The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-02-23
.Ecening Story
The End of 1t.
BY MARTHA Nee. WILLIAM

ing irreverently: THE Lord knows
maybe. But He'll have to look twice
to get Ann-Loueeze straight"
"Maria." Exclamation points fail
to express Cousin Sarah's shock. But
Maria went on undismayed: why
she was born odd-coming a month
late, and missing a fortune by it; old
Madame Crane would never have
signed that missionary will il she
hadn't lost hope of a great-grandehild-
Not a blood great grandchild, | adj
mit-but she thought a heap more OF
poor John than she did of her own
kin, if his pa was just her husbands
grandson. If only she'd lived week
longer-but, la, la! The way thing.
happen. / viii say and stand to 1t,
it's hard lines for Ann-Loueeze to
have lost father mother and fortune
all in a matter of three months-and
then go and cut teeth when she
wasn't four months old"
''All that running on makes my
head SWIM" Cousin Sarah murmured
pIaintively. Then something light as
gusty thistledown blew thru the half
shut door, and brought up on the red
rose rug in front of the anemic fire.
There it materialized as wisp OF
girl in swathing blue garments with a
big fioppy hat hung low over the left
eye. You were talking about mel
feel it In my bones" she said accus-
ingly. What have done now to set
your temper's teeth on edge?"
Asking for information, or just i'm
pertinence?" Cousin Maria flung back.
but with twinkle that took all the
sting from the question. Ann-Loueeze
flung up her head, answering with a
pout: "Oh, 1 can guess. You are as
mad as Tucker because let Grayson
Cary kidnap me, and leave Mr.. John
Tucker to his lonely-lonesome."
Enough, I should say-consider-
ing" Cousin Sarah began. The girl
interrupted with an imperative, Stop!
1 know I was engaged to him Il am
mott never will be again. He may
take his fat purse and his fat wits to
somebody who wants them. I won't
let him spoil for me the only life I'm
sure of-that's flat
Don't be sac-rilee-gious. honey"
Cousin Maria expostulated. You
know-all of Us do-John's as good as
gold, tho nobody says he's bright"
Bright. That's sure enough sacri-
lege-that word in connection with
him." Ann Loueeze cried with edged
scorn. You know what I've come
home for. 1t is to pack up all the
things he has bothered me with-his
ring first of all-and leave them handy
so Aunt Lindy's Jim can take them to
him. I'll stop at the cabin on my way
out and tell Jim to come get the
bundle"
Better wait till morning. I think
Jim has gone to mill" Cousin Maria
said mendaciously, but to no purpose.
Ann-Loueeze whisked away half an
hour later, saying over her shoulder,
please give the things to-whoever
comes for them. I'll send somebody,
sure as DEATH
Her elders looked after her. shaking.
their heads and sighing-thus they did
not see John Tucker, tall, slim, blond
and cat-footed, come in the back way.
In the hall he stopped short, looking
down at the shapeless parcel, speaking
haste IN every lump, which lay on the
table beside the outer door. Since his
name was scrawled boldly upon it, he
was quite justified in lifting it and
exploring its surface with tentative
fingers. Evidently touch enlightened
him; with a queer smile he tucked the
bundle under his arm. and called
thru the living room door: Say,
Cousin Maria-if there's no hurry
about this, I'll come in and rest a bit
before take it home"
Cousin Maria ran to grasp his coat
lapels, crying breathlessly: John,
you're the direct answer to prayer. Sit
right down and tell us-everything
away stopping there choked.
You talk first-Anu-Loueez thinks
she's done with me?" John said in
terrogatively. Both sisters nodded
Again he smiled oddly. Silently he
opened the parcel, from which a hud-
died mass tumbled down upon the rug.
On top came two things most unlike
AN open ring box holding a big,
flashing diamond, and a tiny perfume
bottle, empty but still gorgeous in a.
colored label. John picked it up first,
saying with working lips: "So-she
kept the first thing 1 ever gave her
when she was seven.'
And well as she loves fine things,
there's the diamond for eighteen"
Cousin Maria added with a deep
breath. John could not speak-he
turned his head aside-thus he was
first to see Ann-Loueeze bringing in
a tall, hard-faced woman, who made
three strides to the hearthside, and
said in a grating voice:
You know me, 1 reckon--Betsy
Hines that house-kept for Madame
Crane, and nursed her to the end
with the help of the Carys-the rector
and his wife, you know. You know
too about the will-the fine church
built with madame's money, the mis-
sions and all that But you don't know
what's behind it all. 1 do--the robbery
Of a child unborn-in the name of the
Lord-with me fool enough to help
it on"
sit down." Cousin Sarah inter-
rupted. Betsy Hines shifted: mo
time. YOU" turning to Ann-Loueeze,
have halfway promised to elope with
Grayson Cary know-heard him
over my phone fixing things with the
clerk in town. That set me to think
ing-I know the Garys, root, stem and
branch. They've fattened on stolen
money-now they mean to have it ALL"
Explain, please, Miss Betsy" John
interrupted. Miss Betsy laughed bit
terly. 81 WILL" she said. 'Under-
stand, Madame had two wills ready
she got SO wrought up over no baby
she signed the one you know. But two
nights later she couldn't sleep thinkin'
of what she'd done. Around midnight
she signed the other will leaving
everything to the baby if it was born
alive. I witnessed it-seo did the
Carys. After that she had q sinkin'
smell and wasn't ever rightly herself