The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1889-12-07
RUSSIAN ADVENTURE
BY ROBERT C. V. MEYERS.

ing III puTU OI d. IeUeTSUuTR
where there were many pretentious
houses, butlittle travel; he had met
no one, save a lighter of the
street lamps, for a quarter of an
hour.
Suddenly from out the shadow Of
porch came a young and prepos-
sessing man who raised his hat
courteously.
81 think you arrived in Petersburg
last EVENING"" said he to Wallace, in
perfectly good English.
Tho American stared at him.
The stranger followed up his ques-
ton by another:
''When you were about to enter
your hotel last evening, perhaps you
picked up a fan a lady had drop
ped?"
Wallace started; he had been think
ing of the lady of the fan.
The evening before had been ex-
ceptionally warm for September. In
the glare of the hotel entrance, as he
was about to enter, a lady and
gentleman in evening dress passed
by. The lady dropped her fan. The
American stopped and picked it up.
She was the most beautiful woman
he had ever seen; nature and art had
done marvels for her. Herglittering
eyes encountered his, while delicate
eastern aroma eLlanating from her
garments was almost intoXica ting.
There was o heightened bloom on
her rounded cheek, disclosure of
white teeth, and her little gloved
hand went out to take the fan.
Another instant and her compan-
ion had grasped the toy from the
American with so much rudeness
that the latter looked up into his
scrowling face.
The lady laughed a low laugh, and
bestowing a quick glance at Wallace,
moved on beside her escort, evidently
bound for some grand entertain
ment. Wallace looked after the two.
"That woman is an arrant CO.
quette," he said to himself. II
should not be surprised i she drop
ped that fan purposeIy 10 annoy the
Jealous wretch at her side in having
me pick it up. Heaven, but she is
beautiful
He entered the hotel, an d having
no luggage, and scarcely believed
when he said he would leave in two
days, as he had only come from Odessa
where business took him merely to
see the capitol, was regarded sus-
piciously, and was very carefully
watched.
He knew little of this suspicion,
however. He went to bed and
dreamed of the beautiful woman he
had decided was II coquette.
In the morning his first thought
was for her. She was uppermost IN
his mind all day. In the twilight OF
the evening he went out for a walk.
He went farther than ne intended.
He found himselfalone, when upcame
the man with questions.
Wallace. NOT averse to finding out
il this werean enigma, said:
at would be difficult to forget so
lovelva woman"
The Russian eyes flashed.
y "Goodr" he said; "of course one
must remember her having once seen
her. lam her cousin, Ossip Dostoy-
evsky. came from her with word
for you"
"For mel" cried Wallace.
"She accused herself of rudeness,"
returned the Russian imperturbably.
"She wishes to thank you in person
for the small service you rendered
her. If you will consent-and the
Americans are aproverbially gallant
people" he bowed low; Wallace
looked at him for hidden sneer-
"you will be good enough to follow
me to the Countess Anna lvanovna."
Resenting something in the mans
manner, Wallace with the rashness
of youth replied:
The Countess Anna Ivanovna
honors me-"
The Russian bowed and stepped a
little in advance. This should have
appealed to him as odd. but Wallace
was curious to know how the matter
would end. Though they had gone
thus only n hundred yards or so, he
began to think he was making a TOOL
of himself-how did he know but
there was some trickery at handl
The Russian knew all about his ma
tionality, must likely know he was
stranger in the city. probably was
not unac1uainted with the fact that
he knew no one in the place, and
might not be ignorant Of the bank
notes in his pocket, and the diamonds
he was carrying fIom Odessa, home
to his fair American fiancee. The
idea Of a countess acting in this fash
ionl He was about to cry halt, when
he found that the man had assembled
u fight Of steps in front of a marble
residence and noiselessly opened the
leaves of u wide hall door. The spir-
it of adventure predominated over
caution.
The next iainute Wallace found
himself in 81 long hall of mar
BILE, the polished walls inlaid here
and there with onyx and malachite,
n brass lamp suspended by chains
from the ceiling partially illuminat-
ing the apartment AND disclosing the
only piece of furniture there tripod
upon which burned an incense. The
Russian flung open the door to the
right, and there was fash of light |
from many n candelabra within.
"Please to enter" he said, quite |
like n grand chamberlain.
The affair was piquant now. Wal
lace was no coward; but he could not |
help thinking OF those at home, espec-
tally of his finance, in the manner
attributed to men on the point ct
drowning.
The drawing room he entered was
large, luXuriously furnished apart
ment, albeit with n touch of barbar-
ism in its splendor. Heavy curtains |
OF maize-colored satin draped the
five long windows; there were mala-