The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1912-12-16
By
John
Breckenridge
Ellis.

ing her Do you mean"
He hesitated. She had chosen her
part-to live with those people, LETT
her to lead the life that pleased her.
Ibats why j never went back 20
Springfield again. I've taken up NY
lie IN my own way, and left her
your friend"
Yes. call her that" cried Fran,
holding up her head. Il am proud of
that title. glory in It, And in this
house"
have made my ofrer," he inter
supted decidedly I'll provide for you
anywhere but In this house"
Fran regarded him with somber L.
tenslty. i've asked for a home with
you on the grounds that your wife
was my best friend in all the world,
and because l am homeless. You re
iuse. | suppose that's natural. have
To guess at your feelings because |
haven't been raised among "respec-
table people. I'm sorry you don't like
IL. but you're going TO provide for me
right here. For a girl, I'm pretty IL
dependent; folks that don't like me
are welcome to all the enjoyment they
get out OF their dislike I'm here to
stay. Suppose you look on me as a
sort or summer crop. enjoyed hear
ing you sing. tonight
We reap what we SOW,
We reap what we sow
] see you remember"
He shuddered at her hooking holy
things. Hush! What are you say
Ing? The past Is cut of from my lIte
have been pardoned, and / will not
have anybody forcing that past upon
me-"
Her words came bitingly: "YCu
can't help 1t. You sowed. You can't
pardon a seed from growing"
II can help II, and will The pas,
Is no more mine than hers-our mar
riage was legal, but 1t bound me no
more than 1t bound her. She chose
her own companions. | have been
building up respectable life. here in
Littleburg You shall not overturn
the labor Of the last 10 years. You
can 60 My will is unalterable. Co
and do what you CAM"
Instead OF anger, Fran showed sor-
row: How long have you been mar
ried to the second Mrs. Gregory-the
present one?"
He turned his back upon her as II
to 60 TO the door, but he wheeled
about: Ten years. You understand?
Ten years of the best work OF my l.io
that you want to destroy"
Poor LADY," murmured Fran. "The
first Mrs. Gregory--my 'friend'-has
been dead only three years. You and
she were never divorced. The lady
that you call Mrs. Gregory now,-she
isn't your wife, is she?"
Il thought" he was suddenly
asher pale-"but thought that she
] believed her dead long ago-I was
sure OF it-positive. What you say
Is impossible"
But no one can SOW without reap
ing" Fran said, still pityingly.
when you sang those words, 1t was
only song to you, but music is just
a bit of lifes embroidery, while you
think it life itself. You don't SOW, or
reap in a choir loft. You can't SOW
deeds and reap words"
Il understand you, now" he falter
ed. You have come to disgrace me.
What good will that do you, or or
my first wife? You are no abstrac-
ton, TO represent sowing or reaplng.
but a flesh-and- blood girl who can so
away II she chooses"
She chooses to stay" Fran assured
him.
and break my wife's heart!" The
Then you have resolved 10 ruin me
sweet accomplishing face OF the sec
ond Mrs. Gregory rose before him.
And Grace Noir-what would she
Think"
mo, I'm Just here to have home"
will you enjoy a home that yNu
seize by force?"
Don't they say that the Kingdom
of God may be taken by force? But
you know more about the Kingdom
than l. Let them believe me The
daughter OF some old boyhood FREUD
--.that'll make 1t easy. AS the daugn-
ter Of that friend, you'll give me
home. I'll keep out of your way, and
he pleasant nice little girl, OF any
age you please" She smiled re-
motely.
He spoke DULY: But they'll want
to know all about that old college |
friend
Naturally. Well. just invent some
story--Ill stand by you"
lou 40 HOt huON me- ut ItluIuc !,
drawing himself up. What! do You
imagine would lie to them?"
81 think" Fran remarked imper
sonally, that to a person in your
position-a person beginning TO reap
what he has sown. lying Is always
the next course. But you must act
rs your conscience dictates. You may
be sure that IL you decide to tell the
truth, I'll certainly stand by you in
that"
Helplessly driven to bay, he flashed
out violently. Unnatural girl-or
woman-or whatever you are--there
Is no spirit Of girlhood or womanhood
In you"
Fran returned I'm a low concentrated
voice, "If I'm unnatural, what were
you in the Springfield days? Was II
natural for you to be married secretly
when the marriage might have been
public? When you went away to break
the news 10 your father, wasn't II rath-
err unnatural for you to hide three years
before coming back? When you came
back and heard that your wife had
gone away to be supported by people !
who were not respectable. was II
natural for you TO be satisfied with
the first rumors you heard, and disap.
pear for good and all? As for Oe.
yes, have neither the spirit OF girl
hood nor womanhood, for I'm neither