k
SYNOPSIS.
tlaraka , a Tartar glrl.bfcamo enamored
et u gulden bearded stranger who was
prospecting mul studying herbs In UK-
vicinity of her homo In ennlral Asia , mul
rovculcd to htm the locution of n mlno
of rubles hoping that the stranger would
love her In return for her disclosure.
They were followed to the cave by the
girl's relatives , who blocked up the en
trance , and drew oft the water supply ,
leaving the couple to die. IJaruUa'fl cousin
Snad , her betrothed , attempted to climb
down a cliff overlooking the mine ; but
the traveler shot him. The stranger was
revived from n water gourd Saad car
ried , dug his way out of the tunnel , and
departed , deserting the glil and carrying
n bap of rubles. Baraka gathered all the
eems Bho could carry , mid started In pur
LL suit. Margaret Donno ( Margarita da
Cordova ) , a famous prlma donna , became
pngagod In London to Konstantln Lo-
gothetl , a wealthy Greek ilimnolcr. Her
intimate friend wan Countess Loven.
known as Lady Miltld , whoso husband
had been killed by a bomb In St. Peters
burg ; and Lady Maud's most Intimate
friend was Uufus Van Torn , an Ameri
can , who had been a cowboy In early
life , but had br-como ono of the richest
men In the world. Van Toip watt In love
with Margaret , and rushed to London as
soon as ho heard of her betrothal.
CHAPTER II. Continued.
Lady Maud laid her left hand affec
tionately on the man's right , which
was uppermost on hers , and her voice
rippled with happiness.
"If you had only said a lark Instead
of a hen , Rufus ! " she laughed.
"We could get along a lot better
without larkff than without hens , " an
swered her friend philosophically.
"But I'll make It a nightingale next
time , If I can remember , or a bald
eagle , or any bird that strikes you as
cheerful. "
The terrible mouth had relaxed al
most to gentleness , and the fierce blue
eyes were suddenly kind as they looked
! \ Into the woman's face. She led him
to an old-fashioned sofa , their hands
parted , and they sat down side by
side.
"Cheerful , " he said , In a tone of re
flection. "Yes , I'm feeling pretty
cheerful , and It's all over and set
tled. "
"Do you mean the trouble you were
In last spring ? "
"N no not that , though It wasn't
as funny as a Sunday school treat
while It lasted , and I was thankful
when It was through. It's another
matter altogether that I'm cheerful
about besides seeing , you , my dear.
I've done It , Maud. I've done It at
-last. "
"What ? "
"I've sold my Interest In the Trust ,
It won't be made known for some
time , so don't talk about It , please.
But It's settled and done , and I've got
the money. "
"You have sold the Nickel Trust ? "
Lady Maud's lips remained parted
in surprise.
"And I've bought you a little pres
ent with the proceeds , " he answered ,
t putting hla largo thumb and finger
into the pocket of his white waistcoat
"It's only a funny little bit of glass
I picked up , " he continued , producing
a small twist of stiff writing paper.
"You needn't think It's so very fine !
But It's a pretty color , and when
you're out of mourning I daresay
you'll make a hatpin of it. I like hand
some hatpins myself , you know. "
He had untwisted the paper while
speaking , It lay open In the palm of
his hand , and Lady Maud saw a stone
of the size of an ordinary hazel nut ,
very perfectly cut , and of that won
derful transparent red color which is
known as "pigeon's blood , " and which
it Is almost impossible to describe.
Sunlight shining through Persian rose-
loaf sherbet upon white silk makes a
little patch of color that is perhaps
more like it than any other shade of
red , but not many Europeans have ever
seen that , and It is a good deal easier
to go and look at a pigeon's blood
ruby In a jeweler's window.
