Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1903-01-15


" bolt from the blue" in the |
guise of an official recall to |
the sterner romance of the Secret Ser |
vice and the custody of the ''X' Papers |
fell Oh our cruise round tho Bay Of !
Naples
On my arrival at headquarters my
sole Instructions were to convey the
sealed packet to the frontier and hold
it there till ''the authorized one" should
arrive to relieve me of my responsible
ity.
I Under the circumstances the best
course was TO rejoin my bride in order
shat our sojourn on the frontier might
appear but an extension of our we'd
ding tour. and this indeed it was, only
always on my person l carried the hid
den incubus of the 'X'' Papers.
The authorized one'' delayed longer
than had anticipated, but the days at
the schwitzerhoff passed, if not so glo-
riously as in the Naples bay still pleas
Anuy enough. l was. in fact, discover
ing all days were delightful. wherever
spent, if passed with Kirstine! But I
did not enjoy them AS exclusively with
my bride as I could have wished, for
she (bless her dear warm hearty had
befriended lonely little Frenchwom-
an at the pension.
Poor little Nine. Dutour! According
to her pitiful half admissions to my
wife she had been brought up in a con-
vent and married-a marriage de con-
venance almost from it's portals
scarcely two months ago. but monsieur
apparently failing to find her. amusing.
had left her at the Schwitzerhoff to
seek more varied joys at Monte Carlo.
SO it happened that was left alone
i'll the pension garden, rolling cigar
cites one morning while Kristine and
Stephanie exchanged condolences
My reverie was interrupted by an
ultra-sentimental rendering of the
Star Of Eve from "Tannhauser' in a
thin, somewhat breathless baritone
The singer was evidently sublimely un-
conscious of the lurking servant of the
law, who was. with professional habit.
making mental notes to the effect that
his height was five eight, physique
thin and nervous, clothes good and
new, that the knotted fingers loosely
clasplng an ornately decorated pocket
book behind his back We're slnoke-yel-
lowed, and that the deep blue of his
cheeks and upper lip indicated des-
perate struggle with nature on what
she had previously intended to be a
luxuriantly covered surface.
AS the singer passed ne in a very
ecstasy of Sweetness long drawn OUT
Just a trifie fat. by the bye-the
pocketbook slipped from his uncon-
scious fingers
1t was a bore. but conscientious
man was bound to sacrifice seques-
tered repose and return to the artist
soul the property he had lost in the
emotions Of Wagner-just half tone
too low
Monsieur, a thousand thanks" The
artist spoke excellent French. "You
have saved my porte-monIaie, but
more-far more, besides"'
Then he bowed profoundly, futteret
sheaf of notes from the now opened
pocketbook and displayed an inner re
ceptacle mysteriously closed.
This contains souvenir-very prec
ious. 1t is for this, monsieur, that
thank you with all my heart'
| was for bowling my acknowledge
ments and departing. but at that mo
ment the lunch bell rang.
Monsieur will permit me-" Th
singer bowed vaguely between the pen
sion and my person. II arrived onl,
last night. This place has memories
monsieur-memories-
1t was impossible to refuse his prot
fered company: besides, on nearer in
spection, he was more, interestine
There was no trace of emotion in hi
hard, watchful eyes.
On the hotel steps we We're greete
by kirstine and Mime. Dutour. anl
since my new friend remained. I Del
force presented him to the ladies.
his effusive gratitude for my ridicr
lously small service he had thrust
card announcing him to be the Prime
eli Congratza upon me as we walked.
oh, Maurice said my wife as W
walked toward the salon, "the guide
say that now the weather has cleare
we ought to do the Zenner Pass befol
the snow melts. Stenhanie and ha,
planned it all for tomorrow, if you 81
prove
Well. We'll. we, shall Sec" I renlie
honcOmmittally. ~