The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1909-06-28

dissipation. and the very first minute
I really need him he refuses to
come. "
"Oh. no. your excellency." pleaded
Nish: scarcely us bad as all that, IL
may say so--not refused exactly.
He will come. At least he promised
to-
"Ah. that lifts load from my brain
II he promised he'll comet Diplomat
ically speaking. Prince Danilo's word
is ms good as his bond"
"Diploinatically 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 left"
"How much Of 1t 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 If necessary. Sober him at any
cost"
II fancy 1t will be cheaper than I'LL.
ing him up. I'll do my best, your ex.
cellency."
/ But the ambassador at whispered
word from servant had already pot
4 tered out of the room as fast as his
4 somewhat shaky old legs would carry
1 him, and the voluble Nish ran along
in his wake
A connection 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 arrivedv' Twenty
millions and unincumberedr' widow
Of Sadowa. the animated money bag!'
"a Monte Cristo fortune for some
lucky man. 'Her name is Sonia Sn-
dowa; twenty millions-red hair, too
but beauty!', Twenty millions!'
'sThe Merry Widow!''
Down the stairway from the dress
ing rooms and into the salon swept a
4 woman young, beautiful. vivacious. A
light of mischief danced In her great
dark eyes.
Her masses of auburn hair shone
like an aurcole above her rnthel
pale, delicate face. About her lowered
half score of gallants, all vying fol
word, look, from the beauty (ant
fortnne) Of the Paris season.
Two men-the Marquis OF Cascad,
and the Count de st. Brioche wer
lucky enough to claim for momen
or two her attention.
mo- nor Sonia was saying IN pre-
test. AT home, In Marsovia, men don
make such pretty speeches. Courtshil
there is very primitive and marriag
Is for life When man mikes love t
another's wife, he is promptly shot
When wife f1irts, her husband beat
her black and blue--a good plan. VIII.
not try it In Parish
"Delightfulr' exclaimed Cascade. sd
you know, madame, we have bee
counting the moments until you ar
pearedT'
81 can well believe It," assented 81
MIA 1T must have been just lik
counting money"
'Oh, madame!' protested the grour
Mortified.
Don't know?" retorted Sonia.
little bitterly. ITS always like tina
People count me like SO much none,
If It is coarse for me to say SO, n
member I'm a farmers daughter an
that in my country people call a spad
a spade"
Popotf and Natalie came hurriedly
to pay their respects to the guest upo
whom Marsoyia's hopes SO dependet
At sign from the ambassador the oil
ers drew back.
so you were shocking some Of OF
Paris gallants?" beamed the ambass
dor. What child of nature yo
arer'
ssYou mean" countered Sonia, "that
am peasant dressed up. How wis
sometimes that l were real peasal
again.
"Ahm chuckled Popoff "Child of n
- ture, true child Of nature, alwa.
remembering the dear old days on tt
80 farm-the bleating of the pigs, the ne
laid milk, the tomatoes freshly DIT
- - up and all the simple joys of the cou
- try! But want you to meet tonig
some of our MaIsoyian nobility-f
- instance, Prince Danilo, charmiI
-. young fellow. He'll be here present.
- Danilo is
But the m1ScnleI naQ QleQ OUT
Sonia's eyes. Her face was paler tn,
=. was its wont. and there was ste
- look as of pain about the dainti
chiselad mouth.
II have already met Prince Danile
Ia she said CURLY.
~. Really cried Popoff. Then, nt
ing her change Of expression, he add
with apprehension:
81. 81 hope it was not on one Of his W
days-a charming, loyable youngst
lid in spite of his
81 am not interested in hearing abe
"a him." broke in Sonia in curious
IN level. emotionless voice. sit was 10
~. ago that we met. He will have forg
J, ten me even as--as have forgot
Aim Let us talk of something ell
- please"
- Even Popofr could see something "
,sh seriously amiss.
ace osss s Asszs-Esisao.