The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-12-08
E0ening Story
Facile's The Word.
MARTHA McC. WILLIAMS

calculated, tearing in half the note
she had just read.
Swear" DENLY commented dispas-
sionately. Lots of relief in a good
mouth-filling OATH Better try it,"
Il can't-being a eentlewoman,"
it for me-
HIM! If the job is pernsanent I
might possibly consider it," her new
est victim returned. Cant possibly
damage my piety for anything cas-
ual''
Il see! After all, there are limits
to your devotion. Luckily I am find
ing out in time" from Frances.
LAS I am finding out that you are
after all canny. Emphasis on the
after ALL
you seem to be qualifying for the
idiot class" Frances said demurely,
but with twinkling eyes.
LAS how?" DENLY demanded, draw
ing down the corners of his mouth.
THUS and so.' from Frances. THAT
note intimates that I am now sowing
smiles where they will return a golden
harvest Now, amt that mise p ="
You must have studied poor Jim
Baxter very closely to hit off his ia
vorite speech so cleverly," DENLY
commented. Say, do you initiate all
of US this way? If SO, I'd love to have
a specimen of-myself.
Il know better, you would not"
Frances said emphatically.
But I would; cross my heart and
hope to die" from DENLY.
Next minute he turned angry red
in spite of himself as he heard, in
what seemed his own voice, Il wish
you would forget how to say No
II do wish it; harder than ever.
For I'm going to ask if you will marry
me out of hand and run along home
with me to mother" his pique swept
away in new rush of tenderness.
stop playing with me, dearest. Re-
member this is dead earnest. I"
Remember! There have been 9TH
ers,' from Frances Wickedly.
He nodded. Several others. Now
it makes me shudder To think of them.
If 1 had won-and met you-too
late
"Taffy!" from Frances, breaking
into gale of laughter. DENLY sprang
to his feet, crying in half-choked
voice: after this-I can believe you
would laugh at seeing a murder"
Dear! Dear!" from Frances in her
highest manner. Let me explain
Mr.. Temple Denby-I laugh at your
melodrama-because it is too perfect
1t is a well-known immoral fact that
no woman kisses perfectly the first
time. 1t ought to be as well under
stood that when man has it very
badly he commonly makes a mess of
telling you So"
II am no trifler," from DENLY stiff
". ''But how if-you are trying to
be an avenger?" Frances flung a.
him: wouldn't that explain-several
things? ESP ecially as you are-or
Gordon's best pal"
Denby's face was a study, changing
swiftly thru red, white, and set grim
gray. After a long minute he said
"So-you are furnishing me
for an intention? One abandoned be-
fore I saw you-from the minute I
heard your voice in the twilight, there
among the roses"
Frances felt herself trembling She
was so glad, so sorry he had not lied
to her. Something subtle as a flame
also as soaring, had leaped between
them there in the scented dusk. She
had been fighting it ever since-fight-
ing hard in desperate fear. She had
somehow sensed a fiber of loyalty III
him that would make hurt to a friend, |
double hurt to himself.
So. protectively, she had flouted
him daintily, all the while alluring
him and thrilling in the joy of his |
response. But she had not dared to !
be trustful-barely one and twenty |
tho she was, she knew the game of |
hearts in all it's facets. Holding her |
self hard she said clearly: 81 do not |
defend myself beyond this-I doubt if |
the game We played really hurt Carter |
is too facile. He had no eyes nor |
ears for anybody but Lora Lane
at first Frankly, 1 felt myself a res
cue missionary in taking him away |
from her"
You would have been-if you had |
held him." DENLY said bitterly. Now |
I think he will marry her-out of |
spite to you. And that will be his de- !
struction."
How" Frances breathed rather |
han asked. DENLY went on huskily: |
He is a real man-but with an in
herited handicap. Dipsomania. He |
mas fought it CALAMITY, successfully. |
Your love would have been to him a |
crown to victory. Lora is-just the i
''How dare you love me-in face of i
-hat-tragedy? Frances cried, her |
voice breaking at the last. 81 do not |
1are-I love you because I cannot |
1elp it-something stronger, more ele- |
mental than myself constrains me- |
was the almost solemn reply. 1t broke |
Town Frances's last reserve of pride, |
IF strength-suddenly she felt her |
self assassin of soul Deadly white, |
her hands clinching, she asked of the |
nan before her: Gould I do-any- |
He turned from her to stride up |
and down the long room, his eyes
burning, his face as white as hers.
nc AelI I44illSeit at the parting OF the |
ways. Carter Gordon had been jon
lthan to his David since they were
little lads racing their ponies along |
he red roads Of the home county. /
Now, mira culously, it was given to |
lim to save his Jonathan Something
more than life or fortune-but at the I
1rice of his own happiness. He shud-
Tered violently, but kept up his strid-
ng until Frances said plaintively: /
Answer me-please! 1 must know
It once"
Eve will let him decide" DENLY
aid, next second sweeping her to his
'reast in a strong, tender clasp. HE
hall know the truth-if it ends in
'reaking my heart"
Our hearts," Frances Interrupted.
must be done"
Outwardly normal thru the days of /
)enby's absence, she was spiritually
ataIeptic.- every fiber tense with