The Lafayette advertiser. [volume] (Vermilionville [i.e. Lafayette], La.) 1865-19??, 1908-06-16

OlSSlpatlOn, ana the. very nrSt minute
1 really need him he refuses to
come"
"Oh, no, your excellency,' pleaded
Nish; scarcely as bad as all that, if
I may say so-not refused exactly.
He will come. At least be promised
to-"
"Ah, that lifts a load from my brain
II 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, "he agrees to
be here as soon as he has finished the
magnum OF champagne that was in the
Ice pail beside him when 1 left"
How much Of 1t 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 II necessary. Sober him at any
cost"
II fancy 1t will be cheaper thar fll-
ing him up. Ill do my best. your ex-
cellency."
But the ambassador at a whispered
word from a 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. a rustic. a whisper that resolved
itself at last into the excited phrases:
"The widow has arrived!' Twenty
millions and unincumbered!"' widow
of Sadowa. the animated money bag"|
"a Monte .Cristo fortune for some
lucky mani" "Her name IS Sonia S.-|
dowa: twenty millions-red hair. too.
but a beauty" Twenty millionsr|
1.-THE Merry Widow"
Down the stairway from the dress
ing rooms and into the salon swept .
wOman-young, beautiful, vivacious. Al
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 Of g~allants, all wing for
a word, a look, from the beauty land
f%Ortune) Of the Paris season.
Two men-the Marquis of Cascade
and the Count de st. Brioch>were|
lucky enough to claim for a 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 a man makes love to
another's wife. he is promptly shot.
When a wife fiirts, her husband beats
her black and blue-a good plan. Why
not try 1t in PARISH"
Delightful" exclaimed Cascade. "Do,
you know, madame, we have been
counting the moments until you ap-
pearedY
II can well believe it." assented So
mia. ut must have been Just like
counting money"
"Oh. madame" protested the group,
Mortified.
Don't I know?" retorted Sonia, q
little bitterly. Its always like that.
People count me like 30 much money.
II 1t is coarse for me to say SO, re-
member I'm a farmers daughter and
that in my country people call a spade
a spade"
PopoR and Natalie came hurriedly in
to pay their respects to the guest upon
whom Marsoyia's hopes 10 depended.
At a sign from the ambassador the 9th
ers drew back.
$50 you were shocking some Of our
Paris gallants?" beamed the ambassa-
dor. "What a child Of nature you
are!!"
You mean," countered Sonia, that I
am a peasant dressed up. How l wish
sometimes that I we're a real peasant
again.
"Ah" chuckled Popof. 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 l want you to meet tonight
sore OF our Marsovian nobility-fo-
instance, Prince Danilo, a charming
young fellow. He'll be here presently.
DanilO is"-
But the mischief had died out Of
Sonia's eyes. Her face was paler than
was its wont, and there was a stern
look as of pain about the daintily
chseled mouth.
g" have already met Prince Danilo,"
she said CURLY.
Really" 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 am not interested in hearing about
him., broke in Sonia in a curiously
level. emotionless voice. 1T was long
ago that we met. He will have forgot
ten me eve as-as I have forgotten
him. Let us talk Of something else,
please"
Even Poron could see something was
seriously amiss.