Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-02-22

let's him take his chOice-her0 10 She,
yonder's the secretary. He isn't worthy
of her II he chooses Grace-but his
hesitation has proved him unworthy,
anyhow. He'll never be to Mrs. Greg
ory what he was-but If she spoke
out, there'd be the publicity the
lawyers, the newspapers. the staring
In the streets ;. The old lady
her mother-is fighter; she'd
have driven out the secretary long
ago But Mrs. Gregory's idea seems to
be-If he can want her, after I've
given him myself, I'll not make a
movement to interfere"
Abbott played delicately with the
mere husk of this astounding revela-
ton: Have you talked with old Mrs.
jefferson about--about it,"
She's too proud-wouldn't admit It..
But I've slyfy limited how
ever it's not the sort Of story you
could pour through the funnel Of an
ear.trumpet without getting wheat
mixed with chaff. She'd misunder-
stand-the neighbors would get Il
first-anyway she wouldn't make a
move because her daughter won't. It's
you and I, Abbott, against Grace and
Mr. Gregory"
He murmured, looking away, you
take me for granted. Fran"
EYES," Fran's reply was almost a
whisper. A sudden terror Of what he
might think of her, smote her heart.
But she repeated bravely, "Yes!"
He turned, and she saw in his eyes
confiding trust that seemed to hedge
her soul about. "And you can always
take me- for granted, Fran; and always
is long time"
"Not too long for you and me-" said
Fran. looking at him breathlessly.
81 may have felt" he said. "for
some time, in vague way, what you
have told me. OF course 1t is evident
that he prefers Miss Noir's society.
But have always thought-or hoped
or wanted to feel, that 1t was only
the common tie of religion
"It was not the truth that you chung
to. Abbott. but appearances. AS for
me. let truth kill rather than live as a
sham. II Grace Noir stays, the worst
is going to happen. She may not know
how far she's going. He may not sus.
pect he's doing wrong. People can
make anything they want seem right
in their own eyes. But rye found out
that wickedness isn't stationary, It's
got a sort of perpetual motion. II we
don't drive Grace away, the crash will
come"
"Fran-how you must love Mrs.
Gregory"
"She breaks my heart"
Dear faithful Fran! What can we
do?-1 say We, Fran, observe"
"Oh, you Abbott Ashton
Just what thought you! No, no, you
mustn't interrupt. I'll manage Grace
Noir, If you'll manage Bob Clinton"
Where does Bob Clinton come in? p
Grace is trying to open a door so
he can come in mean secret in Mr..
Gregory's past She suspects that
there's a secret in his past, and she
intends to send Bob to Springfield
where Mr. Gregory left that secret.
Bob will bring in to Littleburg. He'll
hand it over to Grace, and then she'll
have Mr.. Gregory in her power =
there'l be no getting her hands of
him. after that"
Surely you don't mean that Mr.
Gregory did wrong when he was young
and that Miss Noir suspects it,"
Bob will bring home the secret -
and 1t will kill Mrs. Gregory, Abbott
and Grace will go off with him
know how it'll end"
What Is this secret?"
"You are never to know, Abbott.
Very well-so be 1t. But don't be.
lieve Mr.. Gregory ever did very wrong
he is too good man.
Isn't he daily breaking his wife's
4 osS ~
the lip II call that murder"
But still!-But can't think he
realizes It,"
Then" said Fran satirically, well
just call it manslaughter. When
think of his wife's meek patient face
don't you recall that look in her
eyes of the wounded deer-and the
thousands Of times you've seen those
two together, at church, on the street
| in the library-everywhere
seeing only each other, leaning closer
smiling deeper-as If doing good meant
getting close-Oh, Abbott, you know
what mean-don't you, don't you?"
"Yes!" cried Abbott sharply. Fran
you are right. I have been-all Of us
have been-clinging to appearances
| Yes, know what you mean"
You'll keep Bob Clinton from tell
ing that secret, won't you? He's to &c
tonight, on the long journey-tonight
after the board meeting. It'll take him
three or four days. Then he'll come
/ back,
"But he'll never tell the secret Alb
bolt declared. His mouth closed as by
a spring.
! Fran snatched up the whip, and
leaned over as II to lash the empty
shafts. She had suddenly become the
child again. 1--WE must drive out Of
Sure Enough Country, now. Time tc
get back to Make-Believe World. Yot
know it isn't best to stay long in high
attitudes I've been pretty high fee
like I've been breathing pretty close
to---heaven." She stood up, and the lap
robe fell about her like green waves
from which springs laughing nymph
| Abbott still felt stunned. The crast
! of an ideal arouses the iecho- IL
there no truth in the world?" But YET
Fran was here, Fran the adorable.
Fran he pleaded, don't drive out
af Sure Enough Country Wait lone