The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-11-05

card which Davidson, the iiScIee English
foohman, held upon the salver.
He recognized the name In an instant,
and certain hardness showed about his
mouth. For a few moments he was silent.
staring b,ankiy at the card. Words fail
ed him. But at last he said, with well
feigned Calmness:
'Show her into Sir Henry's private
room. And see that We are not disturbed
you understand"
3 F''NCry va, sir" answered the man,
who withdrew, silently closing the two
long white doors after him.
50 she's turned UP again." the d:pio-
matiSt gasped, as he rose and paced in
fererish haste TO and fro in his comfort
able, we'll warmed room, with It's thick
e2ypet and double windows. The very
last woman we want in st. Petersburg at
hi. moment! Her presence here is an
l.I-fcrtUae for Us indeed. I'd rather d. al
with the very devil hims Il than with her.
Eu-, he sighed, II suppose Il vii b. pol
icy to see her. Napoleon declared that
CEC secret of his success was that he new
cr allowed his anger TO rise above his
threat. Ii he hadn't been "A soldier he
might have cut u very creditable figure
in our career and pausing before a long
mirror he rearranged his CraVat, smooth
ed down his hair. and went out, a smart
NANttr Nt44-Stt-up llS W Z, eIIliI6lilIS SOCU
looking, even though his We'll trimmed
bar and mustache had just the faintest
ui&e of premature gray in them.
skilled dip,Omatist, he had graduated
from attache through the principal courts
of Europe, yet when he paused before The
door Of the ambassadors private room he
drew deep breath. Then. as he boldly
entered. a tall, elegantly dressed, superb
figure, with loosened cloak of rich sable,
rose with a glad laugh to greet him. She
was very pretty, fair-haired, blue-eyed
woman, who came forward eagerly. her
gloved hand Outstretched and an express
sion Of pleasure on her lips.
He took the tips of her slim fingers and
bent over them stiffly, in a manner &C
CURED by long diplomatic habit. ~ had
no idea, princess, that you were back in
st. Petersburg" he said. 7 believed you
were sill on the Riviera"
: ''PrinCesS?" she echoed. drawing back
and looking hard at him. when we last
met l was Vera to you, Why do you
now attempt formalities?"
Their eyes met. She spoke excellent
English. His face relaxed into a smile
he responded. Few men, you know,
can remain unmoved in the presence of
the Princess Vera Czartoriska"
o. ~ NO., no. she laughed. with strange
sarcasm. PAY me no compliments. They
are entirely unnecessary, my dear
Charles, for I hear that you have fallen
In love with that black-faced little witch,
Marya Lesouef. Well, 1 congratulate
you"
. There was a tinge of intense bitterness
IN her voice.
ing piece of fiction, my dear princess"
he inquired, with an amused air
She told me herself" his visitor an
~ Then my reply is that lies do not fall
Well from the pretty lips Of Vera Czarto-
riska," he answered. bluntIy, for he
knew that the princess was Marya 5
pet aversion. She had told him how she
hated the rich young Russian widow,
who, two years before. had daily driven
her fine Orloff ponies in the Newski, and
whose diamonds were the envy of all
at the state balls at the winter palace.
All" she said, drawing herself up with
a dangerous flash in her glance. az see
that you are like all other men; YOU
whom L once thought my ideaI-you who
declared that you loved me so fervently
four years ago, when you were first APP
pointed to our embassy-have cast me
aside, and forgotten all the past" And
her breast slowly ~heaved and fell be.
meath its lace. ST left Nice a week ago.
1 met your blaek-eyed charmer at the
Beau RiYage, at RUmpelmeyer' at the
Rooms, at the Reserve at Beaulieu; in
fact, everywhere. She is with her mother,
but IS, nevertheless, enjoying herself i'm
mensely."
He was silent. It was at Nice little
over four years ago, while he was still
second secretary of embassy in Paris,
that he had first met the pretty woman
before him. How we'll he remembered
1t all. Those walks along the Promenade
des AnglaiS at sunset. the dinners at
her great white villa with the high palms
IN front, the evenings at the Casino.
or the flying visits to Monte Carlo. all
came back to him as wildly as though
they had happened but yesterday.
He remembered how, at the Battle of
Flowers, she had given him a seat in her
carriage decorated with violets and mi
mosa, and how at the opera that same
night she had expressed a hope that
some day he would be appointed to the
embassy at the court of the ear Strange
enough her wish became quickly fulfilled.
for within a month he had been trans
ferred from Paris to st. Petersburg; yet
she had been very little in Russia ever
since. His had been a mere season.
madness, and for two years he had not
seen her until that meeting He asked
the reason of her long absence, to which
she responded, laughing:
All! / fear I am not a good Russian.
l have been in Paris, in London. in
Rome, everywhere but here in my own
land"
after two years of absence you re-
preach me with cooled affection! Your
arguments are scarcely logical, my dear
princess" he said, with perfect calm
ness.
Then it is true!" she cried. her ewes
flashing as she started to her feet. you
prefer that swarthy black-hared little
cat to me! 1t is cruel" she protested.
bursting into tears. ut Is unjusti You
know that I love your
But he only sighed, and stood wonder
ing.
Then they sat for some time In desuI-
tory conversation. each hating the other,
but both striving to conceal the thoughts
possessing them, until the princess drew
her veil tighter over her pretty chin, al
lowed the man who had Cnca loved her tn
buckle her heavy sable cloak at her
throat, and wishing him a gay farewell
swept out to her carriage.
Back 10 his own room Callinghan
walked slowly and thoughtfully. and. tr
his surprise found Sir Henry LittIeton
the gray-haired British ambassador
awaiting him. He was in uniform, hav
ing just paid an official visit to the min
istry of war
80, she's gomez" his exceIlency said
turning from the window Davidson toll,
me she was here, so I didn't disturb YOU
Bad luck seems to follow us always O.
late, Callingham. We must be careful
now-devilish careful. She's no doub
been recalled here for some evil purpos,
or another"
Strange. A similar thought has strucl
me- the secretary Of the embassy said.