The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-05-01
EVENING STORY
The Lesser Evil.
BY IzOLA FORESTER

IdrIner IN Lne wing CHAIR Dy the Ody
window and spread her kirt carefully.
But I'm your mothers own cousin
and 1 shouldn't rest easy in my grave
if 1 didn't tell what 1 thought at such
a time"
why did he ever leave such an
idiotic will?" Kathleen interrupted
stormily She sat by the old-fashioned,
flat-topped desk in the middle of the
library floor, both elbows planted on
the melee of papers, while she cried
plentifully in her handkerchief. 1t
was half an hour since Graham, the
family lawyer, had bowed his way out,
leaving the only living relative of Mrs.
Letitia Lovejoy to digest the will she
had left. Everything, with the excep-
ton of two clocks, one colonial drop
leaf table, one curate's delight and one
silver tea service, went to Kathleen.
These were reserved for my dear
cousin. Mary Coniston. in loving APP
probation of her care and friendship
these many years"
The last paragraph, however, had
come like a thunderbolt to Kathleen.
She had always known that at her
mothers death the estate would re-
vert to her by her fathers will, but
here was proviso tackled on, of which
she had known nothing
Providing that said Kathleen Love-
joy shall marry my beloved godson,
Randall Lovejoy Phelps"
You can't tell me, Cousin Mary,
that Randy didn't know all about this
long ago and he could have saved me
by refusing to marry me, then what
could she have done about it? 1 hate
him. I'd rather give up everything,
the house and all, rather than marry
him. It's the lesser evil, and I shall
write to Mr.. Graham and tell him So"
kathleen wiped her eyes belligerently.
I'm not one bit afraid of work, and
you know it. 1 can go back into the
motor corps tomorrow if 1 want to.
They're going to keep up all sorts of
branches in reconstruction lines, and
L shall write an application tomorrow
to be restored to service now that !
am free from the care of mother"
Just two days later Randall Phelps
sat in Graham's new office up in the
Crandall building on Main street and
heard Kathleen's opinion frankly eX-
pressed by letter. She would not fol-
low the terms of the will. She would
never marry Mr.. Phelps or any one
else under the terms of coercion, and
she was leaving the house at once
that there might be no further
trouble.
Where has she gomez" asked Ran
dali. frowning at the portrait of Dan
iel Webster on the wall.
Presumably back to the motor
corle." Mr.. Graham searched the let
ter again for verification. Most I'M
you-er-have you had any serious
QUARREL"
Not recently. I haven't seen or
heard from her since L got back. Two
years ago, just before 1 enlisted, we
we-oh, the devil, Grahaur, Pm not
going to have her, do. this. Give up
her home and money for me. I don't
want her to marry me on compulsion.
What can L do legally?"
Nothing Mr. Graham told him Il nv
ly, nothing at all. The terms of the
will stood. Perhaps he might win ker
over by doing something in the same
line as herself, first aid as it were, in
the new building-up work with SOL
diers.
Randall smiled as the plan dawned
on him, and he gripped the old law
yer's hand fervently. 1t did not need
any words of his to prove his own
stand on the will.
And not a week later, at the little
local headquarters in the town, Kath-
leen received orders to call at the
railroad station for the first consign-
ment of convalescent soldiers to lie
sent up to the LOYejoy place, under
Mr., Phelps's arrangement +
Never did any soldier ordered Ger.
the top go with sitter upper lip
than Kathleen. Sternly she faced
front and drove along the familiar
roads until the row of tall Norway
pines came in view, and there was
Randall himself to welcome his CUES is,
with Cousin Mary beside him to act
as hostess
They both nodded to her pleasantly.
and Kathleen felt hurt and cold as
they all passed up the box bordered
walk together. She was to wait there
for the two nurses who had brought
the men up. But long before they
put in an appearance Randall came
leisurely down to the car and lit a
cigaret before he opened up a CONVEX
sation.
You're needed here more than you
are running that car, Kathleen"
"A matter of personal opinion, isn't
it," said Kathleen coolly. You seem
to be very pleasantly situated"
Nothing has been changed 1t is
still your property he said graveIy.
L am only acting in your interests in
the way think you would approve
of. I'm going to do this all summer.
l thought by September you would be
tired of running the car, and we could
be married about your birthday, the
18th, isn't to-
Did you tell Mr.. Graham shat we
were engaged?" Kathleen tried her
best to be scornful. 1t was hard when
she saw the new d. S. c. on his breast
Her specially these days was heroes,
ana 1t would be rather nice to have
one in the family. Besides, his ewes
were disconcerting.
You gave me to understand we
were-two years ago. If you insist, I
shall turn the place over permanently
as a home for disabled soldiers I'm
one myself. as it is; heart trouble"
She laughed. Down the path were
the two nurses. walking slowly and
chatting with some of the men. The
time was short Ha in ~
ner pocket and drew out a small flar
billfold she remembered giving him
long ago.
Silently he opened it for her scru-
tiny Around it was coiled a long curl,
ing strand of blonde hair making
frame. On the other side was a letter.
the one she had written him that last
day:
I'm sorry I said no. I never
dreamed you were really going. New
er believe me when 1 say no, Randy.
m still all yours until you return"