The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-04-09

, potatoes had in the pocket of my coat
were taintiug the wing-room. No
words could express the anguish into
] which this discovery plunged me. l
! might hope that the delicate people
around me would no suspect the truth.
but NJ. Bonbon was not 10 be deceived
Whether he was allured by the otor
and merely yielded to his grecdness. or
in his Immature took spiteful pleasure
in denouncing me, the dctestable dog
leaped to the floor and bounded toward
me. Then. standing on his hind legs.
he shifted at me from every side, until
he had discovered the pocket that held
| the provisions, and upon which he at
once made a desperate attack.
| tried to seize him; he escaped me-
| tried to push him away with nv foot.
| pulled my chair back; lost pains. The
! foolish little beast was determined to
see what had in my pocket, and moth
! ing could make him abandon that idea.
1t was necessary to take heroic stand.
F: rose, and, bringing under me the dan
gerous skirt containing the rest of my
| dinner, sat down on it to shelter it
from the entcrprising NJ. Bonbon and
stitic the betrnying perfume.
Then my ferocious prosecutor jumped
Oh Il ncighboring chair and yclpcd with
fury. After that he began to scratch
my thigh with his forepaws as if he in
tended to disrobc me.
Glow would like TO poison you,"
said mentally. looking at the accurscd
! brute with sinister eye. General at
/ tcntion was attracted TO me. was in
a mortal fright.
"What can all little IIonbon?" the
princess had already been asking She
came 10 my side TO take him.
Now she will smell the fried pota-
toes | thought. becoming scarlet.
For Il moment had an idea OF max
ing q wild flight But already every
body was rising
'Wait Il moment" the princess
begged her friends II want you to
hear my Russian romance" And com
| ing to me with the music in her hand
she said with her irresistible grace:
pray, sir, sing & verse; You will give
me the greatest pleasure
She herself placed the music on the
rack, and I sat down to the piano 1t
was a melancholy popular song that I
had learned during my stay in Russia,
w
all my scnsibiity.
There was general. flattering muir
muir: my slight voice had moved all
hearts. was triumphant when felt
myself disturbed by tugging and
pulling at my coat. Aware that NJ.
Bonbon WAS renewing his hostiitics.
turned quickly, but it was already too
late.
The Internal animal had had time to
runlnagc i'll my pocket and had dragged
out the horn of plenty. Now he held
it in his tiny jaws and, shaking it vio-
lently. scattered the fried potatoes in
[ every direction on the carpet
Overwhelmed with confusion. re-
manned dumfounded-a veil before nv
eyes, ringing in my ears. l had u
vague sense that there were exclalna-
tions of surprise and ill-supprcsscd
laughs. Then there was general re-
treat. Alone with the princes, rose
and made some unsteady steps toward
the door. She stopped me.
"You will dine with mc?' she asked
in voice swcctly earnest.
| This last blow finished me. Could
she not understand that at such a mo-
mcnt an invitation 10 dine rcsemblcd
| charity? | wanted to speak, but was
sutfocating.
AS she drew nearer, | turned my head
away to conceal from her the tears in
my eyes, and rushed away, overcome
with shame and grief
| lived iii pretty little room in the
top story of Il high house. That is
where ! went to abandon myself to
despair l flung myself on my bed
crushed under the breaking up of my
dreams The dreadful idea that had
been ridiculous before the woman |
loved was continually eros ing my
mind. Now the princess knew both my
misery and my love. That kiss ! had
stolen from her upon the stairs she
might otherwise have been able to par
| don, but how allow such audacity on the
| part Of man who carried his dinner IN
his coat pocket? For half an hour
| sought vainly for little relief to my
| chagrin, and with sorrowful soul was
| looking upon the future as ~ h,acl. IN
| mensity without stars, when there
! came Il gentle knocking at M door
started. Then sen ding the visitor
to the Internal regions, went to open
the door, resolved to quickly get rid of
the importunate person.
But when ! saw the newcomer
| drew back in amaZement.
your cried
5"Ycs.'
You, princess; you hcrc?"
She appeared much moved, and her
yoipa from tl,I