Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-02-25

mo, I'm not sure. But that s not
reason
ITS a frst-rate reason. l care for
that lady, and l want her to be happy,
and as you admit that she will have a
better chance of happiness with me
than with Logotheu, I'm going to
marry her myself, not only because
want to, but because it will be long
sight better for her. See? No fault
in that line of reasoning, is there?"
$50 far as reasoning goes" Lady
Maud's tone was half an admission.
That's all l wanted you to say"
interrupted the American. SO that's
settled, and you're going to help me-"
NO" answered Lady Maud quietly;
'I won't help you to break OF that en-
gagement. But If it should come to
nothing, without your interfering
that is, by the girls own free will
and choice and change of mind, I'd
help you to marry her if I could
But you admit that she's going to
be miserable" said Van Torp stub
bornly.
I'm sorry for her, but it's none Of
my business. It's not honorable to
try and make trouble between en-
matched they may be-"
Funny idea of honor" observed
the American, that you're bound to
let friend of yours break her neck
at the very gravel pit where you were
nearly smashed yourself. In the hunt
ing field you'd grab her bride If she
wouldn't listen to you. but in a mat
ter of marriage-oh, no! It's dishon-
orable to interfere She's made her
choice and she must abide by It, and
all that kind of stuff"
Lady Mauds clear eyes met his
angry blue ones calmly.
81 don't like you when you say such
things" she said, lowering her voice
a little.
'I didn't mean to be rude" an
swered the millionaire, almost hum
bly,. you see l don't always know. I
learnt things differently from what
you did. I suppose you'd think it an
insult if 1 said I'd give large sum Of
money to your charity the day 1 mar
ried Nine. Cordova, If you'd help me
through"
Please stop" Lady Maud's face
darkened visibly. That's not like
you"
TIL give a million pounds sterling"
said Mr.. Van Torp slowly.
Lady Maud leaned back in her cor
ner of the sofa, clasping her hands
rather tightly together in her lap. Her
white throat flushed as when the light
of dawn kisses Parian marble, and the
fresh tint in her cheeks deepened soft
ly; her lips were tightly shut. her
eyelids quivered a little, and she
looked straight before her across the
room.
You can do q pretty good deal with
a million pounds said Mr.. Van Torp,
after the silence had lasted nearly
half a minute.
DON'T" cried Lady Maud. in an
odd voice.
Forty thousand pounds a year" OBJ |
served the millionaire thoughtfully.
You could do quite a great deal Of
good with that. couldn't you?"
Don't! Please dont!"
She pressed her hands to her ears
and rose at the same instant Per
haps it was she, after all, and not her
friend who had been brought suddenly
to a great cross-road in life. She
stood still one moment by the sofa
without looking down at her COM
panion; then she left the room
abruptly. and shut the door behind
her.
Van TorP got up from his seat SLOW
~ when she was gone. and went to
the window, softly blowing a queer
tune between his closed teeth and
his open lips, without quite whistling. |
well" he said aloud in a tone Of |
doubt, after a minute or two.
But he said no more, for he was
much too reticent and sensible a per !
son to talk to himself audibly even |
when he was alone. and much too eau
tious to be sure that servant might |
not be within hearing. though the door |
was shut. He stood before the win |
dow nearly quarter of an hour, think |
ing that Lady Maud might come back. |
but as no sound of any step broke the |