The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-01-30
FOR NELLIE'S SMILE.

celSed advance sheets OF TIE great MS
toricai novel Fer One Sweet Smile
From Nell" by Elsie Barker Sniggs a
society belle of East Saginaw. Nell
Gwynne has been told by an old gypsy
that she wiz smile upon a certain great
man, and that from that day she viii live
in queenIy luxury and be the happiesI
lady in the world Nell thinks the matter
over and decides that she owes it to her
self to have as many great men as pos
siole around her on the day set apart FOR
the fatefui smile She therefore sends
word To Louis XIV. OF France, Cardinal
Richelieu Henry of Navarro, Cesare
Borgis, the Duke of Alva, Peter the
Great and Oliver Cromwell TO assemble
at certain place on the coast OF Be-
hernia and there compete for her smile.
She goes to Charles II. and tells him
personally of the matter, making him
promise 70 accompany her TO the place
agreed upon and contend against the 9TH
ers for her favor. Now we proceed to the
chapter in which the great contest takes
place:
1T was drizzling rain and a grayish
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,
careiessly rolling q cigarette, while Ce-
sare Borgia paced nervousIy up and
down the sandy shore of the bay.
Why so restless, cousin said the
duke, striking a match upon his beauti-
fully wrought sword hilt and turning his
back TO the wind III order to shield the
little fame he held up 10 the cigarette.
Don't bother nae. I'm thinking Ce-
sare 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-
gIed plumes dropping dismally as they
came.
Ny kingdom against your own cried
Louis. that l win the lady's smile this
day.
TN no gambler Peter answered.
but I'll tell thee. brother, what III do.
If 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 fail
to win this English rosebuds favor I'll
give to thee the jeweled collar that 1 wear
10 put upon the neck of thy boss cook.
"Richelieu and Heny of Navarro ar
rived in a blackboard as Louis and Peter
we're dismounting and Georgia, 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 hox in
which he carried his poker outfit when
Peter pointed toward a gayly decorated
yacht that was steaming up to the dock,
and said:
= That's them now
''And il was as he had guessed. Charles
ran lightly down the gang plank as soon
as the vessel had been tied up, and hav-
ing spread his scarlet overcoat upon the
landing, called:
Come, Nellie, the boys are waiting
Then stepped forth fair Nell Gwynne,
and as the great men on the shore be-
held her a chorus of Ah'sv assembled
from them.
Hold.' cried Nell. T forbid any quar-
reling here today. Gentlemen, you have
come TO win my smile. The contest
must not be anything but friendly. If
you kill one another with swords you've
got TO do it friendly, or II it's a foot
race or a 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 Ma
varre opened with a catch-as-catch-can
wrestling match, which continued for
about ten minutes with no apparent adj
vantage on either side. Then Cesare,
getting one u I1tufy uHSCIS IN Ills
mouth, bit il off, and was ruled out OF
the match for conduct unbecoming a
sportsman.
The next round was between Alva and
Peter, who were to climb two creased
poles. IT became apparent at once that
the Spaniard was overmatched. Peters
experience as shipbuilder here served
him In good stead and at the end of
| twenty 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 alasI PETERS trump was OF short
duration. AS he struck the ground his
sword again became unmana eeable and
in some way caught his coat. ripping it
up the back and jabbing him so badly
under the left arm that he had TO re-
tire.
Louis and Charles then took off their
coats and squared away. Lou tented and
Charles side-stepped landing lightly on
the neck a moment later. Lou then led
for the jaw. but was neatly stopped
Charles getting back with heavy left
counter on The nose. Lou was putting
but game. and tried to kick Charles on
The shins He fell short, and the bell
rang with both men sparring for wind.
In the second round Charles started to
force the fighting and soon had his man
on queer street. LOUIS wind was bad.
and after receiving a right jab in the
throat he exhibited signs OF grogginess.
Rallying a moment later, however. he
made swing for the jaw. but was cross
countered and went down in a heap when
Charles landed on the left ear.
AS the English king Strengthened up
Nell ran forward. kissed his skinned
knuckles, and, smiling merrily said:
g This day you have won my favor in
fair fight. Come, let's go home and be
happy.
LAS their yacht swung away from the
dock she stood on deck laughing merrily
and thinking that endless JOY was to be
her lot.
All, poor girl. she forgot in the ex-
element that Cromwell had put IN
en- appearance. IS. z. Kiser, in Chicago
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