The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1909-09-04

clal meaning II the person to whom
he has spoken chooses. or is able, to
understand them as they may be un-
derstood, but who is quite safe from
being suspected of suggesting any
thing if there is no answering word
or glance.
Lady Maud returned his look, but
her handsome face grew rather cold.
do you know of any reason why
the marriage should not take place."
she inquired after moment.
IF | don't give any reason, am I
ever afterwards to hold my peace?"
asked Griggs. with faint smile on
his weather-beaten face. Are you
publishing the bans? or are we think
ing of the same thing?"
II suppose we are. Good-morning."
She nodded gravely and passed on,
gathering up her black skirt little,
for there had been shower. He stood
still moment before the shop win.
dow and looked after her, gravely ad.
miring her figure and her walk, as he
might have admired very valuable
thoroughbred. She was wearing
mourning for her husband, not be.
cause any one would have blamed her
If she had not done SO, considering
how he had treated her, but out of
natural self-respect.
GrIggs also looked after her as she
went away because he felt that she
was not quite pleased with him for
having hot h4
both been thinking of the same thing.
The thought concerned third per.
son, and one who rarely allowed him.
self to be overlooked: no less man.
In fact. than Mr.. Rufus Van Torp. the
American potentate of the great
Nickel Trust, who was Lady Maud's
most intimate friend. and who had
long desired to make the prima donna
hts wife. He had bought place ad-
Joining Lord Creedmore's. and there
had lately been a good deal OF quito
groundless gossip about him and Lady
Maud, which had very nearly become
q scandal. The truth was that they
were the best friends in the world.
and nothing more; the millionaire had
for some time been interested In an
unusual sort of charity which almost
filled the lonely woman's life, and he
had given considerable sums Of money
to help 1t. During the months proceed
ing the beginning of this tale, he had
also been the object of one Of those
dastardly attacks to which very rich
and important f1nanciers are more ex-
posed than other men, and he had
away with his partners daughter. who
had come to her end mysteriously dur
ing panic in New York theater
But his innocence had been proved in
the clearcst manner, and he had re-
turned to the United States to look
after the interests of the Trust.
When Griggs heard the news Of
Margaret's engagement to Logotheti,
he Immediately began to wonder how
Mr.. Van Torp would receive the intel
ligence: and If 1t had not already oc-
Cured to Lady Maud that the million
aire might make final effort to rout
his rival and marry the prima donna
uIlHbch, Ilc olNk duIloI oOoOA SoIIohA
suggested such possibility. Van
Torp was n man who had fought up to
success and fortune with little regard
for the obstacles he found In his way;
he had worked as q cowboy In his
early youth. and was apt to look on
his adversaries and rivay in life eth
er as refractory cattle or as danger
,,,sll hn hoI
some of the old-fashioned ranchero's
sense OF fair play in fight, he had
much Of the reckless daring and ruth
less savagery that characterize the
fast-disappearing western desperate.
Logotheti. on the other hand, was
in many respects a true oriental, SUI
. premely astutc and superlatively calm.
but imbued. at heart, with a truly
eastern contempt for any law that
CHANGED to oppose his wish.
Both men had practically inexhaust-
ible resources at their command. and
both were determined to marry the
primn donna. 1t occurred to Paul
such pair Of adversaries would be
worth watching. There was unlimited
money on both sides, and equal cour-
age and determination. The Greek was
the more cunning of the two. by great
odds, and had now the considerable
advantage of having been accepted by
the lady; but the American was far
more regardless Of consequences to
himself or to others in the pursuit of
what he wanted, and short Of COM
hitting crime, would put at least as
broad an Interpretation on the law.
Logotheti had always lived in highly
civilized society. even in Constanti-
nople. for 1t Is the greatest mistake
to imagine that the upper classes of
Greeks, in Greece or Turkey. are at
all deficient in cultivation. Van Torp,
on the contrary had run away from
civilization when half-educated boy,
! he had grown to manhood in COM
munity Of men who had little respect
for anything and feared nothing at
all. and he had won success In field
where those who compete for 1t buy
1t at any price, from a lie to a life.