The Hattiesburg news., 1909-10-12

van lorp was going to undo the
fastening, for there was no lock.
NO" she said, I'VE won't go
through. I love to lean on a gate"
She rested her crossed arms on the
upper rail and Van Torp did the
same, careful that his elbow should
not touch hers. and they both stared
into the dim, sweet-scented meadow.
He felt her presence now and it al
most hurt him; he could hear his
slow pulse in his ears, hard and regu.
lar. She did not speak, but the night
| was SO still that he could hear her
breathing, and at last he could not
bear the warm silence any longer.
What were you thinking about?"
he asked, trying to speak lightly.
She waited. or hesitated, before she
answered him.
"You," she said, after a time.
He moved involuntarily, and then
drew a little further away from her,
as he might have withdrawn a foot
from the edge of a precipice, out of
common caution. She was aware of
his slight change of position without
turning her eyes.
What made you say what you did
to Mrs. Rushmore yesterday after
noon?' she asked
about you?"
yes"
"She asked me, point-blank, what
l thought Of Logotheti," Van Torp an.
swered. Il told her that l couldn't
give her an unbiased opinion of the
man you meant to marry, because /
had always hoped to marry you my
self"
"Oh-was that the way it hap
pened?"
Mrs. Rushmore could hardly have
misunderstood me-" said Van Torp
gathering the reins of himself, so to
say for anything that might happen
NO But it sounds differently when
you say it yourself"
THAT was just what l said, any
how answered Van Torp. 81 didn't
think she'd go and tell you right away
but since she has, don't regret hav
ing said that much.''
1T was straightforward, at all
events-if it was all true!" There was
the faintest laugh in her tone as she
spoke the last words.
ITS true, right enough, though
didn't expect that l should be talkine
to you about this sort of thing to
night"
'The effect on Mrs. Rushmore was
extraordinary, positively Illuminating,
Margaret said more lightly. "Sh,
says | ought to break of my engage
ment at once, and marry you! Fancy
That's very kind of her, I'm sure,
observed Mr.. Van Torp.
81 don't think so. | like it less ant
less, the more think of it,"
well, I'm sorry, but I suppose it,
natural, since you've concluded t,
marry him, and it can't be helped.
wasn't going to say anything agains
. him. and I wouldn't say anything TO
: him, so there was nothing to do bu
to explain, which I did. I'm sorr
you think I did wrong, but I shoul
give the same answer again."
Mrs. RIshmore thinks that Konstar
.. tin is a designing foreigner becaus
he's a Greek man Of business, an
that you are perfection because yo
are an American business man."
IF I'm perfection, that's not tn
real reason" said Van Torp, snatch
3 ing at his first chance to steer out G
l the serious current; but Margaret di
not laugh.
: you are not perfection, nor eitf
err" she answered gravely. "You ar
i famous in your way, and people ca
!, i me celebrated in mine; but so far a
the rest is concerned we are just tw
ordinary human beings, and if we ar
going to be friends we must undeI
stand each other from the first, as ia
; as we can"
'Ill try to do my share" sAid Va
Torp, taking her tone.
Very well. I'll do raine I bega
by thinking you were amusing, whe
I first met you. Then you frightene
me last winter, and I hated you. Nc
only that, l loathed you-there's n
9 word strong enough for what l fel
: When l saw you in the audience, 20
almost paralyzed my voice"
= 81 didn't know it had been as ba
as that" said Mr.. Van Torp quietly.
. "Yes. 1t was worse than ca
o make you understand. And last sprini
;, when you were in so much trouble,
= believed every word that was sal
9 against you, even that you had mu
\ dered your partners daughter in col
= blood to get rid of her, though ths
:. looked as incredible to sensible pc
:, pie as it really was. 1t was only whe
| saw how Lady Maud believed in yo
that | began to waver, and then
:. understood"
I'm glad you did"
$50 am /. But she is such a goc
woman herself that nobody can
really bad in whom she believes. Al
- now I'm changed still more. | lii
u you, and I'm sure that we shall
'S friends, If you will make me OF
~ promise and keep it,"
;, What is it?"
u That you will give up all idea
ever marrying me. no matter VIII
W -