The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-12-09

i take an hour to run back to town with
| the roads as wet as they are, and don't
you think you'd better let them take
YOU on in their covered car now and
let me come on later when the rain
stops? p"
why. my child. can't go off and
leave you here at the roadside in a
blacksmith shop" Then quite desper-
ately, she added: Neither can l af-
ford to get soaked, nor to fail to be
at the Alhambra in time to receive my
dinner guests. What shall l do ?" The
episode of the wig had quite bereft the
lady of her accustomed composure.
May suggest a means of meeting
the situation?" asked Ashby Gray.
Something told Mrs. Allison-Dodge
that this was no time to harbor preju-
dice against would-be suitors for her
niece,s hand, and certainly no time to
risk offending a representative of the
press lest she might some day undergo
the unspeakable humiliation of seeing
some sly alluSion to her artificial
beauty Besides. and most of all, she
wanted to get home and have in a
masseuse and that discreet hair
dresser and several other people to
repair her in time for the evening. She
was half inclined to assent to Gray's
suggestion that she ride home in the
closed jitney, which was to start i'm
mediately, and let him remain and
come in with her niece after the rain
stopped.
Hurry up, Ashby," called a cub re-
porter from the jitney. i've got two
assignments waiting for me in town.
But Mrs. Allison-Dodge cared not
for cubs and their assignments; the
name of Ashbuy had struck pleasantly
on her aristocratic ear.
Did he call you Ashbyo ] thought
your name was Gray She looked in
qufringly at Gray as Grace buttoned
the final button on the raincoat she
had taken from her own shoulders to
place upon her aunt.
''AShbV. corrected Cr9v nv
way of further explanation, added:
"Ashby was my mothers maiden
You don't mean that your mother
was Amy Ashby, who married Dr.
Wellington Gray. the Boston clergy
man?''
Yes" smiled Gray, as the lady's
manner melted into effusiveness.
But another yell from the cub re-
porter brought their conversation to
a halt, and five minutes later Mrs.
Alllson-Dodge was speeding along
toward the city to be let out at
ordinary jitney, while Grace was MAX
ing eXtravagant use of the storekeep-
erS telephone to have the discreet
hairdressr, the masseuse, and others
in readiness to repair damages be-
fore the hour for dinner When she
came. out she found Ashby Gray ex-
aiming the Frightening skies. 1t
suddenly occurred to her that he
to remain there with her.
II feel that I've no right to accept
such a sacrifice from you, MIR. Gray,
and if it's important for you to be
back in town soon, don't let's wait
another minute on account of the
rain. I shan't mind how wet I get,
for I haven't any rheumatism, and
- she met his smiling eyes with a
frankly amused smile, Il haven't any
wig
"You don't have to tell me that" he
said laughingly, as he looked admir-
ingly at the bronze-colored mass of
hair which the dampness had dark
ened from q bright copper color and
had kinked each loose lock into a
tight curl.
Poor Aunt Clara; she'd never hint |
ed a wig, and what is more, she never !
will. I'm glad she made friends with |
you before leaving, for now she will |
feel that her secret is in the hands of
friends only, and" Grace hesitated |
and Ashby added 'And therefore !
quite safe
Grace telephoned her aunt as soon
as she arrived at home.
sI'm home all safe, Aunt Clara: !
thought you'd like to know"
I'm delighted, dearie; and where |
is that nice Mr.. Gray?'
Hes gone home to dry, but he's !
coming out this evening"
Bring him over to call on Inc, !
won't you?"
IF it clears up, maybe; but there |
will be lots of other opportunities, |
Aunt Clara, for he is going to be |
your nephew.''-(Copyrig 1915, by |
Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate.l