The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1910-11-01
my FELLOW TRAMP

During the season of the white
cars first visit to Paris was walk
ing through Europe had tramped
through Switzerland aud climbed the
Alps and was now about to descend,
Unloading To nake my Way to Paris TO
be present at the great reception.
Pausing to take last view from a
great height, sat down on the ground
aud fell to dreaming. | was recalled
to myself by soft voice behind me
asking In French:
''Can yon tell me, sir. how far Il IA
to MontbardT
! locked mp expecting TO see wo-
man. Instead the person who had ad-
dressed me was young fellow appar-
entity about twenty, though there was
not a sign of hair ON his face, and he
might have been younger or older.
"Montbard? There is Montbard d.
rectly north Of us. You can't distin.
guish the place, for it Is twenty-five
miles from us in direct line"
so farT with an expression of dis.
appointment.
Il am going that way. Rest awhile,
and l will 60 with you
The young man sat down beside me,
and we chatted for half an hour. He
was one Of the most attractive persons
ever met There was much enthu-
siasm In him. Everything in which he
took an interest he took deep inter
est To one who has become blase and
finds most other people so such one
is very refreshing. Besides, he was
very intelligent and displayed consid'
cradle learning. One thing about him
amused me. He was very illogical.
Everything was felt; nothing was rea.
soned. At least his reasons were al
ways absurd. For instance, he e.
pressed firm belief In the divine
right of kings because this right was
necessary as basis for their author
ity.
We started down the declivity, but
had not gone far before we were OYER
taken by diligence, and my young
man got aboard. continued to tramp,
but l confess the rest of the journey
seemed dull and uninteresting.
The next evening | reached Mont
bard. where l found railway transpor-
tation to Paris, but was obliged TO
wait several hours before getting a
train. Going into a cafe to get some
thing to eat, seated myself at ta-
bic aud was looking over the menu
when familiar voice asked, what
will monsieur have" The last time
] had heard that voice was when my
tramping companion babe me adieu
before boarding the diligence. Look
ing up, | saw a waitress standing be-
side me, and her face was as much
like the tramper as the voice. She
was looking down upon me with no
sign Of recognition and for the mo-
ment ! considered the likeness a mere
coincidence. | gave her an order for
supper, but before leaving the cafe
made up my mind that | was not mis-
taken the waitress was really my
companion Of the day before.
A week later while in Paris, where
I had many friends, attended re-
ception at the house OF a prominent
American banker. who then lived near
the Bois de Boulogne. The czar had
arrived, and all Paris was talking
about him, AS entered the drawing
room ! heard lady, whose back was
toward me, say in tones that We're IA
miliar:
without authority from heaven he
would have no more right to rule than
you or l."
Moving to q position where | could
catch view Of her face, saw-my
tramping companion, the waitress Of
Montbard.
"Who Is that lady?' I asked of my
host as soon as could find him.
"The Countess Nichalowsky."
"a Polanderp
eyes"
''Please present me-"
The countess received me graciously.
but without the slightest sign of recog.
milton. ! was fully aware that any
reference to our former acquaintance
would not meet with favor and if per.
sisted In would be resented. l there
fore refrained from mentioning either
Of our meetings, but led the CONVERSE
ton into the same channels as when
we were resting on the Alps. Every
topic she handled differently from her
treatment Of it at that time, but with
even greater brlliancy. When beg
ged for permission to call upon her
she said, II am very sorry, but leave
Paris tomorrow at dawn"
returned to America by steamer
from Cherbourg | am troubled with
seasickness and kept my room till the
voyage was half finished. Then one
day the weather being delightful and
the sea smooth, ! took my steamer
chair and my rug to the deck. haC
scarcely emerged from the companion
way when was startled at seeing
seated before me my tramplng friend
Of the Alps. the waitress OF Montbard,
the Countess Nichalowsky. 1 had at
least a right to recognize the last
named parsonage and exclaimed:
why, countess"
My words were met by cold stare.
"You are mistaken, sir" she said In
tolerable English You address Nine.