The Sauk Centre herald., 1909-09-30

w
aware of the imposing presence of
Mrs. Rushmore, who had entered soft
ly during his reverie and was almost
at his elbow.
This is Mr.. Van Torp, I presume"
she said gravely, inclining her head.
II am Mrs. Rushmore. You have per-
haps heard Miss Dome speak of me-"
"I'm very pleased to meet you, Mrs.
Rushmore," said the American, bow
ing low. 1--WE often heard Miss
Dome speak of you with the greatest
gratitude and Affection
That's nice," Mrs. Rushmore an
swered with gravity, and as she es-
tablished herself on the sofa she in
dicated a chair not far from her.
1t was only proper that Margaret
should always speak of her with af-
fection and gratitude. Mr.. Van Torp
sat down on the chair to which she
had directed rather than invited him;
and he prepared to be bored to the
full extent of the bearable.
81 had the pleasure of knowing Mr..
Rushmore," he said in the proper
tone of mournfully retrospective ad-
mirat!on. HE was sincerely lamented
by all our business men,"
"He was" assented the widow, as
she would have said amen in church.
In the right place, and with much the
same solemn intonation.
There was a moments pause, dur
Ing which the millionaire was trying
to think of something else she might
like to hear, for she was Margaret's
friend, and he wished to make good
impression. He was therefore not pre-
pared to hear her speak again before
he did, and much less for the subject
of conversation she introduced at
once.
you know our friend, Mons. Logo
theti, I believes" she inquired sud
denly.
why, certainly" answered Van
Torp, Frightening at once at the men
ton of his rival, and at once also
putting on his moral armor of eau
ton Il know him quite we'll"
Indeed? Have you known many
Greeks, may l ask?"
1--WE met one or two in business,
Mrs. Rushmore, but l can't say I've
known any as well as Mr.. Logotheti."
You may think it strange that
should ask you about him at our first
meeting" said the good lady, but
I'm an American, and I cannot help
feeling that a fellow-countryman's
opinion of a foreigner is very valu-
able. You are, l understand, an old
friend of Miss Donne's, though have
not had the pleasure of meeting you
before, and you have probably heard
that she has made up her mind to
marry Mons. Logothei. l am bound
to confess, as her dear mothers old
est friend, that I am very apprehen-
sive of the consequences. have the
gravest apprehensions, Mr.. Van Torp."
Have you, really?" asked the mil
lionaire, with caution, but sympa-
thetically. 81 wonder why!"
"A Creek" said Mrs. Rushmore,
sadly. Think of Creek"
Mr.. Van Torp, who was not without
a sense of humor, was inclined to an
swer that, in fact, he was thinking OF
a Greek at that very moment. But
he abstained.
There are Greeks and Greeks, Mrs.
Rushmore," he answered wisely.
THAT is true" answered the lady,
but 1 should like your opinion, as
one of our most prominent men of
business-as one who, If may say so,
has of late triumphantly established
his claim to respect" Mr.. Van Torp
bowed and waved his hand in ac-
knowledgment of this high praise. Il
should like your opinion about this
er-this Greek gentleman whom my
young friend insists upon marrying"
Really, Mrs. Rushmore-"
Because If I thought there was un-
happiness in store for her I would
save her, If had to marry the man
myself"
Mr.. Van Torp wondered how she
would accomplish such feat.
"Indeed?" he said very gravely.
'I mean it." answered Mrs. Rush
more.
There was a moments silence, dur
ing which Mr.. Van Torp revolved
something in his always active brain,
while Mrs. Rushmore looked at him
as II she expected that he would
doubt her determination to drag Lo-
gotheti to the matrimonial altar and
marry him by sheer strength, rather
than let Margaret be his unhappy
bride. But Mr.. Van Torp said some
thing quite different.
MAY I speak quite frankly, though
we hardly know each other?" he
asked.
I'VE are both Americans" answered
the good lady, with grand national
air. II should not expect anything
but perfect frankness Of you"
"The truth is, Mrs. Rushmore, that
ever since had the pleasure Of
knowing Miss Donne, have wanted
to marry her myself"
"You!" cried the lady, surprised be-
yond measure, but greatly pleased.
YES" said Mr.. Van Torp quietly.
and therefore, in my position. l
cant give you an unbiased opinion
about Mr.. Logotheti / really can't"
WELL" said Mrs. Rushmore, II am
surprised"
While she was still surprised Mr..