The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-10-19
The EVENING STORY
The Babcock Millions.
(By Clarissa Mackie.


$50 you want to marry my secre-
tary." asked John Babcock with
smoldering fire in his little eyes.
Yes. SIR" replied his son, quietly;
"Are you aware that you are oe-
priving me of the services OF q nost
capable young woman?' snapped Ine
elder man.
IT had not thought of that, dad"
admitted Allan with an amused smile.
IT forgot that Grace was
''Who?' interrupted Mr.. Babcock'
hercely.
was saying, 1 have forgotten tnar
Grace was your secretary and neces-
sary to your comfort. 1 just fell IN
love with her and now I find that she
is necessary to my happiness! he
smiled affectionately at the father
who had never vet denied him any
reasonable wish.
STUFF and nonsense! You can fall
out of love just as fast as you Tell IN,
young man! Don't poster me with any
more fol-de-rol about marrying Miss
Richmond. 1 can't spare her.
Allan Babcock flushed redly and
dropped his tone of respectful atten-
ton. A look very much like that OF
his father settled about his hrm
mouth and hardened 1t.
do you really mean, father, that
you will estrange yourself from me
if marry Grace Richmond?"
''It has always been my belief,
evaded John Babcock sternly, that
the possession of money begets a GER
tain wisdom in the care of IT. A per-
son who has been poor all his life,
suddenly becomes rich beyond his
widest dreams-what is the result
Ignorant of the true value of money,
he becomes a spendthrift and the Sc
quel is ruin. Miss Richmond always
has been poor-she will squander 4/-
cry cent you earn on frills and fur
belowsl Marry girl in your own set
one who has been accustomed to
luxury, even if she is pauper now
and I'll warrant
'sThen you refuse to sanction my
engagement ?" interrupted Allan cold
Iy.
John Babcock's eyes glistened like
points of flame Marry her." he cried
wrathfully, land you will never re-
ceive a penny of my money!
1T isn't a question of money be-
tween Grace and me-" returned Allan
proudly.
Perhaps it's a question of money
on her side, young man." retorted his
father as he whirled about in his
chair and turned his back on his son.
When the door had closed behind
Allan, Mr.. Babcock pressed button
on his desk.
Presently the door opened to adj
NIT his private secretary. She was
tall and slender, with grave gray eyes
and a crown of softly plated brown
hair above the white brow. John
Babcock had always liked the quiet
dignity of her dress and manner, and
her unquestioned refinement had al
ways commanded the respect OF her
irascible employer.
But now he glared at her defiantly
and it inwardly pleased him to note
that she returned the glare with her
customary glance of level Indifference.
ct will dictate he said briefly.
She sat down on the other side of
the great oaken desk and drew pencil
and notebook toward her. Mr.. Bah
cock wheeled about in his chair as If
to avoid her eyes, then he as quickly
spun around and faced her. belliger-
entity. Every separate hair of his
snowy wide whiskers seemed to bristle
with aggressiveness. Under his hard
hand.
"Take this letter. please" he said
harshly:
Miss Grace Richmond,
Care John Babcock & Co.,
"S1a, Wall street, New York.
Dear Madam-My son informs me
that you have honored him by, con-
senting to become his wife. 1t is
only fair you should know that in
case you do become my sons wife, I
will leave every penny possess to the
Home for Imbecile Young Men!
Yours respectfully"
when you have transcribed the
letter, Miss Richmond, you may affix
my signature and mail it at once.
That's ALL"
Very well, SIR" she said with her
usual pleasant nod of understanding,
and then without betraying recogni-
ton of the insulting letter he had
dictated. she closed the door softly
behind her and went straight to the lit
tie office set aside for her use. There,
with very bright eyes and a pink
flush in her cheeks, she wrote the
words John Babcock had dictated and
when she had finished the letter, and
signed his name with wicked -four
ish on the final tx" she wrote anoth-
er letter.
She read this one carefully before
inclosing it in a dainty white envelope
bearing her own initial.
Mr.. John Babcock,
my Dear Sir-Replying to your
esteemed favor of this date, 1 beg to
say that the disposal of your millions
does not interest me at all. l am
your son, not your money,
and I am sorry that you should have
made the mistake of supposing that I.
as well as yourself. must place the
highest value on the latter.
Yours respectfully,
GRACE RICHMOND"
At the noon hour she lunched in a
small restaurant near the office and
On the other side of the table sat AL
an Babcock. He was looking at her
with wistful tenderness.
And you care enough for me to
marry me-disinherited as am
Grace" he asked almost incredulously.
IF you do, of course you do-you are
he pluckiest darling-how can ever
make 1t up to your"
Grace smiled. by forgetting all
about those horrible Babcock millions,
Allan! What is your happiness and
mine beside your fathers money?
Look at him-so unhappy and so
-ichi If you get that position in San
Francisco and we-and we are
She paused, flushing under his ardent |
yaze.
'And we are married. added |
Allan triumphantly.