Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-02-20

myself with q fortune ana my own
mistress. Ny parents had died when
I was q little girl, and 1 was brought
I'D BY an aunt, who had a family Of
her own and was not sorry when 1 be-
came independent Of her, though she
had nothing to do with my support.
For some years it has been considered
quite allowable for American girls Of
independent character and means to
travel abroad by themselves without
escort Acting upon this, resolved
to see the world.
After visiting those countries In Eu
rope that are a common ground for
tourists / became curious to see Rus
STA. was warned to keep away from
the snowy empire on account of the
revolutionary troubles infesting it, but
this only heightened my desire to visit
it. / saw no reason why should have
any trouble. I had no desire to de-
pose the car and II had would new
er have thought of contributing my
puerile powers to that end. Before
leaving America I had received a pass
port from the state department, and,
though ! had had no occasion to use
IT in other countries, l knew that 1
would need it In Russia.
But before going there resolved to
learn something Of the Russian. Ian
guage. I spent a winter in Florence,
Italy, where 1 found teacher, and by
spring was enabled to converse fairly
we'll in Russian. Had not been thus
prepared 1 should not have this story
to tell, for the story came from making
an acquaintance, and could not have
very we'll made, or at least retained,
the acquaintance without being able
to speak Russian.
After passing by train the border Of
the empire young girl who got into
my compartment was good enough to
answer questions / asked about st. Pc
tersburg, giving me Information as to
where 1 might abide. Girl tourists sell
dom go to hotels; they almost always
stop at pensions or apartments, and
the greatest drawback to their journey
ing alone is arriving at a town not
knowing Of such a house in which to
locate.
The Russian girl told me that she
was going to st. Petersburg without a
chaperon and had been provided ahead
with apartments by friends. When she
heard that l was an American she
seemed to take an especial interest in
me, asking me about my country and
how to get there. 1 noticed her study
ing my features and my general ap-
pearance, but why she did so 1 was at
a loss to know. Before We reached
the capital 1 was surprised at her pro-
posing to share her apartments with
me during my stay there. Since 1 must
go among strangers anyway and had
become favorably impressed with her
I told her that 1 would be greatly
obliged for the privilege of staying
with her, at least till 1 could find per-
manent quarters.
l found the apartments very com.
Portable. l supposed they were expen-
sive and questioned my friend about
the rental. She replied that she did
not know: 1 need give myself no con,
Germ about that; L might pay her what
! ever liked. But l did not let the mat
ter drop till l had arranged the price
! and since I saw no occasion to hunt
for another lodging / settled myself
| where 1 was for an indefinite stay. We
| were served by cook and a chamber
maid. There We're four bedrooms
| though we needed but two Indeed
| We were provided with every comfort.
My friends name was Catherine. Hel
| other name being very hard to pro
nounce l do not give 1t here. Like
most Of her countrymen, she was very
| fair both in hair and complexion. There
| was an uneasy, restless look in hel
! eye which did not correspond with
naturally passive features. Why she
came to st. Petersburg, who were the
friends who had provided her with
these apartments, what she was doinl
at the capital, she did not tell me. Nc
one ever came to see her, but I fancied
that she must go to see others, for she
| spent very little time at home. /, too
was out a great deal, seeing what
there was TO be seen in the way OF
sights. Indeed, the only time we met
during the day was at luncheon and al
dinner. but we usually spent our even
thgs together.
One night was awakened by an i'll
ness and, getting out OF bed, went t.
GATHERINGS room for assistance. Sh,
was not there. A clock was ticking OF
her dresser, and l noticed that tn,
hands stood at half past o'clock. TIL,
bed had not been disturbed. l wa
very much astonished. She had saiC
nothing about expecting to go out dur
Ing the night, and could not under
stand how she would do so without al
escort / went back to bed and la,
there wondering. What should l sa,
to her in the morning about fndin,
her absent? I concluded to wait 70
her to speak about It, / lay till morn
ing before getting to sleep. the matte
of the mystery l had stumbled upol
keeping me awake far more than m,
illness. Indeed, the former quite drov
the latter away.
Catherine and I met at breakfast
but she made no mention of havin
been out during the night. and ! cor
cluded not to say ANYTHING about ha,