The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1902-04-05
BY Jules Verne
door of the carriage occupied BY NJ

A vacant place was found opposite
the courier Of the car. The young girl
took it after placing by her side a mod
est travelling bag Of red leather which
seemed to constitute her luggage. Taon
seating herself with downcast eyes, she
prepared for a journey which was still
to last several hours.
Michael Strogoff could not help look
ing attcntively at his newly arrived fell
low traveller. AS she was so placed as
to travel with her back to the engine.
he even offered her his seat, which she
might prefer to her own, but she thanl.-
Ell him with slight bend of her grace
full neck.
The young girl appeared to be about
sixteen or seventeen years of age. Her
head, truly charming, was Of the purest
Slavonic type = slightly severe, and
which would when a few summers had
passed over her unfold into beauty
rather than mere prettiness. From be-
meath sort of kerchief which she wore
on her head escaped in profusion light
! golden hair. Her eyes were brown,
soft and expressive of much sweetness
Of temper. The nose was straight and
attached to her pale and somewhat thin
cheeks by delicate mobile nostrils. The
lips were finely cut, but 1t seemed as if
they had long since forgotten how to
, smile.
The young traveller was tall and up
right, as well as could be judged Of her
| figure from the very simple and ample
pelisse that covered her. Although she
was still very young girl in the literal
sense of the term, the development Of
her high forehead and clearly cut fea-
lures gave the idea that she was the
possessor of great moral energy, a
point which did not escape Michael
Strogoff. Evidently this young girl had
already suffered In the past, and the
future doubtless did not present itself
to her in glowing colors. But 1t was
none the less certain that she had
known how to struggle and that she
had resolved to struggle still with the
trials Of life. Her energy was evident
ly prompt and persistent and her calm
ness unalterable even under circum-
stances in which man would be likely
to give way or lose his self command.
Such was the impression which she
produced at first sight. Michael Stro-
goff, being himself of an energetic tenn
permanent, was naturally struck by the
character Of her physiognomy. and,
while taking care not to cause her an
noyance by a too persistent gaze, he
observed his neighbor with no small in
terest The costume Of the young trav-
eler was both extremely simple and
appropriate. She was not rich-that
could easily be seen-but not the slight
est mark of negligence was to be dis
cerned in her dress. All her luggage
was contained In leather bag under
lock and key, and which, for want Of
room, she held on her lap.
She wore a long, dark pelisse, which
was gracefully adjusted at the neck by
blue tie. Under this pelisse a short
skirt, also dark, fell over robe which
reached to her ankles and of which the
lower edge was ornamented with some
simple embroidery. Half boots Of work
sen in the anticipation Of long jour
ney, covered her small feet.
Michael Strogoff fancied that he rec
ognized by certain details the fashion
Of the costume of Livonia, and he
thought that his neighbor must be a
native of the Baltic provinces.
But whittier was this young girl 60
ing alone at an age when the fostering
care of father or the protection of a
brother Is considered a matter of ne
cessity? Had she now come after an
already long journey from the prov
inces of western Russia? Was she
merely going to Mini Novgorod, or was
the end of her travels beyond the east
ern frontier Of the empire? Would
some relation, some friend, await her
arrival by the train, or was 1t not
more probable, on the contrary, that
she would find herself as much isolated
In the town as she was in this COM
partment, where no one, she must
think, appeared to care for her? 1t
was probable.
Michael Strogoff observed her with
interest, but, himself reserved, he
sought no opportunity OF accosting her.
although several hours must elapse be-
fore the arrival of the train at Nijni
Novgorod.
At last the train, at half past In the
evening, arrived at the station of Mini
Novgorod.
Before any one could get out of the
carriages the inspectors of police pre-
scented themselves at the doors and ex-
amined the passengers.
Michael Strogoff showed his podo-
ROMA made out In the name of Nicholas
Korpanoff. He had consequently no
difficulty.
AS to the other travellers in the COM
partment, all bound for Mini Novgo-
rod. their appearance, happily for them.
was In nowise suspicious.
The young girl In her turn exhibited
not passport, since passports are no
longer required in Russia, but permit
Endorsed with a private seal and which
seemed to be Of q special character.
The inspector read the permit with at
tention. Then. having attentively ex-
amined the person whose description It
contained. he said: