Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1909-12-23

Saw now Lady MAUD Doll0V0Q III you
that I began to waver, and then /
understood"
I'm glad you did"
$50 am I. But she is such a good
woman herself that nobody can be
really bad in whom she believes. And
now I'm changed still more. like
you, and I'm sure that we shall be
friends, if you will make me one
promise and keep it."
What is it?'
'That you will give up all idea of
ever marrying me, no matter what
happens, even if / broke"
tits no use to go on interrupted
Van Torp, for I can't promise any
thing like that. Maybe you don't
realize what you're asking, but it's
the impossible. That's all"
ooh, nonsense!" Margaret tried to
laugh lightly, but it was failure.
mo, it's very far from nonsense
he replied, almost sternly. "Since
you've spoken first, I'm going to tell
you several things. One is, that l ac-
copied the syndicate's offer for the
Nickel Trust so as to be free to take
any chance that might turn up. 1t
had been open some time, but | &C
cepted it on the day / heard of your
engagement. That's big thing. An
other is, that I played a regular trick
on Logotheti SO as to come and see
you here. I deliberately asked him
to dine with me last night in London.
| went right home, wrote note to
him, antedated for yesterday after
noon, to put him off, and l left it to
be sent at the right hour. Then drove
to the station, and here l am. You
may call that pretty sharp practice,
but / believe all's fair in love and war,
and I want you to understand that /
think so. There's one thing more. I
won't give up the hope of making you
marry me while you're alive and l am,
not if you're an old woman, and I'll
put up all have in the game, includ
ing my own life and other peoples,
if it comes to that Amen"
Margaret bent her head a little and
was silent
Nov you know why I won't prom
Use what you asked" said Van Torp
in conclusion.
"You have no right to speak like
that" she said rather weakly, after a
moment.
Perhaps not. / don't know. But |
consider that you have a right to |
know the truth, and that's enough for |
me. It's not as if I'd made up my |
mind to steal your ewe-lamb from you |
and put myself in it's place. Logo |
theft is not any sort of a ewe-lamb. |
He's man, he's got plenty of strength |
and determination, he's got plenty of |
what l choose to call |
plenty. He says he cares for you. All |
right. So do I. He says he'll marry |
you. l say that l will. All right again. |
You're the prize put up for the best |
of two fighting men. You're not the |
first woman in history who's been |
fought for, but, by all that's holy, |
there never was one better worth, not |
Helen of Troy herself!"
The last few words came with a |
IuTuSU
round suddenly, and stood with his
back against the gate, thrusting his |
hands deep into his coat-pockets, per-
haps with the idea Of keeping them |
quiet; but he did not come any near
er to her, and she felt she was per-
and more lasting power had hold of |
him than any mere passionate longing |
to take her in his arms and press his |
iron lips on hers against her will.
Margaret was not angry; she was |
hardly displeased, but she was really |
at loss what to say, and she said
the first sensible thing that suggested |
itself and that was approximately |
true.
I'm sorry you have told me all |
this. We might have spent these next |
two days very pleasantly together. |
Oh, I'm not pretending what I don't |
feel! It's impossible for a woman |
like me. who can still be free, not to |
be flattered when such a man as you
cares for her in earnest, and says |
the things you have. But, on the 9TH
er hand, I'm engaged to be married to
another man, and it would not be |
loyal of me to let you make love to
me-"
II don't mean to- said Van Torp |
stoutly. ct won't be necessary. If I
never spoke again you wouldn't for
get what I've told you-ever! Why |
should l say it again? ] don't want |
to, until you can say as much to me. |
If it's time to go, hitch the lead to my
collar and take me homei I'll follow |
you as quietly as a spaniel any
where!"
"And what would happen if told |
you not to follow me, but to go home |
and lie down in your kennel?" She |
laughed low as she moved away from |
the gate.
I'm not sure" answered Van Torp |!
Don't"
The last word was not spoken at |
all with an accent of warning, but it
was not said in begging tone either. |
Margaret's short laugh followed in
stantly.
you said just now that you would |
not say over again any of those |
things you have told me tonight Do
you mean that?"
Eyes, l mean it."
Then please promise that you |
won't. That's all l ask if you are 60 |
ing to spend the next two days here, |
and if / am to let you see me-"
II PROMISE Van Torp answered, |
without hesitation.
She allowed herself the illusion that |