The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1884-02-21

her to. That seemed clear
She walked up to the top OF Wilton
Place, took a hanson, and told
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 TO discover
something? Was the amateur deceit
i've about to be rewarded by gre-t
success? She gloEjed in the thou, II
OF now instantly she had seen thFDU a
Mrs Vaery's absurd story, which she
concluded had been told her in case by
any miscbance she should come 10
meet her own husband
No one was in the cotfee-room. 1t
was an hour at which meals were pot
wanted So much the better, thoug ht
Lady LYNX. She went to an armchair
in an obscure corner of the room and
established herself there, providing
herself with a newspaper with which
to screen her face. She was now pre-
pared to wait for what time might
bring forth.
Meantime Mrs. Valery had 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.
Valery 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 a sneeze, certainly had come
to the hotel, taken a room and gone to
it. 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 laugh. "How-
ever, he expects me to interpret for
him. L will write him line on this
card, if you will take it up to him. l
will wait in the coffee-room, and when
he comes down show him in there.
Mrs. Valery wrote a 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 a
few moments; then began to walk to
and fro rather restlessly, her eyes on
the ground. She was a little nervous
about this meeting with man she had
never seen. 1t would be quite easy if
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
arc, in the first hour he spent in
England. And then sne Degan TO UnlnK
how kind his friends had been to her
when she was in Russia That gave
her new courage; but, ON, how long he
kept her waiting. She glanced around
the room. She could just see the top
of black bonnet over distant arm
chair; q lady was there reading pa
per. She felt glad there was no one
to observe a pretty woman waiting in
a public coffee-room for some one who
did not come.
At last the door opened and gentle
man entered quickly. Mrs. Valery saw
in single swift glance that he was ex-
tremely handsome, tall and distin-
guished-fooking and that he had the
air which one is compelled to ascribe
foreign" for want of better word.
That is to say, though he was not very
Russian in appearance, yet he did not
look ike an Englishman. Mrs. Valery
called up all her courage and pretty
manners and with an extreme nervous
ness which no one but herself could
perceive, advanced eagerly TO meet
him. She held out her hand and began
to talk rapidly in Russian. He did not
answer her; but then she gave him no
time 10, for her nervousness made her
talk rather more than she intended.
He held her hand in his and gazed ad-
miringly into her face, which, with its
slight flush of Embarrassment, was
even lovelier than usual. This went on
for two or three minutes, then Mrs.
ValerY tried to draw her hand away,
and looked about for a chair. Bat her
new friend held her hand fast, which
discompOsed her a great deal, yet it
did not startle her so much as the sight
which greeted her eyes as she looked
around. Lady Lynx had advanced
stealthily, and stood close beside them.
Her face was awful Mrs Valery ut
tered an inartieulato cry of aston
ishment. This made the gentleman
look around also. He Immediately
dropped Mrs Valery's hand.
Now" said Lady Lynx, before any
one else had time to speak-s.now,
Mrs. Valery, know you for what you
are,i
This speech produced different
effect from what she intended. Ger
tainly, il startled Mrs. Valery as much
rs she hoped it would; but, before that
lady had time to speak, the handsome
gentleman said, in an easy manner,
and with a knowing twinkle in his eye:
''Then, my dear Kate, l wish you d
tell me. | took her for an amiable and
very pretty lunatic. Was l right? Per
haps YOU can tell me also if she speaks
any language but Hindostanee, or
whatever the unknown tongue is that
she's been talking"
"That frivolous tone is useless now,
Sir George, " said Lady Lynx. with iron
dignity; sit has been tried too often.
Perhaps you will kindly tell the waiter
to call nae n Gao.
Certainly, my dear" said Sir
George, with an exaggerated good
humor. At that moment waiter came
in. carrying a salver on which was a
goblet of brandy and soda.
That's right said Sir George;
perhaps this viii clear my brain. for
I'm beginning to believe I'm dreaming.
Waiter. call cab for this lady,
WAITER" cried Mrs. Valery. where
is the Russian gentleman you took my
card top
He is here, madam" said the wait
er, as at that moment the door opened
and swarthy, yellow-skinned man,
evidently with Jewish blood in his
veins, entered the room. He looked
inquiringly at the two ladies. Mrs.
NaIery roused herself: she advanced