The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1909-03-12
CHAPTER xxx.
The Proposal.

CHAFIEH AAlA.
The Proposal.
The emamored vassili arose the
next morning feverish and unre-
freshed. He determined to go at
once to Prince Kryloff and ask
him for his daughters hand in
marriage.
AS he was dressing, he drew
near the window, and carelessly
looking out upon the beautiful
view, he perceived Wanda and
Chabert walking together down
the broad avenue. Wanda was
leaning on Raymond's arm.
Stackelberg was seized with a
violent attack of jealousy.
Wanda told aymon tdhat she
was seriously thinking of leaving
her fathers house altogether, so
as to be free to go to her mother,
and follow out her own work for
the cause.
"My situation is becoming more
and more painful" she said.
"Stackelberg is in love with me,
and will probably ask for my
hand today. Then I shall have to
undergo all sorts of terrible scenes
for my father desires the match.
Stackelberg will be in a rage; he
is jealous of you; he suspects you
of being socialist; the next thing
will be your arrest. UP to this
time, l have managed to persuade
him that there are no socialists
in this neighborhood; but now
he suspects something. My faith
err is going to have quite party
tomorrow; we can easily get off
then without being noticed. Any
how, / must see our friends at
the paper mill, and talk it over
with them. l wish you would
come for me this evening in a
droschky, at II o'clock"
Prince Kryloff found Wanda
alone, sitting at her desk writ
ing.
"My daughter" he exclaimed,
In a glad tone, 81 have good news
for you. Prince Stackelberk has
proposed for YOU
"Well, what of that? He says
I am a socialist; what does he
want with a socialist for his
wife?"
you do not seem very we'll
disposed toward him today?"
"AH yesterday and all this
morning he spent in watching me.
I thought he came here to look
out for the socialists, but it seems
he has come to look out for me.
"My child, he wants ito marry
you, and he has sent me to you
to ask your consent"
81 am very sorry to hear It,"
"Why?"
Because I positively refuse to
marry him."
What! you refuse him?"
Certainly l do. / do not love
him."
Wanda" said the prince, 81
very much desire your marriage
and this proposal suits me In every
respect. Vassili has a large for
tune, and so have I; your chill
dren will inherit it all, and
81 do not care for money" in
terrupted Wanda, land l have
other views for my marriage"
What do you mean? Whom
do you desire to marry?"
81 know you will never give
your consent. He is not noble
man, and I do not even know who
his family are"
what means has he?"
"He has no means"
"Then certainly you must be
insane. Do you wish to shame
me before the eyes of the world?''
81 do not see what there is
shameful in marrying an honor
able, talented man."
SIS this person whom you fancy
"a Russian
mo, he Is a Frenchman."
"Chabert!-ft is Chabert! !"
skrieked the prince. utterly be-
side himself with rage. Never,
never! would rather see you
dead"
He rushed toward the door,
but Wanda stood in the way.
Father" she said, "do not men
ton our conversation to any one
above all, to Chabert: and do
not send him away. He knows
nothing of my feelings for him;
he is perfectly respectful, and a
pure minded man. If you send
him away 1 shall go with him. F"
"You would leave me to follow
that fellow"
81 certainly should"
Wanda" said Prince Kryloff
81 give you two days for reflec-
tion--no tabout Chabert, but
about your marriage with Vassilt
Stackelberg."
Wanda listened to her father
with a smile upon her lips; she
would have defied him openly
but she not suddenly thought oi
1.-THE meeting that she was to at
tend that night.
Every WE'LL" she said; ''as yor
offer to give me two days to thinl
over Prince tackelberg's proposal
II will accept your terms. Da.
after tomorrow, at this time,
will give you my answer"
"My dear child" said tht
prince, "do not forget that al
/ the happiness and all the pride
Of my life depend wholly on you.
| eff this is So" said Wanda
do not forget that you promised
me also to give q present OF mon
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