The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-07-10
The Eueni,,e Story
His LAdy's Heart.
(By lola Forester. }

IL W88 0Itef Oy tHo Dig 1OuAO
clock in Jefferson Market tower. 1sa-
bel had distinctly noticed the time
when she came In after a belated
marketing. Not in the market itself.
but at various little Italian shops hid
den around the crooked streets that
led one into Washington square.
Isabel was somewhat tired. but 1t
was happy relaxed tiredness She
had been detained uptown at a COM
mittee meeting dealing with the OPEN
ing Of art clubs in the country for art
lists who could not AFFORD bungalow
studios Of their very own.
1t seemed a proper and worthy
summer movement. Isabel herself
was afflicted with a steady income In
dependent of her art. With 500 q
month coming in, rain or shine sne
could fit where she wanted TO anu
paint what she wanted to. IL was not
riches, but it was comfortable moe
pendence. She had LETT nee .a" ny
long ago, feeling that they were ar
married and settled and did not need
her any longer. Down in her heart
she knew 1t was because she did not
need them. Nobody knew how sne
loved the snug coziness OF ner own
studio apartment on the square. the
perfect peace of being able to turn
the kew in the lock and feel that she
was not responsible for anybody or to
anybody.
But tonight as she swung across
the square she saw light In her VIM
dows. 1t was more than unusual IL
was weird. She hurried faster, up the
front steps. and into the long cool
hall. Half way upstairs she paused
with chill shock of surprise There
was a baby crying in her studio.
And then all at once. as she swung
open the door aggressively, she saw
the strangest sight. sight that some
how gripped ones heart strings, ana
brought the tears close to the surface
There were four suitcases piled near
the door. On one window seat was q
curly-haired boy sound asleep. on the
other a girl. Sitting in the low green
willow rocker was a slender figure IN
black. hushin& a baby to sleep. And
strangest of all. guarding the whole
aggregation was Grant Lewis.
Isabel flushed warmly as she met
what she was going to do, and almost
suspect her of not coming up to the
needs of the moment. Grant always
treated her in that way. He said the
surety of the two hundred a month
removed her from the real workers
and tapped the we'll of human sym
pathy in her makeup. For himself.
suite Of offices on University place.
and a clinic down on Blocker street
in the heart of Little Sicily, he was
working out his own ideals.
1t had grown to be q tacit habit or
custom for him to drop in casually at
the studio and talk over his plans
with her, or drift out for a stroll
nv tI1sa old ~ into NJ
the Italian table d'hote places for
dinner.
He had even told her that he loved
her more than any woman. but he
had not asked her to be his wife. and
vaguely Isabel sensed the reason why.
He considered her a girl so absorbed
In her own little excursions into art
that she lost sight of the real issues
of life
But for once the issues had found
her out, even here in her shadowy
studio. She gave one startled cry of
surprise as Nell rose and faced her
with the baby in her arms. Nell. the
flock down in Maryland, who had been
the first to marry of all the girls
Perhaps I'd better CO." suggested
Grant, as Isabel folded the forlorn lit
tie mother figure in her own. ample
embrace. Il got both the other kid
0leS TO sleep all right
"Oh. he's been SO good to us all.
Nell laughed with the tears wet on
her cheeks 81 took a cab over from
the ferry and trusted to luck to find
you here, Belle
But, child Isabel began. ignoring
the warning look in Grants eyes.
How on earth-
I'm going down to telephone a
minute Grant interposed. making q
dash for the door,
"Oh. yes. I've told him. Nell said.
in answer to Isabers mute appeal.
Il had to tell somebody, and you
weren't here. Bertrand is missing.
haven't heard a word from him in
over two months. He was sent south
with several other engineers, you
know, to take up the construction
work on the big Guadalpa dam
Where on earth IL that?'' asked
Isabel helplessly.
In Central America, just south Of
the Mexican border. I've had Just one
letter from him. and he said two OF
the American boys had died there
from fever. Oh, Belle, I'm SO worried
and worn out, and we haven't any
money, and I just managed to sell
some things and come to you with the
babies.s
BLESS your dear heart" Isabel said,
energetically. "Of course, wen look
out for you all And 1t may be all
right. Nell Don't give up hope I've
enough for both of M, plenty, and
we'll manage some way until we hear
tWins?''
When Grant returned he found her
calmly and happily putting the twins
to bed on the davenport. Nell and the
baby had been given her bedroom
She met his eyes almost dodantly. with