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

mOaned. And yer l could nardiy --15e
mistaken. My wife! And
Brace up, your eXcellency"' entreat-
ed Danilo in genuine distress. Pull
yourself together There are people
! coming along the walk Don't make "A
scene. Perhaps you We're mistakeI."
NO; | saw herl" grOaneC Popoff.
My own wife and De Jolidon! And
he kissed her hand"
"Oh. l dare say she was more kissed
against than kissing!' Danilo observed
consolingly. But be careful. sir. a
whole lot of people are within ear
shot"
Then let them know the worst
cried Popof in voice that brought a
number of guests hurrying to the spot
IN denOunce her before them all,
Come out of there" he 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 l ask
what you wanted of u.s."
Sonia gasped Danilo. And through
the confusion of many excited voices
she heard him and thrilled to the note
of anguish in his half stited cry.
Tiff it was you who were in
there with NJ. de Jolidon," stammered
Popof. where is my wife,"
Here l 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
ter
Matter enough" cried her husband
Il could have sworn l saw you sitting
in that arbor with NJ. de Jolidon"
MY dear
Natalie'S exclamation was a triumph
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 Popof
FASTENED to throw his arm about her
and draw her back.
Il was wrong" he assured her-"a
blunder of eyesght, | apologize! I'm
sorry. r
Il begin to understand" put in Sonia
stepping forward in fear lest Natalie
oyerdo her pose of virtuous indigna-
ton. 1T seems that the Marsovian
ambassador has done me the honor to
listen at 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.
Il asked Nine. Sonia Sadowa," said
he, ito do me the honor to become my
wife,
Danilo stood motionless, his lips set
in white line. amid the buzz of CON
gratuIatious and laughter that followed
De JoIidons announcement. Sonia
noted his agony and said joyfully to
herself
My prince, | think I've won. You'll
have to speak, soon or late, now, and
when you do
And MarSOyia loses the twenty mil
lions" Popof muttered, recovering his
self possession and somewhat belated-
ly remembering his country's needs
prince called Sonia misthievous-
ly, Il haven't heard your congratula-
lions yet. You don't look as happy as
you might at the news"
Happy" echoed Danflo, with
scornful mirthess laugh. "Why
shouldn't | be? Accept my congratu-
lations, my paternal blessing and any
thing else you choose to levy on me
for. Ny own motto is, Love wien you
may, propose seldom and marry-not
at all"
LET me tell you little fairy story:
There were once Il prince and a prin-
cess. They loved each other. But the
prince was poor ana 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
lit.le story IS that I'm sick of respect
ability. and I'm awake from my crazy