Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1910-12-03

Miss Helen Armstrong, an American
girl, travelling between London and
Paris, having crossed the channel from
Dover, entered railway compart-
ment at Calais. There were two other
persons in the compartment, both of
whom got out at the first station. A
man came along looking into the COM
partmentS and. seeing that there was
plenty OF room In the one occupied by
Miss Armstrong, entered and settled
himself In a seat. The guard closed
and locked the door, and the train
steamed on.
An hour would elapse before the train
would stop again, during which the
girl must remain locked In with a
strange man. The train had not been
Eve minutes away from the station
when the man said In French:
''Mademoiselle. I'll trouble you for
your clothes"
Helen understood French. but did
not understand what he meant by ask
ing for her clothes.
"I'll trouble you for your clothes" he
repeated and at the same time began
to divest himself of his coat. By this
wanting.
Monsieur" she said, "in my suit
case on the rack you will find a cos
tune Can you not use thatT
st win simplify matters very much"
he replied. II intended not only to put
on your clothes, but to compel you to
put on mine. In that case there would
have been many chances more of the
discovery of my identity through the
discovery of yours. Pardon me, made
moiselle."
He reached for the suit case. Helen
handed him the key, and. removing a
dress. he proceeded to put it on over
his own clothes. There was also a
felt hat in the case with a veil about
the crown. The man put on the hat
and arranged the veil so that 1t could
be pulled down over his face.
There" he said as he leaned back
in his seat. 81 think will do"
Instead of being hard featured. as
would be supposed from his action, he
was refined looking and spoke with
voice as well modulated as If he were
asking a lady to dance. He was about
thirty years old. his eyes were a mild
blue and his hair of that very light
hue which bespeaks northern physical
heritage. He was not a Frenchman,
for he spoke the language with for
eign accent. But whatever prepos-
sessing there was about him was lost
on Helen. who was burning with in
dignation. Gradually she gathered
courage to say:
"You may kill me, but shall inform
the guard of this as soon as he comes
again."
81 viii not kill you. and you will not
inform upon me-"
She looked at him for an explana-
ton.
ION the end of your suit case are the
letters III. A., Cincinnati. That is
city. If / mistake not, Of the United
States. You Americans are all liberty
loving. 1 am concealing myself not
from justice. but from injustice. My
life work IL to make my country as
free as America
This put an entirely different con-
struction on the matter Where Helen
had seen the expression OF a criminal
she now saw that Of martyr.
'"Tell me your story" she said.
SIT IL the story Of all or at least the
most OF us. I am of the nobility Of
Russia. My father is one of those who
are near to the car and does his will.
If I am taken It will be that fathers
duty to send his son to Siberia. You
Americans know what that IL. con-
1nement, tyrannical treatment, in a
frozen climate till the prisoners only
recourse Is the terrible hunger strike
or self starvation. From the time
was twenty have been a revolution
list. 1t would take too long TO cata-
logue the SO called crimes for which l
am hunted. have treated you
brusquely, l admit. but II you had the
dreadful Siberian prospect before you
in order to avert 1t you would not
scruple to possess yourself of even a
lady's clothes"
This was a new, unique experience
for Miss Armstrong. To hold the life
Of martyr to liberty in her hand.
and that martyr a refined, intellectual
and handsome man, was immensely at
tractive to her. She at once entered
into his cause with all her heart and
soul.
''Tell me-" she said. "how to act in
case your identity Is suspected"
Treat me as your maid"
have to take the lead" she said. "You
are not sufficiently versed In the at
fairs Of women. No lady's maid would
wear dress like that"
The dress was too small for the man,
too short. and 1t was impossible to
hook II over the back. Besides. II was
not even a travelling dress, being more
fitted for afternoon or evening.
Tho only article" continued the
girl. ''that have large enough to cover
the misfit Is this loose dressing sack.
Put 1t on. then get down my rugs from
the rack and with one of them conceal
the shortness Of the skirt. Now put
this rnincoat over your shoulders with
out attempting to get your arms in the |
sleeves, There: get back In the corner. |
Have you q ticket7 Give 1t to me.
When the guard comes I win do the |
talking"