The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1885-10-16
EBENsBURG. PA. FRIDAY. OCTOBER

y 4
protested to the contrary.
3" on want to hear Iay story? Very
well. 1t IS an DER true tale, at all
events, and may prove lntereating.o
After few moments silence. in
which his thoughts seemed far away. he
began:
You remember when last we part
ed:"
Yes. on the deck of the steamer, as
You were starting for Europe
Exactly. After landing, I went at
once to London. where [ remained for
several months. doing nothing in par
tlcUlar, but passing the time as young
man naturally would who had his pOcB-
/ cts lined with gold and an abundance
of leisure time on his hands. After an
idle. aimless life iii th2t old city, /
crossed the channel and made my way
to Paris. You remember. Weldon,
when I became of age. my guardian
turned the whole of my income over to
me, unreservedly, while he still retained
the management OF the estate at nv
| particular request. As l had never
been abroad, and, in fact, had not
travelled much in my own country. l
Z naturally felt a desire to see the
world"
Quite natural. I'm sure"
''Well, l began to make the most Of
the two resources at my command
time and mOney-and was soon living
gay and perhaps somewhat fast life in
this, the best. or I might say the worst
of French cities. Al any rate. l found
myself enjoying it all very well, and it
was one CeaseleSS round OF gGyetieS,
with theatres succeeding balls. and
these closely followed in their turn by
the opera or something equally enter
tanning. ! owed the most of my intro
dUcJIOnS into society to an artist friend
Of mine who. though already famous,
and on the shining road 10 riches
rFTnTIBn o. ~ % -a1
somewhat Of a Bohemian life among
the multitude of artists studying under
those various Partisan masters. Per
haps you knew this Arthur PierrcpOnt?
He was formerly from New York
I knew him by reputation only"
We were quite intimate, and had
many jolly time together. There was
certain club in existence IN Paris then
OF which be was one Of the leading
spirits. II was their custom to hold re
Cept,CnS every two weeks at their ela-
giant club house, which were attended
by the members who were almost en-
t.Tely actors, actresses. Journalists and
musicians, toge. her with their friends.
These We're always most enjoyable al
fairs. and we Went number Of times
during the season.
1t was at one of the parties or recep-
tiOnS, that | first met Jules DupreS.
lie was a typical Frcnchman, i'm stat
ure small and WiTy. with cOal-black
hair and Dushy eyebrows. and a heavy
mOuStacae, almost hiding his thin.
tTeaCherCus lips. His eyes were small
| and deep-Set. piercing in the intensity
OF their blackneSS, while they darted
about so reStlesSiy. and with such a
sinister expression. that I lnstinCtively
felt dislike to him before | had been
fairly presented. This bad impression
speedily wore off as l entered into con-
yeTsation with him, when I found him
one of the most accomplished takers I
I6'lLlt Lylt-lf uI'I DIJ ~ IItgL IlC VIZ per
fectly at home, and could Outtalk me
twice over"
He must have been remarkable"
Ned smiled az he responded. L see
you do remember me, after ALL
Yes; but 90 on"
AS | was saying. this man was so
entertaining that | soon forgot nv half
formed prejudices. and was completely
charmed by his manner. As time ran
along, and we met at d number of social
events. became quite intimate with
HIM. My artist friend noticed this. and
did not appear to sanction it.
i don. I half like that black French
man OF yours, Pierce he said to me
one day, while l was watching him at
work in his studio.
"'WhyY'
%, fancy he is not exactly a fair
and square man. | may be wrong. but
he don I impress me at all favorablv.'
come with him that | laughed Pierre
points fears TO the winds. [ was sure
he was all right. Why, such a iolIv
good fellow could not be very bad at
heart.
1t was one evening in early Nav that
found me at the last of the club Tecep-
tons for the season. As usual. NV
Ohye-hued DupreS was there. as smiling
and vOluble as ever. During the even
ing, which seemed more than usually
gay, wandered into the almost desert
ed SmOkng-rOOm. and sinking into an
easy-ChaIr, was soon envelOped in a .
cloud OF smoke, and deep in a brown (
study.
friend. ny
! looked up, and there was Dupres. f.
leaning III a careless attitude against 4
one of the window easements. All it's .
you, IS It? / was just thinking how
pleasant 1t all was here, and how l .
hated to leave "
Leave? Is monsieur going away?'
1es, l have decided to ramble on.
am going to start for st. Petersburg
Tomorrow
Is it possible? How very singular.
am going to Riga myself and per
maps we can arrange to travel in com
panv.'
% 1 was not aware you contemplated
leaving Paris, | said somewhat sur
pTlsed at his avOwal. 1 did not know
you were in business
- 20. yes, ] am starting for Russia to
look after our furs. We are largely in
terested in that industry
tancIed for the moment a slight
embarrassment in his manner, but i'm
mejiately dismissed the idea. reasoning
in my own mind that there was nothing
very remarkable in two gentlemen
to be travelling in the same
direction.
The result was, the next morning
found US IN the same compartment.
and booked for the same destination.
Since leaving you last night he (
explained. i find | would have to 90 to
81. Petersburg, after all, so concluded
to 60 at once and be done with it
After a long and tireSome Journey.
we arrived at our destination. and un-
der his guidance went to the Imperial
Hotel. where we were accommodated.
The weather was simply delightful for
that part of the world and we gave
ourselves up entirely to pleasures and
sightseeing. He had apparently for
gotten his business. as he never re-
terred to 1t, while |, who had lost any
| might have had. was only too
glad to have him devote his time to
a few evenings passed.
and he proposed the theatre 1t seems
there was a very good French company
Just beginning a long season there, and
we're playing to crowded houses. We
vent, and 1t was Il ere | first saw nv
ate"
Ned paused and silence reigned for a
eW moments. while with a hard set ex-
1TessIon on his face he CaZed moodilv
It the glowing Goals.