The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1909-11-06
gestion, and they turned back into

Maud standing there with her parasol
up, for the sun was streaming in.
Il was waiting for you." she said
simply. as soon as he reached her
side, and she stepped out into the
street. Il thought you would come
Gown, and l wanted to speak to you,
for did not get chance last night.
They were both watching me, prob
ably because they thought was i'll,
F., and ! had to chatter like magpie to
| keep up appearances"
/, You did it very WE'LL" Van Torp
said. IF I had not seen your face
at the window when I got out of the
automobile yesterday shouldn't have
| guessed there was anything wrong"
| But there is-something very
wrong-something can hardly bear
to think of, though l must, until I
know the truth"
They turned into the first deserted
street they came to-
Il dare say I can give a guess at
what 1t is," Van Torp answered grave
ly. Il went to see him alone yester-
day on purpose, before he started, and
must say. If it wasn't for the beard
I'd feel pretty sure"
He had a beard when I married
him, and 1t was like that-just like
that"
Lady Maud's voice shook audibly,
for she felt cold, even in the sun.
shine.
Il didn't know" Van Torp answered.
THAT alters the case. II we're not
mistaken, what can l do to help you?
Lets see. You only had that one
look at him, through the window, 10
that so?"
yes. But the window was open,
and it's not high above the ground.
and my eyes are good. He took off
his hat when he said good-by to YOU.
and saw his face as distinctly as I
see yours. When you've been mar
ried to a man"-she laughed harshly
you cannot be easily mistaken
about him. when you're as near as
that! That is the man married. I'm
intimately convinced of 1t, but must
be quite sure. Do you understands"
! "Of course. If he's really Leven,
he's even better actor than L used
to think he was. If he's not, the re-
semblance is just about the most ex-
traordinary thing! It's true I only
saw Leven three or four times in nv
| life, but I saw him to look at him
then, and the last time did, when he
made the row In Hare court, he was
doing most Of the talking. 40 re.Aem.
Der his voice"
There's only one difficulty" Lady
Maud said. Some one else may a We
been killed last June. 1t may even
have been the pickpocket who had
stolen his pocket-book. Such things
have happened. or do in books! But
this is certainly the man you met in
New York and who sold you the stone
you gave me, is he not?"
"oh. certainly. And that was a,
the end of July, and Leven was killed
late In June"
| Eyes. That only leaves a month
for him to have been to Asia-that's
absurd"
Utterly, totally, and entirely impos.
sible." asseverated Mr.. Van Torp
Zone of two things. Either this man
Is your husband, and IL he is, he's not
the man who found the rubies in Asia
Or else. If he Is that man, he's not
Leven. I wish that heather girl had
been here yesterday! She could have
told In minute. She'd better have
been here anyway than cutting around
the Mediterranean with that fellow
Logothet!"
Eyes," Lady Maud answered grave
ly. But about myself--if Lcven ia
alive, what is my position-I mean
don't really quite know where L am,
do II"
| Anybody but you would have
thoughtof marrying again already" OBJ
served Mr.. Van Torp, looking up side.
ways in her eyes, for she was taller
than he. Then you'd really be in a
bad fix. wouldn't you? But as it is,
don't see that it makes much differ
ence. The mans going under false
name, so he doesn't mean to claim
you as his wife, nor to try to get a
divorce again, as he did before He's
Just going to be somebody else for his
own good. and he'll get married that
way, maybe. That's his business, not
yours. / don't suppose you're going
to get up in church and forbid the
banns. are you?"
II would, like a shot" said Lady
Maud. $50 would you, I'm sure!
Think OF the other woman!"
That's So" answered Van Torp
without enthusiasm. However, we've
got to think about you and the pres
ent, and decide what we'll do. I sup
pose the best thing is for me to put
him of with some excuse, so that you
can come on the yacht"
| please do nothing of the sort!'
cried Lady Maud.
"But l want you to come" objected
her friend.
II mean to come Do you think I'm
afraid to meet him."
Van Torp looked at her In some sur
prise, and not without admiration.
There isn't anybody like you, any.