The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1895-02-23
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has nothing to do with the present story,
and was in fair way to get into another,
for l was paying court in a furious fashion
to a fair Italian, whom we shall call, if you
like, Princess Mllehore
The princess was a very beautiful woman
dark as night, but it was not starless
night, for she had eyes about which one
could write volumes She was about 81
and had ferocious husband
He could not abide me. She, on the con
trary, deigned to evince toward me an
affection tat was scarcely maternal, though
she was my senior by some seven or eight
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 the stage where one repeats such
avowals in writing. The difficulty lay not
in writing but in delivering the letters
under the very nose of her husband, a
bearded rul1ian who never left her side.
Well, on a certain winter night, while all
Paris was skating in the most august COM
pany, took advantage of moment when
the princess had laid her magnificent blue
foxskin mufr down on bench beside her
to slip my cpistle into it.
The princess saw my maneuver plainly.
and the glance she gave me made it appar-
ent to me that | need not fear she would
denounce me to the police. Then we sep
arated for | saw the princes eye fixed on
me with 50 queer an expression that Won
dered seriously if he did not suspect some
thing
Nine de Millehore, tall, supple woman
"a little slender, perhaps-was an uneqaled
horsewoman and an interchangeable dancer:
but, like 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 ordinary accident,
she disappeared for 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 | managed to get
near her for moment and murmured to
her in voice trembling with emotion:
"'rake care! If you should fall again
She looked at me with eyes full of mis-
chief.
''IIaye no fear" she replied, Il have
taken precautions And she was swal-
lowed up again in tie throng.
An hour later supper party was made
up. The fair Italian was of the number,
and, as you may imagine, had arranged
to be one too. Presently we were en-
sconced in saloon of the Cafe Anglais. In
our salon. which was lighted up as bright
as day, everybody was in the jolliest humor
possible, the princess above all. I remem-
Der that as she stood at the CRATE warming
her adorable little foot at the blaze some
one nudged me and murmured, 81 say, old
man, Nine. de Mllehore is not so very
thin, after all"
And, to tell the truth, | was surprised
and charmed at certain opulence of figure
which | had never observed before But
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 princesss blushed
to her ears, while felt my almost beard
less face grow pale. | was even SO impru
dent as to glance at my accomplish and
thought | read in her eyes an anguish easy
to explain. The muif was a trine-but
the note!
After seconds hesitation she replied,
with IA certain embarrassment: "I-I do
not know. Perhaps it is still in the car
riage." Without word the prince went
down stairs, would have given bale of
foxskins, no matter what color, to have
the accnrsed note in my pocket. As to the
princess, even at the moment of peril she
smiled Oh, these women. What nerve
they have in the very face of DEATH was
already rehearsing in my minds eye the
episode of Francesca and Paola, and con-
fess the role of Paolo had few attractions
for me. Just then the prince returned
with an ominously mpassive face.
THE muf is not in the carriage" he
announced in solemn tone.
breathed again. 1t meant IA few min
utes respite.
''rhen,' said Nine. de Milleflore, ap-
preaching the table with more careless
air than ever, 81 must have left it at the
lake. In the meantime, while it is being
found, let us have supper. | am dying of
hunger"
II you will believe me, this strange
woman ate with hearty appetite. She
was more beautiful and gayer than ever,
fairly sparkling with wit and the life of
the party.
I