Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1901-07-07


mood?
Il am afraid you must attribute II
to that fatal habit of mine he said.
humbly.
She was undenlably a handsome and
alluring woman this Lady Emilia, with
her ash-blonde hair and her gold
brown eyes. Her movements lacked the
wild. free grace which characterized all
Helga did. Her form owed more, per-
haps, to the corsetier and less to ma
ture: but in its queenliness and dignity
It was not unlike Helga's own. And
as she trailed her scented garments al
most across his feet to her favorite
lounge. the resemblance struck him
keenly.
Come" she said. you had purpose.
Take the plunge. Mr.. Osborne. and let
me know what that purpose was
Lady Emilia, 1t is in your power TO
do an act Of mercy" he began.
All, now you are going to impose
on my good nature" she interrupted
him. chats always the way with you
philanthropists. Give you an inch and
you take an ell. Never mind, what can
I do for you. Mr. Osborne? You have
not told me YETI"
That is very quickly done, Lady
Emilia. l am seeking information on a
point OF great Importance. ! have
heard a strange rumour, but / cannot
get it confirmed or denied with any
certainty because 1t touches certain
matters which are supposed to be
known only in the highest Imperial
circles"
Stay, Mr.. Osborne. you are wander
ing into politics, and | must tell you
once and for all that you cannot inter
est me in any set of disconnected peo-
pie either here or at home. am pos
itively too lazy to work up an inter
est"
Lady Emilia, I am myself the dis
contented person in whom seek to in
terest you"
Upon my word your audacity de-
serves success" she retorted. Who told
you you could interest me? I said only
that found you amusing
Francis Osborne looked across at her
in vague uneasiness and bewilderment,
and he noted that her eyes were
brighter a hundred times than they had
been when her other guests were pres
ent; that the very cynicism and rail-
lery of her mood was altogether unlike
the cold superciliousness OF her usual
bearing; but he was too much engross-
ed with his mission. too little occupied
with himself, to inquire mentally why
this was so. May go on?" he asked.
YES" she replied lightly. Il some
times relent towards the individual
when / care nothing for the cause; go
on. You say you wish to get informa-
ton on a matter known. or supposed to
be known. My dear Mr.. Osborne, am
not in those circles. why do you come
to me?'
Because" he answered, Il believe
that you know, or at least might know,
anything you desired"
1T seems to me-" she said, that you
have formed a very poor opinion OF
the discretion OF certain members OF
those ofiical circles"
Il regard them, Lady Emilia, as mere
mortal men,"
Upon my word" She said. II shall
have to revoke that opinion OF mine!
Mr.. Osborne, 1t appears understands the
art Of hattery by inference"
Power was the breath of life to Lady
Emilia, and it was very sweet to her
that he should acknowledge her power
over others, though he might not feel it
himself.
Tell me the rumour. What have
you heard?"
81 am told that there has recently
been an attempt on the Cars life.
rs that alp" she cried. MY dear
Mr.. Osborne, you cannot prove official
leakage by thing like that. We live
in an atmosphere of these rumours.
Without them our hordes Of officials
could not justify their existence. 1t is
their particular business to be always
finding these marvellous mares nests"
81 fear this is no mares nest. Lady
Emilia Osborne replied, gravely. l
would to God could think it one.
speak OF no chimera Of the police Of
ficials' vivid Imagination, but OF a de-
sign carefully formulated; every detail
of which was successfully carried
through. Russia would now be in
mourning for her Emperor. am told,
but for the fact that it was poor Tour
ganoff and not his master who was
poisoned in the imperial pullman on the
recent journey to Moscow"
'ToursAnof! 4 he dead7 Lady EN-