Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1908-07-11

couch. There lay the man. sound
asleep. his face still covered by the
handkerchief Sonia touched his hair.
"Scatr' roared Danilo. giving his
head a shake that let the handkerchief
fall from his face.
"Danilor' gasped the widow, starting
back
At sound OF his name the prince sat
up. dazed and blinking. His wander
ing eyes fell on the woman. and. with
an exclamation OF utter amazament. he
stumbled 10 his feet and stood staring
incredulously at her.
"Soniar" he exclaimed. "Soniar
Then, recovering himself. be bowed
stifiiy and said:
II beg your pardon. madame"
"No; beg yours" she replied.
pray go on snoring"
You don't remember met" he asked.
surprised.
Not In the very least" she an
swered. moving away.
yet you called my name"
you were asleep then That was
different"
"And now ! am awake-to the Joy OF
seeing you again"
The Joy is all your own Is Il so
surprising 10 find me IN Paris? / am
here enjoying my wealth-and free
domw
IT congratulate you on both. especial
~ the freedom"
yes. freedom is one OF your fads I
believe" remarked Sonia, especially
freedom from marriage. Do you still
make a habit OF avoiding marriage
ut the last momentT'
''Sonia. you are unjust. II Il had
rested with me you should be my wife
now. not another mans widow"
III it rested with your" she MINI
licked. well let the whole story rest
new. It's forgotten"
by you, perhRps-never by me-"
"Ob, MOI / remember it every now
and then for my own amusement But
ft Is hard to think Of myself as the
little Marsovian peasant maid to whom
the dashing cavalry officer, Prince
, Danilo. was once engaged and whom
his rich old uncle at the last moment
| forbade 10 marry because Of her pow
erty. How differently that same rich
old uncle would look on the match to-
day Twenty millions is a pretty
dOwry."
AT least it seems you didn't break
your heart over losing me-" sneered
Danilo.
mo; my plebeian heart stood the
shock excellently. / soon found con-
solation-an elderly husband who lived
just one week after the wedding and
1 left me ali his wealth"
Eyes; I heard how your father forced
you into the match. Next time YOU
can choose a husband to suit your
self"
why should I marry again1 I am
rich, free. I have everything"
Including love?' he asked, his eyes
| devouring her fragile beauty
81 don't believe in love-" scoffed
! Sonia. "All men are alike. Dozens OF
them are after my money and make
love 20 me because they can't get II
without me"
"Men are not all fortune hunters "
he deaied hotly. st for one"-
$50 they all say. Each says Z love
your Each means my fortune"
"They DOR cried Danilo, In rage al
: the strong insinuation- 'Wel. here's
, one that doesn't for one shall never
say to you, Il love your"
! A strange smile stole across her face
She came very close to where he stood
so close that the faint perfume of hei
hair was sweet in his nostrils; so close
that her breath was warm upon his
lips; so close that his bewildered sou
struggled in vain TO hide from the gIory
In her eyes. Her voice was a musIca
whisper as she asked:
you'll never say to me Il love your
There was an infinjty Of alluremeni
IN the tempting words Danilo, with {
mighty effort, shook on the spell and