Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1908-06-19
6he Merry Widow
ERT PAySON TERHUNE


anu I've Wlnkcd at his l0annS ana his
dissipation. and the very first minute
l really need him he refuses to
come"
"Oh, no. your excellency.' pleaded
Nish; scarcely as bad as all that. if
l may say so-not refused exactly.
He will come. At least he 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 Nlsh, "he agrees to
be here as soon as he has finished the
magnum Of champagne that was In the
ice pail beside him when l left
How much Of 1t was gone?''
"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 than fill
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 mur-
mur. rustic. whisper that resolved
itself at last into the excited phrases:
The widow has arrivedw Twenty
millions and unincumberedw "Widow
Of Sadowa. the animated money bagv'
"A Monte Cr.Sto fortune for some
lucky man." "Her name IS Sonia Sa-
dowa: twenty millions-red hair. too.
but beauty" Twenty millions"
1.-THE Merry Widow"
Down the stairway from the dress.
ing rooms and into the salon swept q
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
palc, delicate face---Abcut her hovered
half score of gallants. all vying for
word. 4 look. from the beauty (and
fortune) Of the Paris season.
Two men-the Marquis Of Cascade
and the Count de st. Brioche-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 flirts, 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-
pearedT
Il can we'll believe It," assented So
MIA. 1T must have been Just like
counting money"
"Oh. madamew protested the group,
horrifed.
Don't I knowT retorted Sonia, q
little bitterly. ITS always like that
People count me like so much money.
II 1t is coarse for me to say so, re-
member I'm n farmers daughter and
that in my country people call a spade
q spade"
POpO6 and Natalie came hurriedly In
to pay their respects to the guest upon
whom Marsovia's hopes so depended.
At sign from the ambassador the 9TH
ers drew back.
$50 you were shocking some Of our
Paris gallantsw beamed the ambassa-
dor. what a child Of nature you
arer'
You mean," countered Sonia. ''that l
am peasant dressed up. How I wish
sometimes that l were q real peasant
again.
"Ah" chuckled Popon. 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
some Of our Marsovian nobility-for
instance, Prince Danilo, a charming
young fellow. He'll be here presently.
Danilo is''-
But the mischief had died out Of
Sonias eyes. Her face was paler than
was its won't. and there was stern
look as Of pain about the daintily
chiseled mouth.
Il have already met Prince Danilo."
she said curtly.
"Really?" cried Popoff. Then. not
ing her change Of expression. he added
with apprehension:
II hope 1t 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 curiously
level, emotiOnleSs voice. ut was long
ago that we met. He will have forgot
ten ME even as-as l have forgotten
him. Let US talk Of something else.
please"
Even Popof could see something was
seriously amiss.
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