Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1907-02-09
DAILY. STORY
THE SALE o IA TITLE.

give Def MS name ara ner ITeeuOln at
the same time. leaving her at the mo-
ment they are pronounced man and
wife.
One winters day in st. Petersburg |
the beauty and fashion of the capital |
were skating on the Neva. Among the |
throng were two ladies skating togeth- |
err A tall, handsome man of aristocrat |
ic mien was regarding one of them |
with admiring glances as they skated |
by him and asked 4 friend who she |
was.
Il was told just now replied the |
friend. that one of them was Miss |
Mikhailof. the daughter of one of the |
new civil appontees. but am not sure |
which one she is. | think she is the bru |
nette.
Later the man who was interested
noticed the lady he had admired the
brunette skating alone. She tripped
and fell. Darling toward her, he raised
her. She was not hurt, but he was
loath to leave her.
Permit me to Introduce myself" he
said. Il am Count Akadyevitch.''
Count Akadycvitch. the empcror'S
aid-de-camp, needs no Introduction
II have been sufficiently interested in
YOU to inquire your name, Miss Mix
hailOf"
The lady turned her eyes upon the
count, but said nothing.
Count Akadyevitch received pCrmiS
sion to call on the lady that evening
She left the city next day. but not be
fore inviting him to visit her ut her
home in KOStrOma. The invitation was
accepted punctually on the day it was
given for. The count found that his
new acquaintance. with whom he had
fallen desperately in love-a case of
love at first Sigbt-lived n sort Of
queen among her tenants. 1t was
Miss Mikhailof, will you have this?"
or Miss MikhailOf. will you have
| Chat:" every one being punctiIous in
addressing her by name when speak
ing to her.
From the first the count received
| especial encouragement. \ week pass
ed. and when he proposed to return
| his intention was gently opposed. Two
| more weeks he remained. and yet the
| lady did not signify Il wish that he
| should go. Nevertheless the count was
| melancholy. \ secret seemed TO be
| gnawing at his heart. The more he
| became interested in the lady the more
| depressed he became. Finally she ask
| ed him the cause.
81 dare not tell you" he said. ''You
will deSpiSe me-
Indeed replied the lady. Il insist.
| Have | been unwise in trusting you on
SO short an acquaintance"
The count was silent for Il time. dur
ing which it was evident his suffering
were great. At last he said:
Il was forced some years ago to do
Il thing | am greatly ashamed of and
which now stands in the way of Il pos
sible happiness. When | came into my
title and estate the latter was incum-
bered with debt. Twenty thousand
rubles We're necessary to clear it, !
| was about to lose it when | received
through a medium an offer of the
amount for my name by woman
who wished to he noble | consented
| on condition that the marriage should
take place by proxy. The condition
was accepted, and | was married.
am welded, but ! have never met my
wife,
The count bowed his head.
You are no more To blame than the
woman who bought your name
Leaving blame out of the question
am prevented from yielding to the
dictates of my heart | cannot ever
honorahly tell you that l love you"
Notwithstanding the confession OF
the sale. the confession of love evi
IDENTIFY was Il delight to the lady. \
rose color appeared mt her throat anC
spread rapidly over her face. Present
, ~ she spoke again:
} 81, too, have ii confession to make
am not Miss Mikhailof."
You not Miss Mikhalof?"
NO You were mistaken in my namt
when you first met me- and permitte'
you to remain mistaken. Miss Mix
hailof was friend who skated witt
me- Before your arrival here ! CAV
instructions that every one should ad
dress me when you were present a
Miss Mikhailof.'
And your real name is"
II have more to confess. When
came into these estates every one toll
me that I should marry a noble. Afte
waiting long while to meet one tina
l could love- having failed, l resolve
to buy title in the same manner a
you sold yours"
"You-you bought a title by MAJ
riage?"
|, Il did. / heard of a man who neeC
2 ed money. | gave it for his name
= Strange to say. | was married. as 20
were. by proxy"
3 The barriers that keep us apart m
Z double" moaned the count.
3 what is marriage? 4 ceremon.
Z Did not you and did not | go throug
3 this ceremony for Il consideration
Why should such a ceremony be nece
q sary to our uniOn?'
x The count was silent for momeI
~ ~ c..IN