The Sauk Centre herald., 1909-10-21

Ing acted "mea1ly." Margaret did not
Ike the word, and threw up her head
- horse does when beginner holds
ON BY the curb.
"You need not make yourself out
worse than you are" she answered.
II want to start fair" said the mil
hoaaiPe, "and I'd rather your impress
sion should improve than get worse.
The only real trouble with Lucifer
was he started too high up"
This singular statement was made
with perfect gravity, and without the
slightest humorous intention, but Mar
garet laughed for the first time that
day, in spite of the storm that was
still raging in the near distance of her
thoughts.
why do you laugh?" asked Van
Torp. 'It's quite true. I don't want
to start too high up in your estima-
ton and then be turned down as unfit
for the position at the end of the
first week. Put me where belong
and I won't disappoint you. Say 1
was doing something that wasn't ex-
actly low-down, considering the OBJ
jeot, but that mightn't pass muster at
an honor parade, anyhow. And then
say that I've admitted the fact, If you
like, and that the better I know you
the less want to do anything mean.
It won't be hard for you to look at 1t
In that light, will it? And it'll give
me the position of starting from the
line. Is that right?"
"Yes," Margaret answered, smiling.
Slang right and English right You
ask for a fair field and no favor, and
you shall have it."
'Tll go straight" Van Torp an
swered.
IT suppose Lady Maud will come,
won't she? he asked suddenly, after
short silence.
II hope so," Margaret said. "If not,
she will meet me in Paris, for she Of
fers to do that in her letter"
I'm staying on in this place be-
cause you said you didn't mind" OBJ
served Van Torp. "Do you want me
to go away if she arrives?"
why should I? Why shouldn't you
stay?"
"Oh, I don't know. was only think
ing. Much obliged anyway, and I'll
certainly stay if you don't object. We
shall be quite party, shan't we?
What with us three, and Lady Maud
and Kralinsky there"
Mrs. Rushmore and Kralinsky had
stopped in their walk and were wait
Ing for them. They quickened their
pace.
Il thought perhaps this was far
enough" said Mrs. Rushmore. "Of
course I could go on further, and it's
not your usual walk, my dear, but un-
less you mind"
Margaret did not mind, and said so
readily; whereupon Mrs. Rushmore
deliberately took Van Torp for her
companion on the way back.
I'm sure you won't object to walk
ing slowly" she said to him, "and
Miss Dome and the count can go as
fast as they like, for they are both
good walkers. 1 am sure you must
be . great walker" she added, turning
to the Russian. ..s....- .. -.
He smiled blandly and bent his
head little. as if he were acknowl-
edging compliment Van Torp
looked at him quietly.
81 should have thought you were
more used to riding" said the Ameri-
can
"Ah, yes!" The Indifferent answer
came in peculiarly oily tone,
though the pronunciation was perfect
II was in the cavalry before l began
to travel. But l walked over 1000
miles in Central Asia, and was none
the worse for it,"
Margaret was sure that she was
not going to like him, as she moved
on with him by her side; and Van
Torp, walking with Mrs. Rushmore,
was quite certain that he was Levi
Longlegs, who had herded cattle
with him for six months very long
ago.