Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1913-03-21
A Russian
Episode
Ia Which a .9asspOn Plays
an Important Part

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At twenty-five years Of age / found
myself with a fortune and my own
mistress, My parents had disd when
was a little girl. and ! was brought
np by nm aunt. who had family Of
ner own and was not sorry when be-
anne independent OF her. though she
mad nothing to do with my support
For SOME years it has been considered
quite allowable for American girls Of
independent character aud means 10
travel abroad by themselves without
escort Acting upon this. resolved
To see The world
After visiting those countries in En-
rope that are common ground for
tourists h,s4ime curious to see Rus
sia. was warned 10 keep away from
the Snowy empire on account Of the
Revolutionary troubles intesiing II. bur
TINS only heightened my desire to visit
II. saw tn reason why should have
ans tiquhle had no desire to de
pose tie zar and II had would nev-
or have thonght Of contributing my
nueriie powers 10 that end Before
leaving Amerira had received Il jriss-
port from the state department. ami
though | had mad no occasion 10 use
it III other countries. | knew that
would need it in Russia.
But before going there l resolved ~
learn something Of the Russian ian
guage | spent winter IN Florence
Italy. where found teacher. and by
spring was enalhed TO converse fairly
well in Russian Had not been TINS
prepared should not have shis stor,
to tell. for the story eanr from making
an acquaintance. and could not have
very well made. or at least retained
the acquaintance without being aht
TO speak Russian
After passing By train the border Of
the empire Il young girl who got into
my compartment WAS good enough tuI
answer questions asked about ST. Re
tersburg. giving me Information as Il
where might abide. Girl tourists sci
dom 20 to hotels; they almost always
stop ut pensions or apartments. aud
the greatest drawback to their Journey
ing alone Is arriving at town NOT
knowing of such a house in which to
locate.
The Russian girl told me that she
was going 10 st. Petersburg without
ehaperon and had beeu provided ahead
with apartments by friends When she
heard thar was an American She
seemed 10 take an especial interest in
me. asking me about my country and
how TO get there | noticed her study
ing my features and my general ap
pearance. but why she did so | was al
a ioss to know. Before we reached
the capital | was surprised at her pro
posing TO share her apartments with
me during my stay there. Since | must
go among strangers anyway and had
become favoFably impressed with her
told her that | would be greatly
Obliged for the privilege Of staying
with her, ut least till | could find per-
manent quarters.
| found the apartments very com
Portable. Supposed they were expen
sive and questioned my friend about
the rental She replied that she did
not know; | need give myself no con
rern about that; might pay her what
ever ll.ed Bot did not let the mat
ter drop till had arranged the price
and since | saw no occasion to hunt
for another lodging ! settled myself
where was for an indefinite stay. We
were served by cook and a chamber
maid. There were four hedronms
though we needed brt two. Indeed
we were provided with every comfort
MY friends name was Catherine. He,
other name being very hard to pro
nounce ! do not give it here Like
most Of her countrymen. she was very
fair both il hair and complexion Their,
was an uneasy. restless look in her
eve which did not correspond witt
naturally passive features. Why She
came to St Petersburg. who were the
friends who had provided her with
these apartments. what she was doip.
at the capital. size did not tell me. NJ
one ever came to see her. but faneied
that she mnSf 20 to see others. for she
spent very little time at home !, too.
was ont great deal. seeing what |
there was to he seen IN the way Of |
sights Indeed, the only time we met |
during the day was at luncheon and at |
dinner, but We usually spent our even.
ngs together
One night ! WIS awakened by an nj |
ness and. getting out of bed. went To
GATHERINGS upm for assistance she
WIS not there a clock was ticking on |
her dresser. and | noticed that ths
hands stood at half past o'clock. The
he'd Ind not been disturbed / was
very much astonishe,l. She had said
nothing about expecting TO go out dur |
ing the night. and could not under |
stand how she would do so without an
escort. I went hack to bed and ny
there wondering What should / say
to her IN the morning about finding
her absent? ! concluded to wait foI
her to speak about II. lay till morn |
ing before getting to sleep. the matter
of the mystery ! md stumbled upon
keeping me- awake far more than mt
Illness. Indeed the former quite drove
the latter away
Catherine and | met at breakfast
hut she matte M mention ur haviul
heen cut daring the ilieht. and / Get