The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1908-06-26

fall from his face
"Danilor' gasped the widow, startin
back.
At sound Of his name the prince sa
up. dazed and blinking. His wander
ing eyes fell on the woman, and, witt
an exclamation Of utter amazement, h,
/ stumbled to his feet and stood starinl
incredulously at her.
sonia he exclaimed Sonia
Then, recovering himself, he boweC
/ stiffiy and said:
Il beg your pardon. madame"
NO; ! beg yours" she replied
Pray go on snoring"
you don't remember meg" he asked
surprised
Not in the very least" she an
swered, moving away.
yet you called my name"
''You We're asleep then. That was
different"
And now I am awake-to the joy OF
seeing you again"
The joy is all your own. Is it 50
surprising to find me in Paris? / am
here enjoying my wealth-and free
domw
Il congratulate you on both, especial
ly the freedom"
Eyes, freedom is one of your fads, 1
believe" remarked Sonia. especially
freedom from marriage Do you still
mo hp1 HI If 3fT5o
at the last momentY'
Sonia, you are unjust. If ii had
rested with me you should be my wife
DOW, not another mans widow"
IF it rested with your" she MIN
licked. well, let the whole story rest
now. It's forgotten"
"By you, perhaps-neyer by me"
"Oh, no. l remember it every now
and then for my own amusement. But
ii 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 it 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; l heard how your father forced
you into the match. Next time you
can choose a husband to suit your
self"
why should l marry again? | am
rich, free. I have everything"
"Including loveT' he asked, his eyes
devouring her fragile beauty.
Il 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"
he denied holly. 81 for one
your Each means my fortune"
'They do?" cried Danilo, in rage at
the strong insinuation. 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 a musical
whisper as she asked:
you'll never say to me I love your
There was an infnity of allurement
IN the tempting words. Danilo, with a
mighty effort, shook off the spell and
shouted:
Never! Never! Neverr
"That's q comfortw 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
81 don't want tor he declared sulki-
ly.
"And you promise faithfully you'll
never say to me, 4 love you|
Again she was perilously close to
him. Again his eyes tore themselves
free from the pleading seduetiveness of
hers as he reiterated:
Il promised I'm not going to make
fool of myself or be made a fool Of"
as that a declaration Of war;
queried Sonia
"No-of friendship. Do you mean
to say If l asked you to be my wife
you would merely laugh at meP'
Probably. All men are alike"
'eThey are not, and in time III prove
1t to you"
Before she could answer the ambas-
sador and several of the guests came
into the room. At first opportunity
Popoff drew Danilo aside.
Prince" said he impressively, you
have now been attached to this lega-
ton nearly four months and
Few of my attachments last SO
long" observed Danilo.
you refe. TO your love afairsf I
have heard of them. They have