Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1904-06-28
"This Waltz?" she asked.

"No-I could not waltz-I must speak
with you. Come to the conservatory"
He led her to quiet nook shaded
with palms.
"Alma," he said breathlessly. taking
her hands, II love you! You know !
love you. have longed for you this
past year. believing that you hated me,
and now to find you do not I am over.
joyed. The governor wishes to an.
nounce our betrothal. Will you con.
sent7 Ohsmy darling one, let US make
you maEe-this ball the most memo
rable one Tifis ever had. Will you con
sent"
She toyed with her fan.
II like you, prince. I have been kept
in prison for q year. and now, to find
myself with this freedom, I feel like
a bird letsloose. I feel like making uI
for all the long days I have spent
brooding over things could not con
troll. And now the time has come.
cannot resist. I want a good lark
something real scandalous. You dc
wild things sometimes"
perhaps. But is our betrothal at q
governors ball not lark enough"
"Oh, that Is tame! What splendid
uniform you have, prince-Ale1is! May
I not call you Alexis? It is 80 much
shorter than Dellnikoff."
Call me anything-only love me-"
He was oblivious of the fact that he
was at a public function. He placed
his arm around her and pressed hei
to him. She did not resist.
"Oh. this is tame lovemaking. want
to have some great ending to the
right. feel-oh. am half wild.
suppose"
LET the governor announce our be-
trothal. and you shall do anything,
have anything. you WISH"
Anything! am 80 stricken with
your uniform that would like to have
one like 1t. Can l not be on your
staff"
"oh. Alma! That would be ridicu.
lous."
81 know it. That is why the idea at.
tracts me. want to do something
idiculous-something unconventional
while have this lovely hour of free
dom. You are always free. You 10 not
understand"
what do you want to do"
Wear your uniform and inspect the
prison."
"You inspect prisons7 Why. you live
In one"
81 know. live in the main building
but | have never yet looked into q
cell. have heard stories Of all sorts
of cruelty, and yet those who have
been in the dungeons say there is no
cruelty. | want to see for myself"
We'll. l will take you with me when
| Co."
"The colonel would not consent. BE
forbids us to enter the prison portions
of the place. l want to 60 tonight,
and | want to be you-you, Alexis.
want to be the inspector general OF
prisons for an hour"
He looked at her in bewilderment.
Her eyes were brilliant. A flush came
to her cheek and went again, leaving
II white. Her bosom rose and fell,
She let it rest against the breast Of the
prince.
"Such an absurd impossibility to
ask! he said. you would be missed.
mo, would not. Speak to the colo
mel. Tell him you and are going
Observation-Disclosures talk and ar
range matters for the betrothal. BE
will tell the governor. and we can &c
unmolested. have set my heart on
1t, Alexis. You say you love me and
that can do anything. / am willful
and must have my way"
But how can you get my uniformP
"Are you not a guest Of the govern
or? You have other uniforms. Go put
one on. bring this with you and wear
a great cloak that covers you. We will
20 to the prison. and In my own room
l can put OH your uniform. Then you
shall be my staff officer. and we will
20 and inspect the prison"
1T would cost me my sword II II
was discovered. But you cannot be
serious-you. a refined Russian girl. tc
don the uniform of an officer and &c
masquerading in a prison!"
"But can't you see? 1t is the oddly
the capriciousness, the very wildness
and wickedness. that appeal to me
Had you been Gagged year you would
fight duel for the mere exhilaration.'
well, If you must have your way
you must. | will 60 and tell Colone
Jurnieff that we are going to seek
quiet spot 70 talk and that you have
almost given your consent to the an
nouncement Of our betrothal."
"Tell him l have. since you will dt
as | ask" And he kissed her raptur
ously.
God help me through" she muir
INJURED after Alexis had gone. 1T II
my life or his. I am willing to los'
mine for him."
ro DE CONrINIrED