The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1895-02-06
LOVERS LETTER BOX.

had had a duel the preceding autumn
in consequence of a little adventure which
has nothing to do with the present story,
ana waa in fair way to get into an
other, for was paying court in furious
fashion to a fair italian, whom we shall
call If you like, Princess MiIlefi0rc
The princess was very beautiful wo,n-
an, dark as night, but it was not a stnrlcss
night, for she had eyes about which one
could write volumes She was about 80
and had fcrociuus husband
Ho could not abide me She, on the con-
trary, deignod to evince toward Inc nn af.
fection that was scarcely maternal, though
she was my senior by some seven or eipht
summers After having ventured. with
out sustaining serious injury, to tell her
that thought her very beautiful, and that
her smile was simply maddening, had
come TO tho stage where one repeats such
avowals in writing Tho difficulty lay
not In writing but in delivering tho let
ters under tho very nose of her husband, a
bearded rutfian who never left her side
Well, on a certain winter night, while
all Pnris YVES skating In the most august
company, l took advantage Of a moment
when the princess had laid her magnid-
cent blue foxskin mutf down on a bench
beside her to slip my epistlo into it,
Tho princess saw my vancouver plainly,
and the glance she gave me made 1t ap.
parent to Inc that / need not fear she
would denounce me to tho police Then
we separated, for saw tho princes eve
fixed on me with so queer an expression
that | wondered seriously il he did not
suspect something.
Mime dc Millefore, n tall supple wom-
an--a little slender perhaps--was an un-
equaled horsewoman and an indefatiga-
Bile dancer; but, like a true Italian. she did
not shine on the ice She even had fall
once that made me shudder, but she was
on her feet again at once, safe and sound
She had not struck her head However
though the victim OF an apparently ordi.
nary accident, she disappeared for mo-
ment into the ladies' dressing room. Was
she badly hnrt5 No. Five minutes later
she glided out on tho ICY mirror again,
more intrepid than ever.
During the evening managed to get
near her for moment and murnured to
her in voice trembling with emotion.
Take carol If you should fall aRain'--
She looked at me with eyes full OF mis-
chief.
q Have no fear" she replied. ''I have
taken precautions" And she was swal-
lowed up again in the throng
An hour later supper party was made
up, The fair Italian was of the number
and, as you may Imagine, had arranged
to DO one too. Presently we were en-.
sconeed in salon of the Cafe Anglais.
In our salon, which was lighted up as
bright as day everybody was in the jol.
lest hulnor possible, the princess above
all l remember that as she stood at tho
grate warming her adorable little foot at
tho blaze some ono nudged me and muir
INJURED, Il say, old man, Mime. do Mille-
fore is not SO very thin, after all y
And, TO tell the truth, l was surprised
and charmed at n certain opulence of fig
ure which l had never observed before.
But was torn from my dreams by the
prince voice.
My dear" he suddenly called out to
her, where have you left your mufff'
That animal was the very incarnation
of order.
Now, that was simple question and per-
feetly legitimate in the mouth of him who
asked 1t But the princess bltshed to her
ears, while felt my almost bear,lless face
grow pale. was even so iniprudant as to
glance at my accomplico, and thought I
read IN her eyes an anguish easy to ex-
plain. The muff was q tritle--but the
motel
After a seconds hesitation she replied,
with certain embarrassment: IL do
not know Perhaps 1t is still In the car
riage."
Without word the prince went down
stairs would have given "a bale Of fox.
SKINS OF no matter whit color to have had
the accursed note in my pocket As to the
princess, even at the moment OF peril she
smiled Oh, these women What nerve
they have in tho very face of deatbl was
already rehearsing in my minds eve tho
episode of Francesca and Paola, and | con-
Tess the role of Paolo had few attractions
lor mo- just then the prince returned
with an ominonsly tmpassiye face
ne mun Is not In the carriage - he
In a solemn tone
breathed again 1t meant few min.
utes respite
Then, :" said Mime de Milleflore, an.
the table with more carelgss |
air than ever :. l must have left 1t at tho
lake. In the meantime whfle it is being
.onnd, let US have supper. am dying of |
hunger, "
II you will believe inc, this strange
woman ate with hearty appetite She
was more beautiful and gayur than ever,
alrly sparkling with wit and the life of
he party
10 tell the truth, / had no appetite.
The princess even had the audacity to
ally me about It,
Come NJ. de Clomat," she called out
Il wns at tho farthest end CT tho table
you are solemn as IN owl tonight Have
Iou ieIG your wits at the luke with my
nuGf't
My witsi They certainly had dosersed
ne How could have failed to think of
l6 thing Tn sltt Y
princess ingenious phrase had pat me in
mind of -
The tsct Is, madame, F." l replied, II am
lot yefS we'll l feel quite chilly't-in
ruth, had not dry stitch on me-"and
am afraid was imprudent in not going
lome directly. With your permission, and
hat OF these indies, shall do SO at once. u
Two minutes later | was In cab on nv
way to the lake In tho Bois. Heavens.
low far it Is from the Cafe Anglais to the
kat'ng club, at O'Clock In the morning,
fith the thermometer 20 degrees below
rcez1ns posRb, wntn 0..u 10 l4 a e.i.
is head full of awful ideas!
Evidently" said / tonysnlf, "the hu8
and snsptI is something Tomorrow that
)the!lo will move hGaNth and earth to fin
Is wifes mnif-Rs;d my note And fael
oto it Il, now that think Il over In eniu
iocd. But ONE nEedu wIito like We
aire 10 get wo1aan into Il Eorriblo hole
must ind that mutf Ih, princess gay
ty was aniy Ened | could see that il
he look sic pave me iltst ng9 Not uniy
ny life tioPcl.ds ru it, hut hers too on
he devil ny swag with l6yel5
AT tEs l4 he last touches were hsina
as elittorinR arCna wa
laost li.ll > II he bullet, in tie drs5.
-, t,,,F
earch was usaiess. / had offered i0u
ranes reward tor the laUiT but in yaii
lany things lad been lest thar night
andkerehiefs gloves, jewelfy, aId even
pardon nty fidelity 10 detail-thlo9 or
our circletsat SILK elastic Of various lfut4
hat was all There was 10 ,nurn sign Of
mnff tlan there was nf tie tNen1la de