Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1904-07-21
CHAPTER TX.
A CApRICIOty WOMAN.

ed Prince Dellnikoff and Alma swing
past.
81 don't know. This night Is revela-
ton to me. All this year have been
obeying 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 l 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 az veritable coquette or else
she Is desperately in love with Dellni.
koff. How do you read herr
"To me she seems like bird let
loose from n dlsaEreeable cage" re-
piled the governor. Certain 1t Is that
she is the most fascinating young wo-
man this ballroom has ever seen. Dell
nikoff ia to he envicd."
"Rut the change is SO sudden! How
do you account for itY'
"Perhaps there is really no change.
Young women of the advanced type in
Russia are not what our mothers were.
Then women were even, deliberate.
and always the same. But now. Paris
has come to st. Petersburg thinll
your niece has touch OF the Partisan
spirit tonight. 1t Is possible that the
girl never had any real opposition to
DelnikoT. lie 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. ut would
be big feather in my hat If they
should become betrothed while Dell
nikoff is here"
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 a general
True. Now let us cOnspire In low.
ing attempt to make these two young
people happy. You were young once.
Jurnieff the same with me. With the
young, deliberntion chills enthusiasm.
Strike while the iron is hot, Bring
them out t.night!"
"Tonighty What does your excel
lency meant
"Can you not see that the girl is
warming toward the prince? AS for
| Delnkot. he is intoxicated with her
beauty. Why not make their betrothal
| the toast Of the SUPPER
"lf that could be done, my promotion
would be assured. such an event would
cap the matter"
Then do it, Strike willie the iron is
| hot"
Jurnien spent many minutes think
! ing. If he could bring about the public
| ANNOUNCEMENT Of the hetrothal Of his
niece and Dellnikoif at the governor :
supper, the girl would not dare refuse
| to redeem the pledge. He saw Alma
! standing alone for Il moment and went
| to her.
MY dear niece" he said in his bland
est manner. you are charming tonight.
How have you changed 50 suddenly"
ooh, one cannot bc very charming
shut up in stupid prison. It is happi-
ness that gives one the power to
| charm
You have captivated everybody,
from the governor down. thought
you hated the prince"
did l ever tell you 500"
mo; but your father wrote me to
that effect"
"And Sc you kept me under surveil
lance"
Il i 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 me
and believe it was done with an eye
single to your welfare"
"You have been very kind l pre-
sumo 1t was the manner Of my behav-
Tor that made you think ! was unhap-
Ply; but. to tell the truth, was an
cry"
ANGRY. At something l did,"
you and my father. | got so weary
of the stupid story that | was in love
with that American that l continued
To act as If ! 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 pet scheme
for the supper tonight. lie has watch
ed you and Dellnlkofr. He says you
are the handsomest couple in all Rus
STA"
"Well, we are" said Alma, with q
toss Of her head.
by heaven, III wager you thou
sand rubles you are in love with Dell
nikoff"
II will not bet on so trivial a mat
ter"
Trivial. Then here is another. II
wager you 1000 rubles you dare no,
let the governor announce your be
trothal TO the prince at the supper"
"My betrothal! DO you want Inc t.
throw myself at man? He has not
asked me to be his wife"
"He has asked your father, and 1t 1.
your fathers dearest wish"
But l am not commodity. ! an
, not hay or silk. | am woman. and Z
woman likes to be something besides
, the salable goods in a bazaar"
III