The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-04-14
SOME SURPRISES.


covered that the pretty Russian had be n
unexpectedly summoned to the bedside CT
"a sick friend. She had, however, left a
note with the English maid asking me to
enclose the document in an envelope and
leave it.
81 regret it is impossible for me to be
st home to receive you," she wrote III
French, "hHt- | have every confidence
that you will secure me what l. require.
If you leave it for me 1 will, in return,
write down and send you the facts L
promised to reveal Time presses, there
fore kindly excuse my haste. L shall al
Ways remember your kindness and be
ready to render you any service in re-
turn
This was disappointing. l had hoped
to hear from her own lips her promised
revelations, but this being impossible l
enclosed the special permit in an envelope
sealed it and left it, together with brief
note warming her that she was being
carefully watched by police agents, and
promising to call next day and bid her
farewell.
When on the following morning pre-
sented myself at her house, l was in
formed by the maid that Mademoiselle
had left early to visit her sick friend, and
that she would not return till evening.
inquiry showed that she had received my
letter. and when at eight O'Clock that
night l again called in the expectation of
obtaining the fulfilment of her promise
tatell me of Ella, found her still absent
and gathered from the servant that she
had taken travelling trunk with her. l
concluded that she had left secretly for
Russia.
From day to day / waited in the expec-
taeion of letter from her, but although
/ remained in anxiety and doubt for more
than month, none came, and was at
last compelled to admit that had actual
Iy been tricked as Paul had predicted.
He was right after all. Sonia, the limo.
cent-lookiDg girl with the sad dark eyes
and dimped chin, was woman interna-
tionally notorious, who, soTt-v DICED. had
posed as my friend in order TO attain her
own ends, and had then departed with
out carrying out her part of the compact.
As the week passed l gradually began to
realize the force of Paul Verblioudovitch's
words when he had tried to impress upon
me the necessity of accepting her state
was a heartless adventures, therefore l
bitterly reproached myself for having al
lowed her libellous allegations against
Ella to arouse suspicion within me, and
at length determined upon regarding all
her words as false. uttered merely for tho
purpose Of enlisting my assistance to
procure her re-entry into her own coun
ICY. MY tDRCI UuoO L chOltAd nav o hAlONOo
nv self to fall into such a trap, and make
such demand upon friends goodwill,
knew no bounds. went to the Elm bassy
and to Paul admitted that my hopes had
not been realized. In reply, he laughed
heartily, saying:
81 warned you my dear fellow, of the
kind of woman with whom You were
dealing. Thank your stars that she has
discarded you SO easily, and be careful of
r-ofn in flIt1rp No harm has
been done, for inquiries I've
made showed that she crossed the frontier
at Veribolovo without detection
81 must confess [ doubted the truth of
your words before you issued the permit,
but of course it is all plain now" / said.
"You don't believe her lies about Miss
Laing, eh?" he inquired. bluntly, but
trife earnestly, thought.
"No, DON'T" I smiled; and then our
had drifted into different
channel. 1t was clear enough now,
patent to every body that the girl had
fancied SO pure, SO unwor1dly-the god
dess that sat in the clouds regarding all
earth with clear, Immaculate eyes-was
simply an adventures, a wretched Great
ure, on the look out for victims.
The popular excitement consequent
from the belief that war was to be de-
clared had died down, although il the
Foreign Office the reason of the sudden
abandonment Of Russia's intentions re-
NAMED m inscrutabIe mystery, while the
panic on the Stock Exchange had enriched
a few and ruined many. Parliament had
risen for the recess, and Beck had taken
D party in his yacht to the Norwegian
lords. Ella and Mrs. Laing declining his
invitation to join them. This course had
been adopted at my suggestion. When
Ella had spoken to me OF their proposed
cruise I at once demurrad, for although
| had also been asked. | found absence
from the Foreign Office impossible, owing
TO several delicate negotiations at that
proceeding, and therefore urged
her to remain in London. This she did
1T once, declining the invitation on be-
half of both herself and her mother. The
latter, who was not a good sailor, secretly |
thanked me for rescuing her from what
The termed 'th1ee weeks OF misery" and,
ruth to tell, although no longer Jealous
Of Beck's attention to Ella, was glad to
have her remain in town.
Through the hot sitting August days, |
when London was what is termed |
empty Mrs. Laing ard her daughter
till lived In Point street. During the |
irst three weeks following my visit to |
sonia called only twice. but meantime
ella was, knew, suffering fortunes of |
loubt and anxiety. She had been trained
n school OF self repression, and it now
TODD her in good stead. She could not,
however, prevent her cheeks being rale, |
neither could she help her eyes looking |
lilated and odd. Speech was difficult |
md smiles impossible; otherwise she held |
Ter own, and only L felt the difference.
md knew that there lay deep gulf of
uspicion between US.
On the two occasions on which | had /
allied we had no confidential chat, and |
he formal hours went by almost in
Hence. had received positive proof
rom Renouf that she had been a constant
-isitor to Sonia, and it was impossible to
ak with frivolity in that oppressive at
nosphere of doubt Mrs. LaiDg, / no.
iced, hung her gold pince-nez high upon
Ter nose in wonder. Ella was thus con-
uming herself with anxiety, while I.
truggling along from day to day, saw
by last hope growing thinner and yet
nore shadowy, anu looming through it
espair.
Then at last, five weeks after Sonia's
light, l called at Point street and demand
d of Ella the reason she Ind visited the
ouse in Penn broke Road. Her reply was
ute unexpected. She told me quite
almly that they had been schoolfe1lows
t Neuilly, and that, finding Sonia had
ost both her parents, she went to Penn
roke Road each day to bear thu bereayed
irl company. She was in ignorance re-
i. y I F. -t.- had 1of% l