The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1909-10-11

margaret 1dZeo at him VI ouTpTiSc
While She Might Have Counted
Ten.
and all at once he was very pale. But
not a muscle of his face moved, not
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
she had misjudged an extraordinary
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
hands came out Of his pockets, and
he slowly turned towards her.
81 hope you don't think me rude"
he said awkwardly. II feel things
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.
Its never rude to be grateful, even
for small things" she answered
gently.
l Her handsome head was a little
bent, and her eyes were turned to the
floor as she passed him going to the
door.
Pm going to see the manager of
the hotel" she said. I'll be back d.
rectly."
mo, no! Please let me"
= But she was gone, the door was
shut again, and Mr.. Van Torp was lef
:, to his own very happy reflections fol
;. while.
n Not for long, however. He was still
+" standing before the table staring a
% the corn-fowers and peoples withou
"a consciously seeing them when he wa'
If aware of the imposing presence o
Mrs. Rushmore, who had entered soft
:" ly during his reverie and was almos
At at his elbow.
IT This is Mr. Van Torp, I presume,
Is she said gravely, inclining her head
Il am Mrs. Rushmore. You have pei
D, haps heard Miss Dome speak of me.
I'm very pleased to meet you, Mrs
at Rushmore," said the American, bow
,g ing low. 1--WE often heard Mis-
lis Dome speak of you with the creates
gratitude and affection
That's NICE Mrs. Rushmore al
p. swered with gravity, and as she e.
w. tablished herself on the sofa she II
ID dictated a chair not far from her.
1t was only proper that Margart
should always speak of her with a
lis lection and gratitude. Mr.. Van Tol
sat down on the chair to which 81
ou had directed rather than invited hin
nd and he prepared to be bored to Il
ers full extent of the bearable.
Il had the pleasure of knowing M
Rushmore," he said in the prop
a tone of mournfully retrospective a
lar miration. He was sincerely lament,
i've by all our business men,
HE was" assented the widow,
she would have said amen in churc
in the right place, and with much
AID same solemn information.
Inn There was a moments pause, d
de- ing which the millionaire was tryi
to think of something else she mis-
ena like to hear, for she was Margare
Oily friend, and he wished to make &C
red impression He was therefore not =
pared to hear her speak again bef'
he did. and much less for the subj
g, OF conversation she introduced
once.
ly," You know our friend, Mons. Lo
ely theft, | believer she inquired S
me denly.
you why, certainly" answered \
lore Torp, Frightening at once at the III
ana ton of his rival, and at once q
ouid putting on his moral armor OF c
her ton. Il know him quite well"
che. "Jndead9 Have Won known m.
IL Greeks, may | ask?'
"Tve met one or two in busln
ened Mrs. Rushmore, but | can't say
ared known any as well as Mr.. Logothe
we're YOU may think it strange tina
azed should ASH Won about him at our I
poke meeting" said the good lady, :
poke Pm an American. and cannot |
an feeling that a fellow-countrym
opinion of a foreigner is very v
sald' able. You are, l understand, an
rate friend of Miss Donne's, though
th not had the pleasure of meeting
before, and you have probably HI
a OF that she has made up her mint
sud marry Mons I,oeotheti am be
sink 10 confess as her dear mothers