Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-03-30

haps you will kindly touch the bell,
my dear, and will send the tea away.
1t can be brought fresh for her when
she comes. Thank you, Margaret.
But she will not come in till it is just
time to dress for dinner. Mark my
words, my child, the countess will be
late for dinner. All English people
are. Have you heard from Mons. Lo-
gotheti today"
mot to-day" Margaret answered,
depressing a little start, for she was
as near to being nervous as she ever
was, and she was thinking of him just
then, and the question had come sud
denly.
81 think it is time you heard from
him." said Mrs. Rushmore, her natur-
al severity asserting itself. II should
think that after those very strange
stories in the papers he would write
to you and explain, or come himself.
By the by, perhaps you will kindly
pass me the Herald, my dear. What
did you once tell me was the name Of
his yacht?"
1.-The Erinna," Margaret answered,
handing Mrs. Rushmore the sheet.
Exactly! 1 think that means the
Fury"
He told me IL was the name of a
Greek poetess," Margaret observed
''On account of her temper, 1 sup
pose," answered the good lady abb
sently, for she was looking up and
down the columns in search of some
thing she had already seen. Here
It Isl" she said. TT is under the
yachting news. Cape F1nisterre.
Passed at p. m, going south. steam
yacht Erinna, with owner and party
on board. All we'll My dear child, 1t
| is quite clear that IL this is Mons. Lo-
gotheti's yacht, he is going to Glib
raltar."
81 don't know anything about geog-
raphy," Margaret said, and her wrath.
which had been smouldering sullenly
for days, began to glow again.
Margaret" said Mrs. Rushmore,
you surprise me! You were Very
well taught"
But the prima donna did not hear
the long TRADE of mild reproof that
! followed. She knew well enough
where Gibraltar was, and that Logo
theft was going all the way round to
the Mediterranean on his yacht with
some one for company, and that the
voyage was a long one. After what
/ Lady Maud had said, there was not
the least doubt in her mind as to his
companion, who could be no one but
Baraka. He had been told that he
was not wanted at Bayreuth, and he
was celebrating the sunset of his
bachelor life in his own way. That
was clear. If he received the tele-
/ gram that had just been sent to him,
he would get it at Gibraltar, should
he stop there, and as for answering It
before Margaret left Bayreuth, she
was inclined to make such a thing i'm
possible by going away the next morn.
| Ing. IL not that very night.
Her angry reflections and Mrs
! Rushmore's lecture on the Importance
OF geography in education were inter
rupted by the discreet entrance of Mr..
Van Torp, who was announced and
ushered to the door by Justine in a
grand French manner. On the TIRES
hold, however, he stood still and asked
If he might come in; being pressed to
do so, he yielded, advanced, and sat
down between the two ladies.
MIR. Van Torp," said Mrs. Rush
more, 81 insist upon knowing what
has become of Countess Leven."
81 don't know Mrs. Rushmore,'' an
swered the millionaire, slowly rubbing
| his hands. Il haven't spoken to her
| since 1 brought her from the station.
1 dare say she's all right She's prob
/ ably gone to take a walk. She often
does in the country. I know-her IA
theirs country seat is next to mine.
| Mrs. Rushmore. I hope you'll pay
me a visit some day. Why, yes, Lady
Maud sometimes goes off alone and
walks miles and miles"
There, Margaret" said Mrs. Rush
more triumphantly, what did 1 tell
you? Mr.. Van Torp says the countess
! often walks for miles and miles"
why, certainly" said Mr.. Van
| Torp, though I'm bound to say she's
1 Just as fond Of horseback. Her friends
generally call her Lady Maud. Mrs.
! Rushmore. Perhaps you won't mind
my telling you, as she prefers 1t a
! good deal herself. You see, I've had
years. so I daresay you'll forgive me
! for mentioning It."
II think it is quite kind of you, on
the contrary" answered Mrs. Rush
more. Margaret, why did you never
tell me of this? Had you any reason
for not telling me?"
81 don't think I noticed what you
called her." Margaret answered pa
tiently.
Because II you had any reason"
said Mrs. Rushmore, following her
own thoughts, Il insist upon knowing
what ii was"
We'll, now, I'll tell you" rejoined
Mr.. Van Torp, to save Margaret the
trouble of answering the futile little
/ speech, "her husband didn't treat her
very well. There's not a purer wom-
an in the six continents, Mrs. Rush
more, but he tfied to divorce her, be-
cause he'd lost his money, II he ever
had any, and she had none, and he
wanted to marry an heiress. How
| ever thew automObliZed him or soma