Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-06-28

did uniform2 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
Tor the supper tonight. He has watch
eu you and Delnikoff He says you
are the handsomest couple Ia all Rus
sia."
We'll, we are" said Alma, with a
toss of her head.
BY heaven, I'll wager you q thou.
sand rubles you arc in love with Dell
nikoff."
Il 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-
trothal to the prince at the supper"
MY betrothal! Do you want me to
throw myself at man? He Las not
asked me to be his wife"
He has asked your father, and it is
your fathers dearest wish"
But l am not commodity. l am
not hay or silk. l am woman, and a
woman likes to be something besides
the salable goods in bazaar"
Wen, think it over. The supper will
not be for an hour
AS be turned to leave her he signaled
to Deilnikoff that he wanted to speak
privately with him. After dance
Dellnikof joined Jurnieff in the smok-
ing room.
My dear prince" said Jurnicff. with
cfusiyeness, II am pleased to congrat-
ulatc YOU. After your promotion to
win happiness also! Have you gained
your ambition?"
You are giving me riddles. What
do you mean?'
Il was under the impression that you
were i'll love with my niece"
Il adore her. Who could do other
pwise?"
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
infatuatipn. The governor, as you
know, likes little sensation Of pleas
ing kind. He would like the pleasure
and privilege Of announcing your be-
trothal at the supper"
with all my heart He may an
nounce it thousand times. The ques-
ton rests with the little lady"
Go ask her. l wager hundred ru-
bles you will not find her unwilling"
Jurnieff turned on his heel and walk
ed away, and Dellnikoff, with q fast
beating heart and feverish pulse, sought
Alma.
This waltz| she asked.
"No-I could not Waltz must speak
with you. Come to the conservatory"
He led her to a quiet nook shaded
with palms.
Alma" he said breathlessly, taking
her hands, 81 love you! You know |
love you. I have longed for you this
past year, believing that you hated me,
and now to find you do not I am over
joyed. The governor wishes to an
nouuce our betrothal Will YOU con-
sent! On, my darling one, let us make
you make-this ball the most memo
rable one Tiflis ever had. Will you con-
sent?"
She toyed with her fan.
y like you, prince. have been kept
in prison for year, and now, to find
myself with this freedom, feel like
bird let loose. feel like making I'D
for all the long days I have spent
brooding over things could not con-
troll. And now the time has come. I
cannot resist. I want a good lark
something real scandalous. You do
wild things sometimes"
Perhaps. But is our betrothal at
governors ball not lark enough?"
ooh, that is tame! What splendid
Uniform you have, prince-Alexis! May.
/ not call you Alexis? 1t is so much
shorter than Dellnikoff."
Call me anything-only love me-"
He was oblivious of the fact that he
was at public function. He placed
his arm around her and pressed her
to him. She did not resist.
vi. iHlS JS tGulH lONeL ] want
TO have some great ending to the
night. I feel-oh, I am half wild,
suppose"
Let the governor announce our be-
trothal, and you shall do anything,
have anything, you wish"
Anything! 1 an so stricken with
your uniform that would like to have
one like it. Can I not be on your
staff?"
"oh, Alma! That would be ridicu-
lous''
Il know it. That is why the idea at
tracts me. l want to do something
Notwithstanding unconventional
while have this lovely hour of free
dom. You are always free. You do not
understand
What do you want to do?"
Wear your uniform and inspect the
prison.
Ito be contlnued)
tIomesee!.ers' Rates.
On the first and third Tuesdays of
NJ, 4. y