The Detroit times., 1912-12-18

bed. When is this company going 70
break up?"
Gregory, finding Grace's eyes fixed on
him searchingly, felt himself pushed
To the wall "Of course" he said cold
ly, 1T Is understood that the daughter
of-er-my friend, comes here as a.
as an equal" AS he found himself
forced into definite opposition ID his
secretary, his manner grew more as
sured Suddenly It occurred to him
that he was, In a way, atoning for the
past.
"As an equal. yes!" exclaimed his
wife. again embracing Fran How
else could II be?"
This is going to be good thing for
you, II you only knew It," Fran SAID.
looking into her face with loving eyes.
Hamilton Gregory was almost able
to persuade himself that he had re-
ceived the orphan OF his own free
choice, thus to make reparation. 1T
Is my duty" he said; "and always
try TO do my duty, as l see it,"
Would you like to know more
about me?" Fran asked confidently of
Mrs. Gregory.
Gregory turned pale. II don't think
1t is neces-"
do tell me-" exclaimed his wife.
''Oh, Lord" >murmured Simon JET
ferson, sinking back into the hall
chair.
Father and mother married secret.
ly,'' Fran said, solely addressing Mrs.
Gregory, but occasionally sending a
furtive glance at her husband. He
was college-student, boarding with
his cousin, who was one OF the pro-
fessors. Mother WAS an orphan and
lived with her half-uncle.--a mighty
crusty old man, Uncle Ephraim was,
who didn't have one bit OF use for
people getting married in secret.
Father and mother agreed not 10 men
ton their marriage till after his grad
uation; then he'd go 10 his father aud
make everything easy and come for
mother. So he went and told him
fathers father was a millionaire on
Wall-st. Mothers uncle was pretty
well fixed, too, but he didn't enjoy
anything except religion. When he
wasn't at church--he went most ali
the time-he was reading about IT,
Mother said he was most religious In
Hebrew, but he enjoyed his Greek
verbs awfully."
Grace Noir asked remotely, Did
you say that your parents eloped?"
They didn't run far Fran explain
ed; they were married In the county,
not far from Springfield"
II thought you said" Grace Inter
rupted, that they were In New York
did your" said Fran politely. 80
father graduated. and went away to
tell his father all about being married
to Josephine Derry. | don't know
what happened then. as he didn,t come
back to tell My mother waited and
waited-and I was born-an1 then
Uncle Ephraim drove mother out OF
his house with her tiny baby-thats
me-and | grew TO be--as old ds you
see me now. We were always hunt
Ing father. We went all over the
United States. first and last-it looked
like the son OF a millionaire ought TO
be easy to find. But he kept himself
close. and there was never a clue.
Then mother died. Sometimes she
used to tell me that she believed him
dood that " he'd been alive he'd have
como for her, because she loved him
wIta all her soul. and wrecked her
whole life because OF him. She was
happiest when she thought he was
dead, so | wouldn't say anything. but I
was sure he was alive, all right. as
big and strong as you please. oh, |
know his kind. I've had lots OF eI
perience."
80 I'd suppose" said Grace Noir
quietly. MAY ask--if you don't
mind-if this travelling about tho
United States didn't take great deal
OF money!"
"Oh, we had all the money we
wanted" Fran returned easily
Indeed? And did you become rec
onciled to your mothers uncle?''
"Yes-after he was dead He didn't
leave a will. and there wasn't any
body else. and as mother had just
been taken from me. the money Just
naturally came In my hands, But
didn't need II, particularly"
But before that Grace persisted:
before, when your mother was first
disinherlted, how could she make. her
living?"
Mother was like me. She didn I
stand around folding her hands and
crossing her feet-she used EN- Bless
you, | could get along wherever you'd
drop me. Success isn't In the world,
it's i'm me. and that's good thing 20
know--it saves hunting
do you consider yourself a sue
cess?'' inquired the secretary With a
chilly smile.
IL had everything ! wanted except
a home" Fran responded with charI1.
ing goodhumor. 'and now I've got
that In New York paper, found q
picture OF Hamilton Gregory. and Il
told about all his charities IL said he
had millions. and was giving away
everything. said to myself. I'll sc
there and have him give me a home
you see, I'D often heard mother
speak OF him-and said other things