The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1908-07-23

mOaueu. ADu YET NVuiu ha'"'' ~
mistaken. Ny wife! And
Brace up, your excellencyF entreat.
ed Danilo In genuine distress, fnii
yourself together. There are people
coming along the walk. Don't make u
scene. Perhaps you were mistaken"
mo; / saw herl' groaned PopoH.
"My own wife and De Jolidon! Ana
he kissed her hand"
"oh. dare say she was more kissed
against than kissing!" Danilo observed
consollngly. But be careful, sir a
whole lot of people are within ear
shot"
"Then let them know the worst!
cried Popoff In voice that brought a
number of guests hurrying to the spot
"TIl denounce her before them all!
Come out Of there" be beloved, rush
ing forward, both of you'll Come out!
He threw the summer house door
wide open and shrank back, incredn-
lous, aghast.
On the threshold stood DE Joltdon
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 ASK
what you wanted Of usY"
"soniar gasped Danilo. And through
the confusion Of many excited voices
she heard him and thrilled to the note
Of anguish in his half stined cry.
tiff 1t was you who were IN
there with M. de Jolldon," stammered
Popoff, where is my wifeY
Here 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 mdt-
ter?v
"Matter enough cried her husband.
81 could have sworn | saw you sitting
In that arbor with NJ de Jolidon"
MY dear'''
Natalies exclamation was 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 Popoff
hastened to throw his arm about her
and draw her back.
Il was wrong" he assured her-"a
blunder OF eyesightl apologize! I'm
sorry. T.
II begin to understand" put In Sonia,
stepping forward In fear lest Natalie
oyerdo her pose Of virtuous indigna-
ton. ut seems that the Marsoyian
ambassador has done me the honor to
listen at keyhole In hopes Of over.
hearing my conversation. Sooner than
dlsappoint him, NJ. de Jolldon, Will you
please repeat to him Just what you
said to me In theref'
De Jolidon understood. II Natalie
was TO be saved, II Sonin was not q
le talked about, heroic measures We're
necessary.
II asked Nine. Sonia Sadowa,' said
he, ito do me the honor to become my
wifeg,
Danilo stood motionless, his lips sci
IN a white line, amid the buzz of con
grafulations and laughter that followed
DE Jolidon's announcement Sonia
noted his agony and said joyfully to
herself:
my prince, I think I've wont You'll
have TO speak, soon or late, now, and
when you do
"And MarsoyIa loses the twenty mil
lionsr' Popoff muttered, recovering bis
self possession and somewhat belated
~ remembering his countrys needs.
@Prince," called Sonia mischieyous
ly, Il haven't heard your congratula
iIons yet You don't look as happy al
you might at the news"
"Happyr echoed DaniIo, with .
scornful, mirthless laugh. why
shouldn't be- Accept my eongratu
latlons, my paternal blessing and any
thihg else you Choose 10 fssy on ms
for. Ny own motto Is. Love when yot
may. propose seldom and marry mol
OF allr
let me tell yon little fairy story
There were once prince and prin'
cess. They loved each other. But ths
prince was poor and dared not ten %
bis love for fear OF being thought .
fortune hunter. His silence made tbs
princess angry. So she went and prom
ised her hand 10 another mar, and
they all lived misersbly unhappy eFei
after, And the moral Of that stupia
little story is that I'm sick of respect
ability. and I'm awake from my efaz,
! dream Of love, and I'm going back Y