The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1909-10-18

of geography in education were inter-
rupted by the discreet entrance of Mr..
Van Torp, who was announced and
ushered to the door by Justine in a
grand French manner. On the TIRES
hold, however, he stood still and asked
II he might come in; being pressed to
DO SO, he yielded, advanced, and sat
down between the two ladies'.
Mr.. Van Torp," said Mrs. Rush
more. Il insist upon knowing what
has become of Countess Leven."
i don't know, Mrs. Rushmore," an
swered the millionaire, slowly rubbing
his hands. 81 haven't spoken to her
since / brought her from the station.
dare say she's all right. She's prob
ably gone to take a walk. She often
does in the country, l know-her ia
thers country seat is next to mine,
Mrs. Rushmore. l hope you'll pay
me visit some day. Why yes, Lady
Maud sometimes goes off alone and
walks miles and miles"
There, Margaret" said Mrs. Rush
more triumphantly, what did I tell
you? Mr.. Van Torp says the countess
often walks for miles and miles"
why, certainly" said Mr.. Van
Torp, though I'm bound to say she's
Just as fond of horseback. Ee- friends
generally call her Lady Maud, Mrs.
Rushmore. Perhaps you won't mind
my telling you, as she prefers it
good deal herself. You see. I've had
the pleasure of knowing her several
years, so | daresay you'll forgive me
for mentioning it,"
Il think it is quite kind of you, on
the contrary" answered Mrs. Rush
more. Margaret, why did you never
tell me of this? Had you any reason
for not telling me?"
i don't think I noticed what you
called her." Margaret answered pa
tiently.
Because If you had any reason"
said Mrs. Rushmore, following her
own thoughts, 81 insist upon knowing
what it was"
Well, now. I'll tell you," rejoined
Mr.. Van Torp, to save Margaret the
trouble of answering the futile little
speech. her husband didn't treat her
very well. There's not a purer wom-
an in the six continents, Mrs. Rush
more, but he tried to divorce her. be-
cause he'd lost his money, if he ever
mad any, and she had none, and he
wanted to marry an heiress. How
ever, they automoblized him, or some
thing. in st. Petersburg last June
"Auto-what did you say?" inquired
Mrs. Rushmore.
Killed by an automobile" ex-
planned Mr.. Van Torp gravely. "But
now | come to think, it wasn't that.
He got blown up by bomb meant for
a better man. 1t was quite instantan-
eous, recollect. His head disap-
peared suddenly, and the greater part
OF him was scattered around, but
they found his pocket-book with his
cards and things, so they knew who
1t was. 1t was driven through some
body else's hat on the other side of
the street, wasn't it, Miss Dome?
Thlngs must have been quite lively
Just then, where it happened. I sup
posed you knew"
Mrs. Rushmore explained that she
had never heard any details.
Besides said Mr.. Van Torp, in an
swer though not quite relevantly.
everybody always calls her Lady
Maud instead of Countess Leven.'
which she has on her cards"
She would naturally use the higher
title" observed. Mrs. Rushmore rev.
erently.
We'll, now, about that" objected
Mr.. Van Torp, I'm bound to say I
think the daughter of an English earl
as good as a Russian count. anywhere
west of Siberia. don't know how
they figure those things out at courts
when they have to balance 'em up for
seats at a dinner party. of course.
It's just my impression, that's all. as
a business man. He's dead. anyway.
and one needn't make personal re-
marks about dead men. All the same.
it was a happy release for Lady Maud.
and l doubt If she sits up all night
mourning for him. Have you been
ont this afternoon, Miss Donne?"
lie changed the subject with ex-
IRENE directness, and Mrs. Rushmore
who was used to the dictatorial wavs
OF lions, took the hint submissivelv
enough, though she would have been
glad to discuss the relative and in
trinsic values of the destinations
Lady Maud" and Countess Leven."
But it was much more important that
the lion should be left alone with
Margaret as much as possible, and the
excellent lady therefore remembered
that she had something to do and left
them.
Il had little talk with Kralinsky
before he left" said Van Torp, when
she was gone. HE says he'll meet
us In Venice any time in the next few
days. He's just going to run over to
Vienna in his sudden-death-cart for
"a hours; then he'll go south, he SAYS.
he ran me up to the hotel and
dropped me. dare say you heard
the toots. I thought saw Lady Maud
looking out of the window of your
room as I got out"
Yes Margaret said. But how do
you know that is my Window"
IN the first place, I've counted the
windows. | felt a sort of interest in
Ennu-iDc w i1h