The state herald., 1909-11-19

ohS VA ehV huttclb yOu SubbtStOu.
"Oh. of course! Nothing could bo
easier than to tell me an untruth!"
| This certainly looked like the fem.
mime retort-triumphnnt, and Margaret
delivered 1t In cutting tone
THAT is precisely what you seem to
imply that ] did" Logotheti objected.
But II what l told you was untrue
your argument goes to PIECES. There
was no Tartar lesson. there was no
Tartar teacher. and 1t was all fabri-
cation of my own!"
Just what / think" returned Mar.
garet. 1T was not Tartar you spoke,
and there was no teacher!"
You have me there" answered the
Greek mildly, unless you would like
me to produce my young friend and
talk to him before you In the presence
OF witnesses who know his language"
81 wish you would! would like to
see HIM! should like to see the
color Of his eyes and hair!"
BLACK as ink" said Logotheti
And you'll tell me that his COM
plexion is black. too, no doubt"
Not at all; a sort OF creamy COM
pleXion, think, though ! did not pay
much attention to his skin. He is a
smallish chap, good.looklng. with
hands and feet like woman's. I
noticed that. AS told you, a doubt
occurred to me at once, and will not
positively swear that 1t is not a girl
after all. He, or she. is really Tar
tar from central Asia, and | know
enough of the language to say what
was necessary"
necessary"
Yes. He-or she-came on n mat
ter of business. What said about a
teacher was mere nonsense. Now you
know the whole thing"
Excepting what the business was"
Margaret said incredulously.
The business was an uncut stone"
answered Logotheti with Indifference.
lie had one TO sell, and | bought 1t.
lie was recommended to me by man
In Constantinople. lie came to Mar
seilles on a French steamer with two
Greek merchants who were coming to
Paris. and they brought him to my
door. That Is the whole story. And
mere is the ruby. | bought It for you.
because you like those things WIN
you take IT."
lie held out what looked like n little
ball of white tissue paper. but Marga-
ret turned her face from him.
You treat me like n child" she
said.
To her own great surprise and indig.
nation. her voice was unsteady and
she felt something burning In her
eyes. She was almost frightened at
the thought that she might be going
to cry. out of sheer modification.
Logothctl said nothing for n mo.
ment He began TO unroll the paper
from the precious stone. but changed
MS mind. wrapped II up again. and
put II back into his watch. pocket be-
fore he spoke.
81 did not mean It as you think" ho
said softly
She turned her eyes without moving
her head. TIL she could Just see that
he was leaning forward. resting his
wrists on his knees. bending his head
and apparently looking down at his
loosely hanging hands His attitude
expressed detection md disappolnt.
ment. She was glad OF II. lie had no
right TO think that he could make her
as angry as she stlll was. angry even
to tears. and then bribe her to smile
again when he waa tired of teasing
her' Her eyes turned away again, and
she did not answer him.
81 make mistakes sometimes" hs
said. speaking still lower. II know 1
do. When ! am with you cannot be
always thinking OF what I say. lt's
too much to ask. when a man is ms far
gone MS am"
u should like 10 believe that" Mnr.
garet said, without looking at him.
''ls II hard to believer" he asked 40
gently that she only Just heard tho
words
You don't make II easy. you know"
said sho with n little defiance. for sho
felt that she was going to yield before
long.
y don't know how to You're not
In the least cnprlcious-nnd yet"
| You're mistaken" Margaret nm.
swcrod. turning 10 him suddenly. I'm
the most capricious woman In tho
world Yesterday wrote long lot.
ter to n friend. snd then I suddenly
tore II up-therc were ever 40 many
pngoa' dnresay that n had writ.
ten lust the same letter this morning
! should have sent II. n that is not
caprice. what Ia ~"
| 1T may have been wisdom 10 tear
!, up" Logothotl suggested.
CTo nE CoNTiNuEDD