Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1909-12-16
ST u DINA'S RUBY
to post for a lodging while I have
| nIentv of room TO snarnin

tiger if you contradict it," she said
with a light laugh that thrilled him
with delight. 81 remember your de-
scription of the Tartar grill"
well, then, I suppose the hyena
will have to turn into a small woolly
lamb if you tell him to-" answered
Mr.. Torp.
YES" laughed Margaret. "Be a
small, woolly lamb at once, please, q
very small one!"
"Knee-high to a kitten; certainly
replied the millionaire submissively.
Very we'll I'll take you with me
to hear 'Parsifal tomorrow, if you
obey. I've just asked Mrs. Rushmore
if it makes any difference to her, and
she has confessed that she would
rather not go again, for it tires her
dreadfully and gives her a headache
You shall have her seat. What is it?
Don't you want to go with me?"
Mr. Van Torp's face had hardened
till it looked like a mask, he stared
firmly at the wall, and his lips were
set tightly together. Margaret gazed
at him in surprise while he spoke
have counted ten. Then he spoke
slowly, with evident effort, and in an
odd voice.
Excuse me, Miss Donne," he said,
swapping his words out. I'm SO CRATE
full that I can't speak, that's all. It'll
be all right in a second.
A huge emotion had got hold of
him She saw the red flush rise sud
denly above his collar, and then sink
back before it reached his cheeks,
and all at once he was very pale. But
not a muscle of his face moved, not a
line was drawn; only his sandy eye
lashes quivered a little. His hands
were thrust deep into the pockets of
his jacket, but the fingers were mo-
tionleSs.
Margaret remembered how he had
told her more than once that she was
the only woman the world held for
him, and she had thought it was non
sense, rather vulgarly and clumsily
expressed by a man who was not
much better than an animal where
women were concerned.
1t flashed upon her at last that what
he had said was literally true, that
man altogether, as many people did,
and that she was indeed the only
woman in the whole world who could
master and dominate one whom many
feared and hated, and whom she had
herself once detested beyond words.
While these thoughts were disturb
ing her little, Mr.. Van Torp recov-
cred himself; his features relaxed, his
hands came out of his pockets, and
he slowly turned towards her.
81 hope you don't think me rude,
he said awkWardly. Il feel things a
good deal sometimes, though people
mightn't believe it."
They were still standing near to-
gether, and not far from the door
through which Margaret had entered
for small things" she answered
gently.
Her handsome head was a little
bent, and her eyes were turned to the
floor as she passed him going to the
door.
I'm going to see the manager OF
the hotel" she said. I'll be back di
rectly."
mo, no! Please let me-"
But she was gone, the door was
shut again, and Mr.. Van Torp was left
to his own very happy reflections for
a while.
Not for long, however. He was still
standing before the table staring al
the corn-fowers and peoples without
consciously seeing them when he was
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
Donne 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
Dictated a chair not far from her.
1t was only proper that Margaret
should always speak of her with af
lection and gratitude. Mr.. Van Torr
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.
Il had the pleasure of knowing Mr.
Rushmore," he said in the proper
tone of mournfully retrospective ad
miration. He was sincerely lamented
by all our business men,"
Gle 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 moments pause, dur
ing which the millionaire was trying
to think of something else she might
LINZ ~ AAC9'h' AO- 0AiO "e1o N1e'i SeII CT .
friend, and he wished to make a 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 al
once.
you know our friend, Mons Logo
theft, l believer" 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