Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-04-26

her friend Lady Maud, she would still be
their victim.
Her heart went out to the woman that
had saved her from her fate. and with the
thought came the impulse to send a
grateful message; and the first fury of
her anger subsidized with the impulse to
do so. By and by it would cool and
harden to a lasting resentment which
would not soften again.
Her hand still shook so that she could
hardly hold the pen steady while she
wrote the telegram:
Cnspeakabv grateful. Ii you can join
me here, will gladly wait for you. Must see
You at once. Do come!
She felt better as she rose from the
table. and when she looked at herself in
the mirror she saw that her face had
changed again and that her natural color
was returning After summOning Potts,
she seated herself before the dressing
table. while the maid proceeded to fasten
a broad brimmed straw hat on the thick
brown hair. then spreading an immense
white veil over it.
WHEN Margaret was putting on her
w gloves Mrs Rushmore herself came
in. and after the prima donna had thrust
Lady Maud's letter and clipping into her
glove the two went out together and
walked SLOWLY down the street. They had
barely got started. when Mrs. Rushmore' S
head was up. her parasol lay back on
her shoulder, her faded eyes were brighter
than before and the beginning of a social
smile wreathed her hitherto grave lips.
There were lions about, and she was point
ing.
There's Mr. Van Torp, my dear she
said. and unless I'm much mistaken
I - 10
iinskv l saw the Count from the win
dow Yesterday when he ar rived. l hope
our friend will present him
Il dare say Margaret answered IN
differently, but surveying the two men
through the white mist of her thick veil.
Yes" said Mrs Rushmore with de
light, and almost whispering in her excite
1nent. He has seen us. and now hes
telling the Count who we are!
Margaret was used to her excellent old
friends WAYS On such occasions. and gave
no more heed to them than she would
have given to a kitten sCampering after
a bali of string The kitten would GER
tainlv catch the ball in the end, and Mrs.
Rushmore would as surely capture the lion.
Van Torp raised his hat when he was
within four or five PAGES OF the women.
and his companion, who was head and
shoulders taller than he, slackened his
pace and stopped a little way behind him
as Mrs. Rushmore shook hands and Mar
garet nodded pleasantly.
MAY / present Count kralinsky:'
asked the American. I've met him be-
fore. and we have just renewed our
ACQUAINTANCE" Van Torp looked from
Mrs. Rushmore to Margaret, and tried
to see her expression through her Veil.
She answered his look by slight inclina
ton of the head.
We shall be delighted said the elder
woman.
The Count had a magnificent golden
beard. bronzed complexion, and rather
uncertain blue eyes, in one of which he
wore single eyeglass without string.
He was quietly dressed, and wore no Jew
elrv. excepting one ring. in which blazed
a large tallow topped ruby. He had the
un1nistakable air OF a man OF the world,
and was perfectly at ease. When he
raised his straw hat he disclosed Very
white forehead, and short, thick, fair
hair There was no sign Of approaching
middle age in his face or figure; but
Margaret felt or guessed, that he was
Older than he looked.
In her stiffiv correct French, Mrs. Rush
more said that she was enchanted to make
his acquaintance, and Margaret muir
Ill Ill.