The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-12-06
. Oerchance
to Dream.'
= fNA@-.~ 3,

ance liked or dislilzed, according to
their inclination, was a handsome and
wealthy widow endowed with a purse
literally open to most demands and
manifesting the fervent interest for
many subjects that characterizes our
fin di steele. The Mrs. Noel who oc-
/ caSionally confronted her own soul was
a deep and narrow nature, Influenced
by two impassioned affections, and as
indifferent to outside sympathies as to
shadows that pass. One of these affec-
lions was devoted to the memory of
her husband, the othr was a living love
for her only daughter.
Concerning this beloved child, the
mothers heart ached forebodingiy
while she drove through the avenues of
the Champs Elysees in her neat brou-
CHAM, or toiled through various apart
ments of that fashionable quarter, &C
companied by her maid and a house
agent. Distracted by an anxiety with
which ouse-hunting perpleXities had
nothing to do she broke down when,
having admired certain picturesque
rooms she was told that the accommo-
dations for the suite were three
stairways higher.
go, Rosine," she said to her maid,
as she sank into an easy chair, "you
surely know better than I what we re-
quire. l shall rest here until you re-
turn
Madame does not fear to remain
alone?"
why should 1 fear?7 Mrs. Noel de.
manded YEARLY. I'VE have so con-
scientiously inspected every corner and
| cupboard that even a ghost could not
have escaped our notice. If you are
| nervous, however, you may lock the
| outer door,"
Rosine murmured an acquiescent,
'As madame pleases," the agent w
tered a voluble assurance of secure
solitude, and they departed.
Mrs. Noel leaned back in her chair
and shut her eyes.
She had often warned herself that
| anxious days would begin when Laura
grew old enough to become interested
in lovers, but she had not anticipated
that those days would draw thus
| swiftly. Laura was only seventeen.
A child in spirit, though visibly near
ing the lovely verge Of womanhood,
Mrs. Noel had left her for a holiday
visit at the home of a school friend IN
Scotland, while she made an annual
cure at Homburg. Now, six weeks
! later, Laura's letters were filled with
one mans name, and her hostess wrote
that Russian, Count Rufsli, posses
sing European reputation for fascIn-
alton, was pursuing Laura with such
| devotion as she believed no girl could
resist.
That woman should marry among
her countrymen was law of life
evolved by Mrs. Noel from her own
brief happy marriage. That Laura S
choosing, Mrs. Noel discovered sudden
ly to be this laws inseparable codi-
Gle. Yet Laura had manifested a
cheerfully resOlute will since ever she
was old enough to feel a preference.
What if her will had already decided
for this stranger-.a Russian. whose
European reputation for fascination
could not have been acquired within
any number. of years approximately
near to those of this child of seventeen
Mrs. Noel opened her eyes with a
pang so keen that she thrust it aside
Laura would return to her tomorrow
Surely no intruding influence had thus
swiftly eclipsed her own. She would
not consider such disaster. She would
consider instead the home they meant
to make for some years in Paris-here
perhaps. This apartment seemed likely
to suit them, she told herself, while hel
eyes wandered restlessly around the
salon, which the agent had brilliantly
Illuminated when he had shut out the
chill autumn twilight.
Immediately opposite her chair {
wide doorway, hung with satin portiers
framed a smaller, yet more charming
room whose delicate blue tints sug
gested a dainty background for the OBJ
ject of Mrs. Noefs anxieties.
Just the cosey little den my darling
will fancy -
Her thoughts broke off as shortly as
though they had been interrupted
words.
Before the chimney which faced the
archway stood low couch, heapet
with many satin pillows. A moment
since it had seemed the very nest fol
Laura-Now?
Was she dazed or dreaming? Whose
slender Whitehead figure lay among
those pillows? Whose fair head hal
turned away toward the chimney
Not Laura's, thank God! Color an(
outline were like, but the pretty crea
ture who so mysteriously appeared
there was not Laura, nor vision O
Laura.
Whoever she was, how did she ge
there unobserved? An awe that wa!
neither curiosity nor terror possessed
; Mrs. Noel as she confronted the pic
ture before her Whence had it come
, Why did she behold it?
Between her and the object of he
spellbOund gaze the figure of a MAJ
in evening dress advanced soundlessly
His back was toward Mrs. Noel as h
} stepped softly to the side Of the sleep
: ing girl. He bent over her. His slen
der jeweled hands lifted one Of tn
satin pillows.
: What was he about to do? Did h
mean some earessing arrangement o
; those pillows for the comfort of tina
fair head?
r The sleeper stirred. The bendin,
man, still holding the pillow, glance,
across his shoulder, thus turning hi
beautiful, evil face to the horror-strick
, | en- onlooker, and in those cruel, pal
eyes his purpose was written-mur
der!
A cry, shrill with terror, interrupte,
the fluent amenities Of Rosine an,
the house-agent, as he fitted the Ike,
Aghast they paused.
There was a rush Of flying feet alon
the inner corridor, and a heavy fall.
"Open, imbecilev' Rosine cried wild
, ly. Madame, madameY'
9 The frightened agent flung wide tn
t door, and Rosine dropped on her knee
=. beside the inaninate body of her mis-
g tress.
Neither terror nor anguish can lon
! suspend the intense consciousness Q
: such temperament as Mrs. Noers.
With a strange regard her haggar
eyes SCareu up presently at ItOSlHe an
4 the concierge, whom the agent ha
g hurriedfy summoned.
II was tired and I tainted she mul
INJURED impajtiently to their eager ques
r ticns.
Y Pardon, madame screamed?"
J. Mrs. Noel frowned and closed her eyes agar
e IA fancyi l was half-asleep-a bad dream.
e She sat upright resolutely III the chat
where ay had placed her, and smiled
"A womaIrs nerves are not to be explained