The Press. (Stafford Springs, Conn.) 1883-1935, 1902-03-06

sure you amt going to mover
Guess again. giggled the old maid.
mot another new dress?''
'sNot that"
sI'll give up," admitted the other;
who enjoyed the deception.
"A weddingv gurgled Miss DENLY.
But, mind now, It's secret yet. I'm
going to invite him up-hee-hee. hee-
hee-e-and want you tc come and
chaperon me-
Mrs. Gallagher was staring open
mouthed.
"Sophronia Denbyv' she gasped.
Married! You going to be marriedv'
To the finest, handsomest, noblest,
richest-he's prince
"Ah, botherr'
z "A Greek nobleman, Count sardana-
palus."
And what business is he in?"
Business! Oh dear, none! He's a
nobleman; owns an island and all that
sort of thing"
figured with enthusiasm. She said she
had met her noble lover quite by acci-
dent while strolling near the beach.
He had found and restored to her a
novel which she had left on a bench.
The casual acquaintance thus begun
had f1ourished by reason Of his Won
drous ardor and the fact that she walk
ed daily in the park. The count had
wooed and won her with the fierce
and swift gallantry of the old world,''
Miss DENLY said: and she had resisted
him as long as her sympathetic heart
could Withstand his eloquence.
Hes in Chicago to float loan for
the Greek government she explained
"As soon as Crete Is annexed the
country count''-a smile and a blush
lis to be absolute ruler of the island.
But he is very anxious to depart. and
the wedding day must be fixed tomor-
row night. Turkish spies are constant
ly at his heels. There is hardly day
that he does not point one out to me.
I have seen them lurking behind the
bushes, and every time we part, l am
In agony of fear lest something should
befall him" =
Mrs. Gallagher was staring now like
big bullfrog watching a red flannel
bait.
''Will you come up tomorrow night
and meet him ?" she hears Miss DENLY
say.
IL WILL" murmured the dumfounded
Mrs. Gallagher, backing toward the
door.
It was midnight when she had fin
ished her rounds of the flats. and at
the hour appointed for the counts ar
rival the population Of the building
was on the front steps.
Sure enough, at o'clock the hand
some foreigner came striding along.
He paused moment in front Of Miss
Denby's entrance, looked up and down
the street and then sprang nimbly up
the stairway.
The futtering old maid, assisted"
by Mrs. Phelim Gallagher, received
him. To the latter he bowed with the
punctilious grace of a cavalier of
France
with your permission, madam" he
said, taking parcel from his pocket,
II have brought mademoiselle a little
gift. 1t is an heirloom in our family.
My ancestors captured it from King
Priam in the Trojan war;"
He handed the package to the blush
ing Miss DENLY and kissed her tiny
hand as she bowed over it.
sIt is one of the gold shoes from. the
Trojan horse" he resumed with rare
less diamond, and''-
I He was interrupted by little scream
from Sophronia, whomhad unwrapped
the parcel and found an saold, rusty
horseshoe, very dirty, twisted and
worn. But the next moment sheshad
tapped his wrist with her fam and
laughed: e.
"What wag you are, count; forever
cracking jokesv
Mrs. Gallagher didn't know what to
say or do. She stood there staring at
Count Sardanapalus as IL in doubt
whether to hit him with the horseshoe
or run away. Indeed she was siding
toward the door when the bell rang.
strange guest shout:
"Bar the door or we are lost!'
But Mrs. Gallagher opened it, A
sandy haired, heavy set man brushed
rudely in, laid a hand on the counts
shoulder and said:
"Come, your grace, the balloon is
ready"
"Ahav said the dramatic Greek.
my country first! Forward, gentle
men! To the balloonv'
With grand bow he stalked out of
the room like monarch going to the
block. Miss DENLY collapsed into q
chair. The sandy courier followed his
master. Mrs. Gallagher followed the
courier:
who is he?" whispered the fat wo-
man to the counts attendant.
Hes bug growled the man;
went nutty on balloons; acts all right
till you mention his balloon. Then he
gees home and gets into swing. He
thinks it's war balloon, and he sails
all over the world in it. Good nightv'
Miss DENLY did move on the LIST Of
Chicago Record Herald