The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-07-19
THE EVENING STORY
From TrebiZOnd.
By C1arissa Mackie.

There were seven letters, most of
| them invitations, and one thin. for
eign looking envelope bearing her
name and address in dashing black
characters. Mary wondered which
one of her friends might be travelling
| in the Far East; the postmark was
| Trebizond.
She ate her breakfast in dreamy
abstraction. She had decided to marry
Blake Townsend. Perhaps she didn't
| love him in the romantic way she had
always dreamed about, but she was
very fond of Blake, and Cousin Abb
gail Hunter-Hunt ever held before
Mary's eyes the desirability of mar
riage into the Townsend family. Said
Mrs. Hunter-HUnt:
you've got to marry some one,
my dear, and whom do you like better
than Blake?" Mary had admitted
fast she would write the note to
Blake.
She arose with an excuse that Mrs
Hunter-Hunt did not hear.
Mary dropped into a deep chair be-
fore the library table and pulled writ
ing materials toward her. 1t was
the work of five minutes to write the
dainty note and affix the necessary
stamp.
Mary held the strange letter from
TrebiZond in her hand for a moment
before inserting the thin ivory blade
under the flap.
What visions of strange countries
the very name of Trebizond aroused
in her mind! Far north in Turkey,
the white-wa1led city rested on the
lip of the Black sea. She must tell
Blake that their honeymoon was to
be spent in Trebizond
She opened the letter and drew
forth a thin, folded sheet of paper.
A few lines were dashed blackly
across the page, and Mary stared at
them, her puzzled mind trying to in
terpret their meaning to her, for the
signature of the writer was unknown
to her.
Dear Mary-Do not decide until L
come. Wait for me. I am coming
at once. Devotedly, John Gray
Who was John Gray? Why should
he write to her from the other end
of the world? Why should his warn
decisive note to Blake Townsend?
Mary studied the envelope and
could find no error there, unless it
lay in the omission of the street and
number, which had been placed in
one corner by the postoffice depart
ment.
Miss Mary Bsllew, New York,
N. Y, U. S. A
She told herself repeatedly, of
course it could not be for her-She
did not known John Gray.
There was something about the let
ter, the way it had reached her at the
moment of important decision,
that stirred her strangely. She felt a
vague interest in the unknown John
Gray.
Mary Bellew was a young person of
impulse. She Immediately destroyed
the letter she had written to Blake
Townsend.
She dressed and went to the nearest
drug store and consulted the city di-
rectory. From this volume she COM
piled list of all the Bellows in the
city and within the next twenty-four
hours had managed to communicate
with each one and discover to her
entire satisfaction that not one Mary
Bellew was acquainted with John
Gray of Trebizcnd.
Mary, Mary!" bemoaned Abigail
Hunter Hunt, when she discovered
that Blake Townsend had gracefully
accepted her refusal and turned his
attentions to another maiden. ITO |
lose such an opportunity! Why, the
Townsends could place you in the |
highest social niche in the land!''
Nonsense" cried Mary warmly, |
would you have me marry a nice |
fellow like Blake just in order to
climb over his family and sit in a |
niche?"
Mrs. Hunter-Hunt looked tragically |
at her charge. Mary Bellew, there /
Is another mani" she accused.
Mary blushed beautifully and turned |
her head away. How could she explain |
to practical Abigail Hunter-Hunt that |
her interest was centered in that mys- |
FERROUS letter from Trebizond?
She scanned the passenger list of |
every incoming steamship for the name
of the traveller from Trebizond. But |
not once did she read the simple name |
of John Gray" Weeks passed and |
then months slipped by until summer |
was upon the city and they went down
to the Bellew country home.
I'll 1nry Har cot %I,n
stripe of private bathing beach drip
ping from a dip in the sea- A few |
little freckles powdered her pretty
nose.
Foolish Mary Bellew thinking
about 'Devotedly, John Gray"
Suddenly, as if out of the blue sky,
there dropped bolt of doubt.
Suppose there should be a Mrs.
John Gray exclaimed Mary.
Horrors said calmly hooking
voice.
Mary jumped up anc confronted a
stranger-a perfect stranger on the
Bellew beach-sometimes curious sight
seers wandered unbidden into the
grounds.
Miss Bellew drew herself up to her
full height and stared coldly at the
intruder.
Il beg your pardon-Fm afraid L
was very rude he said.
Mary vas athrill with the conscious
ness that something unusual was hap
pening in her rather tame existence.
The stranger was uttering astonish-
ing words. My name is John Gray"
he was saying politely, Il was told
that Miss Mary Bellew was sitting on
the beach,
II am Miss Bellew," admitted Mary,
her knees shaking oddly.
She sank down on a hillock of sand,
and, with murmured word of thanks
for the permission, John Gray found
another little hillock.
IT am in search of a letter that went