The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1894-09-06

| ton. The little blue box was about to
be wrapped up when the salesman dis
covered some slight imperfection in
the Grasp. He was profuse in his apollo
gies, and said that it would be repaired
and ready for me the following morn
ing. | explained that this would not
do, as l was to leave the city on the
night express for Nice. After a mo-
ment's hesitation the jeweler prom
| Used that | sould have it at six o'clock
without fail.
| LAS | was leaving the store ! noticed
woman standing by my side. l say
| noticed a woman. 1t would be more
correct to say that l noticed beauti-
full white hand with long taper fingers,
on one of which was a diamond of I'M
usual size and briliancy. In this hand
was small, jeweled watch, and as |
was leaving the counter l caught a
few words spoken in a peculiarly
musical voice. l was too full of the
thought of Edith's happiness on re-
ceiving my gift to glance at the
woman's face, and long before had
reached the sidewalk she was forgot
ten.
AT o'clock | returned. and, true to
his promise, the man had the necklace
ready for me. Placing it in the inside
pocket of my coat l left the store and
had just time to complete a few re-
naming arrangements before going to
the station. | bought first-class tick
ct and tipped the guard after giving
him to understand in my very best
| Fren that | did not want him to put
other passengers into my compart-
ment. ! tucked my travelling rug
around my knees, opened a French
novel, when the door was opened, and
a woman hurriedly entered the com
partment and took the seat next the
window on the other side of the car |
glanced at my unwelcome companion
She was dressed in mourning of the
richest material and in perfect taste.
AS | was noticing these details some
thing by her side, that | had at first
taken for cape, moved. 1t proved to
be a black French poodle, and as he
sat up and turned his head towards me
| saw that around his neck he wore a
broad silver collar, from which de-
pended peculiar heart-shaped pad
lock-
turning to my novel. | soon forgot
the intruders, nor did again think of
them until. perhaps, half an hour later,
when was startled by feeling some
thing cold and wet pressed against my
hand. 1t was the poodle's nose. He
had crawled across the seat and was
evidently DESTROYS of making my ac-
quaintance. 'v~
'Ch;cco, come here exclaimed
singularly familiar voice.
The dog paid no attention to his
mistress. but wagged his tail con-
tentedly as | stroked his curly head
"'Tou must excuse my dog, sir said
my companion. He is great pet and
expects everyone to notice him. l am
afraid he will annoy YOU
80 protested that he would not, and
added that was fond of dogs. poodles
in particular. Perhaps no answer was
due, in part, to the fac. that the wom-
an was young and very beautiful. |
had only that minute become aware of
this, the light having been too dim in
the station to let me see her face Her
voice. too, affected me Singularlv; it
was low and sweet, and l was sure
shat somewhere had heard it before.
sat for some time vainly trying to
recall the circumstances of our meet
ing, but the more | pondered on it the
more hopeless seemed the task.
A little later on looking up, |
found that my companion was without
books or papers, so taking an illus
trated magazine from my satchel |
offered il to her. She thanked me and
smiled sweetly. After time | grew
tired of my novel and resolved to at
tempt a little conversation with my
neighbor. l asked her if she was go-
ing to Nice. She replied that she was
and went on to say that her sister
whom she had expected would go with
her. had disappointed her at the last
moment. She, however, could not
wait until the following day, as her
father, who was at Nice for his health,
had wired her to return at once
"She spoke of her dislike for travel
ing alone, particularly at night, and
explained that as the compartment re-
served for ladies was full she had been
obliged to enter mine. She was sorry
to intrude. but the train was about to
start, and the guard told her all the
other seats were taken. | FASTENED to
assure her that l was glad of the lucky
chance that had given me so charming
companion. She smiled and asked
me if was to be long in Nice. She
chatted on about the place, mention
ing the names Of many well-known
people who. she said, were her friends
and whom l should no doubt meet
LAS the evening wore on she opened
basket containing dainty lunch.
Would | share it with hero The cook
evidently had ridiculous idea of her
appetite. Why, there was enough for
siXn This seemed to be the case, so,
as we were by this time very we'll ac-
quainted, | accepted her invitation,
and we were soon doing justice to
really excellent lunch.
"What a charming creature she is,
| thought. How Edith will like her
Growing confidential | spoke of my
visit to Nice and of the dear girl who
was awaiting me there. She seemed
interested, and listened patiently to
the recital of my fair ones many