St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-08-14
THE MYSTERIOUS LOVER.
The love of TWO Beings Who DID
Not Know Each Other.


She was Russian counteSs--Marie Bar
anow---a very great lady of exquisite
beauty. You know how beautiful the Rus
slams seem to us. with their fine noses, del
icate mouths, eyes set close together. OF
blush gray, an indefinite color, and theh
cool. Indifferent grace. There is some
thing seductive about them--somethlng
both naughty and gentle, tender and severe
which is altogether charming to french
man. 1t may, however. be only the dlIIer-
ence of race and type which causes me to
see so much in them.
Her Dbvsician had seen for several years
that she was threatened with a disease OF
the lungs. and had tried to bring her TO
decision to visit the south of France but
She obstinatey refused to leave ST. Peters
burg. Finally, last autumn, Judging her
already lost. the doctor warned her nus
band, who Immediately ordered his VIE 10
leave for MentOne.
She took the train, alone in her coach,
while her servants occupied another COM
partment. She leaned back and watched
the plains and villages move by, feeling $50
lated, abandoned in life, without childreh,
almost without relatives, with husband
thus 10 the end of the earth without gong
with her. as he would send sick valet TO
the hospital.
At each station Ivan, her servant, came
to see if his mistress needed anything. He
was an old man. blindly devoted, ready TO
carry out any order she might give HIM.
Night fell and the train moved swiftly
oil. From excessive excavation she was
unable To sleep. Suddenly the thought
came to her that she would count the money
which her husband had given her at the
last moment She opened her little bag
and empted out into her lap the shining
stream of metal.
Suddenly a draught of cold air crossed
her face She raised her head in surprise.
The door had just opened. The Countess
Marie in alarm quickly threw a shawl over
the money spread out in her lap, and
waited. A few seconds elapsed and then a
man appeared, in evening dress, bare
headed. painting. and with wounded hand.
He shut the door, sat down, regarded his
neighbor with cleaning eyes, and then
wrapped his bleeding wrist i'll a handker-
chief.
The young woman grew faint with fear.
The man had certainly seen her counting
her gold and was there to rob and murder
her.
Madame" he said abruptly, ''do not
be alarmed
She made no reply, being unable to open
her mouth, hearing her heart beat and her
ears hum.
y am not rascal, madame" he re-
sumed.
She still said nothing, but bringing her
knees together by a sudden movement her
gold began to drop to the carpet as water
runs from an eaveS-trOugh.
The man looked in surprise at the stream
of metal, and stopped at once to pick
it up.
She rose wildly, throwing all her treas
IRE to the floor and rushed to the door to
throw herself on the track. But he under
stood what she was going to do, sprang
forward, caught her III his arms placed
her in her seat, and, holding her by the
wrists, said: Listen to Inc, madame, |
am not a Scondrel. am going to pick up
this money and give it back to you. But
l am a lost man, dead man, unless you
help me TO cross the frontier. | cannot
tell you more. In an hour we shall be at
the last Russian station; in an hour and
twenty minutes we shall cross the boun-
Diary of the empire. Unless you come to
my aid l am lost. And yet, madame, l
have neither murdered nor stolen, nor done
anything to stain my honor. That | swear
to. More than that | cannot tell YOU"
And, kneeling down, he picked up the
gold from under the seats, searching for
the smallest piece that had rolled away.
Then when the little leathen bag was full
again he returned it to his neighbor without
a word and returned TO his seat in the OPP
posite corner of the compartment
,f4l
manned mOtionlesS and mute. half fainting
with terror, but gradually growing calmer.
AS for him. he made not gesture. not
movement; he sat upright. looking straight
before him. very pale. as if lac were dead.
From time to time she east on him an alb
rupt glance, quickly turning away. He was
a man of about 80, very handsome, with
the appearance of being a gentleman.
The train rushed on through the dark
ness, uttering its piercing Shrieks to the
night. at times Slackening its speed and
then starting again as rapidly as ever
But suddenly its motion moderated. il
whistled several times, and stopped ALTO
gether.
Ivan appeared at the door at length TO
receive his orders. Countess Marie took
one final look at her strange companion. and
then said abruptly to the man:
Ivan, you are to return to the count: |
have 40 further need of YOU"
The man opened his eyes enormously.
struck with establishment and began To
stammcr his circumstances.
No" she continued, ''you are not COM
ing; l have changed my mind. | want
You to remain i'll Russia. Here is money
for your return. Give me your cap and
cloak
The amazed old man barred his head and
offered his cloak. Obeying without Ques-
ton, accustomed to the sudden detenmina-
tons and unanswerable capriceS of his
masters. lie withdrew with tears in his
eyes.
The train started again, Fastening on To-
ward the frontier. The Countess Marie
addressed her neghbOr:
These articles are for you SIR, said
she. You are my servant. Ivan. 7 do
this on only one condition: That Won
never speak TO me, never address one word
to me, either TO thank me or for any other
purpoSe."
The unknown bowed without speak
ing.
Soon they stopped again, and officers in
uniform visited the train. The countess
gave them her papers, and pointing to the
man seated i'll her compartment: THAT is
my servant, Ivan. said she, whose pass
port have here
The train resumed its course. All night
long they sat facing each other. both 81
lent.
When morning came and they had stopped
at a German station the stranger alighted
But he stopped in the doorway.
Pardon me, madame" said he. ''for
breaking my promise; but having denriycd
you of your servant, it is Just that | sbonId
I'll his place. What can | do for yon9r
go for my mail, - she coldly replied.