Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1884-04-17

mentioned Charing Cross. It is absurd
to suppose that he did not know what
train he would come BY. The thing
seemed more ridiculous the more she
thought Of il. OF course he knew when
he would arrive-but he did not want
her to, That seemed clear.
She walked up TO the top Of Wilton
Place, took hanson, and tod
the man to drive to the Charing Cross
hotel Arrived there. she entered and
said she expected gentleman to meet
her in few moments. adding that she
would like TO wait in the coffee room.
Her heart beat with excitement as she
went in. Was she about 10 discover
someihingP Was the amateur detect
i've about TO be rewarded by great
successP She gloried in the thought
of how instantly she had seen through
Mrs. Valery's absurd story, which she
concluded had been told her in case by
any mischance she should come TO
meet her own husband.
No one was in the coffee-room. 1t
was an hour at which meals were not
wanted. So much the better, thought
Lady LYNX. Sac went to an armchair
in an OBSCURE corner of the room and
established herself there, providing
herself with newspaper with which
to screen her face. She was now pre-
pared to wait for what time might
bring forth.
Meantime Mrs. Valcry mad put on
her bonnet and driven down to the
same place in her little brougham. A
very short time after Lady LYNX had
settled herself IN the coffee-room Mrs.
Valerv walked into the hotel and in
quired whether q count Of an unpro-
nounceable name had arrived. After
considerable consultation and much
mental effort the waiter informed her
that foreign gentleman. whose name
was like sneeze, certainly had come
to the hotel, taken room and gone to
1t. But he had not said that he expect
ed lady to see him, for the very good
reason that he could speak no language
but his own, which no one in the hotel
understood.
''Oh, nonsense! he speaks French"
said Mrs. Valery, with a laugh. How
ever, he expects me to interpret for
him. will write him line on this
card. if you will take it up to him.
will wait in the coffee-room, and when
he comes down show him in there"
Mrs. Valery wrote line in Russian
beneath her name, and then gave the
card to the waiter. 1t was sent up
stairs and she was shown into the COT
fee-room. She went in and sat still
few moments; then began to walk to
and fro rather rcstlessly, her eyes on
the ground. She was little nervous
about this meeting with man she had
never seen. 1t would be quite easy II
he were nice; if he were not, it would
be horrid. She thought to herself, as
she waited, that if one of her dearest
friends had not asked her to do this,
she would have refused.
Probably her sudden dislike of her
task merely arose from the depressing
effect of being stranded alone in the
midst of great hotel coffee-room and
having to remain there. At all events
she resolved that she would be cordial,
if the man looked at all nice; she would
not let him be chilled, as most foreign
ers are, in the first hour he spent in
England. And then she began to think
how kind his friends had been to her
when she was in Russia. That gave
her new courage; but, oh, how long he
kept her waiting. She glanced around
the room. She could just see the top
Of black bonnet over a distant arm
chair; lady was there reading pa
per- She felt glad there was no one
10 observe pretty woman waiting in
! public coffee-room for some one who |
lid not come.
At last the door opened and gentle
nan entered quickly. Mrs. Valery saw |
n single swift glance that he was ex-
remely handsome. tall and distin-
,uished-looking and that he had the
llr which one is compelled to ascribe
foreign" for want OF better word.
That is to say, though he was not very
tusslan in appearance, yet he did not
ook like an Englishman. Mrs. Valery
allied up all her courage and pretty
manners and with an extreme nervous
ess which no one but herself could
erceive, advanced eagerly to meet
i'm. She held out her hand and began
, talk rapidly in Russian. He did not
nswer her; but then she gave him no
me to, for her nervousness made her
nix rather more than she intended.
le held her hand in his and gazed adj
liringly into her face, which, with its
light flush of embarrassment, was
yen lovelier than usual. This went on
,r two or three minutes, then Mrs.
alery tried to draw her hand away,
nd looked about for chair. But her
ew friend held her hand fast, which
scomposed her q great deal, yet it
id not startle her so much as the sight
hich greeted her eyes as she looked ;
'ound. Lady Lynx had advanced i
and stood close beside them.
er face was awful. Mrs. Valery ut
red an inarticulate cry of aston
hment. This made the gentleman | i
ok around also. He immediately u
'oppcd Mrs. Valery's hand.
Now" said Lady Lynx, before any
le else had time to speak-"now,
RS. Valery, know you for what you + r
e!" +.
This speech produced different "
ect from what she intended. Ger 4
inly, it startled Mrs. Valery as much
she hoped it would; but, before that
iy had time to speak, the handsome
nt.oman said. in an easy manner,
d with knowing twinkle in his eve: ;,
Then, my dear Kate, l wish you'd :;
! me. took her for an amiable and r
ry pretty lunatic. Was rightP Per- X K
ps you can tell me also if she speaks g. g.
language but Hindostanee, or M NJ
'atever the unknown tongue is that y, j"
e's been talking" % o.
''That frivolous tone is useless now .