Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1910-05-20
CHAPTER XXVII.
In the Cabin of Madam.

WIFI dIl VI piloSI lhN
old woman departed from the door. l
heard the rustic of a football. l could
have told in advance what face would
now appear outlined in tine candle glow
with eyes wide and startled. with
lips half parted in query 1t was the
face of Helena, Baroness Won Ritz!
"Eh bien! madam, why do you bar
me out?" l said, as though we had
parted but yesterday.
In her sheer astonishment. presume,
she let down the fastening chain, and
without her invitation l stepped within.
l heard her startled Mon Dieu!" then
her more deliberate exclamation of
emotion my Cod" she said. She
stood, with her hands caught at her
throat, staring at me. l laughed and
held out a hand.
Madam Baroness" said, how glad
/ am! Come, has not fate been kind
to us again."
l pushed shut the door behind me.
Still without word she stepped deep
er into the room and stood looking at
me, her hands clasped now loosely and
awkwardly, as though she were
country girl surprised, and not the
Baroness Helena Won Ritz, toast or talk
of more than one capital Of the world.
Yet she was the same. She seemed
slightly thinner now yet not less beau
tiful Her eyes were dark and brilliant
as ever. The clear features Of her face
were framed in the roll of her heavy
locks. as l had seen them last. Her
garb, as usual, betokened luxury. She
was robed as though for some fete. all
in white satin, and pale blue fires of
stones shone family at throat and
wrist. Contrast enough she made to
me, clad in smoke Drowned tunic CT
buck, with the leggings and moccasins
of a savage, my belt lacking but pre-
pared for weapons.
Il see, madam" said l, smiling, "tnat
still l am only asleep and dreaming.
But how exquisite dream, here in this
wild country! How unfit here am |. a
savage, who introduce the one discord-
ant note into so sweet a dream"
| gestured to my costume, gestured
about me, as took in the details of the
long room in which we stood. swear
II was the same as that in which had
seen her at a similar hour in Mon
treal! 1t was the same I had first
seen in Washington!
impossible? / am doubted? An, but
do | not know? Did l not see? Here
were the pictures on the walls, the
carved Cupids, the candelabra with
their prisms, the chairs, the couches!
Beyond yonder satin curtains rose the
high canopy of the embroidery covered
couch. its fringed drapery reaching al
most to the deep pile Of the carpets.
Yet not quite the same, it seemed to
me. There were some little things
missing, just as there were some little
things missing from her appearance.
For instance. these draperies at the
right. which formerly had cut off the
Napoleon bed at its end of the room,
now were of blankets and not of silk.
The bed itself was not piled deep in
down, but contained, as l fancied from
my hurried glance. a thin mattress,
stuffed perhaps with straw. a roll OF
blankets lay across it's foot. As | gaz-
ed to the farther extremity of this side
of the long suite, l saw otner evidences
of change. 1t was indeed as though
Helena Won Ritz, creature of luxury,
woman of an old, luxurious world, eX-
otic of monarchical surroundings, had
Ill .s1f int h4 "
of the rude democracy of the far from
tiers.
| saw all this: but ere had finished
nv first hurried glance | had accepted
her, as always one must just as she
was.
Yes" said she at length, Slowly
"yes. | now believe it to be fate
She had not yet smiled. l took ner
hand and held it long. | felt glad to
see her. and to take her hand, it seem
ed pledge Of friendship and as things
now were shaping. l surely needed a
friend.
At last. her face flushed slightly,
she disengaged her hand and motioned
me to a seat But still we stood silent
for a few moments. Have you no Gu
riosity?" said she at length.
81 am too happy to have curiosity,
my dear madam"
You will not even ask me why am
here?" she insisted.
II know | have known all along.
You are in the pay Of England. When
had sailed on the Modesto for Oregon.
We knew all this, and planned for it.
have come across by land to meet you.
have waited. l greet you now"
She looked me now clearly in the
face. Il am not sure" she said at
length, slowly.
Not sure of what, madam? Wheh
YOU travel on England's warshp' l
smiled. you travel as the guest OF
England herself If. then. you are not
for England. in Gods name, whose
friend are yOu?"
..Nhosc friend am l." she answered
slowly. Il say to you that | do not
know. Nor do I know who is my
friend. A friend-what is that: /
never knew one"
Then be mine. Let me be your
friend. You know my history. You
know about me and my work. throw
nv secret into your hands. You will
not betray me? You warned me once
at Montreal. viii YOU not shield me
once again? Come, can You betray a
pcople Of whom you can say 50 much?
"Ah. now you would try t" tempt
me from trust which has been re-
posed in me-"
Not in the least. | would not have
Won break your word with Mr.. Pak"n-
ham: but | know you are here on TN"
same errand as myself. You are to
learn facts and report them t" MI IA
kcnham-as | am to Mr. Calhoun
Meantime. YOU have not rcpnrtcd?
,.>r, I nm not vet ready.