The Brownsville daily herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1897-1910, 1909-10-02

you if you believe not"
He's mad observed Mr.. Van
Torp, beginning to shave again. Are
you a iunatic?" he asked, pausing aft
er nomeut What's the matter
wit on, anyhow"
4 am musician, tell you, I am
a pianist"
It's the same thing" said Mr.. Van
Torp. working carefully on his upper
lip. Under his right nostriI
- sail tell you that you are a bar
barian" retorted the voice
Well. that doesn't hurt" answered
Nj Van Torp.
10 heard a snort of scorn on the
cher side and there was silence
again But before long, as he got
away f~Cm ~ upper lip with the
= razor. nc unconsciousIy began to whis-
tie ce@in. and he must have made the
same mistake as before. for he was
i-t1r-. ted by deep groan of pain
frcH the next room.
| Not feeling very weII?" he INQUIRED
il a tone Of dry iocularlty. Stomach
, ursot?'
''E =harp!" screamed the wretched
nianist.
Van Torp could hear him dancing
with rage or pain
See here, whoever you are. don't
call names 7 don't ike It. See? I've
paid for this room and I'm going on
whistling if l like. and just as long as
| like"
you say you make noises you
like?" cried the infur-ated musician.
oh, no. You shall not, There are
rules, We are not in London. sir.
we are in Bayreuthi If you make
noises, you shall be thrown our of the
house"
Shall I? Well. now, that's a funny
sort of a rule for a hotel. isn't it?'
Il go complain of you, retorted the
other, and Mr. Van Torp heard a door
opened and shut again
In few minutes he had done all
that the conditions would permit in
the way of making himself present
able, and just as he left the room he
was met BY Stemp, the % minutes be.
Ing just over,
Very good sir. I'll do what / can,
sir" said the excellent man. as Mr..
Van Torp pointed to the things that
lay about
As he went out. he recognized the
voice Of his neighbor, who was talk
ing excitedly in yOluble German. some
whore at the back Of the house.
He's complaining now thought
Mr. Van Torp. with something like a
smile.
He had already been to the best
hotel, III the hope of obtaining rooms,
and he had no difficulty in finding it
again. He asked for Nine. da Cor
dova She was at home. for it was an
off-day; he sent in his card, and was
presently led to her sitting room
Times had changed. Six months
earlier he would have been told that
there had been a mistake and that she
had gone out
She was alone; a letter she had
been writing lay unfinished on the
queer little desk near the shaded
window, and her pen had fallen across
the paper On the round table in the
middle of the small bare room there
stood a plain white vase full of corn
flowers and peoples, and Margaret
was standing there, rearranging them.
or pretending to do so.
She was looking her very best. ana
as she raised her eyes and greeted
him with a friendly smile. Mr. Van
Torp thought she had never been so
handsome before.
Margaret held out her hand and he
took it; and though its touch and her
friendly smile were like a taste Of
heaven just then, ne pressed her fin
gers neither too much nor. too little,
and his face betrayed no emotion.
Its very kind Of you to receive
me- Miss Dome" he said quietly
II think it's very kind of you 10
come and see me" Margaret an
swered. Come and sit down and tell
me how you got here-and why"
We'll" he answered slowly, as they
seated themselves side by side on the
hard green sofa "I don't suppose I
can explain, so that you'll understand,
but I'll try. Different kinds of things
brought me. I heard you We're here
from Lady Maud, and I thought per
haps might have an opportunity for
a little talk And then-oh, I don't
know. I've seen everything worth
seeing except a battle and 'Parsifal,'
and as it seemed so easy, and you
were here, I thought I'd have a look
at the opera, since / can't see the
fight"
Margaret laughed a little
I hope you will like it," she said
Have you a good seat?''
'I haven't got ticket yet" an
swered 1Ir. Van Torp, in blissful ig-
nOrance.
NO seati" The prima donna's sur