"What a beautiful color ! " ex
clalmed.Lady Maud Innocently , after a
anoment. "I didn't know they imi
tated rubles so well , though , of course ,
I know nothing about it. If It were
not an Imposslblity , I should take It
for a real one. "
"So should I , " assented Mr. Van
Torp quietly. "It'll make a pretty hat
pin anyway. Shall I have It mounted
for you ? "
"Thanks , awfully , but I think I
i should like to keep It as it is for a
little while. It's such a lovely color , '
Just as It Is. Thank you so much !
Do toll mo where you got it. "
"Oh , well , there was a sort of a
traveler came to Now York the other
day selling them what they call priv
ately. I guess ho must bo a Russian
or something , for ho has a kind of an
off-look of your husband , only ho
wears a board and an eyeglass. It
must bo about the eyes. Maybe the
forehead , too. IIo'll most likely turn
up In London ono of these days to soil
this Invention , or whatever It is. "
Lady Maud said nothing to this , but
she took the stone from his hand ,
looked at It some time with evident
admiration , and then set It down on
Us bit of paper , upon a little table
by the end of the sofa.-
"If I were you , I wouldn't leave It
around much , " observed Mr. Van Torp
carelessly. "Somebody might take n
fancy to it. The color's attractive ,
you see , and It looks like real. "
"Oh , I'll bo very careful of it , never
fear ! I can't toll you how much 1
like It ! " She twlstod It up tightly in
its bit of paper , rose to her feet , and
put It away in her writing lablo.
"It'll be a sort of souvenir of the old
Nickel Trust , " said her friend , watchIng -
Ing her with satisfaction.
"Havo you really sold out all your
Interest In It ? " she asked , sitting
down again ; and now that she re
turned to the question her tone showed
that she had not yet recovered from
her astonishment.
"That's what I've done. I always
told you I would , when I was ready.
Why do you look so surprised ? Would
you rather I hadn't ? "
Lady Maud shook her head and her
voice rippled dellclotisly as she an
swered :
"I can hardly imagine you without
the Nickel Trust that's all ! What in
the world shall you do with your
self ? "
"Oh , various kinds of things. I
think I'll get married , for one. Then
I mean. You taught mo to say "bet
ter , ' didn't you ? "
Lady Maud tried to smile.
"Of two , yes , " she answered. "You
are forcing my hand , my dear friend , "
she wont on very gravely. "You know
very well that I trust you with all my
heart. If It were possible to Imagine
a case In which the safety of the
world could depend on my choosing
ono of you for ihy husband , you know
very well that I should take you ,
though I never was the least little bit
in love with you , any more than you
ever were with me. "
"Well , but It you would , she ought , "
argued Mr. Van Torp. "It's for her
own good , and as you're a friend of
hers , you ought to help her to do
what's good for her. That's only fair.
If she doesn't marry me , she's cer
tain to marry that Greek , so It's a
forced choice , It appears to me. "
"But I can't "
"She's a nice girl , Isn't she ? "
"Yes , very. "
"And you like her , don't you ? "
"Very much. Her father was my fa
ther's best friend. "
"I don't believe in atavism , " oh-
"What a Beautiful Color ! "
I'll take a rest and sort of look
around. Maybe something will turn
up. I've concluded to win the Derby
next year that's something anyway. "
"Rather ! Have you thought of any
thing else ? "
She laughed a little , but was grave
the next moment , fdr she know him
much too well to believe that he had
taken such a step out of caprice , or a
mere fancy for change. He noticed
the grave look and was silent for a
few moments.
"Tho Derby's a side show , " he said
at last. "I've come over to got mar
ried , and I want you to help me. Will
you ? "
"Can I ? " asked Lady Maud , evas
ively.
"Yes , you can , and I believe there'll
be trouble unless you do. "
"Who is she ? Do I know her ? " She
was trying to put off the evil moment.
"Oh , yes , you know her quite well.
It's Mine. Cordova. "
"But she's engaged to Mons. Logo-
thetl "
"I don't care. I mean to marry her
If she marries any one , He shan't
have her anyway. "
"But I cannot deliberately help you
to break off her engagement ! It's im
possible ! "
"Seo here , " answered Mr. Van Torp.
