The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1908-09-30


come"
"Oh, no, your excelency,' pleaded
Nish; scarcely as bad as all that, II
may say so-not refused exactly.
He will come. At least lie promised
to-"
"Ah, that lifts load from my brain
If he promised he'll come! Diplomat
ically speaking, Prince Danilo's word
is as good as his bond"
"Diplomatically speaking, your excel
lency," affirmed Nish, "hc agrees to
be here as soon rs he has finished the
magnum OF champagne that was in the
ice pail beside him when l left"
"How much Of it was gomez"
"The cork was not yet drawn, but
"Be on the lookout for him, Mr..
Nish. When he comes put ice on his
head If necessary. Sober him at any
cost"
II fancy 1t will he cheaper than fill
Ing him up. I'll do my best, your cx
cellency."
But the ambassador at n whispered
word from n servant had already pot
tered out of the room as fast rs 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
mur, rustic, whisper that resolved
itself at last into the excited phrases:
1.-The widow has arrlvedw Twenty
J millions and unincumberedw widow
Of Sadowa, the animated money bag"
lucky man, "Her name is Sonia Sa-
dowa; twenty millions-red hair, too
but beauty" Twenty millionsw
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 hovered
n half score of gallants, all vying for
a word, look, from the beauty (and
| fortune) of the Paris season.
| Two men-the Marquis of Cascade
and the Count de st. Brioche We're
lucky enough to claim for moment
| or two her attention.
"No, no!' Sonia was saying in pro.
test. "At home, in Marsovia, men don't
make such pretty speeches. Courtship
there Is very primitive and marriage
IS for life. When man makes love to
another's wife. he is promptly shot.
When wife flirts, her husband beats
her black and blue-a good plan. Why
not try 1t In Paris?"
"Delightfulr exclaimed Cascade. ado
YOU know, madame, we have been
counting the moments until YOU ap.
pcaredY"
Il can we'll believe It," assented SO.
MIA. "It must have been just like
counting money"
"Oh, madamew protested the group,
Mortified.
"Don't I know?" retortcd Sonia, u
little bitterly. ITS always like that.
People count me like so much money.
If 1t Is coarse for me to say so, re-
member I'm farmers daughter and
that In my country people call n spade
u spade"
Popon and Natalie came hurredly in
to pay their respects to the guest upon
| whom Marsovia's hopes so depended.
| At n sign from the ambassador the 9th
ers drew back.
80 you were shocking some of our
Paris gallantSW beamed the ambassa-
dor. what child OF nature you
are!"
"You mean," countered Sonia, chat |
am peasant dressed up How I wish
sometimes that l were real peasant
againw
"Ah" chuckled Popoff. Child of 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 I want you to meet tonight
some OF our MarsoTian nobility for
instance, Prince Danilo, charming
young fellow. He'll be here presently.
Danllo is"-
But the mischief had died out of
Sonia's eyes. Her face was palcr than
was its wont, and there was stern
look as Of pain about the daintiy
CAseled mouth.
IL have already met Prince Danilo,"
she said curtly.
"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"-
II am not interested in hearing about
him." broke in Sonia in a curiously
level, emotionless voice. at was long
ago that we met He Will have forgot
ten me even as-ns | have forgotten