The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1913-01-24

friend, fearing ! might not
obey his injunctions. took
the trouble to escort me to
small watering-place in
the Dauphine, whence, he
- assured me, | should
emerge perfectly cured.
did not at all relish the idea OF be-
coming--even for short time-a
fashionable idler. But afterward
had reason to be thankful, for the
adventure I met with added curious
chapter to my experiences.
! went to that little place q few
weeks after the execution of Eyraud,
the murderer OF the luckless Gouffe,
most sensational crime, which for
several months kept the whole Euro
rean press at fever heat. And, in or
der TO escape interviewers and ko-
dak tends, l decided to travel incog-
nitc, entering myself in the hotel
books as NJ. Guilbert; a wise precau-
ton, as l soon discovered.
II was delightful spot. with broad,
shady avenues and surrounded by
magnificent scenery. Many nationali'
ties were represented, with good
spTiDkling of English OF the better
classes.
There were old gentlemen and
young, plain and pretty women, gov
ernesses, spinsters, and a bevy of
girls who flirted, sketched and played
tennis. The hotel was comfortable
the cooking excellent; the band not
zoo loud. Everybody lounged, pleas
antly Indifferent to time and outside
humanity, and | began to feel like
sharing the spirit of the hour.
The most important guests in our
hotel where Count NJ, a Russian, a
fine-looking man of about slXty-five,
and his wife, pretty woman quite
forty years his junior The countess,
restless young creature, was con-
stantly organizing excursions in the
mountains, leaving her husband at
home to amuse himself
Two days after my arrival noticed
newcomer at our table d'hote, Mile.
Eugene Arco, an attractive young
woman with dark eyes and jet-black
hair. Her hands were small and arts
tOcratic, and her appearance would
have been in every way refined but
for her ears. These were too large
and stood rather far from her head.
The girl fascinated, yet at the same
time repealed, me-
1t had been raining all the morn
ing, and l was in the reading-room
glancing at an illustrated paper, when
voice near said,
Pardon me, monsieur, see you are
a Russian"
Ii was Mile. Arco. NO." replied,
Il an not"
=: thought you were," she contin-
ueu. because l saw you reading a
Russian periodical"
Il was not reading it," l retorted,
81 was only looking at the pictures"
"Oh, see!" she explained. But the
look she gave me said she did not be-
lieve me. a.... ~
did not care to continue the con-
veTsation, and she soon left the room.
From that moment. however, l no
uced she never ceased to observe me,
and many time when l pretended to
5e asleep i'll one of the armchairs in
the hall her large black eyes were
fastened on me as if they were trying
TO pierce my thoughts. -~~
Who was she, and what did she
want from me? This was only my
fifth day in the place. was already
beginning TO feel bit bored: and a
problem, no matter how small. came
as a welcome relief
With the officials in the hotel Mile.
Arco was a persona grata, for, unlike
most women, who in money matters
are inclined to be niggardly, she
tipped the walters and chambermaids
most literally. The manager of the
hotel and his wife had also taken a
great fancy to her, and she was al
ways warmly welcomed by them in
their sanctum, where she would sit
and smoke cigarette after cigarette.
Feeling myself closely watched by
her, returned the compliment. and
noticed that she would repair to the
Office at those hours when the post
came in, and look over the clerks
shoulder at the letters he sorted. And
then 1t struck me that no missiye ever
came addressed to her, although one
afternoon. happening to pass her room
az the moment the maid opened her
door, / saw her deeply engaged in cor
respondence, with several letters in
front of her.
The next morning, when Mile. Arco
left the hotel l went out at the back.
lraSs quickly for the post office by an
other road, and hid myself behind the
hedge or an empty cottage opposite.
} saw her enter the post Office and
leave it few minutes later. She
looked up and down the road. and,
nobody being in sight. she took a let
ter out of her pocket, opened 1t, and
read 1t eagerly
Bah" ! said to myself. ''you are
not clever, my girl. A child could
have seen through your game Now
We shall have some fun"
That same evening after dinner rain
1eli IN torrents, and most of the guests
were in the drawing-room. A few were
inGulging in a harmless game OF
cards; two girls were at the piano
singing sentimental songs, and Mile.
Arco reclined in a rocking-chair, a
book in her lap. The count, a very re-
served man, with whom / had thus
far exchanged only few words, was
taking to a-retired naval officer who
lad spent some years in Russia.
Yes / heard the count say, I'VE
want a thorough change. 1t is dis.
graceful state of things. These grand