The Sauk Centre herald., 1909-09-30

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Margaret Bent Her Head a Little, and
Was Silent.
thing like that Maybe you don't
realize what you're asking, but it's
the impossible. That's ALL"
"Oh, 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 I ac-
cepted the syndicate's offer for the
Nickel Trust SO as to be free to take
any chance that might turn up. It
had been open some time, but I ac-
cepted it on the day l heard of your
engagement. That's big thing. An
other is, that l played regular trick
on Logotheti so as to come and see
you here. l deliberately asked him
to dine with me last night in London.
I went right home, wrote a note to
him, antedated for yesterday after
noon, to put him of, and 1 left it to
be sent at the right hour. Then l drove
to the station, and here l am. You
may call that pretty sharp practice,
but I believe all's fair in love and war,
and I want you to understand that l
think so. There's one thing more. I
won't give up the hope Of making you
marry me while you're alive and 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,
II it comes to that. Amen"
Margaret bent her head little and
was silent.
Nov you know why I won't prom.
ise what you asked" said Van Torp
in conclusion.
"You have no right to speak like
that" she said rather weakly, after q
moment.
Perhaps not I 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 its 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
money-even what l choose to call
plenty He says he cares for you. ALI
right. So do I. He says he'll marry
you. say that 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
sort of stormy rush, and he turned
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 Der.
fectly safe, and that a much deeper
and more lasting power had hold of
MIN 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 fiattered when such a man as Won
cares for her in earnest, and saws
the things you have. But, on the 9th.
er hand, I'm engaged to be married to
another man, and 1t would not he
loyal of me to let you make love to
me-"
II don't mean to-" said Van Torn
stoutly. 1T won't be necessary. If I
never spoke again you wouldn't for.
get what I've told you-ever! Why
should / say 1t again? I don't want
to, until you can say as much to me.
II it's time to 90, hitch the lead tony
collar and take me home! I'll follow