Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1908-06-19

and I've winked at his Ioafing and bis
dissipation. and the very first minute
| really need him he refuses 10
come"
oh. no. your excellency.' pleaded
Nish; scarcely as bad as all that. IL
may say so-not refused exactly.
lie will come. AT least he promised
to-"
"Ah. that lifts load from my brain
IL he promised he'll comel Diplomat
irally speaking. Prince Danilo's word
is as good as his bond"
"Hlplomatically speaking your excel
lency.' affirmed Nish, he sgrees TO
be here as soon as he has finished the
magnum Of champagne that was in the
ice pail beside him when left"
How much Of 1t was gomez"
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 It will be cheaper than fill
Ing him up. I'll 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, a rustic. whisper that resolved
/ itself at last into the excited phrases:
/ 81 he widow has arrived Twenty
! millions and unincumberedw widow
( Of Sadowa. the animated money bag"
"A Monte Cristo fortune for some
lucky uan. Her name is Sonia Sa-
dowa; twenty millions-red hair. too
! but a beauty" Twenty millions
"The Merry Widow"
/ Down the stairway from the dress
ing rooms and into the salon swept a
/ woman-young. beautiful. vivacious.
! light of mischief danced IN her great
/ dark eyes.
Her masses OF auburn hair shone
! like an aureole above her rather
pale. delicate face. About her lowered
a half score OF gallauts. all vying for
word a 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.
mo, nor 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 man makes love to
another's wife, he Is promptly shot.
When a wife firts, her husband beats
her black and blue-a good plan. Why
not try it in Paris?'
"Delightfulr exclaimed Cascade. do
| you know, madame, We have been
counting the moments until you ap.
pearedT'
Il can well believe it." assented So
mia. 1T must have been just like
counting money"
"Oh. madame protested the group,
Mortified.
Don't I know" retorted Sonia, q
little bitterly. Its always like that
! People count me like so much money
! If it is coarse for me to say so. re.
member I'm a farmers daughter and
that in my country people call spade
| spade"
| Popoff 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.
so you were shocking some Of our
! Paris gallants? beamed the ambassa.
dor. What a child Of nature you
arer'
You mean," countered Sonia, that
am peasant dressed up. How wish
sometimes that I were real peasant
again!'
"Ah" chuckled Popoff 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 want you to meet tonight
some of our Marsoyian nobility-for
instance, Prince Danilo, a charming
young fellow. He'll be here presently
Danilo is"-
But the mischief had died out of
Sonia's eyes Her face was paler than
was it's wont, and there was stern
look as of pain about the daintily
cbseled 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 it was not on one Of his wet
days-a charming. lovable youngsteT
In spite of his
IL AM not interested In hearing about
him." broke in Sonia In curiously
level. emotionless voice. 1T was long
ago that we met. He will have forgot
ten me even as-as | have forgotten
| him Let us talk Of something else
please
Even Popoff could see something was
seriously amiss.
49,