The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-12-25

IS
so much interested in. I've previously
ordered a doll or a book for each
child Tell them that 1 feel that
would be a needless extravaganza. If
they are absolutely without necessities
let them notify me. and I'll send them
a check. But now is no time to waste
money on mere toys. Let the young
sters make dolls out of sticks and
things They will enjoy them just as
much"
Nancy wrote these and a dozen or
so similar letters that Mr.. Harrow die
tated, and gave no mixing of her own
attitude toward the contents of the
letters. That night, when Harrow had
left rather earlier than usual, the let
tiers were still on Nancy's desk, and
when she left, little later. the letters
were living in a mail basket where it
might seem that they had been for
gotten; but where, as a matter of fact
there was no danger of their being
mailed. Nancy hurried from the
office to the nearest public telephone
booth, called up Clarice and told her
she wanted to see her at once and
would board the next car toward her
house She hurried to Clarice's room
and talked with her for a short ten
minutes, and then hurried home, leav-
ing Clarice ample time for a more
than ordinarily elaborate toilet that
night.
When Mr.. Harrow arrived at the
Wardham house an hour later, for
dinner and a quiet little evening with
Clarice afterward, Clarice was in her
most bewitching mood and Harrow
had nothing of the gruffness that had
| chara cterized his manner at the Of
flee during the afternoon.
He had come with the half convic-
ton that that night he would def1n-
demand from her a definite answer.
But when he fell under the charm of
her coquetry, for Clarice was ire
sistible that night, he was fully de-
termined, and he was impatient of the
many courses of dinner and the mo-
ments that had to be spent with Clar-
ices family before they could grace
fully find a sequestered spot alone.
When they were seated in the mu-
sic room-Clarice had made an e&-
new records-he asked her point
blank and without wasting time in
preliminaries whether she would
marry him.
Clarice looked perplexed. I'm
afraid we ought not to think of it,
she said; "at least. while the war
lasts. 1t would mean many expenses,
and we would have to give each other
a great deal of love, and owing to
war conditions, we ought not to give
all that, do you think so?"
Mr.. Harrow for the first time that
evening recalled his afternoon at the
office, and the man that had dictated
the letters seemed now like a repul-
siye shadow of his true self. Clarice
explained her friendship for Nancy
Smith and Nancy's hurried call that
afternoon.
Don't think the less of Nancy for
| it, begged Clarice. Il asked her to
/ let me know just what sort of man
you are. and wouldn't let her tell you
| that she knew me. It is all my fault"
IF she realized how small I was in
| writing those letters. why didn't she
| tell me?" demanded Harrow. why
did she post them ?"
she didn't post them" said Clar-
ice They are locked in your office. "
It was a thoroly contrite, humbled
sort of man that kne1t before Clarice' s
| chair. IF III promise to give twice
as much this Christmas. and promise
| never to be a spug again, will you
promise to marry me?" he begged
And of course Clarice said yes
/ Copyright 1917, by the Mcclure
! Newspaper Syndicate.)