The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1913-02-14

doSulSu luc, ouOuAO
emerge perfectly cured
did not at all relish the idea of be-
cOming-even for short time-a
fashionable idler. But afterward l
had reason to be thankful, for the
adventure met with added curious
chapter to my experiences.
I went to that little place few
weeks after the execution OF Eyraud.
tho murderer OF the luckless Gouffe,
most sensational crime, which for
several months kept the whole Euro
Lean press 1t fever heat. And, in or
dor to ESCAPE interviewers and ko-
dak fiends. decided to travel incOg-
nito. entering myself in the hotel
books as a. Guilbert; a wise precau-
zion, as I soon discovered.
1t was 4 delightful spot with broad,
shady avenues and surrounded by
magnificent scenery Many nationali-
Ties were represented, with good
sprinkIing OF English of the better
classes.
There were old gentlemen and
young. plain Ind pretty women, gov
efhesSes. Spinsters, and a bevy Of
girls. who firted, sketched and played
tennis. The hotel was comfortable;
the cooking excellent; the band not
too loud. Everybody lounged. pleas
antly Indifferent to time and outside
humanity, and l began to feel like
sharing the spirit OF the hour.
The most important guests in our
motel where Count NJ, Russian a
hne-looking man Of about sixty-five,
and his wife, pretty woman quite
forty years his junior. The countess,
q restless :oung creature, was con-
Etantiy organizing excursions in the
mountains, leaving her husband at
nome t'r amuse himself.
Two lays after my arrival noticed
neW"nmer at our table d'hote, Mile.
'Cugenie ArcO, an attractive young
woman with dark eyes and jet-black
hair. Her hands were small aid aris-
.tocratlc, and he- appearance would
nave been in every way refined but
for her ears. These were too large
and stood rather far from uer head.
The girl fascinated, yet at the same
time repealed, me-
1T Rad been raining all the morn
Ing. and was in the reading-room
glancing at an illustrated Paper, when
voice near said.
PARDON the, monsieur, / gee you are
a Russian
1t Was Mile Arco NO." replied,
Il am rot"
x thought you were" she contin-
ue>. "heransc saw yol reading a
Russian periodical"
Il :as not reading it, | retorted,
Il VIDA on;y looking at tie pictures"
"OE, see" she explained. But the
look che gave HE said she did not be-
2lcve me
l did not care to continue the con-
versation, and she soon Lift the room.
From that moment, huEever, l no.
ticed she never ceased tc observe me,
and many time when l pretended to
be asleep III one Of the Mrmchairs in
the hall her large black eyes were
fastened on NE as if they were trying
to pierce my thoughts.
Who was She nnd what did she
,Wart from inc? This was only my
fifth day in the place. l was already
beginning 10 feel a bit bored; and a
problem, no matter how sl.all came
&C welcome relief
With the officials in the Lotel Nile.
ArcO was L persona grat;, f:r, unlike
most women. WHO in money matters
are inclined 20 be niggarCly, she
tipped the walters and chamke rmaids
most liheIaliy. The manager of the
hotel and his wife had also taken a
great fancy to her. and size vas al
ways warmly welcomed by thsm in
theis sanctum. where she would sit
and smoke cigarette afte: cigarette
Feeling myself closely watched! by
her. l returned the compliment, and
noticssd that she would repair to The
office at those hours when the post
came In, and look over the clerks
thcn it struck lne that no missive eve.
came addressed to her. although one
afternoon, happening to pass her room
at Tie moment the maid opened her
door, saw her deeply engaged in cor.
Responsiveness, with several letters in
front OF her.
The next morning, when Mile. Arco
left the hotel | went out at the back
made quickly for the post Office by an
ether road. and hid myself behind the
hedge OF III empty cottage opposite
! saw her enter the post Office and
leave it a few minutes later. She
looked up and down the road. and
nobody being in sight, she took let
ter out Of he7 pocket, opened it, and
read it eagerly.
Ball. l said to myself, you are
not clever. my girl A child could
have seen through your game Nov
We 9hall have some fun"
That same evening after dinner rain
fell in torrents. and most of the guests
were IN the drawing room. A few were
kndulging IN harmless game o.
cards: two girls were at the piano
singing sentimental songs, and Mile
Arco reclined in rocking-chair. :
hook i'll her lap. The count, very re
served man, with whom l had thus
far exchanged only few words, was
talking to retired naval officer who
had spent some years in Russia.
Yes" l heard the count say, I'VE
want thorough change. 1t is dis
graceful state OF things. These grand
dukes--''