The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1891-12-31
SHE SAVED HIM.

Sho was alone IN Per compartment
OF the train. her servants occupying
another. She leaned against the win
dow little sadly. watching the coun-
try and the villages as she whirled
past feeling very isolated very lonely
In life.
At each station her footman, Ivan,
came to see if his mistress had every
thing she desired. He was an old SER
want blindly devoted. ready to obey
any order che might give him.
Night fell. the train rolled on at full
speed. She could not sleep she was
totally unnerved. Suddenly the idea
occurred to her of counting the money
given to her at the last moment il
French gold. She opened her little
bag and emptied on to her lap the
glistcning stream OF metal
But, of sudden, breath of cold
air caught her cheek. She lifted her
head in surprise. The door opened.
The Countess Marie. in dismay, threw
q shawl over the money spread out in
her lap and waited. A moment after
| wards a MIN appeared bareheaded.
wounded in one hand. painting, and in
evening dress.
He reclosed tho door, sat Down and
looked at his neighbor with a glitter
ing eye, then wrapped his wrist in a
handkerchief. The poor woman felt
faint from 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,
breathless his face drawn, evidently
waiting to sprirg upon her He said
brusquely- Madame, have no fear"
She answered nothing, she was inca
pable of opening her lips she heard
her heart beating and a bu:zing in her
ears. Il am no malefactor, madame"
he continued. Still she said nothing,
but in a 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
fow of gold and at once stopped tc
gather it up. She. terrified. rose.
casting all her gold on the carpet
and rushed to the door to throw her.
self on to the line But he perceived
her intention. spranR up. seized her in
his arms and forced her on the seat
hold .ng her by the wrists
Listen to me, madame, ] ain &C
thief. AS a proof I am going X
gather up this money and restore 1t
to you. But am a lost man, dead
man. unless you help M, to pass the
frontier can tell you no more. In
one hour we shall be at the last Rus
sian station, in one hour and twenty
minutes we shall b on the other side
Of the boundaries Of the empire. Un-
less you aid me am lost And yet
madame ! have neither killed nor
stolen. nor done anything dishonora-
BILE That l swear to you. can tell
you no more"
Then. when the little leather bag
was once more full he handed it to his
ueighbor without word and returned
to his seat in the other corner of the
carriage Neither moved. She sat
motionless and mute. still faint with
fright but recovering 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 quick
" averted. He was a man Of about
thirty, very handsome with every ap-
pearancc of being 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 calm
ed its flight 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 COM
panion. Then in a voice brusque and
trembling. said to her servant: Ivan.
you will return to the count I have
no further need of your services.
Amazed the man opened his enor-
nous eyes. He But
but" She continued-'.No., you
need not come. l have changed my
mind. wish you to stay in Russia.
Here here is money for the journey.
Give me your cap and mantle"
The old servant bewildered. took
off his cap and mantle, with unques-
tioning obedience. accustomed to the
sudden whims and strange caprice OF
his mistress. He walked away with
the tears in his eyes. The train start
ed again. racing to the frontier Then
the Countess Marie said to her strange
companion: These things are for
you monsieur; you are Ivan my serv-
ant I make but one condition; it is
that you will never speak to me. that
you will say no word to thank me on
any pretext whatever" The stranger
bowed without q word.
Soon 9 fresh halt was made and
the 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.