Waterbury evening Democrat., 1891-06-17
A WINTER AT NICE
BY HE1TIE E. MILL II.

to stay over night; an inward unrest
drove me back to Nice. Arrived there,
I 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 Mt once to Lapotin. He
received me with his customary calm
friendliness.
"It 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 awayp" cried out, springingi
up. "Where2 Why? What has hap
pened?
1.-THE two last questions you are prob
ably better able to answer than 1; as
far as the first Is concerned they have
gone to Florence"
Istared before me. "And the count?"'
asked /, at last.
ooh! the count, he is here. He cam
not leave Monaco and Mrs. Clifford sol
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 I reached my room it struck,
me how miserable and i'll he looked,
and reproached myself for not havingl
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 I.
"Softlyl open your door, I pray you;
It Is /, Lapotin," heard his voice say.
put on some clothes and opened the
door. Before me stood Lapotin, q 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, am not raving, as you seem;
inclined to think" continued he with a,
weary smile. 81 leave in quarter Of
an hour for the stationl From Mar
seilles to Geneva. told you should,
have to go soon; that 1t would be so
soon did not suspects received the,
news on Xmas eveI Still hesitated;
to-day ii must be. I have long been,
prepared; give me the papers which T.
gave you when I thought should die;
you have taken good care of them for
me, have you not? Ahl those are theyi;
Thanks, and thank you for all the kind
ness that you have shown a poor in
valid"
He put out his hand; listened as IT,
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; I cannot let you go!"
my dear friend" answered he calm
| " and solemnly, sit must be, and feel,
that I can undertake it. can surely
| go as far as Geneva, then will write
to you. Until then believe in me,
though much may seem strange; yet
another thing" he continued, taking:
several one thousand franc bills out of
his pocketbook, eff 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; farewellI'
| "But you are so alone; take a car,
rage and let me go with you to the
depot"
mo, no, everything is arranged; 1.
shall not travel alone; do not trouble
yourself; remember me to Miss Rem.
merit, and now, for the last time, adieul",
He pressed my hand and was gone.
I stared at the door behind which he
vanished, and the whole affair seemed
like dream. Below carriage drove
away quiclkly-stirred by many differ
emit thoughts, 1 lay down again and
toward morning slept so soundly, that
when I awolze it was late. 1t seemed
noisier in the house than ever before.
heard heavy footsteps In the cor
ridor, 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
I, "have guests arrived?"
"Ohl no." said Louis, 'tno 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, what2'' asked I.
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.
"Wen," thought I, ''the unfortunate
man was a political fugitive! and they
are pursuing him SO soon; they will
catch him yet on French territory"
Then Herr Metzler came to my door
himself, and asked If would receive a
strange gentleman, who wished to
speak with me. I declared myself
ready, and in stepped an imperturbable
man with very good manners, who apol-
ogized for having disturbed me SO early,
but he had heard that Monsieur le
Baron had associated great deal with