Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1906-01-27

~-N~-1 a
turned away from the desk. he bumped
into a gentleman almost as elegant
~ attired as himself.
Il beg your pardon," he cried. step
ping aside.
What? Mr. Warburton?"
MIR. Robert, greatly surprised and
confused, found himself shaking hands
with his ship acquaintance. the Rus
sian.
Il am very glad 70 see you again,
Count" said Warburton. recovering.
"A great pleasure! II is wonderful
how small city is. had never ex-
pect' to see you again. Are you stop
ping here? I had intended to try
TO reproduce the Russians dialect. but
one dialect In a book is enough; and
we haven't reached the period of its
activity
NO. am at the Waldorf"
"Eh? have heard all about you
millionaires."
ooh, we are not all of us million
aires who stop there" laughed War
burton. There are some Of us who
try to make others believe that we
elAN- AhfAf NANRbAuA AAitN ltiocdbAN
French. he added. Il came here to-
night with the purpose Of dining
VIII you do me the honor Of sharing
my tablet"
you speak French 2'-delighted. 1T
is wonderful This English has so
many words that mean so many things.
that of all languages 7 speak it with
the least fucncy. But IL is my deep
regret. Monsieur. to refuse your kind
invitation. I am dining with friends"
"Well. then, breakfast tomorrow at
IL" Warburton urged. for he had
taken a fancy TO this affable Russian.
ALAS! See how I am placed I am
forced 10 leave for Washington early
in the morning. We poor diplomats.
we earn our honors But my business
IS purely personal in this case. neither
political nor diplomatic" The count
drew HIS gloves thoughtfully through
his fingers. "I shall OF course pay
my respects to my ambassador. DO
7 recollect your saying that you be
longed 10 the United STATE army?"
Il recently resigned. My post was
In a wild country. with little or moth
ing 70 do. monotony and routine"
you limp slightly"
"A trifing mishap. "-modestly
eth. you do wrong You may soon
be at war with England. and having
resigned your commission. YOU would
lose all you had waited these years
for"
Warburton smiled I'VE shall not
90 70 war with ENGLAND
This army OF yours is small"
well. yes: but made Of pretty good
notwithstanding machines with
brains"
'Hai" The count laughed softly.
BAH how I detest all these cars and
ships VIII you believe me. had
rather my little chateau. my vineyard,
and my wheat fields. than all the or
ders. Eth. Wen. my country:
there must be some magic in that
phrase. or all loves. that Of country
IS the most lasting Is that Balzac?
I do not recall only once in CEN
fury do we End a man who Is willing
20 betray his country. and even then
he may have for his purpose Meth
er hate revenge. nor love Of power"
A peculiar gravity sat on his mobile
face. caused perhaps. by some disagree
able inward thought.
''How long shall you be in Washing
TOM" asked Warburton.
The count shrugged. who can
say?''
Il go to Washington myself within
a few days"
It'll We meet again. then. Mon
sieur."
The count lifted his hat, a courtesy
which was gracefully acknowledged by
the American; while the clerks at the
desk eyed with tolerant amusement
these polite but rather unfamiliar GER
emonies OF departure. These foreign
ers We're odd buffers
"A very decent chap" unused War
burton. and a mighty shrewd hand
at poker-for a foreigner. He is going
10 Washington: We shall meet again.
l wonder If she's in the restaurant
now"
Mr.. Roberts appetite, for a healthy
young man, was strangely incurious.
He searched the menu from top 10
cONuChs anu men lIoIn NOllOn 10 Top.
nothing excited his palate. Whenever
persons entered, he would glance up
eagerly. only to feel his heart sink
lower and lower | don't know how
many times he was disappointed The
waiter ahemmed politely. Warburton,
In order TO have an excuse to remain,
at length hit upon a partridge and
pint OF Chablis.
Nine o'clock. Was il possible that
the colonel and his daughter were din
Ing In their rooms? Perish the posi-
bility! And he looked in vain for tho
| count. quarter-past nine. Mr.. Rob
erts anxiety was becoming almost un-
endurable. Nine-thirty. He was about
20 surrender in despair. His partridge
lay smoking on his plate. and he was
on the point of demolishing il. when,
behold! they came. The colonel en-
tered first. then his daughter. her