The evening leader., 1919-01-15
. NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
BEATS JEWELRY
BS BSONS00eN0 . . . . Q . Q
Copyright, 1913, by Mcclure Newspaper
SYndicafaA
BY MAUDE HARKINs.

swell, mother" said pretty Grace
Merrill as she settled herself down
TO breakfast Saturday morning, what
do you say to a trip to Boston this
afternoon to see the Liberty Loan pa
rade. That British tank must be some
sight, and just think, have not been
in town since did my Christmas shop
ping"
"Grace, DEAR" answered her mother,
you never could stand the jam of
the crowd that will be there"
1--WE can stay until we get tired
and then come home," persisted Grace.
ut is such a beautiful day and such
a big parade, I'd hate to miss it,"
Grace Merrill had been taken iii
New Years day with pneumonia, and
although nearly month now since
she had been allowed out of doors,
she still remained pale and weak, her
strength returning very slowly.
mo, DEAR" finally responded Mrs.
! Merrill. Il think we had better stay
at home today. Get that sweater you
started for Jack Ellis before you were
taken sick and see If you can ever
finish it."
! Jack will never wear that sweat
er," emphatically declared Grace. 81
| am going to send it to the Red Cross"
"Now, Grace" said her mother,
''you know you like Jack Ellis even
though you did give him his walking
papers just because he sent you
bunch of viOlets for a birthday gift"
"Well, mother" answered Grace. 'it
was not as much as I expected from
Jack, but 1 had my mind made up
long before my birthday to tell him
[ intended to devote all my time to
Red Cross work."
Two o'clock found them packed in
the crowd, enthusiastically cheering,
as the hundreds and hundreds of both
men and women passed by. To Grace's
surprise it was three o'clock before
she realized it.
Suddenly her thoughts were turned
from her tired feelings. What on earth
was that? Could she be mistaken?
No, there it was again. Someone's
hand so soft and warm gently pressing
hers. There, it pressed her hand again.
The color which had once been alb
sent from Grace'S cheeks now dyed
them Il crimson red as she mischiev-
OUsly pressed back on the hand now
tightly claSping her own. Finally she
released her hand, thinking it best to
ind out to whom the hand belonged
that had so affectionately been press
ing hers.
Carefully turning, there to her over
Whelming surprise stood Jack Ellis.
Words failed her as Jacks hearty
laugh revealed the pleasure he had
taken in the filtration. Mrs. MerrilI's
surprise was almost equal to Grace's,
as she warmly greeted Jack, whom she
had always thought to be mighty fine
fellow.
'Well, Grace" said Jack, "who ever
dreamed of such good fortune as to see
you. I've been down South on busi-
ness trip for the past three months and
just got back this morning. How are
you, anyway"
"Quite well now, jack" replied
Grace.
EYES," spoke up her mother, "quite
well now; but this is her first trip to
Boston since New Years. She has been
laid up with pneumonia and is only re-
covering from its effects"
To be sure, Jack felt badly to think
he had not known Grace had been ill,
as he could have written to her.
''Well," said Jack, "you are surely
fortunate to have recovered so well.'
'And now,'' added Mrs. Merrill. 81
think we had better start for home"
Ga my auto" said Jack. "If we can
maze our way out of this crowd, it
will only take few minutes to get it
here. Twill phone the garage and have
them send it right along"
In short while all three were com.
fortably settled in Jacks big car
speeding homeward. Mrs. Merrill and
Jack enthused over the parade, while
Grace, lost in her dreams, forgot all
else save that Jack was with her again.
What awful long months they had been
but now it was all explained. He
had been too far away to hear of her
illness. The violets, too, were enough
for birthday gift, considering that
they had been only friends. Before
she realized it her home was reached,
and as the auto came to a stop Jack
asked if he might call the following
evening. Grace readily consented, and
as he helped her from the auto, again
the soft hand pressed hers and the
two laughed heartily.
Needless to say, Jacks sweater was
soon finished, and it was not long until
Grace had said Eyes" to that all-im-
portant question.
When Jack spoke of the customary
engagement diamond, Grace, beamipg
with delight, said: "Jack, dear, 1 have
wonderful surprise for you. Some
thing better than diamonds. I have
chosen-a Liberty bond is what wish
for an engagement gift"
"YOu dear grill" exclaimed Jack, as
he affectionately embraced her, show
i q