The Sauk Centre herald., 1909-11-11
CHAPTER XII.

Lady Maud found Mr.. Van Torp
waiting for her at the Bayreuth sta.
tion.
You don't mean to say you've
come right through" he inquired,
looking at her with admiration as he
grasped her hand. You're as fresh
as paint"
That's rather dangerous thing to
say to woman nowadays" she an
swered in her ripping voice. But
mine won't come off. How is Marga-
ret?"
Her tone changed as she asked the
question.
"She showed me your letter about
Logo" answered her friend without
needing the question, and watching
her face to see if she were surprised.
She got into the carriage he had
brought, and he stood by the door
waiting for the porter, who was get
ting her luggage. She had no maid
with her.
Pm glad you have told me-" she
answered, though I wish she had
hSI. 1ou ludL Wu0Q i
wrote that letter remembered what
you said to me in London about CIV
ing me money for my poor women"
mo-" said Van Torp thoughtfully,
II don't believe do think so. It was
like me to make the offer, Maud. It
was like the sort of man I've been,
and you've known me. But it wouldn't
. have been like you to accept it. It
wasn't exactly low-down of me to say
what I did, but it's so precious like
low-down that wouldn't say it again,
and suppose I'm sorry. That's ALL"
His rough hand was on the side of
the little open carriage. She touched
It lightly with her gloved fingers and
withdrew them instantly, for the por-
ter was coming with her not very
voluminous luggage.
Thank you," she said quickly. 81
understood, and I understand now"
They drove slowly up the Bahnhof-
strasse, through the dull little town,
that looks SO thoroughly conscious of
its ancient responsibility as having
once been the "residenz" of q duke Of
Wurtemburg, and of its vast impor-
tance as the headquarters of Richard
Wagner's representatives on earth.
"See here" said Mr.. Van Torp.
"I've almost persuaded them all to
run down to Venice, and I want to
know why you won't come too?"
"Venice?" Lady Maud was surprised.
''1t s as hot as Tophet now, and full OF
mosquitoes. Why in the world do
you want to take them there?"
WELL" answered the American,
taking plenty Of time over the mono
syllable, Il didn't exactly mean to
stay there more than few minutes.
I've bought pretty nice yacht since
I saw you, and she's there, eating her
head off, and l thought you might all
come along with me on her and go
home that way, or somewhere, and
what want you to decide right away
is whether you'll come, provided they
will-for 1 don't suppose you and I
could go incoming around in the yacht
by ourselves"
"And 1 don't suppose" returned
Lady. Maud, mimicking him ever so
little, that If they decide not to
come, you will have time for long
cruise"
Now that's not fair" objected the
American. 81 didn't intend to put 1t
in that way. Anyhow, will you come
If they do? That's the point"
Really, 1t depends little on who
they are. Do you mean only Marga-
ret and that nice old friend of her
Mrs. Patmore, isn't she? I never met
her"
"Rushmore," said Van Torp, correct
ing her. Then there's the Russian
Count Kralinsky. Ever hear that
name?"
Never. 1t sounds Polish"
HE might be anything. Sometimes
I'm absolutely sure he's a man I used
to know out west when I was on the
ranch, and then again there's some
thing quite different about him. Some
thing about his legs or his eyes,
can't tell which. I don't quite make
him out"
They reached the hotel, and Van
Torp went off promptly, leaving Mar
garet to take Lady Maud upstairs
and introduce her to Mrs. Rushmore.
An hour later the two young wom-
en- were together in Margaret's room,
while Potts was unpacking for Lady
Maud in the one that had been Sc
. cured for her in spite of all sorts of
difficulties.
The prima donna was sitting at her
toilet table, turned away from the
glass, and Lady Maud occupied the
only possible chair there was, small,
low easy chair, apparently much too
small for such tall woman, but less
uncomfortable than it looked.
"Are you going on Mr.. Van Torp's
yacht?" asked Lady Maud suddenly.
HE spoke~to me about it on the way
from the station, and asked me to
come, in case you accept"
II don't know. Will you go If l do?
That might make q difference"
Lady Maud did not answer at once.
She wished that she knew how mat
ters had gone between Margaret and
Van Torp during the last few days.