The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1908-08-02
The Merry Widow
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BY ALBERT PAYSON TERHUNE
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COPYRIGHT. 1908. by HENRY W. SAVAGE

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Ing to dance at her wedding"
"GoIng to marry Frcnchman, In
sheY yelled the distracted ambassa.
dor. "preposterous! ri find way
Of stopping II! And It IN DO Jolldon
she thinks Of marryingT
whats that to me7 don't know
who she's engaged to. and
But Popoff waited TO hear no more
Catching sight OF Nish. he rushed upon
that unhappy clerk.
Find NJ. do Jolldonr no command
cd. Keep your eye on him all the rest
OF the evening, See II he makes love
TO the widow and report TO mo. /
have already told Nine. Popoff TO
sound him on the subject. Among us
all we ought to learn something befvra
we're done"
you'll learn something II you keep
on spying" muttered Danilo under his
breath ~ be moved away. But I'll
bet years income It'll be something
that will give you more surprise than
pleasure"
Dusk was falling. Above the myriad
colored lights that dotted the garden
the moon was rising. Along one Of
the hedged paths leading to the sum
mer house man and q woman we're
stroIling Mime Natalie Popoif and NJ.
dc Jolldon.
And 30 your worthy husband set
you the task OF finding out whom
am In love within De Jolldon was
saying.
Yes" the ambassadors young wife
answered, 'He b afraid you Will
marry the widow"
why shouldn't r. queried De Joli.
don joklngly. "You told me TO-"
"But-but you won't, will your she
pleaded. why don't you look at me7
What are you looking att"
De Joiidon's eye had fallen on the
fan where II lay forgotten on the table.
The fan you lost and that your
husband pocketed," he said, handing
II to her. a~-----.
THANK goodnessy" Natalie exclaim.
cd. seixing 1t: then,
Lend me q pencil"
She wrote n sentence on the fan dl.
rcctly beheath the three words he had
scribbled the night before at the ball.
There" she sighed, handing II to
him: keep that as reminder"
He held the fan up TO the light and
read.
"I-am-a--dutiful-- wife"
Remember that always she ad-
jured.
"Natailer he cried passionately.
ut Is true-l am a dutiful wife. II
hive been foolish enough to listen TO
your lovemaklng. at least have never
encouraged 1t. have always rebuffed
you for conscience's sake, am a dutl-
fur
why remind ma OF the hopelessness
Of my lover murmured DE Jolldon.
you may refuse to reciprocate It, but
you cannot prevent my telling you
But can. After this evening we
must not meet again, My husband
trusts me. This must be our farewell
Don't try to alter my pur.
pose. ] have made up my mind. Aft
er this evening shall never
Natalie. you can't mean
~ do. This is the last talk we two
shall ever have together
'Then," implored De Jolidon. III 1t is
really to be our farewell interview.
why must we talk here In the garden.
where at any moment others may come
% claim your attention? Grant me a
inal half hour OF your society all to
myself. Let the talk be uninterrupted.
let us sit in the little summer house
'yer there. Sect is empty"
They entered the little inclosed ar.
Dor II was lighted by string Of
Japanese lanterns and two rustic
hairs were at opposite sides Of It's
ound center table, There was a door
t each end of the tiny room--an ideal
pot for tete-a-tete chat now that the
moonlight had wooed most Of the
uests out of doors.
The light wicker door swung shut be.
Ind the couple, Natalie quite en-.
Dyed the prospect of listening to her
dorers melodramatic words of fare.
yell and of posing herocIally as q self
dutiful wife, In half an
our at most she would rejoin her hus-
and with the righteous consciousness
4 her heart of having dismissed for.
yer the one man besides Popoff who
ad ever made love to her.
So interested was Natalie In De Joli.
on's parting speech that she did not
ear the ambassador just outside, de-
lare excitedly:
'Nsh. I'm sure saw that summer
ouse door close behind a lady's skirt
cts see who Is In there!"
90 ~