The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1909-10-30

answered, though l wish she had
F! not. You probably think that when
wrote that letter remembered what
you said to me In London about Civ.
ing me money for my poor women"
mo-" said Van Torp thoughtfully.
f: Il don't believe do think so. It was
like me to make the offer, Maud. It
was like the sort of man I've been.
and you've known me. Rut it wouldn't
have been like you to accept it. 1t
wasn't exactly low-down of me to saw
what I did, but It's so precious like
/ low-down that I wouldn't say it agaiv,
and suppose I'm sorry. That's ALL"
His rough hand was on the side of
the little open carriage She touched
it lightly with her gloved fingers and
withdrew them instantly for the por-
ter was coming with her not very
voluminous luggage.
Thank you," she said quickly. "
understood, and 1 understand now"
They drove slowly up the Bahnhof-
strasse, through the dull little town,
that looks SO thoroughly conscious of
its ancient responsibility as having
! once been the "residenz" Of a duke of
Wurtemburg, and of its vast impor.
lance as the headquarters of Richard
Wagners representatives on earth.
"See here" said Mr.. Van Torn.
1--WE almost persuaded them all to
run down to Venice, and l want to
know why you won't come too?"
| sSVoniro ~ adv Mopd ,ro,
ITS as hot as Tophet now, and full of
mosquitoes. Why in the world do
you want to take them there?"
Well" answered the American.
taking plenty of time over the mono
syllable, II didn't exactly mean to
stay there more than few minutes.
I've bought pretty nice yacht since
l saw you, and she's there, eating her
head off, and thought you might all
come along with me on her and go
home that way, or somewhere, and
what l want you to decide right away
is whether you'll come, provided they
will-for I don't suppose you and I
could 60 incoming around in the yacht
by ourselves"
"And I don't suppose" returned
Lady Maud, mimicking him ever so
little, that If they decide not to
come, you will have time for a long
cruise"
Nov that's not fair" objected the
American. Il didn't intend to put it
in that way. Anyhow, will you come
If they do? That's the point"
Really, it depends little on who
they are. Do you mean only Marga-
ret and that nice old friend of her
Mrs. Patmore, isn't she? never met
her."
"Rushmore," said Van Torp, correct
ing her. "Then there's the Russian
Count Kralinsky. Ever hear that
name?"
Never. It sounds Polish"
He might be anything. Sometimes
I'm absolutely sure he's man I used
to know out west when I was on the
ranch, and then again there's some.
thing quite different about him. Some.
thing about his legs or his eyes,
can't tell which. l don't quite make
him out"
They reached the hotel, and Van
Torp went of promptly, leaving Mar.
garet to take Lady Maud upstairs
and introduce her to Mrs. Rushmore
An hour later the two young wom-
en- were together in Margaret's room,
while Potts was unpacking for Lady
Maud in the one that had been Sc.
cured for her in spite Of all sorts of
difficulties.
The prima donna was sitting at her
toilet table, turned away from the
glass, and Lady Maud occupied the
only possible chair there was, small,
low easy chair, apparently much too
small for such tall woman, but less
uncomfortable than 1t looked.
Are you going on Mr.. Van Torp's
yacht?" asked Lady Maud suddenly.
He spoke to me about it on the way
from the station, and asked me to
come, in case you accept"
Il don't know. viii you go If do?
That might make difference"
Lady Maud did not answer at once.
She wished that she knew how mat
tiers had gone between Margaret and
Van Torp during the last few days.
for she sincerely wished to help him,
now that she had made up her mind
as to Logotheti's real character.
Nevertheless, her love of fair play
made her feel that the Greek ought
to be allowed a chance of retrieving
himself.
"Yes," she said at last, "I'll go, on
one condition. At least. it's not a
condition, nay dear; it's only a sug.
gestion, though | hate to make one
Don't think me too awfully cheeky.
will you?"
| Margaret shook her head, but looked
very grave.
II feel as If / were getting into a
bad scrape," she said. "and shall be
only too glad Of any good advice. Tell
: me what had better do"
! Il must tell you something else first
as a continuation of my letter, for all
! sorts Of things happened after wrote
IT,"