The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1906-03-30

was quite possible that he would see
her.
He left the hotel, hailed a cab, and
was driven down Fifth avenue. He
! stopped before the fortress of privi-
leges. From the cab it looked very
formidable. Worldly as he was, he
was somewhat innocent. He did not
know that New York hotels are for
midable only when your money gives
out. To get past all these brass-but-
toned lackeys and to go on as though
he really had business within took no
small quantity of nerve. However,
he slipped by the outpost without
any challenge and boldly approached
the desk. A quick glance at the reg
lister told him that they had indeed
put up at this hotel He could not
explain why he felt so happy over his
discovery. There are certain exulta-
tions which are inexplicable. AS he
turned away from the desk, he bumped
into a gentleman almost as elegant
Iy attired as himself.
81 beg your pardon!" he cried, step
ping aside.
What? Mr.. Warburton?"
Mr.. Robert, greatly surprised and
confused, found himself shaking hands
with his ship acquaintance, the Rus
sian.
81 am very glad to see you again,
Count" said Warburton. recovering.
"A great pleasure! 1t is wonderful
how small a city is. l had never ex-
pect' to see you again. Are you stop
ping here?" 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."
"Oh, 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
are" Then, dropping into passable
French, he added: 81 came here to-
night with the purpose Of dining.
Will you do me the honor Of sharing
my table?'
"You speak French ?"-delighted. ut
Is wonderful. This English has so
many words that mean so many things,
that Of all languages l speak 1t with
the least fiuency. But 1t is my deep
regret, Monsieur. to refuse your kind
invitation. l am dining with friends"
"Well, then, breakfast tomorrow at
H." Warburton urged, for he had
taken fancy to this affable Russian.
"Alas! See how am placed l am
forced to 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. II shall of course pay |
my respects to my ambassador, Do
I recollect your saving that you be-
longed to the United States army?"
81 recently resigned. My post was
in a wild country, with little or moth |
ing to do; monotony and routine"
you limp slightly"
"a trifing mishar, "-modestly.
"Eh, 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 1--WE shall not
60 to war with England"
"This army of yours is small"
well yes; but made of pretty good |
material-fghting machines with |
brains"
"Ha!" The count laughed softly.
bah! how l detest all these cars and
ships! Will you believe me, | had
rather my little chateau, my vineyard,
and my wheat fields, than all the or |
ders. Eth, well, my country:
there must be some magic in that
phrase. OF all loves, that of country
Is the most lasting. Is that Balzac?
I do not recall. Only once in CEN
tury do we find man who Is willing
to betray his country, and even then
he may have for his purpose Meth
er hate, revenge, nor love of power"
peculiar gravity sat on his mobile
face, caused perhaps, by some disagree
able inward thought.
Chow long shall you be in Washing
ton?" asked Warburton.
The count shrugged. "Who can
say?"
"I go to Washington myself within
4 few days"
"Till we meet again, then, Mon
sieur"
The count lifted his hat, courtesy
which was gracefully acknowledged by
he American; while the clerks at the
1esk eyed with tolerant amusement
.hese polite but rather unfamiliar GER
emonies of departure. These foreign
ers were odd buffers.