Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1899-08-23
&" 1T is q secretl' | faItered.
" Sneak, by whom 2 be repeated.

speak, or | should SWIM, ana 1 WaH
obliged to admit that her excellence the
Countess Landrinof. being most anxious
and unhappy by reason Of her husband g
prolonged and unexplained absence, had
employed me to find him and, if possible,
to bring him back to st. Petersburg; at
all events, to see him and report upon
his condition.
1.-The count laughed aloud. (My
DOOR mother shuddered as l read this
part of the letter and cried quietly as
she listened.)
"'Why. what does she think ails mef
he said.
81 cannot tell you, replied.
I" Speak. you fooll' he repeated an.
grily What does she think ails me I
She thinks I am mad; is that itf'
IL admitted that this was the case,
and | admitted it in fear and trem.
bling. for l, too, was assured that the
Door count was not in full possession Of
his reason, 80 different was his conduct
from that which should have expected
in one whom all Russia knows and re-
spects.
mad to have left my beloved wife's
side. though only for short holiday
abroad. eh2 he laughed why. man
alive. what queer things these women
arel Cant man take little holiday
and enjoy trip abroad without drag
ging his whole esta blishment with him
Besides. I'm away on business
The countess is distressed because
she has heard nothing Of your excel
lence, | murmured. and was not even
aware Of your intention to depart or OF
your present whereabouts
q" 'WhatI' he said. as though sur
prised. Has she not received my let.
tersH'
81 believe not one. said
".Why. man alive, he said. 4 am a
very model Of a husband. l came In q
hurry. true But sent word Of my de-
parture by the man who drove me to
the station. Since then I have written
AS husband should-nearly every
day. Have the letters miscarriedf
/" They must have. So far as am
aware the countess has received none
at all.
1" The rascals, the rascals' said the
count. as though to himself. You
must know. my friend, he continued,
addressing me, that l have enemies
You look surprised. 1t is odd that so
good and universally respected man
as I should have enemies. They are
men, you must understand, who are
jealous Of my position, and-er-of my
favor with the czar. These men are
building up a plot against my reputa-
tion. tell you this in strict confidence
am here in order to escape the worry
Of their prosecutions If only for awhile
I-I-you will laugh over 1t, as I do
now-I took you for their spy. You
will forgive mef My anger was excus-
able. Imagine. my friend. these men
will not allow man to write to his
own wife, but must needs intercept the
letters. Is it not too bad7 You will for.
give meH Come. we will return and
sup together.
Willingly, Isaid, and in my heart
I thanked heaven and all the saints In
the calendar that the counts anger was
over and he was now in quiet and
reasonable frame Of mind.
"We left the park and walked up OK
ford street. and we supped together as
he had suggested. During this meal the
count bade me explain how I had found
him.
"'The credit Of it is not my own, ex-
cellence,' l said, but belongs to the
young Englishman. Mr.. Morris-Percy,
as they call him..
"'WhoT said the count, looking be-
wildered
81 repeated Mr.: Percy's name. he
who met you one day, soon after your
arrival. in Oxford street. / added.
'and greeted you in Russian.
"'Oh. ah. yesl' said the count. i
remember. of course. He knows me well
and recognized me. Is it not sof'
"'He has so often staid at your house.
both in town and country / said,
that he could scarcely meet you with.
ont recognition Nevertheless, neither
your wife nor your con was quite pre-
pared to believe that he could have seen
Yourself here in London until this same
Percy cleverly took your photo and sent
over copy.
1.-THE count started and looked angry
at this.
What, he exclaimed, took my
photograph For what purpose3 Ex-
plain, sir. at once. How dared he take
my photograph
".For the consolation of the countess,
only. hastened to reply. That she
and the young count might recognize
that you were indeed your excellence
and no other.
"Then the counts face softened, and
be laughed.
"'Of course, of courser he said.
Naturally. not having received my
letters, they would be unaware Of my
presence in London and disinclined to
believe / could have gone so far aheld
without letting them know-ha, hal
So they must verify my photograph TAX
en- by this youth. my sons friendl 1t is
good. and very good-a curious turn
and combination of eventsl And my
wife recognized the portrait at once, /
suppose, though it can have been but
mere daub of a thing. done by a boy.
eh7
"'The countess recognized 1t at once,
though she pronounced you haggard
and worn as if with trouble.
"'Ha, troublel That's this Internal
..,,,,;.,,, tb,t told vou If HaOOord