The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1884-09-05

niiN IcNNS w lulll1l Uut OI(teT tuUC 6I0
could possibly give him. Night came
on, and the train was rushing forward
at full speed. She could not sleep, for
excess Of nervousness. Suddenly the
idea occurred to her to count the money
her husband had placed in her hand at
the last moment, in gold coin of France.
She opened her little bag and emptied
the shining mass of metal into her lap.
just then Whit of cold air smote
her in the face. She lifted her head in
surprise. The door of the railroad car
had just opened. Hastily the Countess
Marie dropped her shawl over the mon
ey lying in her lap aud waited. A Sec
ond later man entered, bareheaded,
wounded i'll his hand, painting violently
and attired IT. evening full dress. He
closed the door, sat down, gazed at his
neighbor with glittcring eyes and COM
menced to bind handkerchief about
his bleeding wrist.
The young woman felt herself ready
to faint with fear. That man certainly
must have seen her counting the gold,
and he had come in only to rob and
murder her.
He kept his gaze upon her, still out
of breath as he was, his face working
strangely, as though he were preparing
to leap upon her.
Then lie said sharply:
Don't be afraid, madam!"
She could not speak; there was q
sound of buzzing in her ears, and she
could hear her own heart beat.
HA Snnl:n nYoin uT IN, not
inal, madam"
Specifies with fear, she could an
swer nothing, but in the sudden move.
ment of her start at the sound of his
voice her knees coming together caused
the gold to trlckle down upon the floor
piece by piece, as the water trickles
from spout.
The man observed with surprise the
falling stream of gold pieces, and sud-
denly bent down to pick them up.
Then, wild with fear, she rose to her
feet. dropping all her fortune on the
floor, and rushed toward the entrance
to leap cut upon the track. But he
comprehended what she was going to
do, and turning, seized her in his arms,
reseated her by force, and grasping her
wrists, exclaimed:
Listen to me, madam. I am not
robber; and the proof is that I am GO
ing to pick up all your money and give
it back to you. But am lost man
l am dead man-if you do not mid me
to pass the frontier. I can tell you
nothing more. In another hour we
shall reach the last Russian station; in
one hour and twenty minutes we shall
cross the frontier line. If you do not
succor me, 1 am lost. And nevertheless,
madam, swear to you that have not
killed ANYBODY. stole anything, or done
one dishonorable act. This l swear to
you. But cannot tell you anything
MORE"
And, going down upon his knees he
picked up every coin to the very last,
seeking the gold pieces under the
benches, and grasping after those
which had rolled into Obscure places.
Then, when the little leather bag was
full again, he handed it to his neighbor
without word, and retired to corner
Of the car, where he sat down. Meth
OF of them made the 1enst movement.
She remained motionless and dumb,
still faint with terror, hut gradually be-
coming calm. As for him, he made
not gesture, not sign; he remained
sitting erect and immobile, with eyes
looking straight before him. and SO
pale that lie seemed to he dead. From
time to time she cast a quick side glance
ut him, which was Us quickly turned
away. He was man of about thirty,
very handsome, with all the outward
appearance Of n gentleman.
The train rushed on through the
darkness, flinging out It's piercing
shriekes to tho night, sometimes slack.
ening its pace moment, only to start
off again under full steam. But at
last its course became steadily slow. il
whistled several times, and stopped
short.
Ivan appeared at the door to receive
orders.
The Countess Marie gave final look
at her strange travelling companion,
and then said brusquely to her servant:
Ivan, thou will now return to the
count; shall have no more need of
thee"
Stupefied, the man opened his eyes
enormously. He began to stammer
"But-Varine~
mo, thou shalt not come: I have
changed my mind; I prefer thou
shouldst remain in Russia. Here,
this is the money to pay thy way.
Give me thy cap and cloak, quickly? ?"
Dumbfounded, the old servant took
on his cap and cloak, obeying without
word accustomed as he was to the
sudden whims and irresistible caprice
OF masters. And lle went away with
tears iii his eyes.
Again the train started, making for
the frontier.
Then the Countess Marie said to her
neighbor:
"These things are for you, sir. You
are now my servant, Ivan. 1 place but
one condition upon what 1 do-namely,
That You never speak to me, that you do
not utter one single word, neither to
thank me, nor for any other cause
whatsoever"
The stranger bowed without speak.
ing.
Soon they stopped again; and uni-
form officials entered the train. The
countess showed them her papers, and
pointing to the man seated in the far
ther end of the car, said:
"This is my servant Ivan, and this il
his passport.
The train moved on. 4
For the rest of tho night the 20.
alone together, without speaking.
At dawn, as they halted at German
station. the stranger got ont. Then,
standing near the window Of the car
door, he said:
Pardon me, madam, for breaking
my promise, but as have deprived yon
of your servant, it is just that should
replace him. Do you need anything?"
She replied, coldly:
go and tell my waiting maid to
He did 20, and disappeared
INT II