The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-07-06
The EVENING STORY
Marguerite's Grandchild.
(By Dorothy Blackmore.)

Marguerite's GrandchiId.
(By Dorothy Blackmore.)
Ned Cannaught sat over his coffee
in the luxurious lounge OF the Chateau
Del Monte It was his habit to post
pone the smoking of his cigar until his
coffee had been brought to him each
evening in this paln-deckec rendez-
vous of the fashionable summer hotel
in which he was spending the summer
Cannaught had a reason for choos-
ing this place to loiter irl-he needed
to see people, to hear the gay babble
of merry groups of people He hao
been too long in his gloomy studio IN
town doing nothing but work. anu
there had come to him the moment
when he discovered that If he did not
get out among human beings again he
would forget how they talked and act
ed and lived. His dialogue would be
come stilted; his situations unnatural
and he would lose his roofing IN the
literary world.
What mattered it if the gay persi-
fage that f1oated about HIM was mere
ly the babbIe of dilletantes and anna
tours? 1t was what he needed, and
each evening he watched the ever
changing groups of human beings VINO
frequented this inn
Tonight the voice of woman had
reached his ears and he turned to see
her He waved off the cloud of smoke
he had blown before him, the better to
view her.
She was tall and well built with an
obvious foreign bearing and yet-she
was an American. Cannaught knew
this from her accent. Her toilette was
simple yet individual and the lorgnette
she piled added not one whit OF artln-
ciality She had exquisite coioring and
hair, and her eyes, though they did
not see well, were wonderfully beau
tiful.
She chartered with intimates. She
had motored down to the chateau and
was making her adieux.
woman friend held her hand ling
eringly in both her own ''It is so good
to have you back, Marguerite" she
said. France and Italy have done
much for you"
Marguerite laughed in a soft little
way she had. you're SO good. But
/ do come soon-Oyster Bay 719-and
brought me back to this country"
! TN come, indeed. to see her-and
you" said the woman. following the
/ tall Marguerite with her eyes until she
was out of sight.
Cannaught thoughtfully slipped the
black coffee and his eyes sought the
door through which Marguerite had
passed.
Her grandchild." he said to him
self Then he blew a set of smoke
rings and watched them expand and
disappear into thin air. Her grand
child" he repeated
Thereafter, as he sat watching men
and women come and 60, Ned Can
naught had always in mind one thing
another sight of-Marguerite. OF
place none had attracted him as had
this one
Against his own desires and inclin-
atoms he began to cultivate the guests
who lived at the chateau and occasion
ally he would join them in the lounge
after dinner instead of sitting alone
Perhaps someone might know her;
perhaps she would come again.
Cannaught was sure she had an in
teresting story to tell; she must have
If at surely not more than thirty-four
she had a grandchild. The latter fact
seemed incredible but she had stated
it with her own lips and her friend
had seemed not at all astonished.
Summer was waning and Cannaught
longed again for the quiet of his studio
and the companionship of his personal
surroundings He had another week
to remain at the chateau according to
the promise made to himself early in
the season, and he was sitting fretful-
ly in his accustomed place behind a
bank of palms Before hiI-1 was a ia
bourette with his coffee and cigars
Presently, he heard a bell boy say,
THAT is Mr.. Cannaught, behind the
palms
Then, a voice answered. THANK you,
I'll find him myself. now"
The next moment, the beautiful wo-
man who had so attracted him, STOOD
before him, a letter in her hand.
Mr.. Cannaught?" she said. looking
at him through her gold-rir1med lorg-
nette. There was slight infection in
her voice, as if to imply Interrogation.
Cannaught laid down his cigar and
stood quickly. at is I, Madame" he
said.
Marguerite smiled. ''I have been
searching for you all summer with
Cannaught took the letter. BE
seated, pray" he said, indicating the
great lounge on which he himself had
) been sitting. Marguerite sank down
into it.
From dear old Bradley" Can
naught exclaimed as he scanned the
note. How good to hear of him again
and he introduces you-Miss Carver
extending his hand, I'm happy to
to her name, Marguerite did not notice
it.
s'His villa is next to my own in Sor-
rento, and as we two alone spoke Eng
lish We became the best Of friends, "
Marguerite told him. And when
came away he asked me to see you. He
says he's a poor hand at writing, and
that you like to know how he's getting
on"
Cannaught studied her while she
lspoke. He was paying little attention
Ito her words-they would keep I'D
Hike to know more than that he said,