The Irish standard., 1909-10-16

were brighter than before. and the be.
ginning of a social smile wreathed
| her hitherto grave lips.
There's Mr.. Van Torp. my DEAR"
she said in quite another tone, and
very low, "and unless I'm much mis-.
taken-yes, l knew It! He's with
! Count Kralinsky l saw the count
from the window yesterday when he
arrived. hope our friend will pre-
!; sent him."
II dare say" Margaret answered in.
differently, but surveying the two
men through the white mist Of her
thick veil
YES" said Mrs. Rushmore with de.
light, and almost whispering in her
excitement. "He has seen us, and
now he's telling the count who We
are"
Margaret was used to her excellent
old friends ways on such occasions,
and gave no more heed to them than
she would have given to a kitten
scampering after a ball of string. The
kitten would certainly catch the ball
in the end, and Mrs Rushmore would
as surely capture the lion
Mr.. Van Torp raised HIS hat when
he was within four or five PAGES of
the ladies, and his companion, who
was a head and shoulders taller than
he, slackened his pace and stopped a
little way behind him as Mrs Rush
more shook hands and Margaret
nodded pleasantly.
May ! present Count ,Kralinsky?"
asked the American. I've met him
before, and we've just renewed our
acquaintance"
Mr.. Van Torp looked from Mrs
Rushmore to Margaret, and tried to
see her expression through her veil
She answered his look by very
slight inclination Of the head
I'VE shall be delighted" said the
elder lady, speaking for both.
Mr.. Van Torp introduced the count
to Mrs. Rushmore and then to Mar
garet, calling her Miss Donne," and
she saw that the man was handsome
as well as tall and strong He had
. magnificent golden beard, a clear
complexion. and rather uncertain blue
eyes, in one Of which he wore sin
gle eyeglass without . string He
was quietly dressed and wore, no jew
elry, excepting one ring, In which
blazed large "tallow-topped" ruby
He had the unmistakable air of q man
Of the world, and was perfectly at his
ease. When he raised his straw hat
he disclosed very white forehead.
and short. thick fair hair There was
no sigh OF approaching middle age In
his face or figure. hut Margaret felt.
or guessed, that he was older than he
looked.
In her stifiy correct French. Mrs.
Rushmore said that she was en-.
chhnted to make his acquaintance.
and Margaret murmured sweetly but
unintelligibly.
1.-The count speaks English perfect.
~" observed Mr.. Van Torp.
He ranged himself beside Margaret,
leaving the foreigner to Mrs. Rush
more, much to her qualification.
1--WE were going to walk" she said
"Will you join us?" And she moved on,
1T is a great pleasure to meet you, u
Kralinsky said by way Of opening the
conversation. II have often heard
Of you from friends in Paris. Your
little dinners at Versailles are fl.
nous all over Europe. I am sure we
have many mutual friends, though
you may never have heard my name.
Mrs. Rushmore was visibly pleased
and as the way was not very wide
Margaret and Van Torp dropped be-
hind. They soon heard the other two
enumerating their acquaintance. Kra
linsky was surprised at the number
Of Mrs. Rushmore's friends, but the
count seemed to know everybody
from all the grand dukes and arch
dukes in Russia. Germany, and Aus
tria. to the author Of the latest sue
cessful play In Paris, and the man Of
science who had discovered how, tt
cure govt by radium. Kralinsky had
done the cure, seen the play, and dined
with the royalties within the last few
! weeks. Mrs. Rushmo.e thought him
Sol. -" D.. 50 a..