The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1902-02-21
FOR NELL[E's SMILE.
by s. f. K1sER.

novel, For One Sweet Smile From Nell, ~
by Elsie Barker Smiggs, society belle
OF East Saginaw. Nall Gwynne has been
told by an old gypsy that she will smile
upon certain great man, and that from
that day she will live in queenly luxury
and be the happiest lady in the world
Nell thinks the matter over and decides
that she owes it to herself to have as
many great men as possible around her
on the day set apart for the fateful smile.
She therefore sends word to Louis XIV.
of France, Cardinal Richelieu, Henry of
Navarro, Cesare Borgia, the duke of Alva,
Peter the Great and Oliver Cromwell to
assemble at certain place for her smile.
She goes to Charles IL. and tells him per-
sonally OF the matter, making him prom
Use to accompany her to the place agreed
upon and contend against the others for
her favor. Now we proceed to the chapter
IN which the great contest takes place:
st was drilling rain and grayisk
vapor hung over the world, as if myriads
of spiders had been spinning webs that
enveloped everything. The duke of Alva
was leaning against an abandoned pigsty,
carelessly rolling cigarette, while Cesare
Borgia paced nervously up and down the
sandy shore of the bay.
Why so restless, cousin?' said the
duke, striking match upon his beautiful
ly wrought sword hilt and turning his
l back to the wind in order to shield the
little flame he held up to the cigarette.
"'Don't bother me- Pm. thinking.
Cesare replied, and resumed his nervous
pace.
"A moment later Peter the Great and
Louis XIV. rode down the winding road
from the forest at the left, their bedrag-
gled plumes dropping dislnally as they
came.
My kingdom against your own cried
Louis, that l win the lady's smile this
day.
I'm no gambler Peter answered..
but I'll tell thee, brother, what Ill do.
If l don't win the lady's smile I'll let
thee take my boots to put upon thy
valet
Agreed cried Louis, and if 1 faiE
to win this English rosebud's favor I'll
give to thee the jeweled collar that wear
to put upon the neck of thy boss cook
'Richelieu and Henry of Navarro ar
rived in blackboard as Louis and Peter
were dismounting, and Borgia, coming up
from the shore, proposed that while wait
ing for the English party they indulge in
"a game of poker. He had slipped a few
aces up his sleeves while the Others were
not looking
"'Agreed!' cried Louis. Get out the
chips
'The duke had opened his satchel and
was searching for the jeweled box in
which he carried his poker outfit when
Peter pointed toward gayly decorated
yacht that was steaming up to the dock
and said
That's them now
Sand ii was ha baI n,ossaJ F,l,,1or,
ran lightly down the gangplank as soon as
| the vessel had been tied up, and having
spread his scarlet overcoat upon the land
ing called:
Come, Nellie, the boys are waiting
| 'Thon forth stopped fai., Neil C,,,,nns.a
and as the great men on the shore beheld
her chorus of 'Ah's!' assembled from
them.
(" Hold!' cried Nell. L forbid any
quarreling here to-day. Gentlemen, you
have come to win my smile. The contest
mustn't be anything but friendly. If you
kill one another with swords you've got
to do it friendly, or if it's foot race or
fist fight it's got to be done friendly
Louis bowed low, and the others fol-
lowed his example, after which the con-
tests began. Borgia and Henry of Navarro
opened with a catch-as-catch- wrestling.
| lAdtSi, WuiSl lOl dDOuG ltU 1uLue
utes with no apparent advantage on either
side. Then Cesare, getting one of Henrys,
fingers in his mouth, bit it off, and was
ruled out of the match for conduct unbe,.
coming "a sportsman.
"The next round was between Alva and
Peter, who We're to climb two creased
poles. 1t became apparent at once that
the Spaniard was overmatched. Peters
experience as shipbuilder here served
him in good stead, and at the end of 20,
minutes he was at least three feet higher
than his competitor, who, seeing that his
case was hopeless, gave up.
Good for you, Pete, cried Nell, clap,
ping her hands as the car slid down.
But alas! Peters triumph was of short
duration. As he struck the ground his
sword again became unmanageable and in:
some way caught his coat, ripping it up
the back and jabbng him so badly under
the left arm that he had to retire.
Louis and Charles then took off their
coats and squared away. Lou tented and
Charles sde-stepped, landing lightly on the
neck a moment later. Lou then led for
the jaw, but was neatly stopped, Charles
getting back with a heavy left counter
on the nose. Lou was putting, but game.
and tried to kick Charles on the shins.
lie Iell snort, ana the Deil rang, with both
men sparring for wind. In the second
round Charles started to force the fight
ing and soon had his man on queer
street. Louis wind was bad and after re-
ceiving a right jab in the throat he ex-
hibited signs of grogginess. Rallying a
moment later, however, he made a swing
for the jaw, but was cross-countered and
went down in heap when Charles landed
on the left ear.
i 'As the English king Strengthened up
Nell ran forward, kissed his skinned
knucllles, and, smiling merrily, said:
'''This day you have won my favor in
fair fight Come, let's go home and be
happy
CAS- their yacht swung away from the
dock she stood on deck laughing merriIy
and thinking that endless JOY was to be-
her lot.
"Ah, poor girl, she forgot in the ex-
element that Cromwell had not put in an
appearance Chicago Record Herald. A