The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-12-10

{ ladies as too beautiful. talked about l. by the gentlemen as too cold. discussed by some, adored by others. understood by none, dreaded by some high in power. plotted against by others yet more high in place.
 She cast hurried glance now at the clock which. tall and solemn. stood near by in the hall. 1t was upon the stroke of midnight only. Turning half Questioningly to her maid. she heard 8 footfall. The manager of the hotel himself came to greet her. carrying card in his hand. and with bow. ask ing her attention.
 ''It is impossible" she said. 'fYou know my wishes very weIl.''
 "But. my dear countess. have you noted this name?" began the manager.
 Of course I know it. All the more reason there should be mistake.''
 A step sounded near by. and the cur tains swung back, disclosing the en- trance to one of the adjoining parlors of the hotel The figure of a well built and hale gentleman past middle age, of dignided carriage and pleasant fea- lures, was revealed. Half hesitating, he advanced.
 My dear lady, he began in deep and melodfOus voice, ''I come to you doubly handicapped. both as intruder and eavesdropper. I could not avoid hearing what you have said. and Ss listeners hear no good of themselves I venture to interrupt. am anxious that your first impression of me should be a good one, madam.'
 She dropped him a courtesy which was grace itself, her dark eyes looking straight into his face. Surprise brought a slightly heightened color to her cheek.
 "You were saying 1t was 8 mistake, dear lady. But if so the intrusion was on my part. I have wished to meet you quietly, if such may be your pleas ure. I am alone. Opportunity has lacked for earlier announcement, for I have but reached town this evening"
 The Countess St. Auban hesitated for an instant, Tut guessed some errand here worth knowing. Having herself entered the inner room, with grace she signided that the elderly gentleman should first be placed.
 Madam" he went an, "my dear countess, I could but overhear you re- fer to my own name. If it has any reputation in your eyes let that plead as my excuse for intruding in this manner. Believe me, nothing would induce me to take such 8 step except business of importance"
 Tt is, then, of business?" Her voice. as he noted once more. was clear and full, her enunciation without provin- cial slur. clean and high bred.
 ''Let me hasten to make all plain. am aware of part of your history and of part of your plans. madam. I am not unaware of certain ambitions  frank in these conditions. You are in- terested in the cause Of Hungary
 Place it wider. sir,' she said. .Tn humanity
 "Hence you have come to America to carry forward certain of your plans. Even now you have undertaken the greatest and most daring work of ai- truism this country ever knew. And you find all things at a deadlock in Washington today. Humanity is placed away in linen on the shelf in America today. Dust must not filter through the protection of this mighty compro- mise which our two great parties have accomplished. We must not talk of principles. must not stir sedition at this time. Whig and Democrat must tiptoe. both of them. nor wake this sleeping dog of slavery"
 Are you for freedom. sir?' she asked slowly. Are you for humanity ?''
 Madam as l hope reward. l am! Those of us who dare say so much are few in numbers today. We are so few. my dear lady, that we belong together. we are so few that 1. stranger to you. though not, 1 trust. wholly unrec- commended. dare come to you tonight.
 With what purpose. then. sir?''
 with the immediate purpose of learning at first hand the truth of the revolutionary system in Europe. have not been abroad of late-indeed. not for some years. But l know that our diplomacy is all a-tangle. The re- ports are at variance. and we get them coIored by partisan politics. This siav- cry agitation is simply political game. Yet all the time 1 know. as you know. of the hundreds of thousands of men who are leaving Europe to come to this country. A wave of moral change is bound to sweep across the north. Madam. we dwell on the eve of revoiu- ton here in America as well as in Flu rope. Now do you see why l have come to you tonight? Have we not much in common?'
 II am glad" she said simply; ''I am proud. Me you overrate, but my wish es and my hopes you do not overrate. OnIy''- and she hesitated-"why to- night; why in this particular waY?'
 .'I arrive at that. My own plans take me soon to Europe. I am determined to investigate upon the very ground itself this question of a national re- pression of the human conscience"
 She sat a trif1e more erect. a trifie more naughty. He seemed to read her thoughts.
 CTo Be Continued)
 Remember your health depends on taking Turkish Baths at the Hotel Atlas Ia