The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1912-12-16
FRAN


that Il gave her strength. She had
been afraid to witness the emotion
her knowledge might excite, but all
he revealed was a determination 10
avoid the issue.
Pretense and sham always harden
ed her. Then" she said slowly, u
will be definite. ! will tell you the
things II would have been better FL
you 10 tell me. Your early home was
in New York. but you had cousin
living in Springfield, where there was
very good college. Your parents
were anxious To get you away from
the temptations OF a big city until
you were of age. So you were sent
TO live with your cousin and attend
college. You were with him three Or
four years, and at last the time cane
for graduation. Shall 20 on?"
He fought desperately for self-pres-
ervation. What is there In all this?'
You had married, in the mean
time" Fran said coldly; married Sc
cretly. That was about 10 years ago
She was only about IS. After gracu-
alton, you we're TO 20 to New York,
break the news to your father, come
back TO Springfield for your wife. and
acknowledge her. You graduated /;
you went to your father. Did yol
come back"
MY Cod" groaned the man. So
she knew everything; must he admit
it? What Is all this TO your" Le
burst forth who and what are you.
anyway-and why do you come here
with your story? II 1t were true"
True" said Fran bitterly. IF
you've forgotten, why not go to Spring
field and ask the first old citizen you
meet? Or you might write to some
one you used to know, and inquire.
II you prefer, I'll send for one OF Your
old professors. and pay his expenses.
They took a good deal OF interest In
the young college student who mar
ried and neglected Josephine Derry.
They haven't forgotten 1t, II y2u
have"
You don't know" he gasped. that
there's a penalty for coming TO pei
rle's houses to threaten them with
supposed facts In their lives. You
don't know that the jails are ready
To punish Matchmaking, for you are
only little girl and don't understand
such things. | give you warning. AL
though you are in short dresses"
Yes" remarked Fran dryly, 81
thought that would be an advantage
TO you. 1t ought to make things
easier"
How an advantage to me? Easier!
What have | to do with your"
Il thought" Fran said coolly, that
1t would be easier for you to take me
into the house as little girl than as
grown woman. You'll remember |
told you I've come here to stay"
"To stay" he echoed, shrinking
back Your"
Yes" she said, all the cooler for
his attitude of repulsion. II want a
home. Yes, I'm going to stay. /
want to belong to somebody"
He cried out desperately, But what
am | TO do? This will ruin me-oh,
it's true, all you've said don't deny
il But tell you, girl, you will ruin
me. Is all the work of my life to be
overturned? | shall go mad"
mo, you won't" Fran calmly as
sured him. You'll do what every
Que has to do, sooner or later-face
the situation. You're a little late
getting to it, but 1t was coming al
the time. You can let me live here
as an adopted orphan. or any way
you please. The important fact to
me is that I'm going to live here. But
! don't want to make IL hard for you,
truly | don't"
Don't you?" He spoke not loudly,
but with tremendous pressure of de
sire. Then, for Gods sake, go back,
Go back to-to wherever you cane
from. I'll pay all expenses. You
shall have all you want"
"All | want" Fran responded, lis
a home, and that's something people
can't buy. Get used to the thought Uf
my staying here; that will make il
easy"
Easy he calculated. Then lis
your purpose to compel me to give
you shelter because OF this secret
you mean to ruin me. I'll not be able
to account for you, and they will Ques-
tion--my wife will want TO know, and
and others as we'll
Now, now" said Fran, with sud
don gentleness, don't be so excited,
don't take il SO hard. Let them ques-
ton. I'll know how to keep from ex.
posing you. But | do want to belong
TO somebody, and after I've been here
n while, and you begin to like me, I'll
tell you everything. l knew the jose
pLine Derry that you deserted--she
raised me, and | know she loved you
to the end. Didn't you ever care for
her, not even at the first, when you
got her to keep your marriage secr.t
until you could speak to your father
face to face2 You must have loved
her then. And she's the best friend
ever had. Since she died I've wander.
| want home"
The long loneliness OF years found
expression in her eager voice and
plef ding eyes, but he was too engross-
ed with his own misfortunes to heed
her emotion. Didn't l 90 back 10
Springfield" he cried out. "Of course
] did made inquiries for her; that's
why | went back--to find out what
had become OF her. I'd been goLe
only three years, yes, only three years
but, good heavens, how | had SUI.
fcred! | was 80 changed that nobody
knew me-" He paused, appalled, at
the recollection. IL have always had
a terrible capacity for suffering. /
tell you, II was my duty to go back
TO find her, and / went back. would
have acknowledged her as my wife. /
would have lived with her. I'd have
done right by her though n had kill.