The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-10-26
EVENING STORY
Saving Grace.
BY INES MACDONALD

charming person on MS knee.
kissing than really get" she insisted.
whereupon the delinquent Mr..
Thomas Dudley strovs to do his duty.
aitho his short adventure in the
realms of matrimony had already so
experienced him in the ways of women
as represented by his fascinating bride
that he knew this was only the pre-
amble to something else which doubt
lessly occupied the fair head of his
ardent wife.
DO you remember Grace Morgan,
Tommie 2" she asked eventually.
Hum" unused Tommie judiciously.
'"-he prim-face girl with the brown
eyes whom you used to ring in &C.
casionally when I wanted you to your
That's the girl" laughed Louise
Dudley. But she really isn't prim,
Tommie. She just seems that way.
She has lots of fun in her when you
actually know her, but she's lived in
a dead little sanctimonious town and
never had a chance to let herself go.
And now what do you think she's
going to do?''
Tommy solemnly gave it UP.
shes going to China to be a mis-
sionary!" announced Louise tragically.
Tommy grinned at the fervor OF his
hearts desire. III she must spread
enlightenment among the heathen,"
odla kCs why QOCoH BIG SCI AlldllASA
and raise some little heather Of her
own"
There isn't a single man in her
town she'd look at" said Louise scorn-
fully. And I think the poor child
is just determined to amount to some
thing in the world and this seemed to
her to be her only chance to do So"
WELL said Dudley, that's hard
luck.\ II 1 weren't otherwise married
now. might look into her case. but
as it is, I'm sure I don't see what I
can do about it"
At this bold speech Mrs. Dudley
sank two sets of clutching fingers into
his thick blond hair and shook his
head savagely. You're not the only
man on earth, Tommie Dudley" she
said, land when she comes I want
you to behave and hefp your wife save
her life."
when she comes" asked the be-
wildered husband.
Yes, when she comes,' mimicked
the disrespectful one. She's going to
spend a week with us on her way to
China"
my word" exclaimed Tom Dudley.
you've already chosen the victim, 1
suppose"
joy in my mind" she said wisely.
But Kinks my friend. LOU" pro-
tested Tom. But his valiant effort to
save his friend was in vain, for on the
evening Of the third day. as they say
in the Scriptures. the pretty Mrs. Dud-
ley cornered Kirk Lovejoy in her hall
upon his arrival and lectured him
sternly.
when you meet her, Kirk want
you to sweep her right off her feet
Now don't pretend! I know just ex-
actly how you are with girls. You
a Ia RI oil oh al AccI1
and there's no reason why you
shouldn't turn your talent into a good
cause for once in your heartless life"
But I don't want to marry her
I never even saw her!" he objected.
You don't have to marry her." she
said. Make love to her, that's all.
Arouse her natural woman's interest
in you because you are a man-and
maybe If I can keep her here long
enough she'll meet a man worthy of
her" she finished caustically. And
Kirk Lovejoy got the point that had
jabbed at his vanity.
So it happened that two minutes
later he was looking down into a pair
of uninterested gray eyes and snug
Cling a languid hand in his strong,
firm grip. And this" he said mean
ingly. glaneing at Tom Dudley, 'is
what the Chinese get for being
heathen!"
Grace Morgan Joined in the laugh
that followed, but Kirk did not release
her hand. He stepped close to her
and spoke SO tensely that her unin-
terested look changed to one of sur
prise and then of confusion.
They can't have you!" he muir
INJURED. II am a heather myself. and
missionarying begins at home" How
ever all during dinner. Kinks spirits
seemed entirely unimpaired by the
horrible fact of her early departure
for heather lands but he lost no sin
gle opportunity with both eyes and
speech to impress himself on the mind
and heart of Grace Morgan. She pre-
tended nott notice. but from time to
time he caught her watching him CO.
verify. This impetuous young man
was something new in her inexperi-
ence, and she found herself responding
to his high spirits with gaye:y hith-
erto undiscovered in Ter makeup.
After dinner Kirk 1ounged out into
the kitchen whence came the rattle of
dishes and the sound Of quick foot
steps crossing the bare floor He
still carried the personal element with
him, and as soon as she could manage
1t, without its being too apparent,
Louise slipped out and abandoned
Grace Morgan to her fate.
Il was afraid I'd never get you
alone" said Kirk. Watching Grace
Morgan as she deftly wiped plate.
She turned to glance at him over
her shoulder. It was getting exciting,
he was so sudden and direct You
haven't known me two hours yet" she
reminded him.
ut doesn't take more than two min
utes when it's the right girl" leased
her. Perhaps I'd better kiss you
while I've got the chance" Where
upon. to Grace's unprepared amaze
ment. she found herself close gripped
in his arms. and as with back-flung
head she stared up into his eyes she
felt the strength of him. She was
overwhelmed with the realization that
1t was useless to resist. so with a little
hopeless sigh she closed her ewes.
and as his lips found hers. the china
cup slipped from her released grasp
and shattered to the floor
: A few moments later Louise re-
turned to the kitchen and found Grace
Morgan alone on her knees in the
middle OF the floor staring with un-