The Hattiesburg news., 1909-10-07

your she inquired in chilly tone.
He opened his almond-shaped eyes
a little wider with an excellent af-
fectation of astonishment at her words
and manner.
Have I done anything you don't
like?" he asked in tone of anxiety
and concern. WAS / rude to Mrs.
Rushmore%
Margaret looked at him a moment
longer, and then turned her head
away in silence, as if scorning to an
swer such silly question. The look
OF surprise disappeared from his face,
and he became very gloomy and
thoughtful but said nothing more.
Possibly he had brought about exactly
what he wished, and was satisfied to
await the inevitable result 1t came
before long.
Il don't understand you at ALL"
Margaret said less icily but with the
sad little air of a woman who be-
lieves herself misunderstood. 1T was
very odd yesterday, at the telephone,
you know-very odd indeed / sup
pose you didn't realize it, And now,
this afternoon, you have evidently
been doing your best to keep Mrs.
Rushmore from leaving us together.
You would still be telling her stories
about people If hadn't obliged you
to come OUT"
Yes" Logotheti asserted with ex-
asperating calm and meekness, I'VE
should still be there"
you did not want to be alone with
me, I suppose. There's no other ex-
PLANTATION, and it's not a very fiatter-
ing one, is it?"
81 never f1atter you, dear lady" said
Logotheti gravely.
But you do! How can you deny
1t? You often tell me that / make
you think of the Victory in the
Louvre"
ITS quite true. If the statue had a
head it would be a portrait of you.''
"Nonsense And in your moments
of enthusiasm you say that / sing bet
ter than Nine. Bonanni in her best
days"
Yes. You know quite as much
as she ever did, you are a much better
musician, and you began with better
voice. Therefore you sing better. I
maintain it,"
You often maintain things you
don't believe" Margaret retorted.
though her manner momentarily re-
laxed little
only in matters of business" an
swered the Greek with imperturbable
calm.
Pray, is learning Tartar a matter
Of business?" Her eyes sparkled
angrily as she asked the question.
Logotheti smiled; she had reached
the point to which he knew she must
come before long.
"Oh. yes!" he replied with alacrity.
"Of course it is
THAT accounts for everything.
since you are admitting that l need
not even try to believe it was a man
whom heard speaking"
ITO tell the truth, have some sus-
picions about that myself" answered
Logotheti.
Il have a great many" Margaret
laughed rather harshly. And you be-
have as if you wanted me to have
more. Who is this eastern woman?
Come, be frank She is some one
from Constantinople, isn't she? A
Fanariote like yourself, l dare say-an
old friend who is in Paris fora few
days, and would not pass through
without seeing you. Say so, for heav-
ems sake, and don't make such mys-
terry about it,"
How very ingenious women are!"
observed the Greek IF had thought
of it l might have told you that story
through the telephone yesterday. But
l didn't"
Margaret was rapidly becoming ex-
asperated, her eyes flashed, her firm
young cheeks Redeemed handsomely,
and her generous lips made scornful
curves.
Are you trying to quarrel with
me?"
The words had a fierce ring; he
glanced at her quickly and saw how