The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1896-10-01
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MMNNWXN n.sher 8, ADVENTURES in
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mad arisen very late, and was divid-
Ing my attention between the remains
Of my breakfast and my newspaper,
with no very keen interest in either,
when there came light, hesitating
rap at my door.
Come in" called, without troub
ling myself to get up from my seat.
The door opened, with slow, waver-
ing motion, and an oddlooking person
age entered the room made me very
low bow, and carefully closed the door
behind him. He was an old man, sew
enty, at least, judged, small of stat
ure and feebler than his age would
have warranted. His knotted, bony
hands shook with the constant, uncer-
tain movement which is the result
rather, of weak mentality than Of phys
zeal disability. His long, grizzled focks
and beard framed a pale, cadaverous
face, out Of which looked a pair Of
large, melancholy eyes in a sidelong,
deprecating fashion which seemed ha-
bitual
A dreadful shaky, woe-begone old
gentleman he really was; an object to
excite laughter or pity, according to
the mood of the beholder.
was not in a particularly expansive
frame of mind myself at the moment,
and it irritated me to see the old man
there, crooking his knees and wagging
his head, with what he evidently in
tended should be the most conciliating
Of salutes.
"Well," said I, sharply, "what DO you
want?'' 1 thrust my hand into my
pocket in search of small coin. Par
don me- huskily interposed the old
man, compromising my gesture.
You mistake my errand. I wished to
ask if you were the Hon. Egbert Gala
tin-Senator Qhllatinw
II am Senator Gallatin-what then 2"
"My-my mistress desires me to pre-
sent you her card, and requests the ia
vOr of a brief interview"
took the slip of pasteboard from his
trembling hands and read:
Mime. Henriette Doncourt, Paris"
I breathed more freely. Nine Don
court Of Paris was not likely to be one
of those leeches which hang upon the
legislative body, called "lobbyists"- "a
species I knew Only too we'll.
put aside my paper, and, donning a
black coat, signifed to the old man
that I would follow him. With slow
and shutting steps he led me along the
corridor and up three flights of stairs
to the fifth floor. The ancient fellow
was evidently very decrepit,, or very i'll.
With an impulse between pity and i'm
patience, took his arm-how misera-
bly, thin it was!-and supported him
with the vigor Of my more youthful
muscles.
IDENTIFY in bad health. Lean upon me,
and [ will give you lift.''
He turned his gray, cadaverous face
upon me with an expression of amaze.
"God bless you for a kind-hearted
young gentleman" he muttered. 'Per-
haps ought to tell-but, no, am not
to blame. No, no, what can do?"
With these enigmatic phrases he
paused before door and raped. A
woman's voice babe US ENTER" and I
passed into handsome sitting ROOM
A lady, simply but eXquisitely attired
in a morning robe of rich texture, rose
to welcome me. During the second in
which I stepped forward to accept her
offered hand received what might be
called a Photographic impression of
her. She was distinctly the most beau
tiful woman I had ever seen. She was
very tall. but her proportions were so
perfect that her height was not appar-
ent. The dress she wore outlined and
accentuated the magnificent sweep and
curve of her noble figure. Every move
ment she made, every gesture, was
marked by a certain sinuous grace,
which might have been termed leonine,
had it not been so eXquisitely femi-
nine.
Her face was in full keeping with her
figure. The complexion was clear and
pale, with no trace of color in her
cheeks, but of a waxen, transparent
hue, which suited we'll her dark auburn
hair, glimmering with fecks of red
gold as she moved in the light Of the
morning sun stealing between the mar