"You know that Greek , and you know
me. Which of us will make the best
husband for an English girl ? That's
what Mmo. Cordova Is , after all. I
put it to you. If you were forced to
choose ono of us yourself , which would
you take ? That's the way to look at
It. "
"But Miss Donno is not 'forced' to
take ono of you "
"She's going to bo. It's the same.
Besides , 1 said 'If. ' Won't you answer
me ? "
"She's In love with Mons. Logo-
theti , " said Lady Maud , rather desper
ately.
"Is she , now ? I wonder. I don't
much think so myself. He's clover
and he's obstinate , and he's just made
her think she's In love , that's all. Any
how , that's not an answer to my ques
tion. Other things being alike , if alio
had to choose , which of us would be
the heat husband for her ? the better ,
served the American , "but that's neith
er hero nor there. You know what
you wrote me. Do you believe she'll
be miserable with Logothoti or not ? "
"I think she will , " Lady Maud an
swered truthfully. "But I may be
wrong. "
"No ; you're right. I know it. But
marriage is a gamble anyway , as you
know belter than any one. Are you
equally sure that she would be mis
erable with me ? Dead sure , I mean. "
"No , I'm not sure. But that's not a
reason "
"It's a first-rate reason. I care for
that lady , and 1 want her to be happy ,
and as you admit that she will have a
better chance of happiness with me
than with Logotheti , I'm going to
marry her myself , not only because I
want to , but because it will be a long
sight better for her. See ? No fault
In that line of reasoning , Is there ? "
"So far as reasoning goes " Lady
Maud's tone was half an admission.
"That's all I 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 off that en
gagement. But if it should come to
nothing , without your Interfering
that is , by the girl's 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
bo 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 engaged -
gaged people , no matter how Ill-
matched they may be. "
"Funny Idea of honor , " observed
the American , "that you're bound to
let a friend of yours break her neck
at the very gravel pit whore you were
nearly smashed yourself ! In the huntIng -
Ing field you'd grab her bridle if she
wouldn't listen to you , but in a mat
ter of marriage oh , no ! 'It's dfShon-
arable to Interfere , ' 'She's made her
choice and she must abide by It,1 and
all that kind of stuff ! "
Lady Maud's clear eyes met his
angry blue ones calmly.
"I don't llio you when you say such
things , " she said , lowering her voice
8 , llttlu.
"I didn't mean to bo rude , " an
swered the millionaire , almost hum
bly. "You see I don't always know. I
learnt things differently from what
you did. I suppose you'd think It an
Insult if I said I'd give n largo sum of
money to your charity the day I mar
ried Mmo. Cordova , If you'd help mo
through. "
"Please stop. " Lady" Maud's face
darkened visibly. "That's not like
you. "
"I'll 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 Hushed 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 aho
looked straight before her across the
room.
"You can do a pretty good deal with
a million pounds , " said Mr. Van Torp ,
after the silence had lasted nearly
half a minute.
"Dr.n't ! " cried Lady Maud , in an
odd voice.
"Forty thousand pounds a year , " ob
served the millionaire thoughtfully.
"You could do quite a great deal of
good with that , couldn't you ? "
"Don't ! Please don't ! "
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 ono moment by the sofa
without looking down at her com
panion ; then she left the room
abruptly , and shut the door behind
hor.
hor.Van
Van Torp got up from his seat slow
ly 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.
the vast extent of his wealth , and In
an ago of colossal fortunes she had
often heard his spoken of with the
half-dozen greatest. "You can do
quite a great deal of good with forty
thousand pounds a year. "
Van Torp's lough-hown speech rang
through her head , and somehow Its
reckless grammar gave It strength
and made It ntlck in ror memory , word
for word. In the drawer of the writIng -
Ing table before which she was sitting
there was a little ( lie of letters that
meant moro to her than anything else
in the world , except ono dear memory.
