Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1904-06-28

young. delIberation 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 II
warming toward the prince? AS fol
Dellnikoff, he is intoxicated with hel
beauty. Why not make their betrotha
the toast of the supper?"
"If that could be done, my promotion
would be assured. Such an event would
cap the matter"
"Then do it! Strike while the iron ID
hot!'
Jurnieff spent many minutes think
ing. If he could bring about the public
announcement of the betrothal Of his
niece and Dellnikoff at the governors
supper, the girl would not dare refuse
to redeem the pledge. He saw Alma
standing alone for moment and went
to her.
"My dear niece" he said in his bland.
est manner, "you are charming tonight.
How have you changed so suddenlyT
"Oh, one cannot be very charming
shut up in a stupid prison. 1t is happi.
ness that gives one the power to
charm"
"You have captivated everybody,
from the governor down. I thought
you hated the prince"
"Did ever tell you so%
"No; but your father wrote me to
that effect"
"And so you kept me under surveil'
lance"
T-not exactly that, Alma, but
perhaps misunderstood you and your
fathers directions. If I have done
anything to make you unhappy during
your visit. trust you will pardon me
and believe it was done with an eye
single to your welfare"
"You have been very kind. l pre-
sumo it was the manner Of my behav-
ior that made you think was unhap-
py; but. to tell the truth. was an
cry"
"Angry. At something did"
"You and my father. I got so weary
Of the stupid story that WAS in love
with that American that l continued
to act as if l were. There comes the
prince. Is he not noble in that splen-
did uniform? Had my father not been
SO cruel-well, there is no use rehears-
Ing that"
"But there Is. The governor Is infat-
uated with you. He has a pet scheme
for the supper tonight. He has watch
ed you and Dellnikof. He says you
are the handsomest couple in all Rus
sia."
"Well, we are" said Alma. with
toss Of her head.
"By heaven, III wager you thou.
sand rubles you are in love with DELL
nikoff."
81 will not bet on so trivial mat
ter"
Trivial! Then here is another. I'll
wager you 1000 rubles you dare not
let the governor announce your be-
rrothal to the prince at the supper"
"My betrothal! Do you want me to
throw myself at a man? He has not
asked me to be his wife"
"He has asked your father, and 1t In
your fathers dearest WISH"
But am not a commodity. I am
not hay or silk. 1 am woman, and a
woman likes to be something besides
the salable goods in bazaar"
"Well, think it over. The supper will
not be for an hour
AS he turned to leave her he signaled
to Dellnikoff that he wanted to speak
privately with him. After a dance
Dellnikoff Joined Jurnieff in the smok-
ing room.
my dear prince" said Jurnleff. with
effusiveness. II am pleased to congrat-
ulate you. After your promotion to
win happiness also! Have YOU gained
your ambiticn?"
"You are giving me riddles. What
do you mean?"
II was under the impression that you
were In love with my niece"
81 adore her. Who could do other
wise?"
"The governor is much interested In
your little affair, as am myself. To
tell you the truth, my niece is very ca
PRECIOUS. Tomorrow she may be un-
willing to have anything to do with
You. Tonight she seems to share your