The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1907-09-29

wANTED-A young Hugiian lady, As corn.
psnion to lady in HungHTyi must be younI
and good walker; good looks absolutely
essential Salary. sioo a year"
r READ the advertisement as far as
this, three times over, then 1
u jumped up from my chair, and
stood before the looking glass.
Good looks absolutely essential" 1
said aloud. "We-eil-I should think"
/ did not finish my sentence. Even
to myself. in the solitude Of my own
poky bed-sittnE room. It sounded too
vain.
All the same I laughed under my
breath, and kissed my hand to nv
own reflection, saying in a whisper:
Never mind. Miss Vanity. you'll DO.
After all, I added. 1T Is no use pre-
tending not to know I am-passably
good looking" and az this I laughed
aloud. for you see the glass showed
me pair Of shining eyes. sweeping
lashes and dark hair that came turnb-
ling over. my forehead I'm little willfuI
curls. There you have a fair picture
Of Molly Trehayne. sometime nursery
governess, next, companion, and no
rich friends. and with money running
shorter and shorter every day.
OF course I knew the folly Of ac-
sspting a foreign post of which I
knew nothing. but I had no training.
and I did not want 10 starve. There
fore. determined to apply for Ibis
situation at the address given-that of
8 hotel of the Strand.
1 was received BY an old gentleman
OF so benevolent an appearance and
such charming manners that the
doubts I had had or my wisdom van.
ished. more especially when he seemed
20 think me eminently suitable.
He Informed me that the lady who
needed a companion was a Countess
Pravsnoski who. with her son. lived In
remote corner or Hungary. He told
me OF the duties required OF me. and
wen, to make long story short. I
accepted the post The old gentleman
who said he was steward OF the
countess estates-gave me a substan-
tiai SUM for my journey. with all in
structlons as to the route. and. ass1r-
ing me that I should do admirably for
all that the countess wanted of me.
he bade mo farewell
We were driving up-up-up-for ever
up a long. winding road: and. tired
thougI. I was after my journey half
across Europe, leaned forward 10
view the landscape from the carriage
window.
After q drive OF nearly ten hours
we numbered round a bend in tbe
desolate road. and saw ? massive
hffflnfnR reN 81
rocks and buildings seemed to be rnix-
ed up inextricably, then disentanpIed
chimneys, turrets. and windows. and
san that we were rapidly approaching
a huse medieval castle
We drove up to n great gateway.
upon which my coachman Knocked
with his whip in primitive fashion. A
wicket slid back, and n repuisive mans
face peered out This MAJ next be-
gan to unfasten the gate with a clang-
ing Of bolts and chains that reminded
me Of a prison. The huge gate slow
~ creaked and swung open; we drove
through into a paved courtyard, and
the gate swung to behind US with a
clang that sent my heart into my
boots.
I felt myself shaking as I got out
~ NNN Ne'i Astbtf anu SllIliN CLIMBED
the steps into the great hall where
I was met by servant who had ap-
Feared as we drove up. He ushered
ne AT once into a comfortable room
with big ore. from which a tall wom-
an advanced to greet me.
She was singularIy harSsome, in
spite of her Fifty and odd years. and
her dark. piercing eyes seemed to
look me through and through. man
stood behind her. leaning against the
mantelpiece. AS his eyes fell on me
/ saw that he started violently. and
an expression could not interpret
swept over his face. Was it-pity?
Dismay? Fear7 What was #?
The Countess Pravsnoski greeted me
charmngly, and though all the time
! felt that her deep eyes were search
Ing my very soul. nothing could have
been kinder than her manner or more
considerate than her suggestion that
-