Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1908-07-11

Il fancy it VIII be cheaper than fill
Ing him up I'll do my best. your ex-
cellency."
But the ambassador at a whispered
word from 2 servant had already pot
tered out OF the room as fast as his
somewhat shaky old legs would carry
him, and the voluble Nish ran along
in his wake.
A commotion swept through the
scattered groups in the foyer-a muir
muir. rustic. a whisper that resolved
itself at last into the excited phrases:
THE widow has arrivedr' Twenty
millions and unincumberedr' widow
OF Sadowa. the animated money bagi"
a Monte Cristo fortune FOR some
lucky manrT Her name is Sonia Sa-
dowa. twenty milliOns-red hair too.
but a beauty Twenty millionsl"
The Merry Widow
Down the stairway from the dress
ing rooms and into the salon swept a
woman-young. beautiful. vivacious. A
light OF mischief danced in her great
dark eyes.
Her masses OF auburn hair shone
like an aureole above her rather
pale delicate face. About her lowered
q half score or EaIlants. all wing for
a word a look. from the beauty land
fortune) Of the Paris season.
Two men-the Marquis OF Cascade
and the Count de St Brioche-wero
lucky enough 20 claim for a moment
or two her attention.
NO. nor' Sonia was saying in pro
test AT home. IN AIarsovia. men don't
make such pretty speeches. Courtship
there il very primitive and marriage
IS for life when a man makes love 10
another's wife. ne IS promptly shot
When wife firts. her husband beats
her black and blue-a good plan. why
not try IL in Parish
DELIGHTFUL exclaimed Cascade. "Do
you know. madame. we have been
counting the moments until you APP
pearedY'
Il can well believe It," assented So
MIA. 1T must have been just like
counting money"
"Oh, madamer' protested the group.
Mortified.
Don't I know" retorted Sonia. a
little bitterly. Its always like that
People count me like so much money.
II IL IS coarse FOR me 20 say so. re-
member I'm a farmers daughter and
that in my country people call a spade
a spade"
Popon and Natalie came hurriedly IA
70 pay their respects 90 the guest upon
whom Marsovia's hopes so depended.
AT a sign from the am bassador tho 9th
ers drew back.
$50 you were shocking some or our
Paris gallantsT' beamed the ambassa-
dor. What 2 child OF nature you
arew
You mean countered Sonia. that
am peasant dressed up. How I wish
sometimes that 1 were a real peasant
Rgainr'
"Ah"' chuckled Popon. "Chnd or ma
ture. true child OF nature, always
remembering the dear old days on the
farm-the bleating OF the pigs, the new
laid milk. the tomatoes freshly dug
up and all the simple joys OF the coun-
try, But ] want you 10 meet tonight
some Of our Marsovian nobnity-for
instance. Prince Daniio. a charming
young fellow. Hen be here presently.
DanilO is
But the mischief had died out OF
SOnia's eyes. Her face was paler than
was its won't and there was stern
look as or pain about the daintily
cblseled mouth.
Il have already met Prince Danilo,"
she said CURLY.
"ReallyT' cried POpoff. Then. not
ing her change OF expression, he added
with apprehension:
Il hope It was not on one OF his wet
days-a charming. lovable youngster
In spite OF his
Il ana not interested in hearing about
him." broke in Sonia In a curiously
level. emotionless voice. at was long
ago that we met. He VIII have forgot
ten me even as-as have forgotten
him. Let us talk or something else.
please"
Even Popoff could see something was
seriously amiss.