Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-12-29

yosa may bar u a scseabis escort for he.
told you rka1 IN lew DAYS must ss<.as
On long ;oarrsy-so Russia, in TACT"
To Raesiay'
Yes, an going To visit an aunt, sis
Ter II my nother's. who lives 4oout halt
way between Moscow and st. Pete FsbQIg
Now, although do Rot IN the least mind
. short trip. such As from Paris TO Londop,
By myself. confess hardly care ~ take
- loDz a journey quite alone"
Il sh0aid Think net Il 10 impossible
But Of course you would have your
mad p
mo. that canno< be afforded. +" she said
firmly. Il can have no maid. unless IL
were an untauzht. helpless girl, who wonld
only require looking after. And cannot
afford the luxury OF a courier. But II you
should by any chance hear of lady travel
ing TO 81. Petersburg-a lady. or a very
elderly gentleman, who would take me
under his or her wing, should indeed De
gFatefsl"
Here was q task As il elderly ladies or
gentlemen travelling 20 st. Petersburg in
November could be met with at any stree.
corner Bot it was not nay cue 20 put this
plainly
Il will do my very best 10 find you a
suitable escort, " / said warmly. And il
succeedf You must tell me where am 10
report myself, if am successful in finding
what you need"
She laughed a little. at finding herself
caught, apparently.
IF you succeed in finding an escort for
me-" she said, you may call at IL West
meath Gardens. :. Wit is only board
ing hoase-and ask for Mile. Deloski"
handed her my card. and in five min
utes more we had reached Victoria and had
separated
A little reflection told me that il was
perfectly absurd 10 expect to hear Of an
elderly lady or gentleman who was set
ting OF on tour TO Russia. i did not
even dare 70 make myself ridiculous
among my aequaintanoes by mentioning
the subject. But it was not long before
the idea suggested itself to me. why should
not be madelnoiseile's escort myself
had no ties 10 keep me in England. was
sufficiently rich, and could do as pleased.
II only she would accept my servicesi TO
take charge Of that dainty creaturel To
be allowed 20 provide for her comfort in
every way; 10 see that she was kept warm;
TO crafty her tastes, not once in a way,
bat often. for several days in succession,
Ny heart beat fast at the mere thought Of
so much happiness
OF course it would be dreadfully i'm
proper But after all II was only a ques-
ton OF conventional propriety Mademoi-
selle-how / wished / had been clever
enough to think of way of ascertaining
what her Christian name was-mademoi-
sellc was Russian or Pole, not British
miss. She might refuse dozen times and
consent at last. Or might playfully in
sist on being her courier. and provide for her
comfort without obtruding myself for the
first stages of the Journey on her presence.
Surely when she found rooms bespoke fox
her. dinner carefully ordered day in ad-
vance, a compartment always reserved for
her, and so on. by an unseen agent, her Gu
riosity would be awakened and finally her
gratitude. She would allow me to speak
TO her, TO travel with her-the thing would
be done in spite of her modest scruples. 1t
would be quite an adventure.
Fired with this thought, made my way
TO Westmeath Gardens (where l had al
ready called in vain two or three times).
and was fortunate enough to find made
moiselle in, and to find her alone. / re
failure TO find her such an escort as she
had described. and then offered myself for
the post. AS expected, Nile. Delosh ridi-
culed the idea, declared it would be highly
improper even to think of it. and said she
hoped was not in earnest in making the
proposal l assured her had never been
more in earnest in my life, and dwelt on
the perils and discomforts, the loneliness
4 o-,I - oh fOt,- =
season for an unprotected girl that com
\ PEELED her TO listen 70 me. l dilated, too
on the folly of sacrificing ones comfort
and happiness to hard and fast notions OF
| propricty. which ought TO be made to yield
to necessity, and, In short, displayed good
deal more power of eloquence than had
ever given myself credit fer.
In the end / succeeded. Mile. Deloski
agreed TO accept my services as courier
making at the same time certain very hard
and. thought, most unnecessary stipula
tons concerning our relations on the jour
ney.
There is Just one thing" she said, as
took her hand at parting; II start prob
| ably the day after tomorrow. Will that
get your passport"
Cau NY III all EOuI,
| replied; and as for a passport. | should
not dream Of bothering about one. The
new regulations
''Oh, but you must" she broke In. "You
do not know Russia ~ do. I always TAX,
care to have my papers in regular order
and indeed to- do otherwise is 10 run the risL
OF getting into very awkward predica
( ment"
asF l. - L. - - l.
/ I, sooner than bother about n passport "
Then I cannot travel with you." said
nademoiselle. gently but quite firmly. IT,
I know that at any moment you might b,
| arrested and shut up in prison (as you
| might be in Russia, IL you travelled with
cut credentisls) would make me perfectly
7 wretchei."
Then Of course viii get one. vii
come and show It TO you before we start
May II"
Come the day after tomorrow. then
about O'Clock in the evening. / shall b.
able 70 see you then and talk over the fina
preparations"
"But thought we were to start the daI
after tomorrow"
Il think il viii suit me better TO leav.
on Thursday morning" said mademoiseIle
~ the way. you heti utttef come mere a
8 instead Of : / snail waus the eveninl
for packing
promised that would be punctual anc
took my leave.
I SIX o'clock on Wednesday evening fount
ne at Westmesth Gardens.
Well are you ali ready for the jour
reyr" asked msdesuoiselle as she gave m
Ter hand. with smile.
"All ready"
And Won do not regret your kindnsss'
--Enrw can xr.I AK, he KIM nass l. n