Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-11-20

Iue way, TOT the thing hOoted again
almost at once. and then several
times in quick succession, as IL a 81
gantic brazen ass were beginning tc
bray just under the window. The
noises ended In sort of wild, tri
umphant howl, with a furious putting
and the motor took itself of, Just as
Margaret finished.
She looked up and saw Lady Maud
half bent. as If she had been struck:
she was clinging with one hand to the
fiimsy chintz curtain, and her faoe
was as white as a sheet. Margaret
started in surprise, and rose to he,
feet 80 suddenly that she upset the
chair again.
What has happened?" she cried
Are you i'll. dear?"
The delicate color came slowly back
to the smooth cheeks, the thorough,
bred figure in black drew itself uu
with elastic dignity, and the hand let
go Of the curtain.
Il felt little faint" Lady Maud an
swered. did I brighten you? It was
nothing, and it's quite gone. I assure
you"
You looked dreadfully i'll for mo
ment," Margaret said in a tone oil
concern. Won't you let me send fol
something? Tea? . Or something
iced? I'm sure you have had nothins
to eat or drink for hours! How dis
gracefully thoughtless Of met"
She was Just going to ring, but he,
friend stopped her.
"No-please!" she cried. I'm all
right, indeed am. The room is a lit
tie warm. I think. and I've been shut
UP In that stuffy train for 80 hours
Have you written your telegram? I'll
put on my hat at once, and take it fol
you. The little walk will do me good
Where is the telegraph? But they can
tell me downstairs. Don't bother!
Walking always brings me round, No
matter what has happened"
She spoke nervously, in disjointed
phrases. in way not like herself, for
there was generally an air of easy
calm in all she did. as II nothins
really mattered in the least, save
when she was deeply interested: and
hardly anything interested her now
except what she had made her work,
In all that belonged to that, she was
energetic, direct and quick.
Margaret was sure that something
was wrong, but let her go, since she
insisted, and Lady Maud folded the
written message and went to the door.
Just as she was going to turn the
handle Margaret spoke to her.
IF I have no answer to that by
tomorrow afternoon 1 shall accept
Mr.. Van Torp's invitation"
II hope you will CO." Lady Maud
said with sudden decision. for if you
DO, I can go with you, and I'm dying
to see the new yacht"
Margaret looked at her In surprise.
for 1t was only little while since she
had seemed much less ready to Join
the party, and only willing to do SO, il
at all. in order to please her friend.
She saw Margaret's expression.
YES" she said, as If in explanation,
I've been thinking it over in the last
few minutes, and I want very much
to go with you all. I shall be back in
less than an hour
"An hour?"
"Say half an hour. I want a good
walk"
Straight and tall in her mourning.
Lady Maud went down the stairs of
the hotel. AS she was going out the
hall porter raised his cap, and she
stopped a moment and asked him
which was the nearest way to the
telegraph Office. He stood on the
doorstep and pointed in the direction
she was to follow as he answered her
question.
Can you tell me-" she asked,
whose motor car it was that passed
about ten minutes ago, and made SO
much noise?"
Count Kralinsky's, my lady," the
porter answered.; for he spoke good
English, and had the true hotel por-
ter's respect for the British aristoc-
racy abroad.
"Hc was the gentleman with the
big fair beard, l suppose? Yes, thank
you"
She went out into the dull street,
with It's monotonous houses, all two
stories high, and she soon found the
telegraph Office and sent Margaret's
duplicate message. She had not
glanced at it, but the clerk asked her
Sent Marsaret's Duplicate Message.
questions about words that were not
quite clearly written, and she was
obliged to read it through. It occurred
to her that 1t was couched in extreme
ly peremptory terms, even for ar Of
Tended bride-elect; but that was none
Of her business.
She resumed her walk, not knowing
and not caring, always at the
same even pace, and hardly noticing
the people who passed her. of whom a
good many were in two-horse cabs,
some in queer little German motors,
and few on foot; and she thought,
and wondered, and tried to under
stand. but could not. At all events,
she was glad to be alone; she was
glad not to have even Van Torp with
her, and she was quite Indifferent to
the fact that time was passing, and
that Margaret was beginning to won.
der where in the world she was.
NY dear child" Mrs. Rushmore
- Is an ordeal which all women
approach with dread for