The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1909-10-18

she bit her lip as she felt her anger
rising again.
What do you advise me to dor
she asked, in a sullen tone.
Telegraph to Logo and prepay an
answer of 20 words. Telegraph to his
rooms in st. James place and at the
same time to his house in Paris. Tele-
graph anything you like that really
needs an immediate reply. That's
the important thing. II he does not
answer within "a hours-say SO at the
most-he is either On his yacht or
hiding. Excuse the ugly word, dear
l don't think of any other. If you are
AFRAID OF the servants, I'll take the
message to the telegraph office and
send 1t for you | suppose you have
some way of signing which the clerks
don't recognize-if you sign at ALL"
Margaret leaned back in her chair
In silence. After a few seconds she
turned towards the glass, rested her
chin on her folded knuckles. and
seemed to be consulting her own re-
nexion. 1t is a way some women
have. Lady Maud glanced at her
from time to time, but said nothing.
AT last the prima donna rose with a
sweep that upset the light chair be-
hind her, one of those magnificent
sweeps that look so well on the stage
and are little too large for a room.
She got her blotter and pen from a
shelf, brought it back to the toilet
table, picked up the chair in a very
quiet and sensible way, as if she had
never been on the stage in her life.
and sat down to write
Il shall take your advice, dear" she
said, opening the blotter and placing
a large sheet of paper in the right DO
sition.
Lady Maud rose and went to the
window, where she stood looking out
while Margaret wrote her message.
You needn't write it out twice."
she said, without turning round. Just
put duplicate message and both ad-
dresses"
Yes. Thank you"
Margaret was already writing. Her
message said it was absolutely neces.
sary that she should see Logotheti
directly, and babe him answer at
once, if he could come to Bayreutb:
If important financial affairs hindered
him, she herself would return i'm
mediately to Paris to see him.
She was careful to write financial"
affairs, for she would not admit that
any other consideration could DELAY
his obedience. While she was busy
she heard, but scarcely noticed, an
unearthly boot from a big motor car
that was passing before the hotel.
There must have been something in
the way, for the thing hooted again
almost at once, and then several
times in quick succession, as If a gi-
gantic brazen ass were beginning to
bray just under the window. The
noises ended in sort of wild, tri-
umphant howl, with furious putting.
and the motor took itself off, Just as
Margaret finished
She looked up and saw Lady Maud
half bent, as if she had been struck;
she was clinging with one hand to the
fiimsy chintZ curtain, and her face
was as white as a sheet. Margaret
started in surprise, and rose to her
feet so suddenly that she upset the
chair again.
What has happened?" she cried.
Are you i'll, dear?"
The delicate color came slowly back
to the smooth cheeks, the thorough
bred figure in black drew itself I'D
with elastic dignity, and the hand let
go of the curtain.
Il felt little faint" Lady Maud an
swered. did brighten you? It was
nothing, and it's quite gone, l assure
you"
"You looked dreadfully i'll for mo-
ment," Margaret said in a tone of
concern. Wont you let me send for
something? Tea? Or something
iced? I'm sure you have had nothing
to eat or drink for hours, How dis
gracefully thoughtless of mel"
She was Just going to ring, but her
friend stopped her
"No-please!" she cried. I'm all
right indeed am. The room is lit
tie warm, | think, and I've been shut
up in that stuffy train for 80 hours.
Have you written your telegram? I'll
put on my hat at once, and take it for
you. The little walk will. do me good.
Where is the telegraph? But they can
tell me downstairs. Don't bother!
Walking always brings me round, no
matter what has happened!"
She spoke nervously, in disjointed
phrases, in way not like herself, for
there was generally an air of easy
calm In all she did, as If nothing
really mattered in the least, save
when she was deeply interested; and
hardly anything interested her now
except what she had made her work.
In all that belonged to that, she was
energetic, direct and quick.
Margaret was sure that something
was wrong. but let her go, since she
insisted, and Lady Maud folded the
written message and went to the door.
Just as she was going to turn the
handle Margaret spoke to her.
III | have no answer to that bv
tomorrow afternoon | shall accent
Mr.. Van Torp's invitation"
Il hope you will CO." Lady Maud