The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1903-12-18

mid light Japanese screens, dtvans,
spreading palms and wicker chairs, she
received her summer guests. Grace had
gone sailing with party of friends. and
she could at last see him alone. After
20 years of love-secret love, that she as
an honorable wife tried to suppress-to
outlive-and now-she was free again.
She came quickly toward him, holding
out eagerly and cordially her graceful
hands that in the days of long ago he had
covered with kisses and pronounced
divine"
"Ah, Grace! How natural you look"
he said, dropping back into his seat after
the first greeting, eff you will pardon
trite old saying, you must have fou the
fountain of perpetual youth" And she,
with bright woman's tact, seated her
self where the light fell over her Shout
ders, softening the lines of her face, and
making halo of her sunny hair. They
talked of old days. of old friends. familiar
scenes, and the death and marriages OF
mutual acquaintances. and anon supped
an iced beverage which snowy becapped
and aproned maid produced at exactly
the right mOment-but of their old rela-
tionship never a word was spoken.
To her, that was sacred-to him, well
haste was dangerous!
A flush stole over her face, her eyes
frightened and laughed as they had not
done since they last looked into his. She
was transformed, transported-happy
again. With the old enthusiasm Of
youth, she was recounting an incident
when she suddenly realized that her
words fell on deaf ears. He was gazing
out toward the beach from which strolled
a tall, slender young girl. Her hat in
hand and the breeze tossing wealth OF
light wavy hair around her face, the like
of which he had not seen since-well, for
20 years.
Russell, this is my daughter Grace
Miss Bernard, Mr.. Hudson"
He had almost seized her hand, then
looked from one woman to anothei. Was
this his long lost sweetheart? No, it was
her daughter.
The days that followed were mixture
of joy and pain, hope, doubt and happi-
ness. Mrs. Bernard realized as she never
had before that to be with Russell Hud.
son was pleasure akin to pain. Not
word Of love had been uttered-scarcely
look, but day after day he came to take
her, in company with Grace, for drive,
sail, lunch of stroll. Every moment was
to her one Of keenest delight, and to her
surprise and satisfaction. Grace had been
civil enough to him-even gracious-and
he, for the mothers sake, of course, had
shown her the kindest, most fatherly at
tention. True, he didn't look fatherly,
but then she knew his age.
The summer was drawing to q close
The white and gray seagulls no longer
sat idly on the tops of the danger piers
far out In the bay. The hotel was prac-
ttcally deserted, and chilly wind blew
from the east all day-still Mrs. Bernard
fingered at her summer home She
would sit for hours ensconced in cloak
on the bare veranda looking seward,
dreaming and re-living the summer
hours spent with Russell Hudson. He
had been so attentive. so kind and con-
slant, it could mean but one thing, she
told herself, he loved her still. She
prayed for strength to carry the weight
of her girlhood, her wifehood and her
widow-hOod love. A love that to her was
the grandest passion she had Der known,
save that love which had been sent with
her first and only child.
1 OF course it was tiresome and awfully
dull for Grace, and at last the mother
had decided to return to the city on the
morrow
Russell Hudson had told them he must
shortly leave for hasty business trip to
England, and would come that day to
make his adieux Mrs Bernard felt that
the parting would be sweetened and pal
lated by certain avowal which he was
certain to make-and then-how would
she ever tell Grace! Her face burned,
and she closed her eyes and fell to dream
ing again. Her reverie, however. was in
terrupted by familiar voices and the sud-
den appearance through one of the low
parlor windows of Grace and Russell
Hudson, as he stepped lightly out on the
veranda holding by the hand the blushing
girl. Mrs. Bernard laughed softly at the
pair.
What is the matter now, Russell!
You are always teasing that child"
Its just this seating himsef;
and with his disengaged hand taFira
that of Mrs. Bernard. while Grace the
younger modestly averted her face, "a
hope we haven't taken you too much by
surprise, but your little girl is SO much
like her mother used to be, 1 have quite
naturally learned to love her, and an
going to ask you to let me take care o.
her in the future-no-" interruptine
Mrs. Bernard as she started to speak
Il am anticipating your protest-yor
need not be separated, for you can live
with us-we-"
Mrs. Bernard rose to her full height
and looking intently at the two. was
: silent for moment, while the second and
mightiest battle of her life was fouaAt-