The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1916-08-03
ssAMAZING lGRACE"

begged. Il really ought not 10
have gone out there tonight
and / don't know whether he'll
want all this written up or not
for didn't mention the Herald's
name in our conversation. and"
"Bosh!" he snapped. Rot! And
piffle! You had a right to go
out there IL | sent you-and of
course, he can't object to the
public knowing, now his plans are
completed"
do you really think so?" |
asked, from the doorway.
He waved me Grossly away, and
caught a car home.
The first thing mother always
demanded after breakfast was the
paper, but the next morning, she
was not so impatient for the
sound of the carriers whistle as /.
/ ran out for 1t myself and
scurried back into the house.
"And got your name to it
Grace Chalmers Christie!" mother
walled in despair, as she opened
the sheet and saw two columns.
"Let's-see," | suggested, peer
ing over her shoulder and watch
ing the words dancing up and
down. | couldn't read anything,
but l managed to catch an occa-
sional "Macdermott" as 1t pranc-
ed along in front of an occasional
model cottage"
Take it!-Burn it," mother
commanded.
She thrust 1t into my hand, and
I took it into my bed room.
There 1t lay all morning-and I
whispered to 1t and caressed 1t,
for 1t contained his name-re-
printed many times.
Then the telephone in the hall!
I tried to keep away from 1t as
hard as they say murderer tries
to keep away from the scene of
his crime.
81 won't call him until after
noon," l kept telling myself. "It
would be perfectly outrageous.
I'll call him from the office-just
about dusk, and"
Then I began seeing things
houses and English gardens, with
children and school houses in the
background-until I came to the
office in time for the 1 O'Clock
staff meeting.
The first thing | saw there was
note lying on my desk. IL bore
no postmark, so l knew that 1t
must have come by messenger.
What can he have said?" l
thought, catching 1t up and weigh
ing it in my hands. And | won
der why he sent it here to the
Herald office, instead of our
home" -E
I looked at it again and found
vague Havana" fragrance
about it--before I ran a hairpin
under the flap and opened it. 1t
ran as follows:
"My Dear Miss Christie: I have
no doubt that you already know
every man to be an Achilles
who YIELDS heel protector out of
his eg0tfsm.
my apology for being such an
easy mark is that 1t was a case
of mistaken identity. I want you
to know that, as an actress. you
are amazing! firmly believed
that an unusually fair and charm
ing woman was doing me a great
honor-but l awoke this morning
from my trance to find that q
clever newspaper reporter had
outwitted me.
"Of course, the words I said to
the vision of my own fancy and
the promise I exacted do not hold
good with the. reporter. I am
leaving Oldburgh at noon today,
and even IL I we're not, you would
not care to see me again, since
know nothing more that would
serve as a front page article for
the Herald. Very sincerely yours,
MAITLAND TAFT"
Now, do you know what hap
pens when woman receives such
letter as this? Well, first she
blames her eyesight. Then she
carries it off into some dark cor
ner where she hopes she can see
better, for the strong glare of
day seems to make matters worse.
! If there's an attic near, so much