Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1895-01-25
A WELL-MATCHED PAIR.
How Prince Demtoff and Lady
Constance Were Robbed.

so hot, was enveloped in a long cloak
with a collar reaching past his ears,
and his cotton-whitc hair and mus
tache showed up occasionally in strong
contrast 10 the deep brown Of his face
as he turned to watch the portcrs at
lacking q huge mound Of his belong
lngs.
Each box and dag was emblazoned
with an imperial coronet over mono
gram, and they told one another
guardedly and under promises of pro-
found secrecy, that was Prince Paul
Demtoff. the owner of the new one
hundred rater now lying off South
ampton."
She, the lady, was tall and graceful
w girl like. A neat hat, blue serge
Rcdfern frock; a sunburnt straw hat,
with a dark blue ribbon; tiny tanned
boots. a white shirt with rundown
collar, and a flowing white tie com
pleted her costume, saving a thick gos-
eamer veil that completely hid her
face. and but for the whiteness and
purity of her neck it would have
,eemed she suffered from some facial
disbursement. 1t was evidently a de-
sire not to be recognized that led to
the adoption of the yashmak.
She was evidently expecting or
avoiding some friends. Her head
moved with a bird-like quickness as
she scanned each new arrival on the
platform. and her slender hand, white
and jewelless, twitched nervously
round the handle of the morocco mono
framed case she carried. Catching
her eve from a distance, he walked to-
ward her with the easy, firm assur-
ance that women like. She saw he
was coming to her ard waited calmly
perhaps she breathei more quickly.
He raised his soft hat, and with Il
courtlv bow said in perfect English,
with the mere scent OF accent: Par
don me, YOU are distressed. lave you
missed your maid? Can l 9e Of any
service to you?"
Now that his hat was off he appeared
prematurely white-haired man OF
fortv-five or fifty, with a firm face and
voice-a man evidently used to com
mand.
Thank you, very much" came in
soft. sibilant voice from beneath the
thick gossamer. Il have not quite
lost my maid, but my portmanteau.
| am afraid it is under that pile of lug
rage. and"-with little shrug-"I'm
afraid that pile Of luggage is yours"
THAT is mine, madame. will get
your bag at once. May l ask where
YOU are going? To southampton, and
it is of the highest Importance that
YOU should not miss this train? Par
don. do not trouble. | Nvill see that
all is arranged"
A few words to the guard, rapid
passage of backsheesh and the missing
bag. with a dainty monogram and
small crest. was placed carefully on
the rack of the first-class carriage by
Which the yelled lady was standing.
With the GOODNESS that seemed part
of his nature, the Russian indicated TO
4 Dorter n small hamper, and had II
placed in the same compartment.
There must have been some collision
and lavish tip, for though the train
was crowded, the guard, after the i'm
perceptible manner of his kind, kept
that carriage empty until the train
started and they found themselves
alone, securely locked in.
A sudden start ran through her
slender frame. She paused and asked
quickly: do you know when the next
train leaves Waterloo for Southamp-
ton?'
lie was desolated. OF course she
missed her maid, but he was afraid
MT for some hours.
MADAME is glad? Madame is afraid
of being followed?"
Eyes, madame is glad. She does not
wish to be taken back and forced into
hateful marriage" blushing prettily.
The old, old story stern father,
elderly lover, titled, rich, but horrid.
No mother, sister no brother. She was
nving from bondage to her aunt, Lady
Azuregorc, in Guernsey.
Yes, she was Lady Constance Azure
gore. Had he really met her at the
duchess of Arlington's dance? She
thought she knew his face. That was
why she trusted him so implicitly on
the platform, of course. But il she
was yelled. Why was he so shrouded
in big cloak? Come, now" anxious
ly, "a lady? An elopement?"
No, no, and again no! Nothing so
Joyous. He was Prince Paul Demtof,
and had fallen between two stools
had incurred the enmity of the inn
perial court through eoquetting with
the nihilists. That meant the Alexief-
sky Ravelin or the fortress of Peter
and Paul in st. Petersburg, and, on
the other hand, finding the party OF
progress" going too far, he was threat
ened with death for deserving the red
flag.
You must pardon me, prince, but
we seem in trouble together" and she
laughed merrily. DO you know half
thought you were a detective2"
By this time he had returned to his
ndupcT anu piotueSN NNAAJ NN~~
cloth. plates, knives, forks and servi-
cites, a small bottle of Chateau Mouton
Rothschild and dainty cold chicken.
Their mutual confessions had lessened
embarrassment and the lady, after
making a little moue, said she was so
hungry and so glad TO eat, etc.
They chatted and laughed as the
train sped through the beautiful coun-
try. and by the time southampton was
thought of she had smoked a mild
cigarette and he had kissed her hand.
She had readjusted her veil and he
assumed his big cloak with n sigh as
the whistle Of the train signaled the
station.
The Guernsey boat does not leave
till midnight. What are you going to
do2 Where will you put up?'
II don't know. never will be taken
back alive. And you? You are hunted.
What will you do2"
go on board my yacht. She is lying
,ff here, and the gig waits for this
train at the landing steps ] must hail