The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1912-01-06

For the Heroine
By MARTHA McCULLOCH WILLIAMS
By MARTHA McCULLOCH WILLIAMS
Copyright 1911. by Associated Literary Pres1)

sibly. then. you are a woman's WON
an"
Another head shake interrupted him.
81 am-mOstly-a human being" she
said. 81 have a shell. of course-for
self-protection-but most times l leave
it at home"
Dare / hope you left it this timer"
Edison asked.
She looked at him doubtfulIy, half
a second. then said with a faint shrug:
Isn't it too hot for shells of any
sort?''
By way of answer Edison laid his
card in front of her She did not
glance at it until she had paid her
check. Even then it was no more
than a glance.
81 knew you anyway-yOur picture
is so often in the advertising pages
she said with another little shrug. 81
have to pay attention to them" she
explained, since advertising means
my bread and butter"
Il see! A hopeless plutocrat-in
spite of your dinner of herbs Edison
answered.
She laughed softly. q like only the
herbs which cost real money" she
said. THAT reminds me-your cigar
wants lighting Make haste, please!
l must be going in minute. and am
really curious as to the sort of weed
you fancy"
Il would rather show you the sort
of girl l fancy" Edison said boldly,
! looking straight at her Il won't ask
your name. much as I should like to
know it-but since you are reasonably
secure that I'm neither a pirate nor
a kidnapper. 1 am asking you to go
with me to an open-air LAS You Like
It''-luckiIy l have cards"
That will be very much as l like
it," the girl said dimplingly. 81 was
| just wondering what to do with my
SELF
The play. given upon a big lawn
! full of immemOrial oaks, was half over
when there came a scud of rain. Yet
it was not the big pelting drops which
made his companion shudder-Of that
Edison was certain, although she had
! given no sign of recognizing anybody
in the crowd.
He had seen Graham across at the
far side Graham with his eyes
dreamy, yet his mouth set. Graham
was not one of fortunes spoiled dar-
| lings-inheritor of fortune, no less
3 genius and a gentleman. Apparent
| ly he had not seen EdsOn-yet as the
rain came thicker, Edison heard him
saying behind him:
! Take this umbrella, Dan, while 1
call a taxi. No use in waiting-we
are in for real rain
Then the astonishing young woman
rose up, faced Graham, and said soft
Iy: No need of taxi, John-you
know neither / nor my frocks ever
minded a wetting."
Elizabeth" Graham gasped, catch
ing her hands. and going all colors.
She, too. changed color-a clear red
swept her pallor, and made her vivid
ly beautiful. 81 have changed one
way" she half whispered. moving
nearer Graham under pretext of shell
ter. 81 have found out it takes a
really sensible girl to be the worst
possible fool
"How?" Graham asked chokingly,
while Edison stared.
"By reading advance sheets of Two
Women the girl said. You don't
know, it-but l am doing press work
for it. Of course recognized ny
self in it-and-your point of view"
odd. but l recognized you as the
hercine-the model for her, l mean
the minute l looked at you across the
table, Edison broke in
She laughed softly. q went to your
table to see if you would do it." she
said. 81 will tell you now my name
Elizabeth Bradley"
'It is hardly worth while telling it
since it will be Elizabeth Graham to-
morrow" Graham interrupted.
She looked at him little reproach-
fully. You had better explain" she
said, nodding toward Edison. He
doesn't know that we were engaged
until daddy lost so much money your
lady mother sighed at thought of the
match"
Never mind! Never mind any
thing but that you are going to marry
me-" Graham said stoutly.
Elizabeth began to giggle. ST have
to mind a lost opportunity" she said.
Since it is happening to me, myself
want it kept dark-but only think
what a chance for a press agent, If
the story of how the illustrator IN
Willingly reconciIed the famous au-
thor and his heroine-sweetheart, could
be featured as it deserves
81 shall tell it to-your successor
and see that justice is done it, Ed
son said, bowling. Unless you agree
that may be best man.
That goes without saying Ora
ham said over his shoulder. as he
strobe with the drenchet but radiant
Elizabeth toward a waiting car