Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1913-03-27
ARuSsian|
Episode !
! In Which a Passport Plays .
. an important Part :
: )
By EDWARD r. CHANDLER

AT twenty-five years of age | found
myself with a fortune and my own
mistress. My parents had died when
/ was a little girl, and | vas brought
up by an aunt. who had a family Of
her own and was not sorry when l 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-
| tourists | became curious to see Rus
| STA. l 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 l should have
any trouble. l had no desire to de-
pose the car and if l had would new
er have thought of contributing my
puerile powers TO that end. Before
leaving America l had received a pass
port from the state department. and,
though l had had no occasion to use
it In other countries. | knew that l
would need it in Russia.
But before going there I resolved to
learn something of the Russian IAN
guage. | spent a winter in Florence.
Italy. where l found a teacher. and by
we'll in Russian. Had l not been thus
prepared l should not have this story
to tell. for the story came from making
an acquaintance. and l 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 a young girl who got into
my compartment was good enough to
answer questions l asked about st. Pc
tersburg. giving me information as to
where l might abide. Girl tourists sell
dom 60 to hotels; they almost always
stop at pensions or apartments, and
the greatest drawback to their journey.
ing alone is arriving ut Il own 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 1 was an American she
seemed to take an especial interest in
me. asking me about my country and
how to get there. l noticed her study
ing my features and my general ap-
pearance. but why she did so l was at
a loss to know. Before we reached
the capital | was surprised at her pro-
posing to share her apartments with
me during my stay there. Since l must
go among strangers anyway and had
become favorably impressed with her
l told her that I would be greatly
obliged for the privilege Of staying
with her. at least till l could find per-
manent quarters.
I 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; I need give myself no con.
cern about that; I might pay her what
ever l liked. But l did not let the mat
ter drop till I had arranged the price
and since l saw no occasion to hunt
for another lodging l settled mysel,
where l was for an indefinite stay. We
were served by a cook and a chamber
maid. There were four bedrooms
though we needed but two. Indeed
we were provided with every comfort.
My friends name was Catherine. He
other name being very hard to pro
nounce l do not give it here. Like
most Of her countrymen. she was yer,
fair both in hair and complexion. Their,
was an uneasy. restless look in he
eye which did not correspond will
naturally passive features. Why sh,
came to st. Petersburg. who were tn,
friends who had provided her will
: these apartments. what she was dom,
at the capital. she did not tell me. N,
one ever came to see her. but I fancie,
that she must go to see others. for sh,
spent very little time at home. l., toe
was out a great deal. seeing wha
there was to be seen in the way O
sights. Indeed. the only time we me
during the day was at luncheon and a
dinner, but we usually spent our even
ings together.
One night | was awakened by an IL
ness and. getting out Of bed, went t
GATHERINGS room for assistance. Sh
was not there. A clock was ticking O
her dresser. and l noticed that til
hands stood at half past l o'clock. Th
bed had not been disturbed. wa
very much astonished. She had sal
nothing about expecting to 20 out dul
Ing the night. and could not under
stand how she would do so without a
escort. ] went back to bed and Ia
there wondering. What should I ga
to her in the morning about fndin
her absent? I concluded to wait Il
her to speak about 1t. lay till morl
ing before getting to sleep. the matte
OF the mystery I had stumbled upo
I'LL | -