The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-11-01
THE EVENING STORY
Angel of the Inn.
(By Temple Bailey.)


High above them. on the mountain,
was the matched roof of the inn.
I'm one hour" Gregory said, rap
turously. II shall see her"
Morgan looked at him, obviously
eff 1 were as young as you, and love
was waiting for me, I'd thank the
gods
They rode for mile in silence, then
Morgan asked, How in the name OF
all that's wonderful did that lady OF
yours manage to follow this way to the
| heights ?''
Gregory explained eagerly. "She was
little child in her mothers arms.
There's a mystery-Mercedes doesn I
know why they came. But they took
refuge in the inn. 1t was kept then by
a native of the country and his wife,
Mrs. Harding made herself necessary
to them, and when they died she took
charge-'Angel of the inn'-the ma
tives call her.
ssShe doctors them, and they have
great faith in her. he went on, land
the food is famous-she has the art of
making every meal feast"
"That sounds promising. You may
live on love, Gregory, but yearn for
the f1eshpots.'
She'll give you such a dinner!
Chicken and omelette, and coffee!"
AS they approached the little host
elry, Morgan eyed it curiously. A girl
stood on the porch, shading her eyes
with her hand.
That's Mercedes" said Gregory.
Morgan saw the girl run down to
meet her love; saw the youthful grace
of her figure-and then he saw her
face!
He swayed in his seat, recovered
himself. and managed to acknowledge
Gregory's radiant presentation.
All bushes and happiness the girl
greeted him. Shall we go into the
garden? Mother is there
Morgan hung back. Tiff you
don't mind" he stammered, Iii brush
up a bit first" and in spite of Greg
ory's protests he left them.
Alone at last in his room on the first
floor. he faced the situation. Twenty
years ago he had loved and married
Mary Harding. They had a few
months of happiness, then, after the
birth of little Mercedes, had come es-
separation.
He had never been sure how he had
failed. He was a busy doctor, and she
had doubted his devotion. One day,
in a whirl of indignation, she had gone,
utterly.
He was a silent man, but he had suf-
fered. He had been so unconscious of
neglect. He had thought her a child,
pleased with playthings, and he had
found his happiness in supplying them. |
And now they were to meet at last |
III IfllS remote south american COun- !
try He had hoped it might be so !
when Gregory had told him of the
girl up in the mountains near the |
camp where the young man had been |
stationed. IN the face of her mothers
1ispleasure, Mercedes had promised to |
marry her lover when he came back |
from his trip home. Morgan had fol- |
lowed the clew-and out there in the
was Mary, the wife of his I
YOUTH
window, the rocky garden. rising ter
ace above terrace to a little summer
house that was set like a shrine onI
he pinnacle.
There were many people in the
garden, pale, poor, sick people. and
among them walked a gracious figure
"a woman in whose eyes shone the
enderness which makes some women
mothers of all helpless things.
AS the poor creatures in the garden
waved toward her, she held out her
lands to them.
MY children" he heard her say,
it is late. 1 must rest. But for you
here shall be a little feast, here in the
,arden. You are my guests. Good
light
She came down the terrace. followed
" their murmurS of gratitude. II
And this serene and gracious saint
vas his plant chiId-wife! What mar
eel had been wrought in her? He felt
hat he could not meet her before
urious eyes. 1t would not be fair to
dercedes
So, as she passed. he opened his lat
ice wide. Mary
Her eyes met his, and the color went
ut of her face. /
"You--here %
Eyes. I came with Gregory. /
bought I recognized in Mercedes
Harding a possibility of hope"
And now that you aSe here
1hat?' Z
Il want you in my life again. Mary
ITO play my little part? No, Oliver. I
Iy days here are full of interest.
annot go back to be a pIaything.'' {
You were never that"
II was never your comrade your
your helpmate. 1 wanted I
D stand by your side, fighting. not to
G thrust aside
She was flaming with the thought |
f her grievance, but he said only, II
I'VE you"
81 cannot call it that-and 1 cannot !
o back with you"
when Mercedes marries Gregory. +
hat then?'' +
He shall not marry her I shall
onfess my unhappiness. 1 have never II
I'D her the truth" e
she has a right to know, and Greg
ry has right. You must not forget t
rat, Mary" C
Il do not forget that men seem to
ave all the rights Her steady eyes T
snt forth a challenge. eff the time t
as come to tell Mercedes, I shall have
lie strength to do it. But / must be I
lone
No he said. sharply; ''let me, too,
lead my cause with my daughter"
She seemed to make up her mind
lpidIy. Come then" she cried, s'to
" room. There she shall choose =
The lovers came reluctantly
Dinner is ready" Mercedes pro-