Mexico Missouri message., 1910-05-12

day" music which she could never
sing to the world, but sweet old me-
lodious songs she had learned when
girl; Shubert's "Serenade" and ave
Maria" and Tostrs Malta" and then
Beethoven's "Adelaide;" and Van
Torp was silent and perfectly happy,
as we'll he might be.
When she bid Van Torp goodnight
she pressed his hand frankly, as she
had never done before, but he took
no sudden advantage of what he felt
in her touch, and he returned the
pressure so discreetly that she was
almost disappointed, though not quite,
for there was just little something
more than usual there.
She did not disturb Lady Maud,
either, when she went to her cabin,
though if she had known that her
beautiful neighbor was wide awake
and restless, she would at least have
said goodnight and asked her if she
was still so very tired.
But Lady Maud slept, too, at last,
though not very long, and was the
only one who appeared at breakfast
to keep Van Torp company, for Mar
garet slept the sleep of a singer,
which is deep and long as that of the
healthy dormouse, and Mrs. Rush
more had her first tea and toast hap
PLY in her cheerful surroundings of
pink and gliding. As for Kralinsky,
his man informed Stemp and the chief
steward that the count never thought
of getting up till between nine and
ten o'clock, when he took a cup of
chocolate and a slice or two of sponge
cake in his own room before dressing.
So Lady Maud and Van Torp had the
yacht to themselves for some time
that morning.
Il fancy from what you said last
night that your plan is to catch Lo-
said Lady Maud, when they were
alone.
Il supposed you'd understand" an
swered Van Torp. do you see any
harm in that? 1t occurred to me that
it might be quite a drastic form OF
demonstration. How does it strike
you? At all low-down?"
mo, frankly mott" Lady Maud was
| still incensed at Logotheti's conduct,
"a man who does such things de-
serves anything that his rival can do
to him. l hope you may overhaul the
yacht, run alongside of her and show
| Margaret the two, making love tc
each other in Tartar on deck! That's
the least that ought to happen to
| him!"
Thank you. l like to hear you talk
like that. Capt. Brown will do his
level best, l think. And now, tell me,
he lowered his voice a little more
lis that man Leven. or not?"
81 am sure he is" Lady Maud an
swered, "and yet feel as if there ought
to be little doubt still. l don't know
how to express it, for it's rather an
odd sensation"
Il should think It might be! Is
there anything 1 can say or do? III
ask the man any question you sug
gest. I'm certain he's not old Levi
Longlegs, and if he's net Leven, who
on earth is he? That's what I should
like to know"
Il shall find OUT, never fea"'
know l shall, because : must, II | am
| ever to have any peace again. I'm not
very nervous person, you hhow, am
|? But it's more than can bear long
to sit opposite a man at table, again
and again, as I shall have to, and not
be sure whether he's my husband
come back from the dead, or some
one else!" She paused, and her nos
trils dilated a little, but Van Tori
only nodded slowly and sympathetic
ally. 81 mean to know before l go tc
bed tonight" she said, with a little
desperation in her voice. II shall tall
to him till am sure of one thing oil
the other. At table, cannot tell, but
II We are alone together know I car
settle the question. If you see thai
we are talking at the other end o.
the deck, try to keep Mrs. RushmorC
and Margaret from coming near us
Win you?"
To Mrs. Rushmore's amazemen
and Margaret's surprise, Lady Maud
made a dead set at Kralinsky all thai
day, an attention which he seemed
to appreciate as it deserved. Before
breakfast was over, Van Torp had re
peated to her what Kralinsky hat
said about having formerly been in
innate with Leven, and Lady MauC
took this statement as basis of op
erations for finding out just how much
he knew of her own life; she judged
that If he were not Leven himself, hi
must soon betray the fact by his igno
rance.
That was the strangest day she hat
ever passed. She found 1t very easy
to talk to Kralinsky, as it always Il
when there has been long familiarity
even If it has been only the familiar
intercourse of domestic discord. II,
knew many details of her life in Lon
don. That was clear after half al