Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1891-09-10
ine back and forth as she looked down


well. what wanted to do or say Is
not clear to me, for at that moment the
midsummer Nights Dream" closed
with crashing accord; before me stood
the Russian, who asked in his deep, low
voice:
Shall we take . cup Of coffee at
Rumpelmeyer's again to-day"
/ sprang up, stammered q confused
every gladly" bowed low to the lady
I did not dare look at her@and left the
room In passing out, heard the Ger
man professor say to the clergyman:
"Gardez La reineI" glanced quickly
at my companion, but not a muscle OF
his serious face moved
The fresh night air was pleasant.
81 would advise you to fasten your
overcoat," said Lapotin; you are
heated"
"Yes, it was oppressively warm in
the ROOM" answered quickly, follow
ing his advice.
We walked through the streets silent
IL, and took seats at small table in
the cafe.
Mile Adele seemed piqued. because
the Russian prince"-an Russians
pass for princes with that class-had
not a smile for her this evening.
tried to make up for it; she ac-
cepted my attentions condescendingly.
lone must encourage youthful TALENT"
she seemed to think.
"You Were at Monte Carlo yester-
day?" began
YES" said Lapotin, with difficulty
dragging himself from his brooding.
81 am miserable company" continued
| he, with sad smile, land did wrong in
| will do kind deed If you remain with
me awhile. / am Hill in body and
mind-and your face, your voice do me
good Do you know that you are be-
| ginning to supersede me with my one
OF you to me continually at table and
recommended you to me as a remedy
for my pain"
"And you as her obedient protege
| swallow the prescribed medicine as
| well as you cam" said /, laughing. 81
feel very much hattered."
"You should feel so,'' said Lapotin,
calmly. "a young man who finds favor
| in Miss Rennert's sharp eyes is rarity.
AS rule. she does not like men-do
not say: Like all old maids that is
not so in this case, for in no way is she
like one. 1t seems that she has had
deep insight into married Hfe-which
| is not very wonderful; prepare your
self for great surprise; this worthy
old lady with her knowledge of the
| world and refined manners, was for
merly a lady's maid, as they are called!'
"a lady's maid?'' ] repeated, and
| stared at the speaker, astounded.
II see, my friend. that you are ter
| ribly startled. Your aristocratic feel
ings are awakened. My shrewd. old
friend anticipated that, and therefore
| commissioned me especially to tell you
this, SO that you should not form a
friendship which later might be un-
pleasant to you"
| But you yourself associate with
Miss Rennert as an eQual?" asked /,
! dejectedly.
II? oh! such things do not trouble
me! / am always abroad, and meet so
many people about whom one cannot
| inquire if the flag under which they
sail be q true one-I never ask tchdt is a
| person, rather what is his worth?
Moreover believe in an aristocracy of
| minds. which recognize one another by
secret signs, like freemasons. / have
received the old lady's sign, and am her
devoted friend"
Besides" continued Lapotin. ST
must tell you that Miss Rennert was a
well-educated girl. and only accompa-
MED much-loved foster-sister. 4 young
| east PruSsian countess, at her express
| wish to Cortland, when she married
and wanted 4 familiar face near her.
| After that she travelled about the world
a great deal as companion to an old
lady who left her considerable legacy.
She has seen and been through much.
| / myself spent many an hour At her
fireside in former years" We arose
| to go.
| Mile Adele now received the covet-
ed smile, and curtsied to Monsieur lie
Prince"
| On the street my companion suddenly
asked: And our blonde! Gu en- etes-
| vous? have you seen her again?"
| To-day, in driving past" saidI.
81 saw her, too, yesterday in church;
the girl is indeed marvelously beauti-
full, and she really seemed to pray" said
he, as If to himself.
told him Of my meeting at the con-
sul's; he listened attentively and then
seemed lost in meditation.
| GOOD night" said he, in the vesti-
bule of the hotel
| Good night" I answered.
| Shall you dream OF blue eyes or
Of blonde curls?'
| laughed and said perhaps Of both.
| "Ah! q newly-discoveredb beauty? You
| are a Don Juan I shall warn Miss
Rennert against you" With that he
disappeared. And I really dreamed Of
blue eyes and golden hair; and the new
| Undiscovered beauty was the young girl
l w, m int he Sf<a hot
day.
CHAPTER Ill
The pattering of the rain awoke me
the sky was overcast. I could not
think of trip to Monte Carlo. L re-
NAMED in bed as long as possible, and
sauntered into the drawing-room later,
| very much bored.
| That large family my neiohhors at