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

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CHAPTER x,.
7 Lady Maud found Mr.. Van Torn
waiting for her at the Bayreuth sta
ton.
You don't mean to say you've
come right through" he INQUIRED.
looking at her with admiration as he
erasped her hand. you're az fresh
as paiptl"
That's rather q dangerous thing to
say to . woman nowadAys," she an.
swered IN her ripping voice. "But
mime won't come OF. How IL Msrsa.
.retf'
Her tone changed as she asked tho
.queition.
"she showed me your letter about
Logo" answered her friend without
needing the question, and watching
her face to see>if che were surprised
She got into the carriage he had
Drought, and he stood by the door
waiting for the porter. who was get.
ting her luggage. She had no maid
with her.
I'm clad you have told me-" she
answered. though wish she had
not. You probably think that when
wrote that letter remembered what
you said to me in London about civ.
ing me money for my poor women"
NO" said Van Torp, thoughtfully,
I 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 1t wouldn't
have been like you to accept It. It
wasn't exactly low.down Of me to saw
what did, but It's SO precious ike
lov-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
1t lightly with her gloved fingers and
withdrew them instantly, for the Dor
ter was coming with her not verv
voluminous luggage.
Thank you." she said quickly, 81
understood, and understand now"
They drove slowly up the Bahnhof-
strasse, through the dull little town.
that looks 10 thoroughly conscious Of
Its ancient respectabilty as having
once been the "rssidenz" of duke Of
Wurtemburg, and Of its vast impor.
lance 40 the headquarters of Richard
Wagner's representatives on earth.
See here" said Mr.. Van Torn
i've almost persuaded them en- to
run down to Venice, and / want to
know why you won't come too?"
Venice" Lady Maud was surprised.
TITS as hot as Tophet now, and full of
mosquitoes. Why in the world do
you want to take them theref"
Well" answered the American,
taking plenty Of time over the mono
syllable. y didn't exactly mean to
stay there more than few minutes.
I've bought a pretty nice yacht since
saw you, and she's there, eating her
head of, and 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 don't suppose you and I
could go incoming around in the yacht
BY ourselves"
"And 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. Il didn't intend to put 1t
in that way. Anyhow. will you come
if they do? That's the point"
Really. it depends a 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. It sounds Polish"
He might be anything. Sometimes
I'm absolutely sure he's a man used
to know out west when was on the
ranch, and then again there's some
thing quite different about him. Some
thing about his legs or his eyes, I
can't tell which. ! don't quite make
him out,
They reached the hotel, and Van
lTorp went of 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 a tall woman, but less
uncomfortable than 1t looked.
Are you soing 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"
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