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The Merry Widow By ALBERT PAYSON TERHUNE COPYRIGHT, 1908, BY HENRY W. SAVAGE CHAPTER 11. Old Love and New. “I-_..y|ELL, here I am,” announced I4| Ia tall, slender youth, entering ■ 1 I the deserted salon a few min- J mm J utes later with Nish at his side. “I’m here at my country’s call, all right, but my confounded country doesn’t seem to be on hand to meet me.” His graceful walk was not wholly steady, and there was a flush on the handsome young face. The late ar rival was Prince Danilo of Marsovia, attache of the Marsovian legation at Paris. Asa diplomat he had scarcely scored a success, for he had a delight fully normal aversion to work and a simple, unfailing joy in the amuse ments of Maxim’s and his clubs. “I’ll bunt up his excellency at once,” (Pi j\\ i-- ' j “NEVER! NEVER! NEVER!” Nish was assuring the prince. “Are are you quite in condition to see him, if I may”— “Oh, I’m all right enough,” yawned Danilo, “only I forgot to go to bed last night. If I could reel off a few yards of sleep”— “Perhaps I could find you some place t 0- flr . i “I’d prefer a desk, if you can hnd one. I always sleep best at my d es '• But I suppose”— “There is a couch, sir, over in the corner behind the palms. How wouia that do? You could get a nice nap there, and in a little while Id find his excellency for you. But, sir, if j m say so, why do you waste joui 1 e n dissipation when you might marrj an settle down? Just think, now. Would not a dear little wife and a home of your own be better worth ’''bile t a.i all your clubs? I leave it to you “You leave it to me?” retorted Da nilo. “Then I make it clubs." “But, if I may say so”- “You may not,’ r interrupted DanUo, crossing to the couch and throw g himself at full length among its cush ions. “By by! ‘lf you’re wakmg, call me early?’” . . . He spread a handkerchief over hi face and in a moment was sound asleep, leaving Nish to tiptoe out in search of Popoff. For a few minutes no sound was audible In the empty salon save the distant sweii and fall of dance music, punctuated by the slumbrous prince’s heavy breathing. Then Natalie hurried in with De Jolidon. Both looked anxious. “How careless of me!” the ambas sador’s wife was exclaiming. “Where can I have dropped the miserable fan? If my husband should pick it up and find on it those words you were foolish enough to write— I wonder if I left it in the niche on the stairs when w r e were sitting there. Let’s go back and see.” They turned back, almost colliding with Sonia, who was entering, Cas cada directly behind her. “Oh, Mme. Sadowa,” asked Natalie, “you haven’t seen anything of a white ivory fan? I’ve looked everywhere, and”- “No.” replied the widow; “but I’ll look in this room if you haven’t made a thorough search here already.” Natalie, thanking her, hurried back with her cavalier to the stairway. Sonia idly began her search, but Cas cada interrupted her. “That can wait,” he pleaded, “but I cannot. Won’t you hear me?” “Certainly,” assented Sonia cheerful ly. “You are going to propose, aren’t you?” “Ah, you read my secret!” “It required little cleverness. You men are all alike.” “But no man ever before loved as I love!” protested Cascada, his voice un consciously rising in his emotion. “You are all the world to me. Until I met you I never thought I could”— “Ring off!” grumbled Danilo in his sleep, vaguely bothered by the loud voice. Sonia started. “Someone is here!" she whispered, pointing toward the hidden couch. “You are mistaken,” contradicted Cascada, “and even if It were so I am willing for all the world to know how r- A long, blissful, sonorous snore from the couch. Sonia laughed, her eyes alight with amusement. “Snoring and romance don't go well together, marquis,” she observed, "and as the snoring doesn’t seem likely to stop the romance must. You say you are iu love with me, and I know you are in love with my fortune. Good by.” “You misjudge me cruelly!” Cascada protested. “Oh, no, I don’t! Men are all alike. Goodby/'__ - As the discomfited marquis made his way wr'athfully from the room Sonia mischievously crept across to the couch. There lay the man, sound asleep, his face still covered by the handkerchief. Sonia touched his hair. “Scat!” roared Danilo, giving his head a shake that let the handkerchief fall from his face. “Danilo!” 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 amazement, he stumbled to his feet and stood staring incredulously at her. “Sonia!” he exclaimed. “Sonia!” Then, recovering himself, he bowed stiffly and said: “I beg your pardon, madame.” “No; I beg yours,” she replied. “Pray go 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 different.” “And now I am awake—to the joy of seeing you again.” “The joy is all your own. Is it so surprising to find me in Paris? I am here enjoying my wealth—and free dom!" "I congratulate you on both, especial ly 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 marriago at the last moment?” "Sonic, you aro unjust. If it had rested with me you should be my wife now. not another man’s widow.” "If it rested with you?” she mim icked. “Well, let the whole story rest now. It’s forgotten.” "By you, perhaps—never by me.” “Oh. no! I remember it every now and then for my own amusement. But it 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 to marry because of her pov 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 Daniio. "No; my plebeian heart stood the shock excellently. I soon found con solation—an eJderly husband who lived just one week after the wedding and left mo all his wealth.” "Yes; 1 heard bow your father forced you into the match. Next time you can choose a husband to suit your self.” "Why should .1 many again? I am rich. free. I have everythin* ” "Including love?” he asked, his eyes devouring her fragile beauty. “I don’t believe in love." scoffed Sonia. “All men are alike. Dozens of them are after my money and make iove to me because they can’t get it ivithout me." "Men are not all fortune hunters,” he denied hotly. "I for one”— “So they all say. Each says ‘I love you!’ Each means my fortune." "They do?” cried Danilo, in rage at the strong insinuation. “Well, here's one that doesn't. I for one shall never say to you. ‘I love you!’” A strang? 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 a musical whisper as she asked: “You’ll never say to me ‘I love you?’” There was an infinity of allurement m the tempting words. Danilo. with a mighty effort, shook off the spell and shouted: “Never! Never! Never!” “That’s a comfort!” she said coldly, drawing away and seeking to veil her keen disappointment. "But,” she added more softly, “why Dot say it if you really want to?” “I don’t want to!” he declared sulki ly- “ Anti you promise faithfully you’ll never say to me, ‘I love you?’ ” Again she was perilously close to him. Again his eyes tore themselves free from the pleading seductiveness of hers as he reiterated: “I promise! I’m not going to make a fool of myself or be made a fool of.” "Is that a declaration of war?" queried Sonia. “Nc— of friendship. Do you mean to say if I 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 it to you.” Before she could answer the ambas sador and several of the guests came into the room. At first opportunity Popofif drew Daniio asld*. “Prince,” said he Impressively, "you have now been attached to this lega tion nearly four months and”— "Few of my attachments last so long.” observed Danilo. “You refer to your iove affairs? I have heard of them. They have brought you to the brink of ruin. Yog are almost penniless. Here is my plan j 1 . DO NOT OVER-LOOK 1 THE GASOLINE ENGINE You make a mistake if you think you can run your = farm economically or profitably without a gasoline engine. E Do not overlook the possibilities of a gasoline engine for EE farm use. A gasoline engine will furnish power to do the EE hundred and one little jobs about your farm which make EE farm work drudgery if hand, wind or horse power is used. EE The gasoline engine is so reliable, so simple, so safe, and EEE so economical to operate that you can not afford to over- EEE look it. Of all the gasoline engines on the market, the EE I. H. C. engine stands first because it is designed by men EE who understand the requirements of a practical and cheap EE g eg farm power. EE = P L H. C, engines are made in sizes EE ~ p from Ito 25 horse power in vertical or gUg 1 i horizontal stationary and portable types. L—jp li I We have one that will fit your needs. Call SHuolS siltl ou us we gladly explain, I For sale by CARTER & WATKINS I Georgia School I f of Technology lR departments than ever beforehand po Mi B.a.- pared to do the best work in its history. A Free Scholarships fgi 1° order to atford the young men I 'Bf of Georgia high class technical educa tion, fifteen free scholarships are I ua * es * 8 muc h greater than the supply For further Information address K. 0. JL MATHESON, A.ML,LL.D.*Pres., Atlanta,Ga. %mvm cr Yield a OTEVBU3 SINGLE cr DOUBLE BARREL OIIOTCUH is Ides!. Low in Price —High in Quality—good run value right through! Made in standard gauge::, lengths, v/cighta, etc. — , Hammer or llamfncrlc3S Styles. i I CTGVCK3 3::OTO-JN3 nr-A:;-;:? akd ctro;;g | ?cr ’-'.3 7rU J —“as- lend fer lUO-pMeUla*. tv Hardware and tratad Caift.oj deacrib dporttr.j Good, Wrr- In# untlr> output ebaytr. If you cannot Hue attractive cover obtair, r-e zmp dl-oct, In colore. Mailed for uzjref J prepaid, tsyoa 9 cent. In etatayr to rscelr* c.' Catiloj pay pasta;;,. r.i.). $ J- STEVENS armo a to ° l c °- i * * r - °’ 4<w3 ’ 7 i A Chicopee Falls j //Jti Mass. to save you, also to give you u chance to save your country from bankruptcy. I want you to marry.” “To what?” cried Danilo. "To marry—beautiful woman, my I toy —twenty inilliopa—Mme. Sonia Sadowa! Hey?" "Never!” returned Danilo, angrily, as he rose to end the interview. “Then a Frenchman will marry her. and her fortune and our country will be ruined." "1 won’t 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!” (To Be Continued.) Time softens everv heartache and makes one’s trouble* shrink to almost nothingness. SUCCESS 1 [ POULTRY 1 kRAISmG 5 I poultry comfortably housed.'B H This is best accomplished by |§ ■ covering your buildings with ■ I J-M Asbestos Roofing & Asbestoside 1 ■ They keep the building warm in I ■ winter and cool in summer -dry U ■ and comfortable at all times. s ■ Permanently durable—ber R ■ made of Asbestos —an everlasting B fl mineral. Require no coating or B ■ painting to preserve them. H B Ask for samples and prices. || f H. W. JOHNS-MANVILLE CO. I U Dept. K„ 100 WILLIAM Si. % 1 NBW YORK CITY ff J V dfr iru i \ l Xju* ti; Criminal or Picturesque. “Did you see where boys in knee pants in the west held up a train?'’ “On the track or at a wedding?”— Baltimore American. ✓ The diiffe-ence between brains and a “puli’’ is that brains can manage to get along when the “puller” dies.