The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1909-10-09

sort of music myself. It gives me a
headache" og
Margaret entered a, this point in
marvellous creation" of Chinese
Grape. of the most delicate shade of
heliotrope. Her dressmaker called it
tea-gown, but Mr.. Van Torp would
have thought it "quite appropriate"
for "dinner-dance" at Bar Harbor.
my dear child" said Mrs. Rush
more, "how long you were in getting
back from the theater! began to
fear that something had happened!"
1--WE walked home very slowly"
said Margaret. with pleasant smile.
"Ah? You went for a little walk
to get some air?"
1--WE just walked home very slowly,
in order to breathe the air." Margaret
answered .innocently.
1t dawned on MIR. Van Torp that the
dignifled Mrs. Rushmore was not
quite devoid Of sense of humor. It
also occurred to him that her repeti-
ton of the question to Margaret, and
the latters answer, must have re-
vealed to her the fact that the two
had agreed upon what they would
say, since they used identically the
same words, and that they therefore
had an understanding about some
thing they preferred to conceal from
her. Nothing could have given Mrs.
Rushm6re such profound satisfaction
as this, and it revealed itself in her
bright smiles and her anxiety that
both Margaret and Van Torp should,
If possible, over-eat themselves with
the excellent things she had been at
pains to provide for them and for her.
self. For she was something of an
epicure ard her dinners in Versailles
were of good fame, even in Paris.
Great appetites are generally silent,
like the sincerest affections. Marga-
ret was very hungry. and Mr.. Van
Torp was both hungry and very much
in love. Mrs. ,Rushmore was neither,
and she talked pleasantly while tast-
ing each delicacy with critical Salts
faction.
by the BY" she said at last, when
she saw that the millionaire was
backing his roretopsail to come to an
Choir, as Capt. Brown might have ex-
pressed it, II hope you have not had
any trouble about your rooms. Mr..
Van Torp."
None at all, that know Of" an
swered the latter. "N1y man told me
nothing"
1.-THE Russian prince arrived this
evening while you were at the thea
ter, and threatened the director with
all sorts of legal consequences be.
cause the rooms he. had ordered were
occupied. He turns out to be only a
count after ALL"
"You don't say So" observed Mr..
VaniTorp, in an encouraging tone.
,"What became Of him?" Margaret
asked. without much interest.
did Potts not tell you. my dear?
Why, Justine assisted at the whole in
terview and came, and told me at
once"
r. Justine was Mrs. Rushmore's Paris.
Ian maid, who always knew every.
thing.
What happened?" inquired Marga-
ret, still not much interested.
He arrived In an automobile" an.
swered Mrs. Rushmore, and she
paused.
What old Griggs calls a sudden.
death-cart." Mr.. Van Torp put in.
What q shocking name for it,"
cried Mrs. Rushnore. And you are
always in them, my dear child" She
looked. at Margaret. "A sudden-death-
cart! 1t quite makes me SILVER"
"Griggs says that all his friends
either kill or get killed in them," ex-
planned the American
my throat-doctor says motoring is
very bad for the voice, so I've given
it up" Margaret said.
Really? Thank goodness your pro-
fession has been of so..e use to you
at last, my dear"
Margaret laughed.
Tell us about the Russian count," y
she said. Has he found lodgings, or
is he going to sleep in his motor?"
my dear, he's the most original
man you ever heard Of! First, he
wanted to buy the hotel and turn US
all out, and offered any price for 1t,
"but the director said it was owned by
a company in Munich. Then he sent
his secretary about trying to buy a
house, while he dined, but that didn't
succeed either. He must be very
wealthy or else quite mad"
Mad, I should say" observed Mr..
Van Torp, slowly peeling peach.
did you happen to catch his name,
Mrs. Rushmore?"
/ "Oh, yes! We heard nothing else
all the afternoon. His name Is Kra-
linsky-Count Kralinsky."
Mr.. Van Torp continued to peel his
peach scientifically and economically,
;; though he was aware that Margaret
was looking at him with sudden curl
osity. e..
"Kralinsky," he said slowly, keep.
ing his eyes on the silver blade of the
knife as he finished what he was do
; ing TITS not an uncommon name,
believe. I've heard it before. Sounds
Ill ~1 "a