Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1895-01-31
LOVERS LETTER BOX.

LOVERS LETTER BOX.
l had had a duel the preceding au-
tumn in consequence of q little adven-
ture which has nothing to do with the
present story, and l was in a fair way
to get into another, for l was paying
court in furious fashion to a fair Ital-
ian, whom we shall call, if you like,
Princess Millefiore.
The princess was a very beautiful
woman, dark as night; but it was not a
starless night, for she had eyes about
which n could write volumes. She
was about 80, and had a ferocious hus-
bend.
He could not abide me. She, on the
contrary, deigned to evince toward me
an affection that was scarcely ma
ternal, though she was my senior by
some seven or eight summers. After
having ventured, without sustaining
serious injury, to tell her that I thought
her very beautiful, and that her smile
was simply maddening, l had come to
the stage where one repeats such vOw
ais in writing. The difficulty lay, not
in writing, but in delivering the letters
under the very nose Of her husband, i
bearded ruffian who never left her side.
Well, on a certain winter night, while
all Paris was skating in the most august
company, I took advantage Of a mo-
ment when the princess had laid her
magnificent blue foxskin muff down on
a bench beside her to slip my epistle
into it.
The princess saw my maneuver plain
~, and the glance she gave me made it
apparent to me that l need not fear she
would denounce me to the police. Then
we separated, for l saw the princes
eyes fixed on me with so queer an x
| preston that l wondered seriously IL
he did not suspect something.
Nine. de Millefiore, a tall, supple
woman-a little slender, perhaps-was
an unequalled horsewoman and an in
defatigable dancer; but, like a true Ital-
ian, she did not shine On the ice. She
even had a fall once that made HE
shudder; but she was on her feet again
at OlSC, SdlC uAu SOuIus Sllc AuO AOl
struck her head. However, though the
victim of an apparently ordinary acct
dent, she disappeared for a moment
into the ladies' dressing room. Was
she badly hurt? No. Five minutes
later she glided out On the icy mirror
again, more intrepid than ever.
During the evening l managed to get
near her for a moment, and murmured
to her in a voice tremulous with emo
ton:
"Take care! If you should fall again
She looked at me with eyes full of
mischief.
"Have no fear" she replied, II have
taken precautions" and she was swal-
lowed up again in the throng.
An hour later a supper party was
made up. The fair Italian was of the
number. and, as you may imagine, l
hau arranged to be one too. Presently
we were ensconced In a salon Of the
Cafe Anglais. In our salon, which was
lighted up as bright as day, everybody
was in the j~olliest humor possible, the
princess above all. l remember that as
she stood at the crate warming her
adorable little foot Mt the blaze, some
n nudged me and murmured:
II say, old man, Nine. de Millefiore is
not so thin, after ALL"
And to tell the truth, I was surprised
and charmed at a certain opulence Of
figure which I had never observed be-
fore But l was torn from my dreams
by the princes voice.
"My DEAR" he suddenly called out to
her, where have you left your muff?"
That animal was the very incarnation
Of order.
Now that was a simple question, and
perfectly legitimate in the mouth Of him
who asked it. But the princess blushed
to her ears. while l felt my almost
beardless face grow pale. I was even
30 ipprudent as to glance at my accom-
plice, and I thought , read In her eyes
an ecguish easy to explain. The muf;
val a trife-but the note!
After a seconds hesitation she replied
with a certain embarrassment: I'll
w uOt hAAOWs ACI1Hupo ~ ID Sill III Tic
carriage"
Without a word the Prince went
downstairs. I would have given a bale
Of fox-skins, Of no matter what color.
to have had the accursed note in my
pocket As to the Princess, ven at the
moment Of peril she smiled. Oh, these
women! what nerve they have In the
very face Of death! I a already re.
hearsing in my minds eye the episode
of Francesca and Paolo. and ! confess
the role Of Paolo had few attractions
for me. Just then the Prince returned
| with IN ominously impressive face.
"The mum is not in the carriage" he
announced in q solemn tone.
I breathed again. 1t meant q few
minutes respite.
'"Then," said Nine. de Milletiore, ap-
preaching the table with q more care
less air than ever. II must have left Il
It the lake. In the meantime, while il