Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-10-12
CHAPTER XLN
Grdcia Learns the Truth

A s RICHARD BLAKESLEE faced
\ Gracin Dangortirld ncross the table
he realized for the first time how little
he actually knew about women. He
had no intimatN women friends. and
their little arts and graces had been
lost on him IN 10 this time. lie could
not help hTt notice that Gracia was
making herself v"rr agreeable. and in
wnrdly he wnS amused. H. contrastcd
her dimNlcd pink and white charms with
girlish ia white with srorn. and
suddenly his soul was sick within him.
With all the countless thousands Of
attractive women in the world there was
just one for him No ono else would
bring him any MEASURE Of happiness.
Giacin's voice came to him breaking
in suddenly on hts th"ughts.
"What are you thinking Of. Rich
ard? You haven't been doing anything
naughty, hnv" you? Such a. falling in
love, or anything ike that? DO you
know wc women have always considered
you rather n problem? lou never seem
impressed by any Of us. hcli"rc this
is the first tim" you have ever invited
any ono 10 have dinner with YOU a,onc.'
II haven't had time for womcn.' he
aid bruSqucly. "1'vc always looked
Npon them as recreation. but you see
I've never had time to play
That's because you've never met
tip woman who could rouse enough cmo-
tiom in you to make you forget your
self
He started at hor: his dark brow
wrinkled in n frown.
DO you know. believe you're
right"
OF course I'm right. You scc even
IL you don't know women ] know men
YOU re sort Of one woman man"
He looked nt her narrowly and sud.
denly grinned Her ClcvcrncSs was
"mazing. uncnnnily so. She had him
sized up rather we'll.
"An1 when you love you'll be ready
10 throw everything else TO the winds.
you'E neither beg nor borrow. you'll
steal. even IL the woman happens to
belong 70 another man.
'RRth"r hard on the woman. he OBJ
served
"NO. YOU re wrong there. y woman
loves that kind Of thing. 81" adorcS
being swept off her feet. She as primi-
wv UIlN'T ll'l N"'IlINlu ~ IL IlIN uIll-
fcialitics and assertions Of indcpcnd-
once. rs She was in tho dark ages
put, see here. I'm giving away lot
Of state secrets. | ought to be making
stand Of sorts for my own sex. and
here | mn giving YOU inside infOrma-
zion. "
She studied the imNenctrahlr reserve
nf his face with mischicvouS blue owes
that Snw n great deal. GraCin Dan.
gcrficld cared for Richard Bakeslo": nt
he slightest encouragement from him
>no could have loved him mudl~. any
womau could. lie was that kind Of
man Bu' Grac!a was sensible. and
she Ind q rovrr fni.ing sens" Of humor.
The catiou that had swept over hrr
when he had first asked hc- TO din"
with him had given way to another
frr,ing. md inwardly she was laughing
NJ herself
"Whatpvcr reason hr had for nektnS
self mockingly. lind nothing 10 do with
vou going 20 do about Il; hc catty or
human think yon'd better try being
human.
Gr&r!a often had these Nt'lc talk
with herself. and sh" ob,aincd great
deal u satisfaction from th"m. Sic
smiled across the table Nt Richard now,
| and went on calmly with her dinner.
but her thoughts were rather turbu
| 'cnt
"It's woman" she thought. Some
woman hc loves. and the way isn't clear
20 her. But hr'll get her. IIc always
| Cots what 20 wants. and for ono will
say slc'S the lurk!"st WUmm in th'
world whether sh" knows II or not"