The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1913-12-05

Hamilton Gregory took ther In his
arms and held her to his breast.
Fran" he said brokenly, my unfor-
tunate child my daughter-oh,
why were you born?"
YES" sobbed Fran: resting her
head upon his bosom. yes, why was
I born?"
"You break my heart" he sobbed
with her. Fran, say the word, and
will tell everything; | will acknowl-
edge you as my daughter. and if my
wife"
Fran shook her head. "You owe no
more to my mother than to her" she
said, catching her breath. mo, the
secret must be kept-always. Father
Il must never cali you that except
when we are alone-I must always
whisper 1t, like prayer-father, let
me be your secretary"
1t was strange that this request
should surround Fran with the chill
atmosphere Of tomb, His embrace
relaxed insensibly. He looked at his
daughter in frightened bewilderment,
as If afraid she had drawn him too
far from his security for further hid,
ing. During the silence, she awaited
his decision
1t was because OF her tumultuous
emotions that she failed to hear ad
vancing footsteps
Some one is coming" he exclaimed
with ill-concealed relief I'VE mustn
be, seen thus-we would be misunder
stood" He strobe to the window, ant
pretended to look out His fac'
cleared momentarily.
The door opened, and Grace MOI
started in, then paused significantly
"Am ] interrupting? she asked. Il
quiescent accent.
Certainly not" Gregory breathe
freedom His surprise was so joyfu
that he was carried beyond himself
"Grace! It's Grace! Then you didn
. go to the city with Bob. There wash
any train"
81 am here" began Grace easily
y Eyes, of course. that's the mai
thing" his delight could not be bel
: in check. you are here, indeed! An
you are looking mean you loo
- WE'LL mean you are not ill-your r
turn is 80 unexpected"
"I am here" she steadily perSiste
" because / learned something tn
;. affects my interests. / went part
- the way with Mr.. Clinton, but aft
- thinking over what had been told m
= I decided to leave the train at the ne
station. have been driven back in
= carriage. may as well tell you, N
:, Gregory, that | am urged to accept
= responsible position In Chicago"
: He understood that she referred
- =. marriage with Robert Clinton. But
n he began, very pale.
= She repeated. "A responsible pc
;. ton In Chicago. And was told, II
-, - morning, that while | was away. FIR
. meant to apply for the secretarysh
~ thus taking advantage of my absence
= Frans face looked oddly white a
;. old in its oval of black hair. wv
:, told you this truth she demand
: with menacing gleam of teeth.
'Who knew of your intentions"
other gracefully said. "But this is
matter The point is that | have q
s Chicago opportunity, So If Mr.. CIR
! ory wants to employ you, ! must kn
II at once, to make my arrangeniel
accordingly"
"Can you imagine" Hamilton or
renroachfuily, that without any wa
Inc, | would make change? Certs
" not I have no intention OF emp
ing Fran. The idea Is impossii
More than that, 1t is--er--it IS az
lutely preposterous. Would can
tear down what you and ] have D
building up so carefully
Then you had already refused =.
before came?"
II hadn't |, Franz
Fran gave her father a iook 8
as had never before come into
dark eyes IA look of reproach. a
that said. 81 cannot fight back Deca
Of the agony in my heart she v
away silent and with downcast NJ
N CHAPTER XIV.