The Sauk Centre herald., 1909-09-16

agreeable to the mistress of the house.
At first Margaret was pleased at this;
but when she saw that he was doing
his best to keep Mrs. Rushmore from
leaving the room, as she probably
would have done, Margaret did not
like it. She was dying to ask him
questions about his lessons in Tartar,
and especially about his teacher, and
she probably meant to cast her in
quiries in such a form as would make
it preferable to examine him alone
rather than before Mrs. Rushmore;
but he talked on and on, only pausing
an instant for the good lady's express
sions of interest or approval.
He was telling her what prime
minister had told an ambassador
about the pope, when Margaret rose
rather abruptly.
I'm awfully sorry" she said to Mrs.
Rushmore, by way of apology, 'but I
really must have little air. I've not
been out of the house all day"
Mrs. Rushmore understood, and was
| not hurt, though she was sorry not to
hear more. The dear child" should
| go out, by all means. Would Mons.
Logotheti stay to dinner? No? She
was sorry. She had forgotten that
she had letter to write in time for
| the afternoon post. So she went of
and left the two together.
Margaret led the way out upon the
| lawn, and they sat down on garden
chairs under big elm tree. She said
nothing while she settled herself very
deliberately, avoiding her compan-
| ions eyes till she was quite ready, and
then she suddenly looked at him with
sort of blank stare that would
| perlatively self-possessed than he was.
1t was most distinctly Nine. de Cor
dova, the offended prima donna, that
| spoke at last. and not Miss Margaret
Dome, the mice English girl"
What in the world has got into
you?" she inquired in a chilly tone.
He opened his almond-shaped eyes
little wider with an excellent af-
fectation of establishment at her words
and manner.
| Have l done anything you don't
| like" he asked in tone of anxiety
and concern. WAS 1 rude to Mrs.
Rushmore?"
| Margaret looked at him a moment
longer, and then turned her head
away in silence, as if scorning to an
swer such silly question. The look
of surprise disappeared from his face,
and he became very gloomy and
thoughtful but said nothing more.
Possibly he had brought about exactly
what he wished, and was satisfied to
await the inevitable result. 1t came
before long.
81 don't understand you at all"
Margaret said less icily, but with the
sad little air of a woman who be-
lieves herself misunderstood. 1T was
very odd yesterday, at the telephone,
you know-very odd indeed. I sup
pose you didn't realize it. And now,
this afternoon, you have evidently
been doing your best to keep Mrs,
Rushmore from leaving us together
You would still be telling her stories
about people If hadn't obliged you
| to come out!"
eyes," Logotheti asserted with ex
asperating calm and meekness, 1--WE
should still be there"
"You did not want to be alone with
me, I suppose. There's no other ex
PLANTATION, and it's not a very f1atter
ing one, is it,"
I never flatter you, dear lady," said
Logotheti gravely.
But you do! How can you deny
It? You often tell me that I make
you think of the Victory in the
Louvre"
tits quite true. If the statue had a
head it would be portrait of you"
Nonsense! And in your moments
of enthusiasm you say that sing bet
ter than Nine Bonanni in her best
days"
"Yes. You know quite as much
as she ever did, you are much better
musician, and you began with better
voice. Therefore you sing better.
maintain it."
"You often maintain things yor
don't believe" Margaret retorted
though her manner momentarily re
laxed a little.
"Only in matters of business" an
swered the Greek with imperturbablt
calm.
pray, is learning Tartar a matter
of business" Her eyes sparklet
angrily as she asked the question.
Logotheti smiled; she had reached
the point to which he knew she mus
come before long.
"Oh, yes!" he replied with alacrity
"Of course it is"
THAT accounts for everything
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