Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1891-09-10

| The Door woman felt faint with fright.
This man must have seen her counting
her money and had come to kill her and
steal it.
He still fixed his gaze upon her breath
less, his face drawn, evidently waiting
to spring upon her.
He said brusquely-
MADAME, have no fear"
She answered nothing, she was incap-
able of opening her lips, she heard her
heart beating and a buzzing in her ears.
81 am no malefactor, madame" he
continued.
Still she said nothing, but in sudden
movement she made her knees knocked
together and the money poured on to the
carpet like water from spout.
The man stared in surprise at this flow
of gold, and at once stopped to gather it
up.
She, terrified, rose, casting all her gold
on the CARPET, and rushed to the door to
throw herself on to the line. But he per-
ceived her intention, sprang up, seized
her in his arms, and forced her on to the
seat holding her by the wrists.
Listen TO me, madame. | am no
thief As proof | am going to gather
up this money and restore it to you. But
| am lost man, dead man, unless you
help me to pass the frontier. can tell
you no more. In one hour we shall be
at the last Russian station, in one hour
and twenty minutes we shall be on the
other side of the boundaries of the en-
pire Unless you aid me | am lost. And
yet, madame, | have neither killed nor
stolen, nor done anything dishonorable.
That swear to you. l can tell you no
more"
And, going down on his knees, he col
lected the money, feeling under the
seats, and looking into the furthest cor
ners.
Then, when the little leather bag was
once more full, he handed it to his neigh
Dor without word and returned to his
seat in another corner of the carriage.
Neither moved. She sat motionless
and mute, still faint with fright, but re-
covering little by little.
AS to him, he moved no MUSCLE he sat
erect, his eyes fixedly looking straight
before him, very pale as though he were
dead. Every now and then she threw
him glance, which was quickly averted.
He was a man of about thirty, very
handsome, with every appearance of be-
ing gentleman.
The train tore through the darkness,
throwing its ear-piercing whistles into
the night, now slackening speed, now off
again at its fastest. Then it Gained its
fight, whistled several times, and stopped
altogether.
Ivan appeared at the door to take
orders. The Countess Marie looked for
the last time at her strange companion.
Then in voice brusque and trembling,
said to her servant:
"Ivan, you will return to the Count. |
have no further need of your services" "
Amazed, the man opened his enormous
eyes. He stammered-
"But-but-"
She continued:
"No, you need not come. l have
changed my mind. wish you to stay il
Russia. Here, here is money for the
journey. Give me your cap and mantle.
The old servant, bewildered, took of
his cap and mantle, with unquestioninl
obedience, accustomed to the sudder
whims and strange caprice of his mis-
tress. He walked away with the tears
in his eyes.
The train started again, racing to the
| frontier
Then the Countess Marie said to he
companion:
"These things are for you, monsieur
you are Ivan, my servant make bu
one condition; it is that you will neve
speak to me, that you will say no wor'
to thank me on any pretext whatever.
The stranger bowed without a word.
Soon fresh halt was made, and tn,
officials in uniform entered the train
The Countess handed them the papers
and pointing to the man seated in the
far end of the carriage:
"My servant, Ivan, here is the pass
port"
The train started again.
During the whole of the night they
remained tete-a-tete, dumb both.
In the morning, on stopping at a Ger.
man station, the stranger alighted. Then
standing by the door, he said
Pardon me, madame, that | break my
promise, but | have deprived you of
your servant; it is on ly fair that |
should replace him. Is there anything
you require?"
She replied coldly-
$50 and send my maid"
He went. Then disappeared. When
ever she alighted at a refreshment-room
she saw him watching her from a dis
tance. In due course they arrived at
Mentone.
One day, as | was receiving my pa
tients in my study, | saw tall man
enter. Doctor" he said, 81 come to
ask news of the Countess Marie Bara-
now"
"She is beyond hope" l replied "She
will never return to Russia"
And this man fell to sobbing; then
) he arose and went out staggering
, like Il drunken man. That same even
, ing | told the Countess that n stranger
had been to me TO ask after her health
She seemed touched, and told me the
tale | have just told you. She added
"This man, whom | do not know, fol
lows me like my shadow. ] meet hin
every time | go out. He looks at me
very strangely, but he has never spoken
to me-"
She reflected, and then added
"Look, there her is, below my win
dow!"
She rose from the sofa, drew the cur
tains aside, and showed me the man VIII
had called upon me, sitting on a benc
on the promenade, his eyes raised t
the hotel. He saw us, rose and wake
away without once turning his head.
He loved with the devotion of res
cued animal, grateful and devoted unit