Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1908-07-31
Continued from last week

Continued from last week
at would be like stealing a drunken
mans watch. 1 won't take the bet.
Come away, sir. and let the matter
drop where 1t is. For your WI hap
piness'-
But Popofr was once more at the key
hole.
They're standing up to CO." he re-
ported. Now she's beginning to face
this way. It's Oh, good Lordl"
The poor old man staggered away
from the door as though struck be-
tween the eyes. Keeling to a chair, he
collapsed and buried his fact In bis
hands.
mo, no! It can't be! 1t can'tv' be
moaned. "And yet / could hardly be
mistaken. Ny wifel And
Brace up POUR exceilency" entreat-
ed Danilo In genuine distress. Pull
yourself together. There are people
coming along the walk. Don't make a
scene. Perhaps you were mistaken"
mo; l saw heri' groaned Popof.
"My own wife and De Jolidonl And
he kissed her hand"
"Oh, / dare say she was more kissed
against than kissingf" Danilo observed
consolingly. "But be careful, sir. A
whole lot Of people are within ear
shot"
''Then let them know the worst!"
cried Popoff In a voice that brought a
number Of guests hurrying to the spot.
"Iu denounce her before them ALL
Come out of there" he beloved. rush
ing forward, both of you'll Come outI"
He threw the summer house door
wide open and shrank back, incredu-
lous, aghast.
On the threshold stood De Jolidon
a~nd-Sonial
"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 usT"
"Soniar gasped Danilo. And through
the confusion of many excited voices
she heard him and thrilled to the note
Of anguish In his half stifed cry.
Tiff 1t was you who were In
there with NJ. de Jolidon,' stammeped
Popohf, 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 / ami What is the nat
81 could have u | sew you sitting
in that arbor with NJ. de Jolidon."1
"My dearw
Natalie's exclamation was a triumph
Of shocked propriety.
"He was kissing your hand, 1
thought" went on the dazed ambassa-
dor.
This time Natalie moved away from
him in offended dignity. But Popoff
fastened to throw his arm about her
and draw her back.
81 was wrong" he assured her-"a
blunder OF eyesightI l apolog.zei I'm
sorry. r.
81 begin to understand" put in Sonia.
stepping forward In fear lest Natalie
overdo her pose OF virtuous indigna
ton. at seems that the Marsoyian
ambassador has done me the honor to
listen at a keyhole In hopes Of over
hearing my conversation. Sooner than
disappoint him, M. de Jolidon, will you
please repeat to him just what you
said to me in therer'
De Jolidon understood. II Natalie
80 - 80 aa-ol - Ga~so ~-na -AA 30
be talked about, heroic measures were
necessary.
81 asked Mime. Sonia Sadowa," said
he, ito do me the honor to become my
wife!"
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 won! You'll
have to speak, soon or late, now, and
when you do
"And Marsovia loses the twenty mil
lionsi" Popoff muttered, recovering his
self possession and somewhat belated-
ly remembering his country's needs.
Prince" called Sonia mischievous-
ly, IL haven't heard your congratula-
lions yet. You don't look as happy as
you might at the news"
Happy echoed Danilo, with a
scornful, mirthless laugh. why
shouldn't I 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 a little fairy story:
There were once a prince and a prin-
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
Used her hand to another man, and
fhov oil Hvod ,,sSoro bIu ,,nbannv o-or