The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1904-07-27


swarms from the orient. Bands bIared
their military music. Gowns that came
from Paris swept the ballroom floor as
the stately danes who wore them
walked with Persians and Turks Of
high degree. Laughter. conversation.
intrOductions and presentations made
a perfectly harmonious bedlam.
But there was one at the ball who
listened to the words of welcome he
received. while his eyes noted the ap-
pearance Of one he sought.
"Will she never Gomez he asked
himself. "Or does she hate me so that
she will brave her uncles wrath rather
than meet me?"
Colonel Jurnieff and Mile. Alma"
he heard some one say. He turned to
look. He stood spellbound. He had not
imagined, although he knew her well.
that such being could exist as enter
ed the door at that moment. BY the
side of the grim faced colonel walked
a vision from some other hand, it seem
ed. Never had anything like it been
seen at a governors ball in Tiflis AL
mas costume was a combination Of
Paris and the Caucasus-the daintiest
lace and the costliest silks. Pearls
adorned her snowy neck. Her little
feet were clad in dainty shoes of white
doesllin. Her white arms were round
and full, her shoulders perfect. The
white fan she carried seemed to watt
mystic thrall upon all she passed.
Her voice was silvery in its music. She
was the gayest of them all.
"Can it be that that lovely creature
has at last consented to be my wifeT
said the prince to himself.
prince Dellnikoff, you know my
niece, Alma JurnieffT
The prince bowed low. Alma extend
ed her hand graciously.
II know the prince very WELL" she
said, "but since 1 have been enjoying
my visit at Tifis he has been quite
stranger"
81 did not-I did not know
81 congratulate you, prince, upon
your appointment. My father wrote
about it,"
what woman is this?" asked the
colonel as he moved away, leaving her
with Dellnikoff. "She is a riddle. |
cannot solve her. But she loves him.
/ can see love in her very eyes,
She placed her hand on the princes
arm, and they joined the throng. Turk
ish pashas saw her and blinked their
eyes as they thought of their own fad
ed beauties in their harems; Persian
r,rff, gnrrrrtf fp tfpfs 4 fhfnnga
mandarins almost forgot their names
when she spoke to them. She had
come to conquer, and she conquered.
She was the queen of the ball, and
Dellnikoff was the enyied of princes.
''Nllle. Alma will lead the grand march
with the guest of honor" said the gov
ernor.
The band struck up "The Carl" and
princes and generals fell in behind her.
Dellnikoffs heart beat with pride as
he felt the warm and living hand of
the girl upon his arm. The warm per-
fume that came from her fan intOxi-
Gated him. He, the suave, the blase,
the gay one from ST. Petersburg, was
like boy at his first party. In the
dance that followed, as he felt his arm
around her waist, a thrill of pleasure
drove the blood quicker through his
heart. After the dance he led her to
the conservatory.
you have changed" he said ds his
eyes devOured her. GAS you grow
more beautiful you grow more gra-
cious. A year ago you spurned me-
almost"
almost" she answered. with a CO.
quettlsh laugh that sent the blood to
his head. Are you so weak that al
most drives you from a woman's side?"
But your father" he stammered.
"He said yOu-were in-love with an
American. He sent you here, so he
told me, to keep you from that fellow"
Alma put her fan before her face
and laughed "a singularly rollicking
laugh.
Sent me away to keep me from a
man l have seen but a few times, q
man engaged in selling American wind
mills and pumpsl Oh prince, do you
think that Tifiis, with all its strength,
could keep me from the man l loved
If l knew where he was to be fOund?
He bent over her. His hot breath
on her cheek brought a blush to it.
She looked up into his face with fas-
cinating smile.
us it possible, tell me-you know
how l have loved you-is it possible
that you-have not thought i'll of me?"
A roguish look came into her eyes,
and she covered them quickly with her
fan. He tore away the fan.
Tell meP' he said.
Hush! Some one is coming. Let us
return to the ballroom. Another time
we can-talk."
He conducted her back to the ball
room. With reluctance he relinquished
her to the governor.
What a wonderful successr' she
said as they swept past the prince.
who was devouring her again with his
eyes.
II tk.2pk you" said the governor. at
was w. who made it the success it is"
"Notf, but the genius of the govern
or OF Jifiis." she answered, with a
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