The searchlight., 1910-04-08

| forwarde0 -ffom Paris. The lettar va
nom Margaret to Asll him that she
also took back what she had though,
about Baraka and hoped to see him
and her before long. She said she
vas glad. On the whole. that he had
acted like lunatic. because Il va
likely that they would both be han.
prier. She herself. she said, Was 70.
Ing to be married to Mr.. Van Torn n
st. Georges. Hanover square. before
sailing for New York. where she vas
going to sing at the opera after
Christmas. II he should be in town
then she hoped he would come and
bring his wife.
The booklet was an announcement,
interleaved with fne etchings, to the
eject that ''The Nine. da Cordoya and
Rufus Van Torp Company" would
open their new opera house In Fifth
avenue less than two years hence
with a grand Wagner festival. to last
two months. and to include the per
formance of "Paraifal" with entirely
new scenery. and the greatest living
artists. whose names were given.
Mr.. Van Torp had told the diva
that he would like her to choose q
wedding present which she really
wanted. adding that he had q few
things for her already. He produced
some OF them, but some were on M.
per. Among the latter was q house in
New York. overlooking the park and
copied exactly from her own in Lon.
don. the English architect having been
sent to New York himself to build Il,
Two small items were two luxurious
private cars Of entirely different Pat.
terms, one for America and one for
Europe, which she was always to use
when she travelled. professionally or
otherwise. He said he did not give
her the Lancashire Lass because it
wasn't quite new"-having been about
ten months In the water-but. he had
his own reasons. one Of which, was
that the yacht represented . senti.
ment to him. and was what he, would
have called q "souviner." But II she
could think Of anything else she fan.
cied. now was the time"
She said that there was only one
thing she should really like, but that
she could not have 1t, because It was
not In the market. He asked what IL
was. and 1t turned out to be the ruby
which Logotheti had given her. and
had taken to Pinney's to be cut and
which had been the cause Of SO many
unexpected events, including her mar
rfage. Logotheti had It In his posses
sion. she supposed. but he had shown
good taste In not trying to press 1t on
her as a wedding present, for she
could not have accepted It. Neverthe.
less. she wanted 1t very much, more
as remembrance than for its beauty.
Mr.. Van Torp said he thought he
could fix that" and he did. He went
directly to Mr.. Pinney and asked
what had become Of the stone. Mr..
Pinney answered that II was now cut
and was in his safe for sale. The
good man had felt that It would not
be tactfll to offer 1t to Mr.. Van Torp.
Logotheti, who was q fine gentleman
In his way, had ordered It to be sold.
when a good opportunity offered. and
directed that the money should be
given to the poor Greeks In London.
under the supervision of Lady Maud
Leven. the Turkish ambassador and
the Greek minister. as a committee.
Mr.. Pinney. after consultation with the
best experts. valued It at $4,000
pounds. Mr.. Van Torp wrote !. check
for the money. put the stone into an
inner pocket, and took II to the diva.
WELL" he said. smiling, '.here's
your ruby, anyway. Anything else to-
day."
Margaret looked at him wondering.
ly, and then opened the small moroc-
CO case.
"Oh-oh-oh!" she cried. in rising
intimations Of delight. Il never saw
anything SO beautiful In my life! It's
ever SO much more glorious than 4 uen
last saw it,"
It's been cut since then" observed
Mr.. Van Torp.
1T ought to have name of its own,
I'm sure it's more beautiful than many
OF the named crown jewels." She felt
half hypnotized as she gazed into the
glorious depths of the great stone. |
Thank you." she cried. "thank you 90 |
very much. I'm gladder to have II
than all the other things"
And thereupon she threw her mas.
niicent arms around Rufus Van Torp's
solid neck and kissed his cool dat
cheek several times; and It seemed
quite natural to her to do so: and she
wished to forget how she had once
Kissed one other man. who had Kissed
her. .sz..s-==
1t wants q name. doesn't IT." -
sented Mr.. Van rorp.
Yes. You must nnd one for L..
Well" he said. after what's han
pened. l suppose we'd better cali Il
The Diva's RUBY.
THE END.
Sugar feesa Old Raas.