The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1908-07-31

Then, recovering himself, he bowed
stifHy and said:
Il beg your pardon, madame"
"No; l beg yours" she replied.
] Pray go on snoring"
you don't remember me?" he asked,
! surprised
Not in the very least" she an
| swered, moving away.
/ "Yet you called my name"
/ "You were asleep then. That was
different"
"And now l am awake-to the joy Of
seeing you again"
THE joy is all your own. Is 1t so
/ surprising to find me in Paris? l am
here enjoying my wealth-and free
DOM"
81 congratulate you on both. especial
J ~ the freedom"
Eyes, freedom is one Of your fads,
! believe" remarked Sonia, especially
! freedom from marriage. Do you still
! make a habit OF avoiding marriage
! at the last momentf'
| sonia, you are unjust, II It had
rested with me you should be my wife
! now, not another mans widow"
, "If it rested with you? she MINI
! licked. We'll, let the whole story rest
now. It's forgotten"
"By you, perhaps-never by me-"
| "Oh. no! | remember 1t every now
! and then for my own amusement. But
it is hard to think Of myself as the
! little MarsOYian peasant maid to whom
the dashing cavalry officer, Prince
DanilO. was once engaged and whom
his rich old uncle at the last moment
forbade to marry because of her pow
erty. How differently that same rich
old uncle would look on the match to-
day Twenty millions is a pretty
dowry."
"At least 1t seems you didn't break
your heart over losing me-" sneered
! Danilo.
mo; my plebeian heart stood the
shock excellently. l soon found con-
! sOlatiOn--an elderly husband who lived
just one week after the wedding and
left me all his wealth"
Yes; | heard how your father forced
you into the match. Next time you
can choose a husband to suit your
self"
why should marry again? | am
rich. free. have everything"
Including love?" he asked. his eyes
devouring her fragile beauty.
81 don't believe in love-" scoffed
Sonia. "All men are alike. Dozens Of
them are after my money and make
love to me because they can't get it
without me-"
MEN are not all fortune hunters"
be denied hotly. Il for one
$50 they all say. Each says I love
you" Each means my fortune"
''They do?' cried Danilo, in rage at
the strong inslnuation. "Well, here's
one that doesn't l for one shall never
say TO you, 4 love your"
A strange smile stole ACROSS her face.
She came very close TO where he stood /;
so close that the faint perfume Of her
hair was sweet In his nostrils; so close
that her breath was warm upon his
lips: so close that his bewildered soul
struggled in vain to hide from the glory
In her eyes. Her voice was q musical
whisper as she asked:
you'll never say to me 4 love your 4"
There was an infinity Of allurement
IN the tempting words. DanilO, with a
mighty effort, shook off the spell and
shouted:
"Never! Never! Neverr'
That's a comfortg she said coldly,
drawing away and seeking to veil her
keen disappointment. But" she added
more softly, why not say it if you
really want tor
II don't want tor he declared sulki-
: ly.
and you promise faithfully you'll
never say to me, L love your"
| Again she was perilously close to
him. Again his eyes tore themselves
free from the pleading seduetiveness OF
hers as he reiterated:
Il promise! I'm not going to make a
| fool of myself or be made a fool Of"
rs that a declaration of war?
: queried Sonia.
"No-of friendship. Do you mean
to say if I asked you to be my wife
4 you would merely laugh at me?"
probably. All men are alike"
b "They are not, and in time I'll prove
it to you"
j Before she could answer the ambas
! sador and several of the guests came
0 into the room. At first opportunity
j Popoff drew Danilo aside.
u Prince" said he impressively, ''yor
/ have now been attached TO this lega
ton nearly four months and
a Few of my attachments last 81
long" observed DanilO
:. you refer to your love affairs?
have heard Of them. They hav'
s brought you to the brink of ruin. YOl
u are almost penniless. Here is my plal
e TO save you, also to give you a chance
d to save your country from bankruptcy
e want you to marry
r. ''To whatF' cried Danilo.
IS ''To marry-beautiful woman, my boy
f twenty millions-Mme Sonia Sadowa
HeyT'
e! "Nevere' returned DaniIo anpriIv a,