The Brownsville daily herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1897-1910, 1909-11-10

to herself. but audibly. 7 cannot
help it."
Mrs Rushmore was more than de-
lighted, but had tact enough not to
make any answer to a speech which
had probably not been meant for her
ears
Perhaps" she said, you would
rather not go out just yet, my dear"
/ Margaret was grateful for the sug-
gestion, and they turned back into
their rooms.
Meanwhile Van Torp had reached
the door of the hotel, and found Lady
Maud standing there with her parasOl
up, for the sun was streaming in.
81 was waiting for you" she said
! simply, as soon az he reached her
side, and she stepped out into the
street II thought you would come
down, and I wanted to speak to you,
for I did not get chance last night.
They were both watching me, prob
ably because they thought was i'll,
and had to chatter like a magpie to
keep up appearances"
you did it very WELL" Van Torp
said IF l had not seen your face
at the window when I got out of the
automobile yesterday shouldn't have
! guessed there was anything wrong"
But there is-something very
wrong something I can hardly bear
to think of, though I must, until I
1 know the truth"
! They turned into the first deserted
| street they came to-
/ 81 dare say I can give a guess at
what it is" Van Torp answered grave
/ ~ q went to see him alone yester-
day on purpose, before he started, and
I must say, if it wasn't for the beard
I'd feel pretty sure"
/ "He had a beard when l married
him, and 1t vas like that-just like
/ that"
/, Lady Maud's voice shook audibly.
for she felt cold, even in the sun
shine.
T. I didn't know" Van Torp answered.
That alters the case. If we're not
mistaken, what can I do to help you?
Let's see. You only had that one
look at him, through the window, is
that so?"
Yes But the window was open.
and it's not high above the ground.
and my eyes are good He took of
his hat when he said goOd-by to you,
and I saw his face as distinctly as I
see yours. When you've been mar
ried to a man"-she laughed harshly
you cannot be easily mistaken
about him, when you're as near as
) that That is the man l married. I'm
intimately CONVINCED of it, but I must
be quite sure. Do you understand
T. "Of course If he's really Leven,
he's even better actor than USED
to think he was. If he's not, the re-
semblance is Just about the most ex-
traordinary thing! It's true I only
saw Leven three or four times in my
life, but saw him to look at him
then, and the last time did, when he
made the row in Hare court, he was
doing most OF the talking, so I remem-
Der his voice"
There's only one diniculty," Lady
Maud said. Some one else NAV have
been killed last June. 1t may even
have been the pickpocket who had
: stolen his poeket-book. Such things
have happened, OF do in books. But
this is certainly the man you met in
New York and who sold yea the stone
you gave me, is he not?'
"Oh, certainly And that was at
the end of July. and Leven was killed
late in June"
Yes. That only leaves q month
for him to have been to Asia-that'S
, absurd"
Utterly, totally, and entirely impos-
sible," asseverated Mr.: Van Torp.
One Of two things Either this man
is your husband, and If he is. he's not
Or else, If he is that man, he's not
LeTen. wish that heather girl had
! been here yesterday She could have
told in minute Shed better have
been here anyway than cutting around
/ the Mediterranean with that fellow
Logothetil"
! Yes" Lady Maud answered grave
, ly. But about myself-if Leven is
alive, what is my position meant
don't really quite know where 1 am,
do -"
Anybody but you would have
| thought of marrying again already" OBJ
served Mr.. Van Torp, looking up side
ways in her eyes, for she was taller
than he. Then you'd really be in
bad fix, wouldn't you? But as it is,
don't see that it makes much differ
ence. The mans going under false
name, so he doesn't mean to claim
you as his wife, nor to try to get
divorce again, as he did before He's
just going to be somebody else for his
own good, and he'll get married that
way. maybe. That's his business, not
yours. don't suppose you're going
to get up in church and forbid the
banns, are you?"
Il would, like a shoti" said Lady
Maud. SO would you, I'm sure!
Z -