Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-03-14

lar. She did not speak, but the night
was so still that he could hear her
breathing, and at last he could not
bear the warm silence any longer
| What were you thinking about?"
he asked, trying to speak lightly.
| She waited, or hesitated, before she
| answered him
You" she said, after a time
| He moved involuntarily, and then
drew little further away from her,
as he might have withdrawn a foot
| from the edge of a precipice, out OF
common caution. She was aware of
| his slight change Of position without
| turning her eyes
What made you say what you did
to Mrs. Rushmore yesterday after
noon?" she asked.
About your"
Yes"
She asked me. point-biank. what
/ thought of Logotheti,'' Van Torp an
swered. 'T told her that I couldn't
give her an unbiased opinion of the
man you meant to marry, because
had always hoped to marry you my
self"
"oh-was that the way It hap
| pened?"
Mrs. Rushmore could hardly have
| misunderstood me-" said Van Torp,
| gathering the reins of himself, so to
say, for anything that might happen.
NO But it sounds differently when
| you say 1t yourself"
That was Just what I said, any
how" answered Van Torp. IT didn't
think she'd go and tell you right away,
but since she has, I don't regret hav-
| ing said that much"
TT was straightforward, at all
events-if 1t was all truei" There was
the faintest laugh in her tone as she
spoke the last words.
TITS true, right enough, though I
didn't expect that should be talking
to you about this sort Of thing to-
night"
fThe effect on Mrs Rushmore was
extraordinary. positively Illuminating"
Margaret said more lightly. "She
| says I ought to break of my engage
ment at once. and marry you! Fancy"
That's very kind of her, I'm sure"
observed Mr.. Van Torp.
81 don't think So like It less and
less, the more 1 think of It."
We'll, I'm sorry, but suppose it's
natural. since you've concluded to
marry him, and it can't be helped.
wasn't going to say anything against
him, and I wouldn't say anything for
| him, SO there was nothing to do but
| to explain, which 1 did I'm sorry
| you think I did wrong, but should
| give the same answer again"
MIS-. Rushmore thinks that Konstan-
| tin is a designing foreigner because
he's a Greek man Of business, and
that you are perfection because you
are an American business man"
IF I'm perfection, that's not the
real reason" said Van Torp, snatch.
| ing at his first chance to steer out of
the serious current; but Margaret did
net laugh.
You are not perfection, nor I eth
err" she answered gravely. You are
famous in your way, and people call
me celebrated in mine; but so far as
| the rest is concerned we are Just two
ordinary human beings, and IL we are
| going to be friends we must under
stand each other from the frst, as far
! as we can"
I'll try to do my share" sAid Van
Torp. taking her tone.
Very well. TIL do mine. I began
by thinking you were amusing, when
| I first met you. Then you frightened
me last winter. and hated you. Not
! only that, loathed you-theres no
word strong enough for what I felt
When I saw you in the audience, you
almost paralyzed my voice"
| 81 didn't know it had been as bad
as that" said Mr.. Van Torp quietly.
Eyes. II was worse than I can
make you understand. And last spring,
when you were in so much trouble, I
believed every word that was said
against you, even that you had muir
! dered your partners daughter In cold
blood to get rid of her, though that
looked as Incredible to sensible peot
pie as 1t really was. 1t was only when
saw how Lady Maud believed In you
/ that l began to waver, and then I
/ understood"
I'm glad you did"
$50 am l. But she Is such q good
woman herself that nobody can be
really bad In whom she believes. And
now I'm changed still more. I like
you. and I'm sure that we shall be
friends. If you win make me one
promise and keep it"
What Is itf''
That you will give up all idea OF
ever marrying me, no matter what
happens, even IL broke"
Its no use to go on" interrupted
Van Torp. "for l can't promise any
thing like that. Maybe &C. -..-
realize what you're asking, but It's
the impossible. That's all.