The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1909-10-08


4 The business was an uncut stone,"
answered Logotheti with indifference.
1ie had one to sell, and l bought it.
He was recommended to me by man
In Constantinople. He came to Mar
settles on French steamer with 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. l bought it for you,
because you like those things. Will
you take it,"
He held out what looked like little
ball of white tissue paper, but Marga-
ret turned her face from him.
You treat me like child" she
said.
To her own great surprise and indig-
nation, her voice was unsteady and
she felt something 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 mo-
ment. He began to unroll the paper
from the precious stone, but changed
his mind, wrapped it up again, and
put it back into his watch,pocket be-
fore he spoke.
: >"I 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 was leaning forward, resting his
wrists on his knees, bending his head
and apparently looking down at his
loosely hanging hands. His attitude
expressed detection and disappoint-
ment. She was glad of it. He had no
right to think that he could make her
as 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.
81 make mistakes sometimes" he
said, speaking still lower, 81 know l
do. When I am with you I cannot be
always thinking of what | say. It's
too much to ask, when a man is as far
gone as | ami"
81 should like to believe that" Mar
!. garet said, without looking at him.
is it hard to believer" he asked so
&ently that she only just heard the
words
You don't make it easy, you know" "
said she with little defiance, for she
felt that she was going to yield before
long
81 don't know how to. You're not
In the least capricious-and yet"
You're mistaken" Margaret an
swered turning to him suddenly. 'Tm
the most capricious woman in the
world Yesterday wrote long let
ter to a friend, and then I suddenly
tore it up-there were ever so many
pages! | daresay that if l had writ
ten lust the same letter this morning
should have sent it. If that is not
caprice, what is it?"
ut may have been wisdom to tear
It up." Logotheti suggested.
I'm not sure. | never ask myself
questions about what do. l hate peo
nile who are always measuring their
wretched little souls and then tinker
ing their consciences to make them
fit! don't believe | wish to do any
thing really wrong, and so I do exactly
What like, always!"
Y "If you will only go on doing what
YOU like" Logotheti answered, sit will
give me the greatest pleasure in the
world to help you. only ask one
kindness"
you have no right to ask me any
thing today. You've been quite the
most disagreeable person this after
noon that | ever met in my life"
81 know have" Logotheti answered
with admirable contrition. "I'll wal
a day or two before ask anything
perhaps you will have forgiven me b.
that time"
I'm not sure. What was the thu,
you were going to ask"
He was silent now that she wishet
to know his thought.
Have you forgotten 1t already !?