The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-11-27
Chapter 10.

r. Chapter 10.
whats this 1 hear about Walter
and Helen Ralstrom having an acct
dent2" Grace Harter asked me. She
had run in to ask me to go shopping
with her, and as We drove to the store
she took the opportunity to crafty her
curiosity Il couldn't ask before his
dying to know what happened"
walter somehow drove into a tree.
He was going slowly so he wasn't hurt
Helen was thrown out and sprained
her ankle. Who told you about it?"
I asked.
George. He said it was in the
paper but did not give the woman's
name. He Lad seen them start out
from the studio, so of course we knew
1t was Helen With him, not you.'
Fortunately she asked no more
questions, taking it for granted, 1 sup
pose, that Helen had been taken homo
at once But she said:
It's good thingl A sprained ankle
will keep her away from the studio for
a time.
Yes" I replied, but it will also
delay Walters picture. He is anxious
to finish it."
IF 1 were in yoR~place should
wish he never finished it-not with
her as model. Honestly Doreen, 1
think sometimes you are blind as a
bati That girl will make you trouble
II you don't watch out. She's as I'M
=
'Perhaps-altho I'm not SO sure
But 1 am sure of Walter. so why
imagine trouble from her?" 1 spoke
lightly. Grace should not know 1 was
wildly Jealous Of Helen, that Walters
evident anxiety over her, his sullen
anger because of what his mother had
done-arger he did not dare give ex-
preston to-had made me think he
cared for her more than L thought.
To my relief we Just then reached
the ShOn and she said
of either the accident or Helen. But
was to hear more from others! Grace
LETT me at one counter while she
visited another and I heard my name
spoken by a. woman near. She said
TO her companion:
That's Mrs. Page, the artists wife.
The paper said he had an accident
with his car a day or two ago. That
there was a woman with him. I won
der if it was Mrs. Page, she evidently
wasn't hurt if it was she.''
No telling who it was" her COM
panion replied. Hes rather fond of
our sex, I've always heard. He had
a pretty serious affair with Grace
Harter a few years ago, before either
of them married. There comes Mrs.
Harter now. She's with Mrs Page, too.
Strange they should be friends"
Probably she knows nothing about
it; a wife is the last one who hears
about her husbands peccadillos.''
Ready. Doreen?" Grace's voice In
terrupted.
"As soon as my change comes" I
replied. Then ! asked: Who are
those women 20
1.-The one nearest you is Mrs.
Townsend. The other I don't know.
Why?''
ooh, nothing, only they seemed to
know you. I heard her say, There
comes Mrs. Harter,' and was curious"
Mrs. Townsend is an awful gossip"
Grace replied in a low voice as she
bowed to her, shed take away a
Saints reputation
We left the counter, the eyes of the |
two women following us. 1 gave no
thought to what they had said of the
accident, but wondered just how much |
reason I had not to be friendly with |
Grace. Sometimes disliked her, then |
again she would say or do something |
that made me more than reverse my |
opinion. She had frankly told me she |
nearly married Walter. And some |
times thought she still cared for him, |
that she, too-in spite of being mar
ried to George Harter-was Jealous of |
Walters attentions to her, not on my |
account, but on her own.
She insisted lunch with her at Del |
monico's. refused at first pleading |
that Mrs. Page would be alone.
That's just why you must come /
with me. She'll have plenty of time
10 sit on you. I don't see how you
keep so good natured."
81 rather like her now" replied,
Sin some ways she is wonderful" And /
altho 1 went to lunch with Grace
refused to let her disparage Walters
mother. Her kindness was too fresh
IN my mind.
sion.)