Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1910-02-03

one Of the matters you suggested"
"Oh, Of course! Nothing could be
easier than to tell me an untruthl"
This certainly looked like the fem
mime retort-triumphant, and Margaret
delivered it in cutting tone.
THAT is precisely what you seem to
imply that l did" Logotheti objected.
But If what told you was untrue
your argument goes to pieces. There
was no Tartar lesson, there was no
Tartar teacher and 1t was all fabri-
cation Of my own!"
Just what l Think" returned Mar
garet. 1T was not Tartar you spoke,
and there was no teacher!"
you have me there" answered the
Greek mildly, unless you would like
me to produce my young friend and
talk to him before you in the presence
Of witnesses who know his language"
Il wish you would! would like to
see 'him!' l should like to see the
color of his eyes and hair!"
BLACK as ink" said Logotheti.
"And you'll tell me that his com.
plexion is black, too, no doubt"
Not at all; sort of creamy COM
plexion, think, though l did not pay
much attention to his skin. He is a
smallish chap, good-looking, with
| hands and feet like a woman's.
noticed that AS l told you, doubt
| occurred to me at once, and will not
positively swear that it is not a girl
after all. He, or she, Is really a Tar
tar from central Asia, and 1 know
enough of the language to say what
was necessary"
Necessarily"
| Yes. He-or she-came on a mat
ter of business. What said about q
teacher was mere nonsense. Now you
know the whole thing"
Excepting what the business was"
Margaret said incredulously.
1.-THE business was an uncut stone"
answered Logothed with Indifference
He had one to sell, and 1 bought It.
He was recommended to me by man
IN Constantinople. He came to Mar
settles on French steamer with two
Greek merchants who were coming to
Paris, and they brought him to my
door. That is the whole story. And
here Is the ruby. bought It for you,
because you like those things. viii
you take it?"
He held out what looked like a little
ball Of white tissue paper, but Marga-
ret turned her face from him.
You treat me like a child" she
said.
To her own great surprise and indig.
nation, her voice was unsteady and
she felt something burning in her
eyes. She was almost frightened at
the thought that she might be going
to cry, out Of sheer modification
Logotheti said nothing for mo-
ment He began to unroll the paper
from the precious stone, but changed
his mind, wrapped it up again, and
put it back into his watch-pocket be-
fore he spoke
II did not mean it as you think" he
said softly.
She turned her eyes without moving
her head, till she could just see that
he was leaning forward, resting his
wrists on his knees, bending his head
and apparently looking down at his
loosely hanging hands. His attitude
expressed detection and disappoint-
ment. She was glad OF it. He had no
right to think that he could make her
as angry as she still was, angry even
to tears, and then bride her to smile
again when he was tired of teasing
her. Her eyes turned away again, and
she did not answer him.
81 make mistakes sometimes" he
said, speaking still lower, 81 know I
do. When am with you I cannot be
always thinking Of what I say. It's
too much to ask, when a man is as far
gone as I ami"
Il should like to believe that" Mar.
garet said, without looking at him.
rs it hard to believer" he asked so
gently that she only just heard the
words.
you don't make It easy, you know"
said she with little defiance, for she
felt that she was going to yield before
long.
II don't know how to. You're not
in the least capricious-and yet"
You're mistaken" Margaret an.
swered, turning to him suddenly. I'm
the most capricious woman in the
world! Yesterday l wrote long let.
ter to friend, and then I suddenly
tore It up-there were ever so many
pages! l daresay that If l had writ,
ten just the same letter this morning
should have sent it. II that is not
caprice, what is it?''
1T may have been wisdom to tear
it up" Logotheti suggested.
(TO BE CONTTNUED1