The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1913-10-02

Something very strange had hap
pened up there, but it was lost to
Clinton's keen jealous gaze-one OF
those happenings in the soul which,
however momentous. passes unob-
served in the midst of the throng
Not so FAST" Grace cautioned
Gregory We must wait up here till
the very last-don't you see Mr.. Gin
ton? And Simon Jefferson is now
pointing US out. We cant go down
that way"
Wei Gregory harshly echoed
I'VE! | have nothing to do with you,
Grace Noir. Go to him. if you Will"
Grace turned ashen pale. What do
you mean?" she stammered You tell
me to so to Mr.. Clinton"
q tell you to go where you please.
That girl yonder is my daughter, do
you understand? Don't hold me back,
| shall 20 to her and proclaim her as
my child TO the world DO you hear
me? That's my, Franz
Grace shrank back in the suspicion
that Hamilton Gregory had gone mad
like the rest of the crowd. DO you
mean that you never want to see me
again? Do you mean that you want
me to marry MrNClinton?"
Il do not care what you do" he
said, still more roughly
You DO not care?" she stammered
bewildered. What has happened?
You do not care-for me?"
She looked deep into his eyes, but
found no incense burning there. The
shrine was cold.
Mr.. Gregory! And after all that
has passed between us? After | have
given you myself"
Gregory seized her arm. as il TO hold
her OFF His eyes were burning dan
gerously: 81 saw murder in your heart
while you were watching Fran he
whispered fiercely That's my daugh-
ter, do you understand? | know you
now, know you now. %
Grace stared after him with blood
less cheeks and smoldering eyes.
Clearly, she decided, the sight OF
Fran's fearful danger had unbalanced
his mind But how could he care so
much about that Fran? And how
could he leave her, knowing that Rob,
ert Clinton was beginning to climb
upward with eyes fastened upon her
face?
But it was not the sight OF Fran )
danger that had for ever alienated
Gregory from Grace Noir. In ali in
slant, she had stood revealed to him
as an unloyely monster. His sensitive
| nature, always abnormally alive to out
ward impressions, had thrilled re
sponsively to the eXultation of the au-
| dience He had endured the agony of
suspense, he had shared the universal
enthusiasm. If, in a sense, he was a
series of moods, each the result OF
| blind impulse, it so happened that
Grace's hiss-"It's the hand OF God, "
turned his love to aversion; she was
appealing as a Justification OF person
al hatred, to the God they we're both
! betrayiug
Grace began to tremble as she
watched Robert Clinton coming up,
and Hamilton Gregory descending.
She had trusted foolishly to broken
reed. but it was not too late to pre-
serve the good name she had been
about to besmirch. The furnace-heat
in which rash resolves are forged, was
cooled. Gregory had deserted Fran s
mother; he was false to Mrs. Gregory !;
he would perhaps have betrayed Grace
in the end; but Clinton was at hand.
and his alteration would endure.
In the meantime, the voice OF Fran
was to be heard above that Of the
happy crowd: Il love you all You
| helped me do it. | should certainly
have been mangled but for you per
feet heroes. Yes. thank you.
! Yes, feel fine And. oh, men
and women, l could just feel your
spirits holding mine up till was so
high was in the clouds That's what
| subdued Samson. He knew | wasn't
afraid He knew it! And wanted to
win out for your sakes as well as my
oNn-yts | did, Thank you men.
Thank you, women.
Well, if here aren't the children, too
bless your brave heartsi And
is that your baby? My goodness, and
what baby it is, No, I'm not
| a bit tired"
She stopped suddenly, on feeling a
crushing grip. She looked down, a
frown forming on her brow, but the
sun shone clear when she saw Abbott
Ashton. She gave him a swift look, as
# to penetrate his inmost thoughts.
! ITO BE CONTINUED