Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-03-29

T lie DIV AS R u B Y
Continued -roU; o1gs 8

no Tartar teacher. AID It was al. fabrication:
OF my own.
Just what I think!' returned Margaret
" 1t was not Tartar YOU spoke, ana there Vas
no teacher
You have ME there" answered the Greek
mildly. unless you would like me to produce
nv Young friend and talk to him before YOU IN
the presence OF witnesses who know his Ian
suage: nil, ,.. -,,,,,, sh,,,, r.. - co..
him l should like to see the color o. his
eyes and hair
L" Black as ink said Logothet.
And you'll tell me that his complexion
is black too. no doubt
Not at ali. a sort of creamy complexion.
think though did not pay much attention to
his skin He is smallish chap, good looking.
with hands and feet like wonan's. | noticed
that. As told YOU j doubt occurred to ME at
once, and | will not positively swear that IT IS
not a girl after all. He, She is really artar
from Central Asia. and know enough OF the
language to say what was necessary
d" necessary!
"Yes. He. or she. came on matter of bust
ness What l said about teacher was mere
nonsense. Now you know the whole thing
Excepting what the business was. Mar
garet said indecorously
8 The business was an uncut stone answered
Logotheti with indifference. He had one to
sell. and | bought it. He was recommended
to me by man in Constantlnope. He came
TO MarSe1lleS on french steamer Wttn TWO
Greek merchants who were coming to Paris.
and they brought him to my door. That IS
the whole story. And here is the ruby. |
bought it for you because you like those
things. Will you take it,
He held out what looked like q little bali of
white tissue paper; but Margaret turned her
face from him
You treat me like child" she said.
TO her own great surprise and indignation.
her voice was unsteady. and she felt some
thing burning in her eyes. She was almost
frightened at the thought that she might be
going to cry, out of sheer modification.
Logotheti said nothing for moment. He
began to unro the paper from the precious
stone; but changed his mind wrapped 1t up
again. and put it back into his watch pocket
before he spoke. :" [ did not mean it as YOU
think he said softly.
She turned her eyes without moving her
head, till she could just see that he leaning
his head. and apparently looking down at his
loosely hanging hands His attitude expressed
detection and disappointment. She was glad
of it. He had no right to think that he could
make her angry as she still was. angry even
to tears. and then bride her to smile again when
he was tired of teasing her! Her eyes turned
away again. and she did not answer him.
Il make mistakes sometimes" he said.
speaking still lower: '' know do. When |
am with you l cannot be always thinking of
what | say. It's too much to ask when a man
is as far gone as l am !"
Il should like to believe that" Margaret
said without looking at him.
SIS it so hard to believee" he asked so gently
that she only just heard the words.
You don't make it easy. you know" she
said with little defiance for She felt that she
was going to yield before long.
Il don't quite know how to. You're not in
the least capricious and yet"
You're mistaken" Margaret answered.
turning to him suddenly. I'm the most
capricious woman in the world Yesterday /
wrote long letter to a friend. and then | sud-
denly tore it up-there were never SO many
pages, l dare say that if | had written Just
the same letter this morning. l should have
sent it. If that is not caprice. what is it -
1T may have been wisdom to tear II up.
Logotheti suggested.
I'm not sure. | never ask myself questions
about what l do. | hate people who are al
ways measuring their wretched little souls and
then tinkering their consciences to make them
fit, don't believe wish to do anything really
wrong and so do exactly what | like always.
Possibly she had forgotten that she had
called herself wicked woman only yesterday
but that had been before the conversation at
the telephone.
IF you will only go on doing what you like. :"
Logotheti answered 1T will give ME the great
est pleasure in the world to help YOU. l ask
only ona kindness -