Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-11-11

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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 per
fectly safe, and that much deeper
and more lasting power had hold Of
him 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 a 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 1 don't
feel! It's impossible for y woman
like me. who can still be free. not to
be fattered when such a man as you
cares for her in earnest, and says
the things you have. But, ON the 9th.
er hand, I'm engaged to be married to
another man, and It would not be
loyal Of me to let you make love to
me-" /:
II don't mean to-" said Van Torp
stoutly. 1T won't be necessary. If
never spoke again you wouldn't for.s
get what I've told you-ever! Why
should say il again: I aon': ~.s.'
to, until you can say 40 much to me.
If It's time to go, hitch the lead to nv,
collar and take me home! I'll follow
you az quietly as spaniel any
where!"
"And what would happen II told
you not to follow me, but to go homo
and lie down In your kenneth" She
Elaughed low % she moved away from
the gate.
I'm not sure" answered Van Torp.
|'Don't."
The last word was not spoken at
all with an accent Of warning. but It
was not said in begging tone either.
Margaret's short laugh followed in
stantly.
"You said Just now that you would
not say over again any Of those
things you have told me tonight. Do
you mean that?"
Eyes. mean it."
"Then please promise that you
won't. That's all ask II you are go,
ing to spend the next two days here,
and II / am to let you see me-"
II PROMISE Van Torp answered.
without hesitation. ~ y - no.
She allowed herself the illusion that
she had both done the right thing
and also taken the position Of com.
mand; and he. standing beside her,
allowed himself to smile at the fulfill
ty Of what she was requiring Of him
with so much earnestness, foc little
e he knew of women's ways he was
more than sure that the words he
had spoken that night would come
back to her again and again; and more
than that he could not hope at pres
ent. But she could not see his face
clearly.
THANK you" she said. "That shall
be our compact"
To his surprise, she held out her
hand. He took it with wonderful calm
ness, considering what the touch
meant to him, and he returned dis
creetly what was meant for a friendly
pressure. She was so we'll satisfied
now that she did not think it neces.
sary to telegraph to Logotheti that
he might start at once. though even
lif she had done so Immediately he
could hardly have reached Bayreuth
till the afternoon of the next day but
ione, when the last performance Of
'Parsifal" would be already going on;
and she herself intended to leave on
the morning after that.
She walked forward in silence fol
d few moments, and the lights of the
town grew quickly brighter.
you will come in and have some
supper with us. of course" she said
presently.
why, certainly, since you are 90
kind" answered Van Torp.
II feel responsible for your having
forgotten to dine," she laughed. 81
must make 1t up to you. By this time
MRS. Rushmore il probably wondering
where am"
WELL" said the American, III she
thinks I'm perfection, she knows that
you're safe with me, I suppose, even
~ you do come home little late"
Il shall say that We walked home
very slowly, in order to breathe the
air"
Eyes. We've walked home yer,
slowly
II mean," said Margaret quickly
that I shall not say we have beer
out towards the fields, as far as The
gate"
Il don't see any harm If we have,
observed Mr.. Van Torp indifferently
Harm? No! Don't you under
stand? Mrs. Rushmore is quite cap
able Of thinking that have alread,
how shall say?"-she stopped.
Taken note of her good advice, ,
he said, completing the sentence 70,
her.
"Exactly! Whereas nothing could
In further from NV irtarA,