how to cook. You may not ex¬ pect her to'cook, but unless she knows how you will not be hap py- Eating is one of the indis pensables of life, and is either a source of much happiness or misery. Never marry a girl who wears low necked and short sleeved dresses. She is lacking in wo manly modesty. > Never marry any girl unless , * YOU 10 VU net . r }\‘c were compelled by lack of I space to CU1 „.*~;itl.£> tail tlie above ,hnv« article. article A t nv ) A n p in need of more itlfor mation Oil tllO subject than the above gives Should Call cn -?U •» \f r • l Pai’kOl’. —EDITOR. PERSONAL PARAGRAPHS Puger.tly Penciled for Punctual Perusal. Tat IT. Lanefjrd lias recently reshingled his dwelling. Mr. Night has made and improvements on his resi¬ dence. John Almand now wields the yard stick for Summers & Hudson. A good collection for missions was taken last Sunday at the Baptist church. Missen v r . T Lucy and . 1 ,, antiie , \\ ir ebb , , of Porter Dale, Newton countv, «n* «* i» Conyers, <i,c guests of their aunt, Mrs. Night.■ Miss Sadie McOalla, of i one i Conyers’ most charmingly beau-1 I tiful ... . young , ladies, left 1 uesday; . to attend Agnes Scott Institute. | Dr. Ragsdale preached two fine sermons last Sunday J morn- 1 ing«and , night. . , Hem TT oir tins , . week and next at his Bible In stitute work. Tho South River- association meets this year on Wednesday before the 4th Sunday in this | month at Philadelphia church, six miles southwest of Conyers. Dr. Bigham, who is oil' soon for his new work with headquar¬ ters at Nashville, Tenn.,preach¬ ed in the Methodist church last Sunday. IIis sermon was en¬ tertaining to his appreciative congregation. On the 12th instant the con¬ vention of the Rockdale Sunday School Union meets in Conyers. They already have a full pro¬ gram for the exercises of the day, and will have no doubt a larg ■ attendance and a pleasant time Prof. Mike Hudson spends ev¬ ery Saturday and Sunday at home. He is experiencing his first term as pedagogue, but has already become quite dignified, and is giving satisfaction. Wo doubt not he will win the suc¬ cess lie deserves. Prot.-acted services at tho Methodist church closed last Sunday night. Dr. Quillian, of Cartersville. assisted his broth¬ er through last week, and did some good, clear-headed and warra-lieartes preaching. Sev¬ eral united with the church. § H SB m ! * w 3 HV, m ■ tll'I'llK.IIIVI '••••••••■Mae axtHimtitiiiiii WE HANDLE * Pianos, Organs, Bicycles. Sewing Machines, etc * 9 for cash or on time. Gel our prices before yon W\ CONYERS, GEOR HA} NO. 36 Pin*'' % IFSIMMONS SB & wmmm fSmR EG ULATOR Are you tiling SiMMONsliFftHfe Reg¬ lit* ulator, thfe “Kino of Liver ' cines?” That is what our x ^ant, an( j nothing but that. SSSSKw same old friend to which the old t mendat-ion for it is, that itft bfttjsb than Pills, never gripes, never weak ens, but works in such an easy and natural way, just like nature itself, that relief comes quick and sure, and on« f ee i, s new all over. It never fails. Everybody needs take a liver remedy, and everyone should take only Sim mons Liver Regulator. is . lie on tlic sure wrapper. you ffct J. H. Zeilin A ^ Co ., Philadelphia, “— -------*------- Walker Glenn, who is sccro ta, T of t,u ‘ Bystreet agency in Atlanta, spout Sunday with his P™' 0 ™ 8 W After getiing‘•set tied” m Ins position Walker in¬ tends spending the nights at home and going to and from his work on the accommodation train. Dr. Geo. Webb, an old Confed¬ erate comrade of the 44th Ga., gave us a pop call on last Sat¬ urday. Ho wes attending the general meeting, and was look¬ ing well. Wo were really glad to see him, after so many years. The frosts of winters have not silvered his auburn bear 1 but have scraped tho hair off his head without mercy. He is now over GU years of ago, yet looks the same old “Johnnie Rob” nfl in ’04. The general meeting at Pall Rock last Friday, Saturday an i Sunday was well vttended. W.) attended Saturday, and accept¬ ed Mr. McDonald’s kind invita¬ tion to dinner, and feasted sump¬ tuously under the shade of tho trees, after tho fashion of tho good old country style. Thera were many spreads all over tho beautiful grove, and everybody bad enough and to spare. Tho ministers in attendance were, Elders John F. Almand, E. C. Thrash, William Almand, 8r., William Almand, Jr., Andrew Webb, John Curtis and William Adams.
