The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1908-07-30

L bAtA<NH W IN that anu all inc resi-
of your silly plans shouted Danilo.
Don't worry any more about the
widow. It's no use. | tell you. She is
going to marry a Frenchman in spite
Of US all. And" he went on bitterly.
gOaded by the chagrin and abiect dis
| appointment in Popolfs face. I'm 60
ing to dance at her wedding"
Going to marry a Frenchman. is
she:" yelled the distracted ambassa
dor. 'PrepOsterous, I'll find a way
of stopping it, And it is De Jolidon
she thinks of marrying?"
whats that To me? l 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. de Jolidonw he command
ed. Keep your eye on him all the rest
Of the evening See if he makes love
to the widow and report to me. l
have already told Nine. Popoff 10
sound him on the subject Among us
all we ought to learn something before
we're done"
you'll learn something if you keep
on spying, muttered Dauilo under his
breath as he 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 a man and woman We're
strolling-M Natalie Popof and NJ.
de Joldon.
'And SO your worthy husband set
you the task of finding out whom |
am in love WITH" De Jolidon was
saying.
Yes" the ambassadors young wife
answered. He is afraid you will
marry the widow"
Why shouldn't T. queried De Joli,
don jokingly. You told me to-"
"But-but you won't, will you?" ste
pleaded. why don't you look at me:
What are you looking att"
De Jolidon's eye had fallen on the
fan where it lay forgotten on the table.
The fan you lost and that your
husband pocketed," he said, handing
it to her
THANK goodness" Natalie exclaim-
ed, Selling it; then:
Lend me a pencil"
She wrote a sentence on the fan di-
rectly beneath the three words he had
scribblcd the night before at the ball.
There" she sighed. handing it to
him; keep that as n reminder"
He held the fan up to the light and
read:
lam a-dutifuI wife"
Remember that always" she ad-
jured.
Natalie" he cried passiouately
1T is true-l am "A dutifu wife If
l have been foolish enough to listen to
your lovemaking, at least | have never
encouraged it, have always rebulfed
you for conscienCe's sake. am a duti-
full
''Why remind me of the hopelessness
of my love-" murmured De Jolidon
You may refuse to 'eciprocate 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
interview. Don't try to alter my pur-
pose. have made up my mind. Aft
er this evening | shall never
Natalie. you can't mean
81 do. This is the last talk we two
shall ever have together"
Then" implored De Jolidon. IF 1t is
really to be our farewell interview
why must we talk here in the garden.
where at any moment others may come
TO claim your attention? Grant me a
final half hour of your society all to
nyselt. Let the talk be uninterrupted
let us sit in the little summer house
over there Sect is empty
They entered the little inclosed ar
Dor 1t was lighted by a string of
Japanese lanterns, and two rustic
chairs were at opposite sides of its
round center table. There was n door
at each end of the tiny room-an ideal
spot for tetca-tete chat now that the
moonlight had wooed most of the
guests out of doors.
The light wicker door swung shut be-
hind the couple. Natalie quite en-
joyed the prospect of listening to her
adorer's melodramatic words of fare
well and of posing herocially as u self
sacrificing, dutiful wife. In half an
hour at most she would rejoin her hus-
band with the righteous consciousness
In her heart of having dismissed for
ever the one man besides Popoff who
had ever made love to her
So interested was Natalie in De Joli.
don's parting speech that she did not
hear the ambassador, just outside. de-
clare eXcitedly:
'Nish, Pm sure | saw that summer
house door close behind a lady's skirt!
Let's see who is in there!"
g. sd