Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-11-06

NRoOts
"E sharp" screamed the wretched
pianist.
Van Torp could hear him dancing
with rage or pain.
See here, whoever you are, don't
call names! l don't like It. See. I've
paid for this room una I'm going on
whistling II like. and just as long as
I like"
"You say you make noises you
like?" cried the infur,ated musician.
"Oh, no! You shall not! There are
rules! We are not In London, sir,
we are in Bayreuth! If you make
noises, you shall be thrown out Of the
house."
Shall I? Well, now. that's funny
sort of rule for hotel, isn't it?"
Il go complain Of you," retorted the
other. and Mr.. Van Torp heard door
opened and shut again.
In a few minutes he had done all
that the conditions would permit in
the way of making himself present
able, and just as he left the room he
was met by Stemp, the rs minutes be.
ing just over.
very good, sir I'll do what can,
sir" said the excellent man, as Mr..
Van Torp pointed to the things that
lay about.
AS he went out, he recognized the
voice of his neighbor, who was talk
ing excitedly in voluble German, some.
where at the back of the house.
Hes complaining now" thought
Mr.. Van Torp, with something like a
smile.
He had already been to the best
hotel, in the hope of obtaining rooms.
and he had no difficulty in finding it
again. He asked for Nine. da Cor
dova. She was at home, for it was an
off-day; he sent in his card, and was
presently led to her sitting room.
Times had changed. Six months
earlier he would have been told that
there had been q mistake and that she
had gone out.
She was alone; a letter she had
been writing lay unfinished on the
queer little desk near the shaded
window, and her pen had fallen across
the paper. On the round table in the
middle of the small bare room there
stood a plain white vase full of corn
flowers and peoples. and Margaret
was standing there, rearranging them,
or pretending to do SO.
She was looking her very best, ana
az she raised her eyes and greeted
him with friendly smile, Mr.. Van
Torp thought she had never been so
handsome before.
Margaret held out her hand and he
took it; and though its touch and her
friendly smile were like taste of
heaven just then, he pressed her. fin.
gers neither too much nor too little.
and his face betrayed no emotion.
ITS very kind Of you to receive
me, Miss Donne," he said quietly.
II think it's very kind Of you to
come and see me-" Margaret an.
swered. Come and sit down and tell
me how you got here-and why!"
WELL" he answered slowly, 40 they
seated Themselves side by side on the
hard green sofa. II don't suppose
can explain, so that you'll understand,
but I'll try. Different kinds Of things
brought me. heard you were here
from Lady Maud. and l thought per
haps I might have an opportunity 70,
little talk. And then-oh, don,
know. I've seen everything worth
seeing except battle and 'Parsifal,
and as it seemed so easy, and you
were here, thought I'd have a look
at the opera. since I can't see the
fight"
Margaret laughed little.
II hope you will like It," she said.
Have you good seat?''
Il haven't got ticket yet" an.
swered Mr.. Van Torp, in blissful liz.
norance.
mo seat" The prima donna's sur
prise was almost dramatic. "But how
in the world do you expect to get one
now? Don't you know that the seats
for 'Parsifap are all taken months be.
forehand?"
care they really?" He was very
calm about it. Then suppose ]
shall have to get ticket from a spec.
ulator. I don't see anything hard
about that"
MY dear friend, there are no spec.
ulators here, and there are no tickets
to be had. You might as we'll ask for
the moon!"
Il can stand, then. I'm not afraid
of getting tired.,'
There are no standing places at
all! No one is allowed to go in who
has not seat. A week ago you might
possibly have picked up one in Nun.
ich, given up by some one at the last
moment, but such chances are Jumped
at! I wonder that you even got a
place to sleep!"
We'll, it's not much Of a place."
said Mr.. Van Torp, thoughtfully.
There's one room the size of horse
box, one bed. one basin, one pitcher
and one towel, and I've brought my
valet with me. I've concluded to let
him sleep while I'm at the opera. and
he'll sit up when want to go to bed.
Box and Cox. 1 don't know what he'll
sit on, for there's no chair, but he's
got to sit"
Margaret laughed, for he amused
her.
II suppose you're exaggerating little
bit" she said. TITS not really quite
80 bad as that. is IT."
TITS worse. There's a lunatic in the
next room who calls me e. Sharp
through the door, and has lodged a
complaint already because I whistlsa
while was shaving. It's not Z very
good hotel. Who IL q. Shsrp. any.