The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1908-09-15

sense Of everyday surroundings.
"Were you looking for me"' he asked,
none too civil ).
"Only TO see if you had succeeded
vet in finding who the lady is with
whom De Jolidon is in love. She must
he made 10 win him away from any
ideas of marrying the widow"
"To blazes with that and all the rest
Of your silly plans" shouted Danilo.
Don't worry any more about the
widow. It's no use. tell You. She is
going TO marry Il Frenchman in spite
of us all! And" lie went on bitterly.
Soaded by the chagrin and abject dis
appointment in Popoff's face, I'm go
ing to dance at her wedding"
Going to marry a Frenchman, is
she:" yelled the distracted ambassa.
dor "Preposterous! I'll find way
of stopping it. And it is DE Jolidon
she thinks Of marrying"
whats that to me? don't know
who she's engaged to. and
But Popof waited to hear no more.
Catching sight of Nish. he rushed upon
that unhappy clerk.
Find NJ. de Joiidonr' lie command
cd. keep your eye on him al the rest
Of the evening. See if he makes love
to the widow and report to me.
have already told Nine. Popoff to
sound him on the subject. Among US
all we ought to learn something before
we're DONE
you'll learn something if you keep
on spying" muttered Danilo under bis
breath as he moved away. But I'll
bet years income it'll be something
that will give you more surprise than
pleasure
Dusk was falling. Above the nlyriac
colorcd lights that dotted Ike garden
the moon was rising. .AlcnS one OF
the hedGcd paths leading TO the S'lm-
ner house man and Il woman were
stroliag-Mme Natalie POpoH and NJ.
de JOlidon.
And so your worthy husband set
you the task OF finding out whom !
am in love WITH" De Jolidon was
saying.
Yes" the ambassadors young wife
answered He is afraid you vii!
marry tie widow"
why shonldn't l." qEcricd Dc .Ioli.
don jokiEgiy ''icu told me to.
"But-hut You won't. viii YOU" she
pleaded. WHY don't you luok at me:
What arc you looking att
De .ioiiGon'S eye had faiicn, Oh the
fam where II lay forgotten on Ii" tabI"
THE fan you lost and that your
husband pocketcd," hc said. handing
it to her.
THANK gootincssr" Natalie rxc!aim'
ed, seizinS il; then:
Lend me Il pencil.
She wrote Il sentence on the fan Ill
rectly beneath the three words he lEid
scribblcd the night before ut the ball.
There" she sighed. handing II 10
him: keep that aS Il reminder.
He held the fIn up to the light and
read:
"I-am-a- a--dutiful-- wife.
Remember that always, she ad
jured.
"Natal!c!' he cried pasSionatcly.
lit n true-l am Il dutiful wife. II
have hcen foolish enough to listen TO
your lovcmaking. at least have never
encoura gcu it. have always rebuffed
YOU for conscicnce's sake. | am duti-
fuP'-
"Why remind me Of the hopelessness
of my love:' nurlnurcd DE Jolidon.
You may refuse to rcciprocate it, but
you cannot prevent my telling you"-
But | can. After this evening we
must not meet again. My husband
trusts me. This must be our farewell
interview. Don't try to alter my pur-
pose. l have made up my mind. Aft
er this evening | shall never
Natalie, you can't mean
Il do. This is the last talk we two
shall ever have together"
"rhcn," implored De Jolidon, III it is
really TO be our farewell Interview,
why must We talk here in the garden,
! where nj any moment others may come
| TO claim your attention? Grant me a
final half hour Of your society all TO
| myself. Let the talk be uninterrupted.
Let us sit in the little summer house
over there Sect is empty
They entered the little inclosed ar
hor. II was lighted by q string OF
Japancsc lanterns, and two rustic
chairs were ut opposite sides Of its
round center table There was door
at cacl, end of the tiny room-an ideal
spot for tctc-a-rete chat now that the
moonlight had wooed most Of the
guests ont Of doors.
The light wicker door swung shut be-
hind the couple. Natalie quite Ell
loved the prospect Of listening to hel
adorcr's melodramatic words Of fare
wei, and Of posing herocially as sell
| sacrificing, dutiful wife. In half n
hour N most she would rejoin her huS
band with the righteous consciousness
In her heart of having dismissed for
ever the one man besides popoff who
had ever made love to her.
SO interested was Natalie in De Joli
dou's parting spcccli that she did moi
hc,r the ambassador, just outside, de
clare cNcitcd!y:
"Nish. I'm sure ! saw that summe:
house ,locr clos" behind 4 ludys skirt
Let's see who Is in there"
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