Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1908-07-11

number of guests hurry1ng TO the spot.
"I'u denounce her before them all!
Come out of there" be beloved, rush
ing forward. both of you! Come out!'
He threw the summer house door
wide open and shrank back, incredu-
lous, aghast.
On the threshold stood De Jolidon
and-Sonia!
"What-what does this mean," CUR
gled the confused ambassador, "this
this change and"-
"You called to us to come out" re-
turned Sonia calmly. MAY / ask
what you wanted of u.s."
"Soniav gasped Danilo. And through
the confusion of many excited voices
she heard him and thrilled to the note
of anguish in his half stiaed cry.
tiff it was you who were in
there with NJ. de Jolidon," stammered
Popoff. where is my wifeT
Here am, DEAR" answered Natalie.
stepping out of the crowd, with which
she had mingled after her hurried exit
through the rear door Of the summer
house. "Here am! What is the mat
teri"
matter enough!" cried her husband.
II could have sworn saw you sitting
In that arbor with M. de Jolidon.r
"My dearl"
Of shocked propriety.
"He was kissing your hand,
thought" went on the dazed ambassa-
dor.
This time Natalie moved away from
him In offended dignity. But Popon
fastened TO throw his arm about her
and draw her back.
'I was wrong" he assured her-"a
blunder Of eyesight! / apologizei I'm
sorry. r.
"I begin to understand" put in Sonia.
stepping forward In fear lest Natalie
overdo her pose Of virtuouS indigna-
ton. cit seems that the Marsoviau
ambassador has done me the honor to
listen at a keyhole In hopes of over
hearing my conversation. Sooner than
diSappoint him, NJ. de Jolidon, will you
please repeat to him just what you
said to me IN there"
De Jolidon understood If Natalie
was to be saved, if Sonia was not to
be talked about, heroic measures, were
necessary.
"I asked Mime. Sonia Sadowa," said
he, "to do me the honor to become my
wifew
Danilo stood motionless, his lips set
in a white line, amid the buzz Of con-
CALCULATIONS and laughter that followed
De Jolidon's announcement Sonia
noted his agony and said joyfully to
herself:
my prince, think I've wont You'll
have to speak, soon or late, now, and
when you do
"And Marsovia loses the twenty mil
nonsr' Popof muttered, recovering his
self possession and somewhat belated-
ly remembering his country's needs.
prince" called Sonia mischievous-
ly, 'I haven't heard your congratula-
lions yet You don't look as happy as
you might at the news"
''Happyr' echoed Danilo, with "a
scornful, mirthless laugh. why
shouldn't / be? Accept my congratu-
lations, my paternal blessing and any
thing else you choose to levy ON me
for. My own motto is, Love when you
may, propose seldom and marry-not
at all!
'Let me tell you little fairy story;
There were once a prince and pr1n-
cess. They loved each other. But the
prince was poor and dared not tell of
his love for fear of being thought a
fortune hunter. His silence made the
princess angry. SO she went and prom
iSed her hand to another man, and
they all lived miserably unhappy ever
after. And the moral Of that stupid
little story is that I'm sick of respect
ability, and I'm awake from my crazy
dream of love, and I'm going back to
Maxim's, and you can all go to-Mar-
soviaI'
"He loves me! He loves mew painted
Sonia under her breath.