Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-06-28
CHAPTER TX.
A cApR1c1ous WOMAN.

A cAPRIcIoUs WOMAN.
'1mY S it too early to offer con.
Xxi i CALCULATIONS, colonel?" ask.
kddNSe1 ed the governor Of Tiflis OF
Gs2sS ColonelJurnieff as he watch
ed Prince Dellnikoff and Alma swing
past
Il don't know. This night is a revela-
ton to me. All this year 1 have been
obeyirg the commands of the general,
my brother, to keep the girl under
some restraint and careful watch.
My orderly Is In love with her maid,
and through him learn everything.
She. has made no attempt to escape
nor to send or receive letters. The gen
eral wrote that she was desperately in
love with an Objectionable man and
that he sent her to me till she consent
ed to wed the prince. Now she bios
SONS out as veritable coquette OF else
she is desperately in love with Dellni-
koff. How do you read her?'
TO me she seems like a. bird let
loose from disagreeable cage" re-
piled the governor. Certain it is that
she is the most fascinating young wo-
man this ballroom has ever seen. Dell
nikoff is to be envied."
But the change is so sudden! How
do you account for it?'
Perhaps there is really no change.
Young women Of the advanced type in
Russia are not what our mothers were.
Then women We're even, deliberate,
and always the same. But now! Paris
has come to st. Petersburg. I think
your niece has touch of the Partisan
spirit tonight. 1t is possible that the
girl never had any real opposition TO
Dellnikoff. He is rich, handsome and
no worse morally than any of our
young princes. Almost any young girl
would jump at the chance to marry
him. ] think the girl has been mis-.
understood"
Perhaps" said Jurnieff. "It would
be big feather in my hat if they
should become betrothed while Dell,
nikoff is here"
1.-THE general is mighty power in
st. Petersburg. Should you succeed
where he failed, he would no doubt re.
ward you by promotion"
"a garrisoned capital would be the
least he could give me, with the chev.
rons of general"
True. Now let us conspire in a Low.
ing attempt to make these two young
people happy. You were young once,
Jurnieff; the same with me. With the
young, elaboration chills enthusiasm,
Strike while the iron is hot! Bring
them out tonight!'
Tonight? What does your excel
lency mean?"
Can you not see that the girl is
warming toward the prince? AS for
Dellnikoff, he is intoxicated with her
beauty. Why not make their betrothal
the toast of the superb
''If that could be done, my promotion
would be assured. Such an event would
cap the matter"
"Then do it! Strike while the iron is
hot!''
Jurnieff spent many minutes think
ing. If he could bring about the public
announcement of the bctrothal of his
niece and Dellnikoff ct the governors
supper, the girl would rot dare refuse
to redeem the pledge. lie saw Alma
standing alone for moment and went
to her.
my dear niece" he said III his bland
est manner, you are charming tonight
How hive you changed So suddenlyw
ooh, one cannot DC very charming
shut up in Il Stupid prison. 1t is happi-
ness that gives one the power 10
charm"
You have captivated everybody,
fro1a Inc soTsr::cr down. I thought
you hated TIE I::i;.c...'
did ever tell you sop
go; but yous tatbcr wrote me to
that effect"
"And so You KEPT me under suTveil.
lance"
IT not exactly that. Alma. but I
perhaps misunderstood you and your
fathers directions. if / have done
anything to make you unhappy during
your visit, ! Trust you will pardon rae
and believe It was done with an eye
single to your welfare"
"fou have been very kind. l pre-
sumo it was the manner of my hehav-
Tor that made you think was unhao-
py; bet, TO tell the truth. I was an
gry.'
"Aagry! AT something did?'
you and my father. got SO weary
OF the stcsid story that I was in love