The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-11-15

viz iiiOSt lINS-
tcrious and touching. She was n Rus
sian, Countess Marie Baranow, Il very
great lady, of exquisite beauty. You
know how beautiful the Russians are.
or, ut least, how beautiful they seem
to us-with their delicate noses, their
sensitive mouths, their eyes so close
together, of an indefilable color. 4
blue gray, and their cold, rather hard
charm. They have something wicked
and seductive, naughty and melting,
tender and severe, utterly charming to
Frcnchman. At bottom, perhaps, it
is only the difference of race and blood
that makes us see so much in them.
Her doctor had, during many years,
known that She was threatened by Il
disease of the chest, and underworld to
persuade her to come to France for the
winter, but she obstinatcly refused TO
quit ST. Peters burg. At last. in the
autumn of that year, the doctor COM
PEELED her to leave for Mcutonc.
She was alone in her compartment of
the train, her servants occupying an
other She leaned against the window
little sadly, watching the country
ana villages rs she whirlcd past. feel
ing very isolated very lonely III life.
At each station her footIuan, Ivan.
came 10 see if his mistress had every
thing She desired. lie was an old
servant, blindly devoted, ready to obey
any order She might give him
Night fell the train rolled on at full
speed. She could not sleep, she was
totally unncrvcd. Suddenly the idea oc-
Cured to her of counting the money
given to her ut the last moment in
French gold. She opened her little bag
and cmpticd onto her lap the glistcn-
ing stream of metal
But, OF Il sudden, breath Of cold air
caught her cheek. She lifted her head
in surprise. The door opened. The
Countess Marie, in dismay, threw n
shawl over the money spread ont in
her lap and waited. A moment after
ward man appeared, bareheadcd,
wounded in one hand, painting and in
evening dress.
lie reclosed the door, sat down and
looked ut his ncighbor with glittcring
eye, then wrapped his wrist in a hand
ltcrchicf
The. poor woman felt faint with
fright. This man must have seen her
counting her money and hud come to
kin her and steal it.
He still fixed his gaze upon her.
brcathlessly, his face drawn, evidently
awaiting to spring upon her.
He said, brusquely:
Madam, have no fear"
She answered nothing. She was in
capable of opening her lips. She heard
her heart beating and buzzing in her
ears.
II am no malefactor, madam" he
continued.
Still she said nothing; but i'll a sud
den movement she made her knees
knocked together and the money
poured onto the carpet like water
from a spout.
The man stared in surprise mt this
How OF gold, and ut once STOPPED to
gather it up.
She, terrified, rose, casting all her
gold onto the carpet, and rushed to tic
door to throw herself onto the line.
But he perceived her intention. sprang
up, seized her in his arms and forced
her onto the seat, holding her by the
wrists.
Listen to me, madam. am no
thief As q proof am going TO gather
up this money and restore it to you.
But am Il lost man, u dead man. un-
less 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 empire. Unless You aid me l
am lost And yet, madam, have
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