The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-08-12
THE EVENING STORY
Through My Iady's Glass.
INV virginia Blair.)

Through My Iady's Glass.
(By Virginia Blair)
eff YOU were ILL.," said Betty, fret
derstand a few things that you are SO
terribly stupid about"
what. for instanee?" said her lover,
with a sort of dreadful calmness.
But Betty was not warned. YOU'D
hate to see other people going off and
enioying themselves. You Wouldn
think YOU were selfish because you
wanted a little remnant of the time
of the person who had sworn to love
you-for better, for worse"
Gregory sprang to his feet: Betty
he said, you're unjust. Haven't
been with YOU every day-every hour
that 1 could spare-and now, because
I want to take run around the cape
with a party of old friends, you con-
clude that you're badly treated--it
isn't fair and it isn't just. But I'm
going to stay here-so you needn't
worry. 1 couldn't enjoy the trip now"
Betty's big eyes bIazed in her pale
face. 1T won't have you here, she
said, tensely. IF you want to go.
you may-and-please don't come back
today, Gregory"
He stood for moment looking down
at her. you mean that?'
Betty turned away her head. Don't
call rue that" she said. It's easy
enough to say pleasant things"
DO you think / don't mean them?"
81 don't care whether you do or
not" coolly; please go, Greg"
He went slowly down the steps of
the porch, tall and striking in his
blue serge coat and white trousers, his
yachting cap and white shoes. Betty
loved the ground he walked on, but
when he looked back. she was gazing
indifferently out over the harbor. TN
be back in an hour" he called.
''Please DON'T came her voice faint
ly. He stepped into his boat, started.
his motor and was off.
Betty lay back in her invalid chair.
On the table beside her were the roses
Gregory had sent. A book he had or
dered for aer lay in her lap, the Persian
pussy cat he had brought to cheer her
loneliness slept comfortably on a blue
cushion at her feet.
But these things, did not make Betty
Happy. She wanted him to be tied to
her side. She was lonely, blue, jeal-
Gus. -
Greg's old friends were on the yacht
anchored out there near the club
house. He had gone to join them. In
that group was q girl with whom
Greg's name had been connected be-
fore he met Betty. Greg had denied
that there had been an engagement.
But Betty felt that there must have
been something serious in the way of
a love affair, for what girl could help
loving Greg? And there was reason
to suspect that Greg's heart had been
involved, for Helen Fhorne was a noted
beauty and Betty was little and thin,
and just getting over an operation for
appendicitis.
And there isn't any romance in ap-
pendicitis," mourned little Betty, and
gave herself up to the clutches of the
green-eyed monster.
Her mother came out presently.
where's Greg?' she asked.
Gone succinctlv.
I'm so glad" said Mrs. Bradford.
hes been so devoted, Betty-and mon
are usually so fussy about being tied
down"
IT hope he'll never come back" said
Betty.
Betty"
IT told him So" Betty went on. "I
wouldn't have cared. mother, if he
had simply gone for a boat ride
put to think he-could be happy-to
pc with other people-when 1 wasn't
flowing
Dear child" her mother stroked
the thin little hands, ''he felt that il
was duty-you know how good the
ne has known them all his life."
But Helen Thorne-mother. what
did people say about them %
You're Jealous" her mother accus-
ed her. "Oh, Betty"
I'm not" Betty's face famed, but
you know how Greg loves people who |
can do things out of doors-and-and |
m tied down here, mother-and the |
doctor says I won't be strong for |
months"
81 know. dear. but you must trust |
Gregory-you know he worships the |
ground you walk on"
But I was different when he fell |
in love with me-I wasn't ill.,
You're not a hopeless invalid, I
child-the doctor says you will be as
well as ever in month or two
Betty felt that many things could /
any lunch, mother" she said listIess-
ly. "Fn eat a peach and take a
nap
But when her mother left her she
did not sleep. She picked up a pair
of opera glasses. another of Gregs
gifts and swept the picture before
her with a searching glance. They
were good glasses, and when the
yacht came within range she could
see Greg's tall figure and the white
clad fenininity with which he was
At least there was safe
ty in numbers. She leaned back and
tried to read, but presently curiosity
claimed her, and again she looked
her glasses. This time she
found ground for suspicion. Greg
and a tall young woman in white
linen were sitting alone, hidden by
the sails from the sight of those on
board, but plainly to be seen by
~ IT, Aef