They wore all from rescued women ,
they all told much the same little
story , and it was good to read. She
had made many failures , and some
terrible ones , which she could never
forget ; but there were real successes ,
too , there were over a dozen of them
now , and she had only boon at work
for three years. If eho had moro
money , she could do moro ; if she had
much she could do much ; and she
knew of ono or two women who could
help her. What might she not accom
plish in H lifetime with the vast sum
her friend offered her ! the price of
hindering a marriage that was almost
sure to turn out badly , perhaps as
badly as her own ! the money value
of a compromise with her conscience
on a point of honor which many wom
en would have thought very vague in
deed , if not absurd In such a caso.
She knew what temptation meant ,
now , and she was to know oven better
before long. The prlma donna had
said that she was going to marry Lo-
Went to the Window , Softly Blowing a Queer Tune.
"Well " ho said aloud , in a tone of
doubt , after a minute or two.
But ho said no more , for ho was
much too reticent and sensible a per
son to talk to himself audibly even
when he was alone , and much too cau
tious to bo sure that a servant might
not be within hearing , though the door
was shut. lie stood before the win
dow nearly a quarter of an hour , think
ing that Lady Maud might como back ,
but as no sound of any stop broke the
silence ho understood that ho was
not to sea her again that day , and ho
quietly let himself out of the house
and went off , not altogether discon
tented with the extraordinary impres
sion he had made.
Lady Maud sat alone upstairs , so
absorbed in her thoughts that she did
not hoar the click of the lock as ho
opened and shut the front door.
She was much more amazed at her
self than surprised by the offer he had
made. Temptation , In any reasonable
sense of the word , had passed by her
In life , and she had never before un
derstood what it could mean to her.
She was cight-nnd-twenty years of
nge and a widow , and now it came
to her suddenly in a shape of tre
mendous strength , through her trusted
friend , who had helped her for years
to help others. It was real tempta
tion. The man who offered her a mil
lion pounds to save miserable wretches
from a life of unspeakable horror ,
could offer twice as much , four , five ,
or ten millions perhaps. No ono luiew
gothetl chiefly because ho insisted
on it.
The duel for Margaret's hand had
begun ; Van Torp had aimed a blow
that might well give him the advan
tage if It went homo ; and Logotheti
himself was quite unaware of the
skillful attack that threatened his hap
piness.
CHAPTER III.
A few days after she had talked
with Lady Maud , and before Mr. Van
Torp's arrival , Margaret had gone
abroad , without waiting for the
promised advice in the matter of the
wedding gown. With admirable re
gard for the proprieties she hud quite
declined to lot Logothoti cross the
channel with her , but had promised
to see him at Versailles , where she
was going to stop a few days with her
mother's old American friend , the ex
cellent Mrs. Rushmore , with whom
she meant to go to Bayreuth to hear
"Parsifal" for the first time.
Mm. Rushmore had disapproved pro
foundly of Margaret's career , from the
first. After Mrs. Donne's death , she
had taken the forlorn girl under her
protection , and had encouraged her to
go on with what she vaguely called
her "music lessons. " The good lady
was ono of those dear , old-fashioned ,
kind , dcllcuto-mlndcd and golden-
hearted American women wo may
m ver see again , now that "progress"
has got civilization by the throat and
Is squeezing the life out of it. She
called Margaret her "chickabiddy"
and spread a motherly wing over her ,
without the least Idea that slio was
rearing a valuable lyric nightingale
that would not long bo content to trill
and quaver unheard.
Immense and deserved success had
half reconciled the old lady to what
had happened , and after all Margaret
had not married an Italian tenor , a
Russian prince , or a Parisian com
poser , the three shapes of man which
seemed the most dreadfully Immoral
to Mrs. Rushmoro. She .would find It
castor to put up with Logothoti than
with ono of those , though It was bad
enough to think of her old frlond'tt
daughter marrying a Greek Instead of
a nice , clean Anglo-Saxon , like tha
learned Mr. Donne , the girl's father ,
or the good Mr. Rushmore , her la
mented husband , who had been an up
right pillar of the church In Now
York , and the president of a trust
company that could bo trusted.
