Mexico Missouri message., 1910-03-10

nat . very hluu VI uSTs III sure,
observed Mr.. Van Torp.
II don't think SO. / like it less and
less, the more think of it."
We'll, I'm sorry, but l suppose it's
natural, since you've concluded to
marry him, and it can't be helped. 1
wasn't going to say anything against
him, and l wouldn't say anything for
him, so there was nothing to do but
to explain, which l did. I'm sorry
you think I did wrong, but should
give the same answer again"
Mrs. 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
not laugh
you are not perfection nor 1 eth
er," 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 if we are
going to be friends we must under
stand each other from the first, as far
as we can"
"Tll try to do my share" said Van
Torp, taking her tone.
VERY well. I'll do mine. l began
by thinking you were amusing, when
1 first met you. Then you frightened
me last winter, and hated you. Not
only that, I loathed you-there's no
word strong enough for what 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.
Yes. 1t was worse than / can
make you understand. And last spring,
when you were in so much trouble,
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 peo-
pie as it really was. 1t was only when
saw how Lady Maud believed in you
that l began to waver, and then
understood"
I'm glad you did"
$50 am I. But she is such a good
woman herself that nobody can be
really bad in whom she believes. And
now I'm changed still more. l like
you, and I'm sure that we shall be
friends, if you will make me one
promise and keep it."
What is it,"
"Ihat you will give up all idea OF
ever marrying me, no matter what
happens, even if l broke"
cts no use to go on interrupted
Van Torp, for l can't promise any
thing like that. Maybe you dom
realize what you're asking, but it's
the impossible. That's all"
ooh, nonsense!" Margaret tried tc
laugh lightly, but it was a failure.
"No, it's very far from nonsense
he replied, almost sternly. "Since
you've spoken first, I'm going to tel
; you several things. One is, that &C
cepted the syndicate's offer for the
, Nickel Trust so as to be free to take
any chance that might turn up. Il
, had been open some time, but / &C
cepted it on the day I heard of you
engagement. That's big thing. An
other is, that 1 played a regular tricE
, on Logotheti so as to come and see
: you here. l deliberately asked hin
, to dine with me last night in London
! l went right home, wrote note t.
him. antedated for yesterday after
: noon, to put him off, and left it t.
be sent at the right hour. Then drove
to the station, and here I am. You
= may call that pretty sharp practice
- but believe alPs fair in love and war
= and l want you to understand that
= think so. There's one thing more
), won't give up the hope of making yol
marry me while you're alive and I am
not if you're an old woman, and II
put up all I have in the game, includ
ing my own life and other people S
if it comes to that Amen"
/, Margaret bent her head a little ant
: was silent.
f Now you know why won't prom
# Use what you asked" said Van Tor
t in conclusion.
you have no right to speak lik
d that" she said rather weakly, after
= moment
Perhaps not. don't know. Blu
consider that you have a right t
know the truth, and that's enough 70
t me, It's not as if I'd made up m
l. mind to steal your ewe-lamb from 20
t and put myself in its place. Logo
e theft is not any sort of ewe-lamt
I He's man, he's got plenty of strengt
p and determination. he's got plenty O
money--even what l choose to ca
p plenty. He says he cares for you Al
right So do I. He says he'll MARI
e you. say that I will. All right agar
., You're the prize put up for the bes
O of two fighting men. You're not tn