Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-05-09


accustomed to fashionable and high
bred women, noticed, as she advanced
toward him with welcoming hand ex-
tended, that her soft, light hair was
parted in the middle and combed low
over her broad borehead. and that the
thick, glossy knot, confined in an III
visible net. was set low down at the
nape Of her neck.
She held har head high and haught-
lily az the head Of q queen yet her
red, full lips parted in a dazzling smile
and perfect friendliness ahona from
her blue eyes.
II received your note at ten o'clock
this morning" she said In French, IN
the most natural way in the world,
as though. she had seen him only yes-
terday, ''and fortunately, had no I'M
ayoidabla engagement until eleven"
They stood in the center Of a
luxurious salon. flooded with a soft,
rose-colored light from electric bulbs
ingeniously disposed about the cell
ing.
Il was very sorry" he replied, ITO
disappoint myself last evening, and al
ance In waiting for me. But, the fact
is-s
But" she exclaimed, In her own
tongue. YOU are positively speaking
Russian! And SO perfectly. too, can
hardly believe my ears, II is ineredi.
BILE! But don't let's remain standing
here like two posts. Sit down, over
here, and we will have q nice eosy
talk. can give you two full hours"
She crossed the room 10 q low divan
10y
one end Of II. among q mass OF luzur-
ious pillows,
Hardy took his place beside her and
said easily: 80
'The hope Of conversing with you
some time, In your own tongue. Prln-
cess has been a great incentive to
men In my studies Of Russian. With
out that incentive, should scarcely
have made such progress as you are
kind enough to credit me with"
He WAS at home now, more at home
than In the store at Stryetensk, or in
the wholesale houses Of the Moscow
merchants, and these words Of deli
cate flattery came naturally to his
lips. The Princess flashed one quick,
searching look at him. The man was
q gentleman, in the conventional
sense, as well as a hero, and no more
afraid Of princess than Of a Chinese
brigand.
$50 you learned Russian that you
| might talk with me?" she laughed
with slight tinge Of coquetry. How
perfectly charming! But, "<she pouted,
II fear that your desperate struggle
with the terrible Russian tongue ID
but poor compliment to my French.
Did you then find that SO uninteiiigi-
biaf"
Not at all" he replied, except a.
far as my own poor mastery Of 1t rem
dered it So But my desire to con.
verse with you In Russian was quite
natural. ! used often to wish that
could understand you when you were
talking on the Amur steamer. IA
sides, Russian, az spoken BY you
seemed q very beautiful language, and
one well worth acquiring"
| She did not see tit to purse this
"You shall always speak Russian
with me, then. By the way. have you
heard anything further from you,
heroic friend, Smuiderss I hope you
have not lost al trace of him. should
so like to know how his love-affair
with the fair but tantalizins .Chulia
came out"
"Of that am able to inform you
as have recently heard from Smuld
ers. He and 'Chulia' are married and
living in Amsterdam. Smulders IL
In the seventh heaven OF happiness, :
The Princess clapped her Httlt
hands with Joy.
(Continued In Next Issue,