Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1891-11-05

/ 10 stay over night; an inward unrest
/ drove me back to Nice. Arrived there,
heard, on passing the salon, loud talk
ing, and picked especially the east
| Prussian dialect of the stout lady, and
the sharp organ of the virtuous mater
| familias. Whom may they be picking
to pieces now?" thought /, did not stop,
but FASTENED at once to Lapotin. He
received me with his customary calm
| friendliness
sit was very lonesome without you, ="
said he, but Miss Rennert kept me
company; she. too, felt rather deserted.
| The countess and Miss Ellen have gone
away"
"Gone away?'' cried out. springing
up Where? Why? What has hap
pened?
1.-THE two last questions you are prob
ably better able to answer than /; a.
far as the first is concerned they have
gone to Florence"
stared before me. "And the count?"
asked J. at last
''Oh! the count, he is here. He can
not leave Monaco and Mrs. Clifford so
quickly. And he cannot endure Flor
ence; as he says the beauties there in
marble and oils leave him cold. To
morrow you will very likely hear more
from Miss Rennert." Ipressed his hand
and left him.
When | reached my room it struck
me how miserable and i'll he looked,
and reproached myself for not having
paid him more attention during the past
few days. 1t was late in the night when
some one knocked at my door
"Who is there?" cried l.
softly! open your door, pray you;
1t is |, Lapotin," heard his voice say.
put on some clothes and opened the
door. Before me stood Lapotin, a can
die in his hand, pale and haggard, but
quite calm and dressed for going out.
The black fur gave his face a CHASTITY
appearance.
81 have come to say farewell" said
he mo, 1 am not raving, as you seem
inclined to think" continued he with a
weary smile. II leave in quarter of
an hour for the station! From Mar
settles TO Geneva. told you should
have to go soon; that it would be so
soon | did not suspect received the
news on Xmas eve! Still hesitated;
to-day it must be. have long been
prepared; give me the papers which /
gave you when ! thought | should die;
you have taken good care of them TO.
me, have you not? All! those are they!
Thanks, and thank you for all the kind
ness that you have shown a poor in
valid"
He put out his hand; | listened as if
turned to stone, and handed the papers
over to him. At the word invalid" I
revived.
Eyes, you are i'll, still very i'll; it is
impossible for you to travel; it would
be your death; | cannot let you go!"
my dear friend" answered he calm
ly and solemnly, lit must be, and feel
that | can undertake it. can surely
go as far as Geneva, then win write
to you. Until then believe in me,
though much raay seem strange; yet
another thing" he continued, taking
several one thousand frame bills out of
his pocketbook, If you wish to do a
good work give this money to our
blonde You can always find her at
evening service in that church where
we met yesterday. Do not look so
serious; the girl is not unworthy of our
sympathy; in any case she has earned
the money honestly, and it may per-
haps save her-you will receive a re-
ceipt, and now time presses; FAREWELL"
But you are so alone; take car
rage and let me go with you to the
depot"
mo, no, everything is arranged; /
shall not travel alone; do not trouble
yourself remember me to Miss Rem
merit, and now, for the last time, adieu!"
He pressed my hand and was gone.
stared at the door behind which he
vanished, and the whole affair seemed
| like dream. Below carriage drove
away quickly stirred by many differ
ent thoughts, lay down again an1
toward morning slept so soundly, that
when awoke il was late. II seemed
noisier in the house than ever before.
heard heavy footsteps in the cor
rider, strange voices, and the deep, bass
voice of Herr Metzler. who was never
visible so early-after having rung re-
peatedly Louis appeared, he looked pale
and agitated.
What is the matter so early?" asked
1, have guests arrived"
"Oh! no, saiG Louis, mo one has ar
rived, rather an old guest has just left.
Mr.. Lapotin received telegram in the
night, took the early train for Mar
settles, and now" he hesitated.
just now, what?" asked |.
Only think, baron. just now there
were people here who asked for him,
and searched his room and belongings,
and the head waiter says they are some
of the secret police was frightened.
well, thought |, 1.-THE unfortunate
man was a political fugitive and they
are pursuing him SO soon; they will
catch him yet on French territory
Then Herr Mctzler came to my door
himself, and asked if would receive a
strange gentleman, who wished to
speak with me. / declared myself
ready, and in stepped an imperturbable
man with yer good manners, who apol-