Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-03-22

bred millionaire and the cultivated Ureek. VINO
knew every unfamiliar byway and little hidden
treasure of his country's literature and art,
besides very much of what other nations had
done and written. Yet Lady Maud, inf1u
enced. no doubt, by the faithful friendship of
her American friend, believed that Van Torp
would be better and more faithful husband,
even to prima DONNA than his Oriental rval.
NOTWITHSTANDING her opinion of him,
however, she was not prepared for his
next move. He had noticed the grave look
that had followed her laughter, and he turned
away and was silent for few moments.
The Derbv's sideshow," he said at last.
I've come over to get married, and want
you to help me. Will YOU"
Can | :" asked Lady Maud evasively.
Yes, you can, and l believe therell be
trouble unless YOU do
Who is she? Do know her, She was
trying to put off the evil moment.
oh, yes. you know her quite well. It's
= But she's engaged to Monsieur Logotheti."
- don't care. / mean to marry her if she
marries anyone. He sha'nt have her, any
way"
break off her engagement It's impossible!''
See here answered Van Torp. " You
know that Greek and you know me. Which
of us will make the best husband for an Eng
ish girl That's what Madam Cordova is,
after all. ! put it to you. If you were forced
to choose of us yourselves, which would
you take? That's the way to look at it.
But Miss Donne is not forced to take one
OF you"
'she's going to be. It's the same. Be
sides, said, If Won't you answer me?"
She's in love with Monsieur Logothetl,
said Lady Maud rather desperately.
Is she. now? | wonder? don't much
think so myself. He's clever. and he obstinate,
and he's Just made her think she's in love;
that's all. Anyhow, that's not an answer to
my question Other things being alike, if she
had to choose, which of us would be the best
husband for her"
You are forcing my hand, my dear friend"
Lady Maud said gravely You know very
well that trust you with all my heart. If it
was possible to imagine in which the
safety of the world could depend on my choos-
ing one of You for my husband, you know
verv well that | should take You, though /
any more than you ever were with me.
We'll, but if you would she ought, argued
Van Torp. Its for her good and as
You're friend of hers, you ought to help her
to do what's good for her That's only fair.
If she doesn't marry me, she is certain to
marry that Greek; so it's forced choice, 1t
appears to me-"
But / can't"
She's nice girl, isn't she?"
Yes, very"
And YOU like her, don't you?'
Very much. Her father was my fathers
best friend"
DO you believe she'll be mlsera bic with
Logotheti or mott"
Il think she WILL" Lady Maud answered
truthfully. But | may be wrong
No; you re right. ! know it. But mar
rage is a gamble anyway, you know bet
ter than anyone. Are YOU equally sure that
she would be miserable with me-dead sure,
| mean
No, I'm not sure. But that's not
reason
Its first rate reason. | care for that
lady, and | want her to be happy and as You
admit that she will have better chance of
happiness with me than with Logotheti I'm
going to marry her myself; not only because
| want to- but because it will be long sight
better for her. See No fault in that line of
reasoning, is there
So far as reasoning goes" Lady Maud's
tone half admission.
That's all l wanted you to say" inter
rupted the American. SO that's settled and
YOU re going to help me"
No, answered Lady Maud quietly. Il
won't help YOU to break off that engagement.
But If it should come to nothing, without your
interfering. is, by the girls free
will and choice and change of mind,-I'd help
You to marry her If could
But YOU admit that she's going to be mis-
cradle" said Van Torp stubbornly.
I'm sorry for her; but it's none of my
business It's not honorable to try and make
trouble between engaged people, no matter
how Ill matched they NAV be.