The Hattiesburg news., 1909-10-12

Margaret Bent Her Head Little, and
Was silent.
thing like that. Maybe you don't
realize what you're asking. but it's
the impossible. That's all"
"Oh, nonsense!" Margaret tried to
laugh lightly, but it was failure.
mo, it's very far from nonsense"
he replied, almost sternly. Since
you've spoken first, I'm going to tell
you several things. One is, that l &C.
cepted the syndicate's offer for the
Nickel Trust so as to be free to take
any chance that might turn up. It
had been open some time, but | &C.
cepted it on the day I heard of your
engagement. That's big thing. An
other is, that l played regular trick
on Logotheti so as to come and see
you here. deliberately asked him
to dine with me last night in London.
I went right home, wrote a note to
him, antedated for yesterday after
noon, to put him of, and l left it to
be sent at the right hour Then drove
to the station, and here I am. You
may call that pretty sharp practice.
but believe all's fair in love and war.
and I want you to understand that I
think so. There's one thing more
won't give up the hope of making you
marry me while you're alive and I am,
not if you're an old woman. and I'll
put up all have in the game, includ-
ing my own life and other peoples,
IL it comes to that. Amen"
Margaret bent her head a little and
was silent.
Now you know why won't prom
Use what you asked" said Van Torp
in conclusion.
"You have no right to speak like
that" she said rather weakly, after .
moment
Perhaps not. don't know. But
l consider that you have a right to
know the truth, and that's enough for
me. It's not as if I'd made up my
mind to steal your ewe-lamb from you
and put myself in it's place. Logo
theti is not any sort of ewe-lamb
He's man, he's got plenty of strength
and determination, he's got plenty oi
money-even what l choose to cal
; plenty He says he cares for you. All
right. So do I. He says he'll marry
l you. I say that will. All right again
You're the prize put up for the best
: of two fighting men. You're not the
first woman in history who's beer
fought for, but, by all that's holy
there never was one better worth, moi
Helen of Troy herself"
The last few words came with s
, sort of stormy rush, and he turned
round suddenly, and stood with hi.
3 back against the gate, thrusting hi.
} hands deep into his coat-pockets, per
2 haps with the idea of keeping then
: quiet; but he did not come any near
r er to her, and she felt she was per
fectly safe, and that much deepe,
I and more lasting power had hold O
him than any mere passionate longint
, to take her in his arms and press hi,
1 iron lips on hers against her will.
| Margaret was not angry; she wa.
t hardly displeased, but she was reall,
D at loss what to say, and she sait
. the first sensible thing that suggested
i itself and that was approximately
true.
j I'm sorry you have told me al
this. We might have spent these mex
q two days very pleasantly together
!, Oh. I'm not pretending what l don
l feel! It's impossible for woma,
d like me, who can still be free, not t,
: be flattered when such a man as yo,
d cares for her In earnest, and say,
t | the things you have, But, on the 9th
, | er hand, I'm engaged to be married t,
q another man, and it would not b,
u loyal of me to let you make love t,
I me-"
Il don't mean to- said Van Tor,
stoutly. "It won't be necessary If
d never spoke again you wouldn't for
e get what I've told you-ever, VIII,
d should l say it again? ! don't wan
e to, until you can say as much to me
g If it's time to go, hitch the lead to m,
9 collar and take me home. I'll follow
you as quietly as spaniel any
# where."
- And what would happen If l tolt
= you not to follow me, but 10 go nome
and lie down in your kennel?" Sh'
E laughed low as she moved away from
:, the gate.
I'm not sure answered Van Torp
'' Don't"
10 The last word was not spoken a
'c all with an accent of warning, but
was not said in a begging tone either
Margaret's short laugh followed In
stantly.
-, You said just now that you woul
not say over again any or thos
no things you have told me tonight. ID
you mean that?"
'" Yes, l mean it."
Then please promise that yo
won't. That's all | ask if you are gs
ing to spend the next two days her'