The Irish standard., 1909-11-13

know l shall, because must, II am
ever to have any peace again. I'm not
very nervous person, you know, am
I? But it's more than I can bear long,
to sit opposite q man at table, again
and again, as l shall have to, and not
be sure whether he's my husband,
come back from the dead, or some
one else!" She paused, and her nos
trils dilated little. but Van Torp
only nodded slowly and sympathetic
| ally. Il mean to know before L go to
bed tonight" she said, with little
desperation in her voice. II shall talk
to him till am sure of one thing or
the other. At table, cannot tell, but
If we are alone together know can
settle the question. If you see that
we are talking at the other end of
| the deck, try to keep Mrs. Rushmore
land Margaret from coming near US.
Will you?"
To Mrs. Rushmores amazement
| and Margaret's surprise, Lady Maud
made a dead set at Kralinsky all that
day. an attention which he seemed
| to appreciate as 1t deserved Before
breakfast was over, Van Torp had re.
peated to her what Kralinsky had
said abou. having formerly been In.
Innate with LeveA, and Lady MawA
took this statement as basis of op-
erations for finding out just how much
he knew of her own life; she judged
that II he we're not Leven himself, he
must soon betray the fact by his igno-
rance.
That was the strangest day she had
ever passed. She found it very easy
to talk to Kralinsky, as 1t always IL
when there has been long familiarity,
even If 1t has been only the familiar
intercourse of domestic discord. He
knew many details Of her life IN Lon
don. That was clear after half an
hours conversation. She alluded to
and Van Torp: Kralinsky knew all
about that and had heard, as he said,
some silly story about Leven having
found her with the American in Ger.
tain rooms in the Temple, and about
an envelope which was said to have
contained over four thousand and one
hundred pounds in bank-notes. He
politely secuted the story as non.
sense, but he had heard 1t. and Lady
Maud knew that every word Of 1t was
true. He knew of Levens unsuccess-
full attempt to divorce her on that
ground, too, and he knew the num-
Der of her house in Charles street.
Berkeley square.
On the other hand, there were
many things of which he knew moth
ing, or pretended to be ignorant, such
as the names OF her brothers and SIS
tiers, her fathers favorite pursuits
and the like. But she understood very
we'll that If he thought she suspected
his identity under the disguise of his
beard, and If he wished to avoid re.
cognition, he was just the man to pre-.
tend blank ignorance Of some vital
matters, after admitting his acquaint-
ance with many others. He had been
very intimate with Leven, to the last,
he said; Leven had always written
to him very fully about his life, very
wittily sometimes, but always without
balance! That was It; he had no bal
ance." Yes, he himself had been in
Petersburg when Leven was killed
and had seen him on the previous
day. Within a week he had made a
rapid trip to New York, whence he
had now just returned. He had
crossed on five.day boats both going
and coming. and he named them.
II am naturally interested in meet
ing any one who knew my husband so
WELL" Lady Maud said. making bold
dash at possibility. 1--WE had many
differences, as you seem to know, but
I dare say that If he could come back
to life and know the real truth, we
, should forgive each other"
She looked up to him with a gentle
smile as she said this, for she had
often felt It,; and in that instant
rather uncertain eyes. Her heart stood
! still; she looked at the sea again d.
rectly, for she was leaning against the
rail; then she drew breath, as II from
an effort. She had seen a look that
could only mean recognition. Leven
was alive and was standing beside
her. But she had the courage to 20
on talking, after a moment, and she
tried to change the subject, thought
not very adroitly.
During the afternoon Mr.. Van Torp
had revelation, sudden and clear.
for he had watched Lady Maud and
Kralinsky all day and had thought
| about them good deal, considering
how his mind was occupied with other
matters even nearer to his heart than
his best friends welfare AS soon as
the revelation came upon him he rang
| for his own man.
"Stemp, see here!" he began
you've valeted around with all sorts
OF different looking men. How long
does 1t take to grow Q beard like
Count Kralinsky's?"
"A year, sir. Not . day less. and
longer with most gentlemen. II you
were thinking Of 1t, sir"
you don't believe 1t could be man.
aged in three months, by taking an