The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-10-17
Nine. Petrof
by BARBARA PHIPPS

party OF ladies and gentlemen were
sKatlng on the Neva. A lady was
Standing somewhat apart from the 9th.
ers looking at the skaters. Noticing
TWO gentlemen go by her in company
she turned to lady standing near and
asked who they were. She was in
formed that one Of them was a grand
uuHe, the other Count Demidoff. AT
tne mention of the latter name the in
quirer started. Her informant noticed
1t and asked the cause, whereupon the
other said something which interested
the nearer greatly.
i am Nine. Garotsky," the latter
SAID. Il know the count very we'll.
II you will permit | will arrange a
meeting between you and him
The next day Count Demidoff re-
celVed an invitation to dinner with
Nine Garotsky to meet friend of
hers from one of the provinces. lie
accepted the invitation. and the mo-
ment he laid eyes ON guest to whom
he was introduced as Nine Petroff he
was struck with her beauty. Not only
that; he was delighted with her intelli-
gence. After the dinner Nine Garotsky
pleaded an indispesition and, retiring
to her room, left her two guests to-
gether
The count passed delightful even
ing. Before taking his departure he
had confessed that he was a married
man, but was not living with his wife.
Indeed, he had been married by proxy
and had never seen his wife. He be-
longed to very old family, his title
dating back many centuries, and would
have had the entree to the court circle
had he the means to associate with
persons who spent money like water.
He had advertised for some rich COM
moner who would marry him and turn
| over to him a portion Of her estate in
lieu Of being permitted to assume his
rank. 1t was to be a mere CONNER
cial transaction, the two separating as
soon as the marriage ceremony had
been performed. His advertisement
met the eye Of young widow who
had inherited large fortune from
her husband very rich manufac-
turer much older than herself, who had
| died soon after their marriage. She
offered large slice Of her estate for
the privilege Of being countess. and,
| since neither expressed wish to see
the other and the widow lived in re.
mote province they were married by
proxy.
Nine. Petroff listened to this story,
and the count fancied that he saw 4
sigh, which he attributed to the fact
that he was married man. Indeed.
he had been captivated by the lady and
was saddened at the thought that a
marriage between him and her was
| impossible. However, when they part
! ed he took her address i'm the city and
the very next day called upon her.
Nine. Petroff remained in Petrograd
some time and gave the count every
encouragement to be with her. They
drove together, skated together, and
Demidoff secured invitations for her.
| One day he told her that he loved her
and would be only too glad to marry
her were 1t not for the insurmountable
objection that kept them apart.
Notwithstanding the fact Of that OBJ
lection, when Nine. Petroff returned to
her home she invited Count Demidoff
| to visit her there. He scarcely under
stood this. for she had given him evil
1 dence of being good woman, and IL
she could be anything more than a
friend to him 1t could only be wife,
and to be his wife was impossible. He
was loath to go, feeling that since
he could not possess her he was only
sinking deeper in misery. He had
sounded her on the matter OF a posi-
BILE return of the fortune he had re-
ceived from his wife and divorce.
But she had declared that on no ac'
count would she marry divorced man.
When the count entered the place
wherein Nine. Petroff lived he was as
tonisbed at its magnificance. On en-
tprlng the HOuSe ne 1ouiu S'SiJ -"
urv. His hostess introduced him to
her mother, who lived with her, thus
making his visit perfectly proper.
Count Demidoff's stay In the nome
of Nine. Petroff was like visit to
FARMLAND. Every day the hostess con
trived new methods of passing the
time agreeably. One thing surprised
the count-there were no other guests
axcept himself. Moreover, all the serv'
ants seemed TO be acting as II they
had been trained to part. When they
said Eyes, madame" sometimes they
got 1t Yes, Nine. Petroff," and at all
times they appeared to be saying what
the simple creatures were not used 10
saving. One evening lackey VINO
was sent to summon the count for am
ner said
"Tbe countess awaits your excei-
ency."
"The countessr' exclaimed Demidon
~ mean Nine. Petrol" said the poor
! follow covered with confusion.
"There is something concealed here,
soid the count half aloud to himsef
and went down to his hostess.
| :, 10 enid amaV | take YOU