The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-10-19

| to teach her.
Yes, the man who has been such &
father to me all my life. turned around
at the bidding of a woman he has known
three months and cut my allowance down
to 200 year and told me that he was
making a new will by which that would
be my splendid portion for life
But the people down here-what sort
Of reception will they give herr"
She's hypnotized them ALL" came the
bitter reply. Everyone here is full OF
the war. of course. She's playing the
Belgian refugee stunt for all it's worth
OF course father is enraptured by her
devotion. And yeti know in my soul
there's something about her that don't
trust"
Gale was sorry for her-very-but real
lied that fifty-five may be fairer Judge
than twenty-one-offt thirty.
Madeline?''
III the heather knew that. they would
not call on the missionary" came the re-
ply with rather a sad little smile.
Gale looked up and caught sight Of Q
cloud bank coming up from the east
better start back"
She nodded. The ebb was running
strong and the wind was freshening and
there was little opportunity for conf
dences as Gale pulled back.
As they walked up the steep hill they
met the Admiral and Arthur Weldon, one
of tho house party at Polruan Hall. The
presence of Madeline obviously blinded
Weldon to all the other salient facts of
life. Gale paired off with his host. He
was clean shaven-his hair was snow
white and his complexion rudy with
health and open air life. He was a great
authority on naval Notifications, and
Gale had been an eager pupil to an en-
thusiastic teacher. The Admiral had held
important posts at Plymouth and Ports
mouth-the foster mothers of the British
Maryland was now on shore in order
that he might perfect certain defensive
plans FOR Devon and Cornwall. Gale
thought him looking youthful but wor-
rled and detected a tinge of embarrass-
ment in his manner. Furtive was too
strong a word to use-but his eyes were
not quite so frank as of yore. Halfway
down the long. struggling street of the
little town they met the motor. Danvers
-hatless-hfs hair still wet from bathing,
was hoioins the steering wheel in one
nand and half-eaten saffron bun was
In the other. By his side was Mamie
Lestrange, with whom he was construct
ing delicate friendship for the sum-
mer or the duration OF the war. which
ever finished first"
Twenty minutes rather breeth,esz d-,v-
lunch. AoA
Later on Gale and tho Admiral retired
TO the study. and by 4 o'clock thew were
on the links-but Gale found his mino
running all the afternoon on Madeline.
problem. A hard fought game failed -
lift his anxiety and 1t was with a feel
ing almost Of irritation that he went
down to dinner in the evening.
Mr.. Gale" said Sir Algernon, as his
famous guest entered. "1et me introduce
you to Madame Dubois
Gale saw before him a fascinating look
ing woman of medium height and of
sight and exquisite build. Her eyebrows
were very dark, almost black, but her
hair was OF wonderful silken texture
marvellously fair and wavy. If it was
dyed. 1t was done by a master hand-ff
1t was wig 1t was the last word in art
Her big blue eyes were brilliant with
lie and Intelligence as they looked I'D at
him, but he felt sure they could be made
to melt with infinite tenderness. He GER
tainly would not have called her mouth
hard. He felt very sorry for Madeline.
He took Madame Dubois in to dinner.
1t was a large party-and when the flood
tide of conversation rose to its height
he knew he could talk to her as in tho
confessional. But he had no brief and
no instructions. he was not sure that
there was any just cause or impeachment.
He had no clue to tell him that she was
not wholly desirable. Sir Algernon evil
IDENTIFY thought she was. AS they crossed
the hall they discussed the weather; the
storm which had threatened before lunch
had blown over. Through the long open
windows of the dining room they could
see the moon on the waters. She spoke
English perfectly. but the French accent
was pronounced. Her gestures and the
frequent play of her hands reminded him
of Paris-or Brussels in happier days.
do vo,, know Cornwall well 7' he ask.
ed her.
mo, have never been hero before.
know England SO little. was born in
France but lived in Belgium-poor she'll
swept Belgium-nearly all my life !
married Monsieur Dubois three years ago
Il came over on a visit to England two
months before the war broke out. My
husband stayed behind and died for his
country at Iiege. Those cruel. cruel
siege Euns.'
Her lips quivered as she spoke and
Gale saw a pretended search for a hand
kerchief that was not meant to be found.
"You are living at the Chalet. Think"
Eyes! such a charming house. was
SO lucky. I love the sea and was won
dering where to go for the summer.
met Sir Algernon in London-at dinner
at the Dixons. You knew them? Mr..
Dixon Is a great archaeologist I sat
next Sir Algernon and told him of my
difficulties. He was most charming and
offered me the Chalet. SO I took 1t. and
here ami
''Oh! Dixon" he answered, "he's the
great authority on arrow heads. HevA
you known them long?"
mo. That's the f1rst time dined there
but I found them 80 interesting" That
avenue of research seemed closed and
Gale led her to talk of Brussels: her
knowledge of 1t seemed intimate-her SYM
pathy with the country profound. She
obviously knew all about Gale and nat
tered him with delicate appreciation and
eyes Intentionally soulful. He noted
every intonation-marked each uncon-
scious hesitation and-reserved judgment
The arrival of the second entree caused
the usual dislocation Of conversation
Madame turned to her next door neighbor
and Gale was left waiting for Madeline.
"Well?" said Madeline calling him back
from abstraction Her conversation with
Arthur Weldon had been anything but
tranquillizing. She had heard a note In
his voice that made her afraid-for the
first time In her life. She had always