The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1894-04-13

| one moment they seemed very small;
but the next they dilated, as cats
! eyes dilate in the dark, then contracted
again until they became mere glitter
| ing points. The curious phenomenon
was repeated perhaps half dozen
times during the minute that Everard
spent in scrutinizing him. The man
was looking all the while at Laura,
and he, too, had faint smile upon
his lips.
At the end of those long sixty seconds
he turned abruptly away. and held out
his hand to Mrs. Patterson, saying, In
a low, musical voice. and with scarce
lv any trace Of foreign accent. 80
glad to have found you at homer
You in London" gaSped Mrs. Pat
| terson. How did you know that we
were here? How did you find out our
| addressY
You ask me that?" said the strang-
er his smile increasing-"you ask me
| that
Mrs. Patterson shuddered and fell
back In her chair.
Then he shook hands with Laura,
who had risen. and who said quite
calmly, How do you do? Let me in
troduce you to Mr. Everard and Mr.
Fellowes-Count Soura tkin."
IAN old friend of Miss Denham's,"
added the count, explanatorily, "and al
ways charmed to make acquaintances
with her new ones:'
The two men bowed, but did not
speak, and the pause watch followed
might have been found embarrassing
by the intruder had he been liable
to embarrassment. But to all appear
ances that was not among his weak
nesses. 1t is, to say the least of it,
unusual to pay visits at ten o'clock at
night. and in morning dress; yet he
offered neither explanation nor apology.
but sat down and waited quietly until
Mrs Patterson, recovering her self-pos-
session, broke the silence By saying.
I'VE did not expect to see you in Eng
land, Count Souratkin'
The count shrugged his shoulders II
am a little everywhere, as you know"
he said. Rather in England than else
where, if l might choose In England
one does not risk to be arrested at
every turn. Gentlemen he added,
raising mis- voice and speaking in Il
slightly declamatory manner. "ycu are
citizens of free country: you may be
thankful for that, and pity those who
are not We Russians have a claim
upon your sympathy, it seems to ME.
But we must not talk politics. said the
count, seeming to recoliect himself;
that is bad taste. Will not Miss Den
ham favor us with little music in
stead?'
Il would rather not play this even
ing" said Laura
But sou will not refuse an old
friend. For the rest l am sure that
these gentlemen will join their en-
treaties to mine
i should not think of asking Miss
Denham to do anything that she was
not inclined to do said Eyerard.
All then | must beg alone
A feW seconds elapsed during which
nobody spoke, and then, to Eyerard's
SURPRISE Laura got up and walked to
the piano, which she opened. What
do you wish me to play?" she asked.
"Ch. that l will leave to YOU" replied.
the Russian. What do YOU like-wilat
ever you like"
She sat down, and presently broke
into one of the oldest compositions
that Everard had ever listened to.
Incre was no melody in it, and next to
no sequence. Probably only a practic-
ed ear would have detected the recur-
renee of certain chords, which rose at
intervals from the chaos of sound that
swept them back out of hearing and
hurried them back as straws are drawn
beneath the surface and cast I'D again
by an eddy. When it had come to an
end. Count Souratkin asked, blandly.
What do you think of that, now"
Everard did not reply, but Fellowes
said, Well. I'm no Judge of music. but
should call it diabolical"
Thank you, SIR returned Souratkin
with bow and a little smile: You
have found the word Yes. that is the
right word -diabolical. The piece is
by me- he added, modestly; Il call it
lie Delire'
Iyerard had moved to the piano. be-
fore which Laura was still sitting
She looked up as he approached. Her
face was pale and grave, and he fan
cled that there was look of piteous
appeal in her eyes. He did not know
In the least what was the matter. and
i she had asked him to seize Count
Souratkin, and thvow him neck-and-
crop out Of the window, he would
with the utmost cheerfullness have en-
deavored to obey her.
Go be Continued.