The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1895-01-12
A WELL-MATCHED PAIR.
How Prince Demtof and Lady
Constance Were Robbed.

Constance We're Robbed.
The platform was crowded this SIN
ny morning with excursionists and
swell yachtsmen and ladies with golf
sticks.
Two people attracted a lot of atten-
ton by their palpable efforts at con-
cealment. He, although the day was
so hot, was enveloped in a long cloak
with a collar reaching past his ears,
and his cotton-white hair and mus
tache showed up occasionally in strong
contrast to the deep brown of his face
as he turned to watch the po-ters at
lacking a huge mound of HIS belong
ings.
Each box and bag vas ~emblazoned
with an imperial coronet over 4 mono
gram, and they told n another
~guardedly and under promises of pro-
found secrecy. that was Prince Paul
Demtoff. the owner of the new me
hundred rater now lying off South
ampton."
She, the lady, was tall and graceful
" girl like. A neat hat, l serge
| Redfern frock; a sunburnt straw hat,
with a dark blue ribbon; tiny tanned
boots, a white shirt with a turn-down
collar, and a flowing white tie COM
| pletad her costume, saving a thick Cos
samer veil that completely hid her
| face, and but for the whiteness and
purity of her neck it would have
seemed she suffered from some facial
Disagreement. 1t vas 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 ~nervousiy
round the handle of the orocc mono
grained case she carried. Catching
her eve from 4 distance, he walked to-
ward her with the easy, firm assur-
ance that women like. She saw he
was coming to her and waited calmly
perhaps she breathed more quickly.
He raised his soft hat, and with d
courtly bow said in perfect English.
with the mere scent of accent: Par
don me, you are distressed. Have you
missed your maid? Can | be of any
service to you?"
Now hal his hat was off he appeared
. prematurely white-haired man of
forty-fve or fifty, with a firm face and
voice-a man evidently used to COM
mand.
THANK you, very much" came in a
soft, sibilant voice from beneath the
thick gossamer. 81 have not quite
lost my maid, but my portmanteau.
l am afraid it is under that pile of lug
gage, and"-with a little shrug-"Tm
afraid that pile of luggage is yours"
THAT is mine, madame. l will get
your bag at once. May / 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. ! will see that
all is arranged"
A few words to the guard, a 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
a porter a small hamper, and had it
placed in the same compartment
There must have been some collision
and a lavish tip, for though the train
was crowded, the guard, after the i'm
~perceptible name 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?"
He was desolated. OF course she
missed her maid, but he was afraid
n ot for some hours.
Madame is glad? Madame is afraid
of being followedP"
Yes, madame is glad She does not
wish to be taken back and forced into
a hateful marriage" blushing prettily.
The old, old story-stern father.
elderly lover, titled, rlch, out horrld.
No mother, sister, no brother. She was
flying from bondage to her aunt. Lady
Azuregore, 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 If she
was yelled. Why was he so shrouded
in a big cloak? Come, now" anxious.
ly. "a lady? An elopement?"
No. no, and again no! Nothing SC
joyous. He was Prince Paul Demtof,
and had fallen between two stools
had incurred the enmity of the i'm
perial court through c~oquetting with
the nihilista. That mea the Alexief
skv Ravelin or the fortress of PeteI