Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1893-03-16

en- Il seat and drawn a, book from nv
pockeJ. intending TO read an bear o.
fore returning for dinner, .,ut nv at
ten1ion was soon drawn iron my book
by Il young lady sitting digonally across
the promenade from me. She had tax
en- me seat soon after Sat down, and
was looking in such 4 direction that
could get only 4 profile view Of her
face, Which seemed strangely familiar
to me- After reading ana watching
alternately fer half an hour / deter
min d to get q better view of her face
III order to decide whether | avs mis-
taken IN my idea that l had seen her.
As | started toward her she rose and
walked IN the same direction. | had
followed her perhapse 80 yards when
she stumbled, and the next instant with
i gToan fell TO the ground. AS quickly
rs possible l had lifted her up and
helped her to seat near by. | then
asked her ii l should call assistance.
but she said it would not be necessary
rs she would be ali right in a moment.
although she would be glad if | would
remain with her. Such Il request |
could not refuse, nor did / care TO. as
| had discovered she was quite pretty,
and from her accent | knew she was
an American.
When in Il few minutes | asked her
IL l should call 4 cab, she thanked me
and asked if | would not be kind enough
to drive with her to a Rue Gle Blanc,
y, -, fa1
were situated large number OF fash.
ionable pensions or boarding houses
ON the way she told me that her home
was in Massachusetts, and with her
father and brother she was making Il
long stay in Paris. When we reached
her number, she insisted that l go in
and meet her father, and | Of course
agreed.
AS soon as l had paid the cabman
and given him three times the usual
gratuity / followed my fair and new
found into the parlOr, where l remained
While she went to find her father. She
quickly returned, saying that he was
out, but would return i'll short time,
and that If | would wait she would
| try to entertain me. InWardly thank
! ing so considerable, l was much pleased
! to wait
! The time passed pleasantly and rap
idly, and | thought nothing of the faith
ers prolonged absence, but suddenly
/ remembered Melville aud the opera
looked at my watch and found that |
had barely time to get dinner, meet
my friend and reach the play. L was
very sorry that l could not wait longer,
and at her request l promised to call
! the next afternoon at three.
Rising to go, took my hat and was
much surprised to find a pair of arms
around my neck. Half angry and Who'll
! ly amazed l hardly knew what to do,
but hearing Il step without in an in
slant | had slipped from her embrace
and opened the door, Coming up the
steps was a middle aged gentleman,
at the siGht of whom the girl shrieked
and ran down the hall. The gentleman
stopped me nd asked how | happened
to be with that lady. told him that
l had met her in he garden. and brought
to this house and had waited to meet
her father
He smiled sadly and said he had just
left notice at the police headquarters
TO have the entire force on the lookout
for her: that two months before her
brother had been lost in attempting the
ascent of the MatterhOrn, and since
| that time she been manaic; he WAS
/ L. in itn Off
at this house. hoping that entire rest
would restore CT reason. He thanked
me for what l had done and asked me
to call the next AFTERNOON.
Having eaten my dinner very rapidly
| met Melvill and we went to the opera
During the time between acts he told
me of his sad trip to Monte Carlo, and
it was not until we were slowly walking
UP the Avenue de FOepra that L told
him Of my unusual experience of the
afternoon.
| With shade Of that same smile |
had noticed he asked me the appear
ance of the man. and when | described
him he half muttered, Il thought So"
Nothing more was said for several
blocks, when he suddenly asked, the
smile being fully developed, And
where is my pin? l put my hand to
my crayat-the pin was gone. | knew
that l had worn it in the afternoon,
and now it was missing. Melville no.
ticed my surprise. and said again, Il
| thought So
After walking a moment in silence
he continued: THAT pin was very high
| ly valued by one Of Europes most not
ed gamblers. Some months ago, on
account OF severe losses, he was com
PEELED to part with it at very low
figure, as it's real value was not known
| recently discovered it in a pawnShOp,
recognized it as having belonged to
this gambler md bought it for the re-
diculous price of 10 napOleOns. One
day l met it's former owner in the hO-
tel. He recognized the Jpn on my tie
looked wistfully at it but said nothing
Several times after that / noticed a
very closely. You have perfectly de
scribed both this owman and the gam
bier. Now oyu know where my pin
| is
l said nothing; what could / say?
But the next day | called at IA at the
appointed hour. When / presented my
card and asked for the gentleman the
reply came: ''Ie Zhentleman an hees
daughter 90 this morning bIIt re Zhpnt-