Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-11-09

finger, held it up towards the window,
and laid it in her palm again.
But Van Torp had set her thinking
about Logotheti and the Tartar girl
She put out her hand to give back
the ruby.
II should like you to keep it, if
you WILL" he said ~ shan't forget
the pleasure I've had in seeing you
like this, but you'll forget all about
our meeting here-the stone may just
make you remember it sometimes"
He spoke so quietly, so gently, that
she was taken OF her guard, and was
touched, and very much surprised to
feel that she was. She looked into
his eyes rather cautiously, remember
ing we'll how she had formerly seen
something terrifying in them il she
looked an instant too long; but now
they made her think of the eyes of a
large affectionate bulldog.
you're very kind to want to give
1t to me-" she answered after q mo-
ment's hesitation, "but I don't like to
accept anything so valuable, now that
I'm engaged to be married. Konstantin
might not like it. But you're so kind !;
give me any little thing of no value
that you have in your pocket, for l
mean to remember this day, indeed
l dol"
/ Il gave nothing for the ruby" said
Van Torp. still not taking it from her,
so 1t has no value for me. wouldn t
offer you anything that cost me
money. now, unless it was a theater
for your own. Perhaps the things
glass, after all; I've not shown it to
any jeweler. The girl made me take
1t, because helped her in sort of
way. When wanted to pay for it she
tried to throw it out of the window. So
had to accept it to calm her down,
and she went of and left NO address,
and thought I'd like you to have it,
II you would"
Are you quite, quite sure you did
not pay for it?" Margaret asked. eff
we are going to be friends, you must
please always be very accurate"
1--we told you exactly what hap
pened," said Van Torp. won't you
take it now?"
YES will, and thank you very
much indeed. love rubies. and this
is a beauty, and not preposterously
big. think shall have it set as it is,
uncut, and only polished, so that it
will always be itself, Just as you
gave it to me. I shall think of the
Good Friday music and the chimes
and this hideous little room. and your
clever whistling, whenever I look
at it.''
You're kind to-day" said Mr.. Van
Torp, after moments debate as to
whether he should say anything at
all.
cam 1? You mean that used to be
very disagreeable. don't you?" She
smiled as she glanced at him. 81
must have been. I'm sure, for you
used to brighten me ever SO much.
But I'm not in the least afraid of you
now!"
"Why should any one be afraid OF
me?" asked Van Torp, whose smile
had been known to terrify Wall street
when "dorp" was expected.
Margaret laughed little, without
looking at him.
Tell me all about the Tartar girl
she said, instead of answering his
question.
Van Torp told her Baraka's his.
tory, az far as he knew it from Logo.
theft.
. II never heard such an amusing set
Of stories as you are telling me to.
day." she said.
'"That particular one is Logothetis,
he answered, "and he can probably
tell you much more about the girl"
"Is she really very pretty?" Marga
ret asked.
"Well.' said Van Torp, quoting a
saying of his favorite great man, "for
people who like that kind of thing
I should think that would be the kind
Of thing they'd like
The prima donna smiled.
"Can you describe her?" she asked
Ibid you ever read a fairy story
about a mouse that could turn into a
tiger when it liked?" inquired the
American in tone of profound medi.
tation, as If he were contemplating a
vision which Margaret could not see
No. said she. 81 never did"
II don't think ever did, either. But
there might be fairy story about
that, mightn't there?" Margaret
nodded. with an expression of dis.
pleased interest, and he went on:
well. it describes Miss Barrack to
a T. Yes. that's what l call her
She's'put 'Barak' on her business card,
whatever that means in a Christian
language; but when found out 1t was
a girl, christened her Miss Barrack.
People have to have names of some
kind If you're going to talk about
them. But that's depression. Par
don me. You'd like a description of
the young person. I'm just thinking. -
"How did you find out she was a
girl?" Margaret asked. and her tone
was suddenly hard.
TT was question Of form, yot
49," he said awkwardly.
Il Form? Formally? 1 don't under
stand" Margaret was really puzzled.
mo, mol" Mr.. Van Torp was actu
ally blushing. Il mean his form-ol
her form"
"Oh. her figure? You merely guessed
It was a girl In boys clothes?"
Certainly. Yes.y Only. you see. b.
mad kind Of ft-the boy did-and
thought he was going to faint, so
picked him up and carried him to {
sofa. and-well. you understand. Misi
Dome. ] knew hadn't got boy il