The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1908-07-12

i really need him he refuses to
come"
"oh, no, your excellency." pleaded
Nish; scarcely az bad as aE that, IL
I may say so-not refused exactly.
He win come. At least he promised
TO-"
"Ah. that lifts load from my brain
II he promised he'll come! Diplomat
ically speaking, Prince Danilo's word
Ia as good as his bond"
"Diplomatically speaking, your excel.
lency." affirmed Nish, "he agrees to
be here as soon as he has finished the
magnum of champagne that was in the
ice pail beside him when l left"
How much Of IA 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 IL necessary. Sober him at any
cost"
~ fancy II win be cheaper than 6ll-
Ing him up. I'll do my best. your ex-
cellency."
But the ambassador at a whispered
word from n servant had already pot
tered out OF the room as fast a. his
somewhat shaky old legs would carry
him, and the voluble Nish ran along
In bis wake.
A commotion swept through the
scattered groups In the foyer-a muir
muir. rustic. whisper that resolved
itself at last into the excited phrases:
The widow has arrivedp Twenty
millions and unincumberedI' "Widow
Of Sadowa. the animated money bagl"
"A Monte Cristo fortune FOR some
lucky manf "Her name Is Sonia Sa-
dowa; twenty millions--red hair, too.
but a beautyp Twenty millionsl"
''The Merry wldowr
Down the stairway from the dress
Ing rooms and into the salon swept a
woman--young, beautiful. vivacious. A
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 hovered
half score Of gallants. all vying for
word, look, from the beauty land
fortune) Of the Paris season.
Two men-the Marquis OF Cascade
and the Count de ST. Brioche-
lucky enough to claim for moment
or two her attention.
mo, nor Sonia was saying In pro-
test. "At home. In MarsOyia, men don't
make such pretty speeches. Courtship
there is very primitive and marriage
is for life. When man makes love to
nnother's wife he Is promptly shot.
When wife tiirts. her husband beats
her black ard buea good plan. Why
not try Il in iarls?"
Delightful" exclaimed Cascade. do
you know, madame, we have been
counting the moments until you ap-
pcaredf"
II can well believe it," assented So
MIA 1T must have been just like
counting money
"Oh madamew protested the group,
Mortified.
Don't / know2" retorted Sonia,
little bitterly. ITS always like that
People count me like so much money
If 1t is coarse for me to say so, re-
member I'm a farmers daughter and
that in my country people call spade
a spade"
popoG 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.
$50 you were shocking some of our
Paris gallants" beamed the ambassa-
dor. What child of nature you
are"
You mean." countered Sonia, that
am a peasant dressed up. How wish
sometimes that were real peasant
again!
"Ah!" chuekled 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 Marsovian nobility-for
instance, Prince Danilo, charming |
young fellow, He'll be here presently, |
Danio ls"--
But the mischief had died out Of !
Sonias eyes, Her face was paler than /
was Its wont, and there was stern
look as of pain about the daintily
cLSeled 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
lays--a charming, lovable youngster
In spite OF his
Il am not interested in hearing about
him." broke in Sonia in curiously
level, emotionless voice. 1T .Nas long