Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-03-03
THE MYSTERIOUS sEMPsTREss
AN EPISODE OF LIFE IN RUSSIA


agency of theirs in - street In ST. Peters
burg, where handsome shop had been rented.
One blustery cold day toward the close of Octo-
Der found the shop door closed, aud learned to
my dismay that our agent had disappeared and
the machines had all been seized tor rent and
debts. What was to be done? ALI the money
had in the world was about equivalent to ala
What was due me / had left in our agents
hands. and felt sure 1t was lost thought of
everything in the % minutes which elapsed be-
tween my heart breaking when I found
the shop door closed and my rapid
walk to my lodgings. Fortunately.
My room had been hired tor the month.
and had been paid for In advance. / had at
least root over my head for few weeks An
idea suddenly struck me- had been making
an evening dress on the machine for a Russian
lady who spoke English. She had some idea of
buying machine. In order to expedite the
work had taken to my room the body of her
dress, and, having machine there had sewed
on 1t of nights That machine l would certainly
keep; IT would go very little toward the paw
pent Of the debt the agent owed me- hurried
home Perhaps there was a letter with some
money IN IT, There was nothing. I must find
the lady-but how? She had left no address
She had hardly spokea to :..sss. .a,onont +
nearo hef say -st ssnr ue1id come again. and /
Dehe'"u that she had fixed on this very day.
l..::cre was but one chance in a thousand. I
must stand in the street and wait until she ap-
peared.
FASTENED back and took up my position
near the shop. | scanned every woman pass
ing by. 1t was bitterly cold and raw, and the
wind chilled me. | was faint with anxiety.
Had l only known more of the language
would haYe asked policeman to take me to
the American consul. to the minister I was in
despair. Suddenly a carriage drove I'D. foot
man opened the door, and lady elegantly
dressed alighted. l tore across the street; it
was the Russian lady. With my heart in INV
mouth, told her my pitiful story and begged
her to helpme. II she wanted servant. would
she only try me? had sewing-machine, and
would make her dresses for nothing If l could
only stay with her until I could write to nv
people at home: they would send me money
and Icould get back to the United States. NV
words must have had but little sense In them.
was so brOken-hearted for at first she hardly
seemed to understand me.
II am without a friend In the world here-a
poor American woman, thousands of miles from
her home"
She looked steadfastly at me, then opened her
pOrte-mOnnaie
No. no." said, 81 want no money. 7 cam
not beg. am not yet so poor as to ask aims
But 90 you not remember me i? The store Ia
Closed The man who kept it has run away. 1
showed you the way the machine was worked -
Then she scanned me quickly; next cross
questioned me sharply
How could yonng girl trust herself alone
In this strange country 2" she asked
Il was not alone. Two other young women
came from the United States with me. Two
weeks ago they were sent home, and the miser-
able man in charge induced me to STAY. prom
isng to give me money enough at the end of
next month for nv trip home TO the United
States. Might not the police look up the mat
ter l have been outrageously swndled"
The police and my dress-am to lose it ?"
the lady asked impatieHtly.
Not all fit The skirt is in the shon the
body. the waist, is in my ROOM almost finished ("
1T seemed to me dreadful that in NV agony she
should talk about her dress
Where do you live:" she inquired abruptly
told her Get into the carriage" she said
alu So When we we're off the main street she
stopped the carriage. got out with me, and we
walked TO my lodgings. ] opened the door
On the table was her basque 1t did not seem
to interest her She picked it up. however
glanced at 1T moment. then threw it down
She examined the Sewing-machine
How long would it take me to become pro-
hclent in working this?" she inquired as she sat
down before the machine and tried the pedals,
SIS it fatiguing?"
No, madam. Oh. would you buy IT, 1t is
me to leave st. Petersburg"
How long did YOU say it would take me to
become PROFICIENT"
Two weeks-perhaps less"
would 1t disigure my hands?" She took off
her gloves showed her well-cared- for hands. her
fingers giitterIng with rings
Your beautiful hands would hardly be
spoiled"
well, then. give me lesson at once-at
once. Will pay you for your trouble"
L expressed my gratitude with almost tears
In my eyes II have no material here-but any,
thing will do" 1 said, as / opened my trunk
and took out an, apron. Il will run a tuck
across the bottOm-it will do no harm?''
Nonsense. Take the waist aud begin on
that
But it is quite finished. and any extra stitch
Ing would spoil this delicate. cream colored
silk"
Give It to me-" said the lady, taking mn her
scissors and deliberately cutting the waist up
the back.
Now sew upthis." she cried. I took IT. and
as carefully as l could ran the machine. sewing
up an ugly cash, but. of course, the waist was
spoiled. snow I will try" and she sat down.
ana under my instructions worked for an hour.
She was wonderfully clever with her fingers
ana seemed to seize the peculiarities of the ma
chine at once
AT this rate Of progress, Madam, YOU would
become quite good workwOman in ten DAYS. !"
l said approvingly.
She made no reply, but worked away for an
other half hour crossing and recrOssinp the ho(Iv
witt stitches. at Is not so tiresome after ALL )"
she said. ''but | have had enough TOR TO-DAY
Tomorrow l will call. and you will then take the
machine to pieces and show me how 1t must be
put together again. You will oblige me yery
particularly by not going out to-day. have to
thank you for your patience. Keep my visit
silent. hope you have learned that In Russia
It Is better to keep quiet tongue. Do not re-
turn to the shop. Pray take this for nv first
lesson, and she placed on the machine table q
piece OF gold
II am very much overpaid," said.
icana"
american, from New Hampshire"
"New Hampshire! Where IL that2"
Zone Of the New England states"
II never heard Of it. You are q good rcpub-
hcan. I suppose7"
II hope So"
Swell. sdieu." / felt very much inclined to
kiss her. She looked cold and naughty. but INV
heart was 80 full Of thankfulness that. oyercom.
Ing somewhat the awe felt. ventured to take
her hand In mine and put 1t to my lips. She did
not withdraw It. Poor child, +" she said: ssyou
do not look more than twenty. and at your age
to be In such trouble! This must be a hard ex
perience for you. Goodbye, and until to-mor-
row." She gazed ot me steadfastly, as II she
would look me through, and then, bowling, left
me.
did not, would not, allow myself to be dis
heartened. sst down and wrote two letters
one TO my mother at Amherst. the other to a
sewing machine comn4ny in Nau York ~