The Tupelo journal., 1910-02-25

Ss 0NooA do -
understood"
I'm glad you did,"
$50 am l. But she is such a good
woman herself that nobody can be
really bad in whom she believes. And
now I'm changed still more. like
you, and I'm sure that we shall be
friends, If you will make me one
promise and keep it."
What is it?'
THAT you will give up all idea of
ever marrying me, no matter what
happens, even if broke"
IT'S no use to go on" interrupted
Van Torp, for | can't promise any
thing like that. Maybe you don't
realize what you're asking, but it's
the impossible. That's all"
"Oh, n~onsense!" Margaret tried to
laugh lightly, but it was a failure.
NO, it's very far from nonsense"
he replied, almost sternly. Since
you've spoken first, I'm going to tell
you several things. One is. that ! &C
cepted the syndicate's offer for the
Nickel Trust so as to be free to take
any chance that might turn up. 1t
had been open some time, but l ac-
cepted it on the day I heard of your
engagement. That's a big thing. An
other is, that l played a regular trick
on Logotheti so as to come and see
you here. / deliberately asked him
to dine with me last night in London.
1 went right home, wrote a note to
| him ontndotnd fOr uncfnrdou after.
noon, to put him off, and l left it to
be sent at the right hour. Then l drove
to the station, and here ] am. You
may call that pretty sharp practice,
but l believe all's fair in love and war,
and l want you to understand that I
think so. There's n thing more. I
won't give up the hope of making you
marry me while you're alive and | am,
not if you're an old woman, and I'll
| put up all 1 have in the game, includ-
ing my own life and other peoples,
if it comes to that. Amen"
Margaret bent her head a little and
was silent.
Now you know why l won't prom
Use what you asked" said Van Torp
IN conclusion.
you have no right to speak like
that" she said rather weakly, after a
moment.
Perhaps not. l don't know. But
I consider that o have a right to
know the truth, and that's enough for
me. It's not as if I'd made up my
mind to steal your ewe-lamb from you
and put myself in it's place. Logo
theft is not any sort of a ewe-lamb.
He's a man, he's got plenty of strength
and determination, he's got plenty of
money-even what l choose to call
right. So do l.. He says he'll marry
you. l say that will. All right again.
You're the prize put up for the best
of two fighting men. You're not the
first woman in history who's been
fought for, but, by all that's holy,
there never was one better worth, not
Helen of Troy h~erself!"
The last few words came with a
sort of stormy rush, and he turned
round suddenly, and stood with his
back against the gate, thrusting his
hands deep into his coat-pockets, per-
haps with the idea of keeping them
quiet; but he did not come any near
er to her, and she felt she was per-
fectly safe, and that a much deeper
and more lasting power had hold of
him than any mere passionate longing
to take her in his arms and press his
iron lips on hers against her will.
Margaret al not angry; she was
hardly ~displeased, but she was really
at a loss what to say, and she said
the first sensible thing that suggested
itself and that was approximately
true.
I'm sorry you have told me all
this. We might have spent these next
two days very pleasantly together.
/ Oh, I'm not pretending what / don't
feel! It's impossible for a woman
like me, who can still be free, not to
be f1attered when such a man as you
cares for her in earnest, and says
the things you have. But, on the 9th
er hand, I'm engaged to be married to
another man, and it would not be
loyal of me to let you make love to
me-"
Il don't mean to-" said Van Torp
stoutly. 1T won't be necessary. If |
never spoke again you wouldn't for
get what I've told you-ever! Why
should l say it again? / don't want
to, until you can say as much to me.
If it's time to GO, hitch the lead to my
collar and take me home! I'll follow
you as quietly as a spaniel any
where!"
"And what would happen if / told
you not to follow me, but to go home
and lie down in our kennel?" She
laughed low as she moved away from
the gate.
I'm not sure answered Van Torp.
Don't"
The last word was not spoken at
all with an accent of warning, but 1t
was not said in a begging one either.
Margaret's short laugh followed in
stantly.
"You said just 10Y that you would
not say over again any of those
things you have told me tonight. Do
you mean that?"
Yes, | lee it.
"Then please promise that you
won't. That's all / ask if you are go
ing to spend the next two days here,
and if / am to let you e ne"
Il promise Van Torp answered,
without hesitation.
She allowed herself the illusion that