The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1882-11-16

| alInOSG DeSlue Ineul, anu very SOOn
after unmasked, showing the blue eyes
and light brown hair of Harold Vim
cent.
Connected puppy snarled Count
Kolachewski, gazing spitefully after
the tall graceful figure--such con-
trast to his own-strolling from one
group to another, yet always some
where in the neighbcrhood of the
prince and his companion.
"For my part feel'much easier for
the assurance his spresence gives me that
for this evening at least my daughter
is safe," remarked the prince.
A few moments later Lohengrin
wandered into one of the smaller
rooms, watched game of cards for a
short time, then remasked, entered the
lofty corridor and disappeared for half
an hour.
Slowly he passed through the corri-
dor and down the broad staircase,
stopping now and then to exchange a
jest with some entering mask. Reach
ing the street he quickened his pace,
and walked on hastily for a block,
then turned from the fashionable thor
oughfare into quiet side street, which
very soon led him into one retired and
shabby enough to have been miles
away instead of close to the center of
the great metropolis.
He stopped before the door Of a
smoky little cafe, evidently principally
frequented by the working classes,
and, entering ran up low staircase
and Knocked quickly at door at the
top, which was Immediately opened by
a young man in policeman's uniform.
The room had no other occupant, and
the two somewhat strange companions
transacted the business which had
brought them together behind a locked
door. Only a few moments passed be-
fore they descended into the street;
but close inspection would have
! shown strange change-black eyes
instead of blue cleaning from under
} the mask, while the short hair, almost
hidden by the muller around the DO
liceman's throat, had faded from black
to light brown.
At the door the two men parted,
the policeman calling his friend back
: for an instant as he moved away to
ask hurriedly:
, "You didn't forget to give her the
sleeping powder?"
"No, indeed" replied Lohen grin,
and he went his way, returning to the
ball, where he continued to find his
pleasure always in the vicinity of
Prince Romanzeff, while the policeman
, walked on quickly whittier his duty
!, called him, to the neighborhood of the
Palais RomanZeif.
When he arrived at his post he was
not surprised to find that the police
man who preceded him had already
departed, for he was fully half an hour
late. Fortunately the street was very
retired, and passers-by at that hour
were very rare, and his ;lreach of duty
had been unnoticed. The weather, for
the district, was mild; very little snow
had as yet fallen: but the evening was
raw, and the air laden with damp
ness which seemed to penetrate to the
very bones. Not star was visible
and thick fog lay like veil over the
city, making even the gas-lights ap-
pear little brighter than far-off stars
in the gloom.
Up and down before the Romanzeff
palace the policeman paced quickly, as
if his whole duty was to guard that
mansion and its inmates alone, stop.
ping often before the great entrance
gates to gaze up at the windows, eov.
citing, doubtless, the warmth and COM
fort within, until the chill dampness
compelled him to move on again.
Olga and her aunt had passed rather
a busy evening, taking advantage OF
the absence of the gentlemen to set in
order various weighty trihes in pre-
paration for the all-important wed.
ding day. Olga was glad of any ex-
cuse for constant motion and occupa.
ton, anthing to conceal and divert at
tentiOn from the trepidation and ex.
citement which had taken possession
Of her. At last, however, everything
was complete, and Olga rather eagerly
suggested retiring for the night.
Since Mademoiselle Romanzeff's ar
rival, part Of her plan of espionage
had been to occupy the sleeping-room
with her niece, so that not even during
the long hours of the night was the
poor girl free, and she was always ex.
pected to retire at whatever hour best
suited the elder lady.
On this night mademoiselle seemed
in no hurry to seek the repose which
her niece dutifully suggested she SC
much needed after the fatigues of the
day, and the young lady was forced to
wait, with what patience she could
command, until her aunt had given hel
a detailed and minute description OF
her mothers and most Of her relatives
weddings before the summons came tc
retire for the night.
AT last the bell was rung for Babettt
and the glass of mulled wine which
Mademoiselle Romanzeff considered ar
indispensable aid to slumber, and tc
which Babette added this evening g
white powder, glancing fearfully about
her before hastily stirring it into the
wine; and presently quiet reigned il
the palace.
AS the last light was extinguishet
the policeman below stopped short be
fore the gate, and for fully fifteeI
minutes stood immovable, gazing in
tently toward the gloomy mansion, its
outlines almost distinguishable in the
darkness. Suddenly he started for
ward eagerly, as he heard his name
whispered breathlessly almost at his
very elbow.
Harold-oh. Harold %