The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-10-19
Copyright mi. b. the Mcclure NswsrapsR
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Il wonder, Nj. Gale. II you will make
Q good missionaryT'
I Gale had known Madeline Polruan ever
since she had been big enough to paddle
Today they were pottering among the
mussel-covered rocks. seeking for crabs
They were in q small rowboat. Gale at
the oars and Madeline in the stern
For some time she had been silent
and then suddenly out Of nowhere had
come this quaint remark about the mis-
sionary.
"a missionary, Madeline?" he Queried.
"somethinz of a new role for a mere bar
rister, isn't it7''
..r attended n missionary meeting last
week" she answered rather vaguely.
Tho deputation-I always think thats
such a fat word for one little man-said
that wherever the call Como over and
help US was heard. there the missionary
was sent. want you. Mr.. Gale. to be
my missionary"
Gale smiled and wondered what help
she could need. She was extraordinarily
seIf-suficing for q girl Of n The only
child of Admiral Sir Asernon Polruan.
she had preserved her independence In
spite of his excessive wealth
The wisdom of Solomon Is at your
disposal" he answered: you may remem-
Der tho Queen of Sheba came to try him
with hard questions"
He stopped rowing and let the boat drift
iaziIy with the ebb-tide into the shadow
Of the beetling cliffs and waited. watch
ing the sunlight dancing on the MINDLESS
waters.
Its such a shame to bother you on
holiday" she broke out suddenly. with
my stupid little troubles" She was not
aware that the admiralty had comman-
deered his unique abilities for secret in
vestigntions on the coast he loved SO well
and that war time made even his hard
won vacation heavy with responsibility.
But you've been such a real friend to
me ever since the days when I was Ave
and you were at Cambridge that I'm
afraid you've got to stand a. rather Dor
ing babblement of woe from me-
Gale had an intense love for children
and he had watched her grow up from
cherry, healthy little thing-nostly brown
IN summertime-to a tall dark and very
original girl, and all the time their quaint
friendship had never wavered.
You'll meet her at dinner tonight"
Madeline began abruptly.
Father has absolutely changed since
she took the Chalet"
Gale paused In the act of lighting his
pipe. and let the match go out. as far
flung panorama of possible tragedy fash
ed, before his mind. The Admiral was
ffty-nve-his wife had died when Made
line was born. and he had never looked
twice at any woman since His whole
life had been devoted to his only daush-
ter and tho service of his country. with
archaeological research and photography
as hobbies. But his temper at times was
virulent and opposition maddened him
A new constellation, with Madeline hos
tile might easily lead to her total
eclipse. '.And what is Sapphira's manner"
he Queried.
Cynthia Dubois. She's q Belgian-and
speaks English perfectly with a little for
eign accent that is supposed to be fas-
cinating. There was a husband but he
was killed at the siege of Liege. She
pretends to be thirty. Father met her
somewhere In London-he does not seem
to have wasted much time-for she
straightway arranged to rent the Chalet
from him. She came down month ago."
you'd hate him to marry again?'
"Oh. I'm not such q little beast as to
want him to go without any thing that
would make him happy. He's lived for
me all those years I might get married
some day
Gale thought 1t not unlikely. but won
dered what particular man OF the many
who called had inspired her words.
And I'd hate him to be lonely. But
this woman would not make him happy.
There's something wrong about her, I'm
sure-I hate her eyes They are abysrnal-
ly perndious. hate her mouth. It's the
hard mouth Of a railway director wreath
ed in smiles.'
But does your father know you dis
like herr" Gale hoped against hope that
Madeline had been discreet Her lips
quivered for . second. and Gale knew
how sore her heart must be- Absolute
self-control had always been her pride.
YES" she answered sadly. 'he does.
We had an elephantine row-for tho first
time in our lives. He called me into his
study yesterday-that's Thursday-and
told me he was going to marry her-but
that no announcement would be made be-
fore the big dinner party to be given at
her house next Sunday night"
Gale calculated something under his
breath which he hoped she did not hear
and Madeline went on
7 implored him not to. asked him
what he knew of her. who she was told
him didn't trust her-couId give him no
reasons-I only knew it all by instinct.
And then he turned on me-you know
what he Is when he's crossed She had
evidently been talking mo over with him
told him was too free and independent
and wanted controlIing-susgested to him