, 1904-06-29
[coNTINUED.1

III tOlfShts ~ " Oth'R N
girl never had any real opposition tC
Dellnikoff. He is rich, handsome and
no worse morally than any of oui
young princes. Almost any young CIR
would jump at the chance to marry
him. | think the girl has been mis-.
understood"
Perhaps" said Jurnieff. ut would
be a big feather in my hat if they
should become betrothed while Dell
nikoff is here"
1.-The general is a 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 n low
ing attempt to make these W young
people happy. You were young once.
Jurnieff; the same with me. With the
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 is
warming toward the prince? As for
Dellnikoff, he is intoxicated with her
beauty. Why not make their ~betrothal
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 is
hoti'
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 a moment and went
TO her.
my dear niece" he said in his bland
est manner, 'you are charming tonight.
How have you changed so suddenly
ooh, one cannot be very charming
shut up in a stupid prison. 1t is happi-
ness that gives one the power to
charm"
You have captfyated everybody,
from the governor down. l thought
you hated the prince"
"Did l ever tell you so?'
mo; but your father wrote me to
that effect"
"And so you kept me under surveil-
lance"
81 not exactly that, Alma, but l
perhaps misunderstood you and your
fathers directions. If l have done
anything to make you unhappy during
your visit. | trust you will pardon me
and believe 1t was done with an ey,
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-
Ply; but, to tell the truth, l was un-
cry"
ANGRY. At something did,"
you and my father. l got so weary
of the stupid story that l was in love
with that American that | continued
to act as II | 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 Dellnikotf. He says you
are the handsomest couple in all Rus
STA"
well. we are" said Alma, with a
toss of her head.
by heaven, I'll wager you a thou.
SAND rubles you are in love with Dell
nikoff."
81 will not bet on so trivial a mat
ter
Trivial Then here is another. I'll
wager you 1000 rubles you dare not
let the governor announce your be-
trothal to the prince at the supper"
"My betrothal! Dc you want me to
throw myself at a man? He has not
asked me to be his WIFE"
Gle has asked your father, and 1t Is
your fathers dearest wish"
But | am not d commodity. l an
not hay or silk. / am a woman, and q
woman likes to be something besides
the salable goods in a bazaar"
"Well, think it over. The supper will
not be for an hour
AS he turned to leave her he slgnalet
to Dellnikoff that he wanted to speal
privately with him. After a dance
Dellnikoff Joined Jurnieff In the smok
ing room.
MY dear prince" said Jurnin1, with
ofusiyeness. 81 am pleased to congrat.