Putnam patriot., 1913-06-13

/, harnesses me. You have insisted on
coming into my life. Then why do
| you disgrace it? You pretend that you
want to be liked by US. yet you play
cards with strangers at Nights out
rageous. You even threw a card in
my yard where a card was never seen
| before"
DO you think cards are so very
| wicked?" asked Fran, looking at him
| curiously.
you know what think. | look on
gambling as immoral. But it ought to
be enough for me simply to forbid It,"
She closed the door, and placed
her bach against it, She looked him
in the eyes. and said abruptly
Il want to be your secretary"
| Hamilton gripped his chair. 81 have
a secretary" he retorted, looking at
her resentfully. He checked words he
would have liked to utter on rejecting
that his secret was in Frans keeping
! How Grace would shrink from. him, if
! she knew the truth-how that mag
nificent figure would turn its back
upon him-and those seornful, imperi-
| Gus, never-faltering eyes.
Fran drew nearer She seated her
| self upon the arm of a chair, one foot
| on the floor, and spoke with restrained
| intensity: I'm we'll enough educated.
| can take dictation and make good
copy"
He allowed his tone to sound def
| ance-"I already have a secretary"
Frau continued with an efrart.
Mother didn't like studying. very we'll,
but she was determined to get me out
| of the condition l was born in; she
taught me all she knew. Wasn't she
/ splendid! So patient" Fran paused,
and stared straight before her, straight
into the memory of her mothers eyes.
Gregory refiected-"If this child had
not come, had not intruded herself
| upon my life! Haven't l suffered
enough for my follies?"
when mother died." Fran resumed,
"she thought maybe Uncle Ephraim
| had mellowed, so | went to him. be-
cause l thought l couldn't get along
| without love-" She shook her head,
with pathetic little smile. "But l
! could! Uncle Ephraim didn't mellow,
he dried up. He blamed me for being
born-I think. myself. it was mis-
take. He turned me out, but / was
| SO tough | just couldn't be winter
killed. After that l went back to the
show and stocked up in experience
/ mention it to point out that a mild
job like being your private secretary
wouldn't strain a muscle"
Gregory's voice cut across hers. my
secretary must be in sympathy with
my work. TO exercise such talents as
/ have, is my religion. and l need
helper whose eyes are fixed upon the
higher life. This is final, and the sub
ject must never be reopened. find
it very painful"
Fran's discovery that he had not
heard her plea, crimsoned her face.
She jumped from the armchair,
breathing rapidly. Then" she cried,
''if you won't have me, get another.
The one you have must. CO."
"She shall do nothing of the Sort"
he coldly responded.
YES" Fran retorted violently, 81
tell you she must go!"
He struck the table with his palm.
''Neveri"
Shall | use my last resource? 2"
Fran's eyes cleaned ominously.
The hand upon the table became a
fist. That was his only reply.
Il would entreat you" said Fran,
faltering, "and with tears-but what
good would it do? None. There's no
fAr To fhor
woman is smiling. Dismiss your sec
rotary"
He leaned toward her from over the
table, and spoke in low, level tone:
Il am going to appeal to your better
nature. Think of the girls of the
street who need rescue, and the WON
en- OF the cities who are dying from
neglect and vice. II you hinder my
work, let the souls of these outcasts
be upon your soul! You can ruin me.
but net without running my good
works. don't ask you to keep silent
on my account-what am ! but an In
strument in the hands of Proyidencef
but for the sake of the homeless
thousands. / have atoned for my past
but the world, always ready to cruelty
the divine, would rejoice to point the
finger of scorn at me, as II were still
the fool of twenty years ago."
But your secretary
"She Ia vital factor In my work.
It would be impossible to replace her"
Fran made a step toward him-"My
mother was replaced"
He started up. you shall not speak
of that. She lived her life, and
demand the right TO live mine. I tell
you. the past is ended"
But l ana here" returned Fran.
81 have not ended. Can't you look
into my face and see my mother liv-
ing? She paid for her secret mar
riage, wandering over the face Of the
earth with her baby. trying to find
you. / don't deny that you've paid for
all-yes, even for your desertion and
your living a hidden life In this town.
Maybe you've suffered enough But
that isn't the question. Look at me.
/ am here | have come as truly out
of your past as out of the past of my
darling, uncomplaining-what did you
call her?-friend.' And being here
ask, What will you do with me?' ALI
! want is-just a little love"
The long loneliness of her life found
expression In the eager voice. in the
Il