After all , though she thought all
Greeks must ho what she called "de
signing , " the name of Koustantln Lo
gothoti wits associated with every
thing that was most honorable In the
financial world , and this impressed
Mrs. Rushmore very much.
Logotheti was undoubtedly consid
ered honest , and Mrs. Rushmore made
quite sure of it , as well as of the fact
that ho had an immense fortune.
At Versailles , with its memories of
her earlier youth , the prlma donna
wished to bo Margaret Donno again ,
and to forgot for the tlmo that sha
was the Cordova , whoso name was al
ways first on the opera posters In New
York , London and Vienna.
She traveled Incognito. That Is to
say , she had scut her first maid and
theatrical dresser Alphonslnc to sco
her relations In Nancy for a month ,
and only brought the other with he r ;
she had , moreover , caused the state
room on the channel boat to bo taken
In the name of Miss Donne , and sha
brought no moro luggage to Versailles
than could bo piled on an ordinary
cart , whereas when she had last como
from Now York her servants had
seen 87 pieces put on board the steam
er , and a hat-box had been missing
after all.
Mrs. Rushmore came out to meet
her on the steps in the hot sunshine ,
portly and kind as over , and she ap
plied an embrace which was affection
ate , yet Imposing.
"My dearest child ! " she cried."I
was sure I had not quite lost you
yet ! "
"I hope you will never think you
have , " Margaret answered , almost
quite In her girlish voice of old.
She was very glad to como back. Aa
soon as they were alone In the cool
drawing room , Mrs. Rushmore asked
her about her engagement in a tone of
profouhd concern , as though It were
a grave bodily ailment which might
turn out to be fatal.
"Don't lake It so seriously , " Marga
ret answered with a little laugh ; "I'm
not married yet ! "
The elderly face brightened.
"Do you mean to say that that
there is any hope ? " she asked eagerly.
Margaret laughed now , but In a gentle -
tlo and affectionate sort of way. i
"Perhaps , just a little ! But don't
ask mo , please. I've como homo to
forget everything for a few weeks. "
"Thank heaven ! " ejaculated Mrs.
Rushmorc In a tone of deep relief.
"Then if if ho should call this after
noon , or oven to-morrow may 1 toll
them to say that you are out ? "
She was losing no time ; and Marga
ret laughed again , though she put her
head a little on ono &Ido with an ex
pression of doubt.
"I can't refuse to see him , " she said ,
"though really I would much rather
be alone with you for a day or two. "
"My darling child ! " cried Mrs. Rushmore -
more , applying another embrace , "you
shall ! Leave it to mo ! "
Mrs. Rushmoro's delight was touch
ing , for she could almost feel that
Margaret had como to sec her qulto
for her own sake , whereas she had
pictured the "child , " as she still called
the great artist , spending most of her
time in carrying on inaudible conver
sations with Logotheti under the trees
in the lawn , or In the most remote
corners of the drawing room ; for that
had been the accepted method of
courtship in Mrs. Ruslunore's young
days , and she was quite Ignorant of
the changes that had taken place since
then.
then.Half
Half an hour later. Margaret was
In her old room upstairs writing a let
ter , and Mrs. Runhmore had given
strict orders that until further notice
Miss Donno was "not at homo" for
any ono at all , no matter who might
call.
call.When
When the letter already covered ten
pages , MfX'garct laid down her pen
and without the least pause or hesita
tion tore the sheets to tiny bits , inkIng -
Ing her lingers In the process because
the last ono was not yet dry.
"What a wicked woman I am ! " she
exclaimed aloud , to the very great
surprise of Potts , her English maid ,
who was still unpacking in the next
room , the door being open.
"Beg pardon , ma'am ? " the woman
asked , putting In her head.
( TO BE CONTINUED. )
