Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1908-06-26


Then. recovering himself. he bowed
stiliy and said:
i BEG your pardon. madame"
NO; beg yours" Size replied.
Pray 20 on snoring"
You don't remember me-" he asked.
surprised.
Not In the very least" she an.
swered. moving away
Yet You called my name"
You were asleep then. That was
iffcrent"
"AAd now I am awake-to the Joy Of
seeing you again"
"Thc JOY Is all your own. Is It so
surprising to find me In Paris? am
here enjoying my wealth-and free
dom"
Il congratulate you on both. especial
ly the freedom"
"Yes. freedom Is one Of YOUR fads. I
believe" remarked Sonia. "especiallv
freedom from marriage Do you still
make habit of avoiding marriage
Mt the last moment"
Sonia. you are unjust. II II had
rested with me you should be nv wife
now. not another mans widow"
IF 1t rested with you:" she mim-
licked We'll. let the whole story rest
now. It's forgotten"
"By you. perhaps-never by me-"
"ph. no. | remember 1t every now
ani then for my own amusement But
II Is hard TO think OF myself rs the
little Marsovian peasant maid to whom
The dashng cavalry officer. Prince
Danlio. WAS once engaged and whom
hi3 rich old uncle 1T the last moment
forbade 10 marry because Of her pow
criy. How differently that same rich
old uncle would look on the match to-
day Twenty millions is pretty
dowry."
AT least II seems you didn't break
your heart over losing me-" sEeered
Danllo
mo: my plebeIan heart stood the
shock eXcellently. l soon found con-
solation-an elderly husband who lived
just one week after the wedding and
left me all his wealth"
"fes: | heard how your father forced
you into the match. Next time you
can choose husband to suit your.
self"
why should | marry again7 am
rich, free. have everything"
''Including love:' he asked, his eyes
levouring her frngile beauty
Il don't believe In love-" scoffed
Sonia. "All men are alike. Dozens Of
them are after my money and make
love to me because they can't get 1t
without me-"
"Men are not all fortune hunters."
he denied hotly. Il for one
$50 they all say. Each says 4 love
you: Each means my fortune"
They do:" cried Danilo, in rage Mt
the strong !nsinuation. "Well. here's
one that doesn't. for one shall never
say to you. 4 love you."
A strange smile stole across her face.
She came very close to where he stood;
so close that the faint perfume Of her
hair was sweet in his nostrils; so close
that her breath was warm upon his
lips: so close that his bewildered soul
struggled In vain to hide from the glory
In her eyes. Her voice was musical
whisper as she asked:
you'll never say to me 4 love your"
There was an infinity Of allurement
III the tempting words. Danilo, with u
mighty effort. shook or the spell and
shouted:
Never. Never! Never"
That's comfort" she said coldly,
drawing away ard seeking to veil her
keen disappointment But" she added
more softly. why not say 1t II you
really want toy
~ don't want to-" he declared sulki-
ly,
"And you promise faithfully you'll
never say to me. Il love your"
Again she was perilously close to
him. Again his eyes tore themselves
free from the pleading seductiveness Of
hers ns he reiterated:
II promise! I'm not going to make
fool Of myself or be made fool Of"
as that declaration Of war"
Queried Sonia.
"No-of friendship. Do you mean
to say II l asked you to be my wife
you would merely laugh at me?'
Probably. All men are alike"
''They are not. and In time I'll prove
1t to you"
Before she could answer the ambas-
sador and several Of the guests came
into the room. At first opportunity
POpOff drew Danilo aside.
Prince" said he mpressively, you
have now been attached to this lega-
ton nearly four months and
"Few Of my attachments last 80
long" observed DanilO.
You refer to your love affairs?
have heard Of them. They havO
brought you to the brink Of ruin. You
are almost penniless Here is my plan
to save you, also to give YOU \ chance
to save your country from bankruptcy.
l want you to marry"
ITO what:" cried DanilO.
"TO marry-beautiful woman. my boy
twenty mlllions-Mme. Sonia Sadowa.
Hey"
Never" returned Danilo. angrily. as
he rose to end the interview.
Then Frenchnan will marry her,
and her fortune and our country will
be ruined"
Il wont marry her." repeated Danilo.
"and she won't marry me. But for my
country's sake I'll keep any French
man from marrying her"
But how!'
"You shall see"
a. ~