The Detroit times., 1913-01-03
CHAPTER XVIII.
Just Thirty Minutes.

IClntOn In search OF fran lire
secret, a consciousness of absence
and It's cause was like hot iron
branding Gregorys brain. What a
mocking fatality, that II should have
been Grace to send Robert on his ter.
rible errand,-an erraad which must
result In ruin! Whenever Gregory
tried to anticipate results, he stood
appalled,: hour by hour his mind was
ever darting forward into the future,
trying TO build II OF related parts of
probabilities.
Mrs. Gregory would be pitied when
1t became known how she had been
deceived; Fran would be pitied be-
cause she was a disowred daughter;
Grace would be pitied for trusting in
the integrity Of her employer-but
Gregory, who OF all men needed pity
most, would be utterly despired. He
| did not think OF himself alone, but OF
! his works OF charity-they, too, would
fall. In his disgrace, and Walnut Street
church-even religion iiself-would be
discredited because OF an exposure
that could avail nothing.
Gregory had been too long pro-
claiming the living God not TO feel
! Him as a Presence. and in this Pres
/ ence he felt shuddering fear that
could suggest no relief but propitia-
ton. He as well as Abbott Ashton
had kept himself informed of Rob-
ert's movements as far as they were
known to Miss Sapphire, hence the
day OF Roberts return found his
| thought OF atonement az It's most fren-
! zied stage
AS evening wore on, he made up his
mind to the fatal step.
Before Robert could expose him.
Gregory would confess. IL had seemed
inevitable since learning of the
school-director' mission: but he could
not shorten, by one hour, the sweet
comradeship In the library. Now that
the last hour had come he sought his
wife, Keeling like sick man as he
descended the hail stairs
Mrs. Gregory was softly playing an
old hymn, when he discovered her
presence in the brilliantly lighted par
Tor. Grace was expecting visit from
Clinton and had made the room cheer
full for his coming and Mrs. Gregory
looking in and finding 10 one present
had sunk upon the stool before the
plano She did not see her husband
for her face was bent low as she feel
ingly played, Il Need Thee Every
Hour.
Gregory, well-nigh overwhelmed
with the realization of what he meant
TO do, grasped the door for support.
Presently he spoke, brokenly, Lucy,
how true that is--we do, indeed,
need Him every hour"
She did not start at his voice,
though his presence had been I'M
suspected. She raised her serious
eyes, and observed his haggard face
Mr.. Gregory, you arc ILL.,
"No-the light hurts my eyes. He
turned off the lights and drew chair
near her. The room was partly re-
vealed by an electric arc that swung
at the street corner-its mellowed
beams entered the open window.
Lucy, | have something very import
ant to say TO YOU"
Her fingers continued to wander
among the keys, making the hymn
barely audible, then letting 1t die
away, only to be revived. She sup
posed ii was the old matter OF her
going to church--but since her name
had been taken "off tho book" what
was left to be said?
.A1uey-i-AaFe- Heiten-of-tfff+4s-
before. but 1t has seemed TO me for
long time that We have wandered
far apart-yes. very far apart. We
sit close together, alone. our hands
could touch, but our souls live In diff
ferent worlds. Do you ever feel that
way?"
She ceased playing abruptly, and
answered almost in whisper, Yes"
Perhaps it is my fault" said Greg
DRY, although know shat II YOU had
taken more interest IN what interests
me, If you had been true to the Faith
as | have tried to be-
81 have been true to YOU" said Mrs,
Gregory.
"Of cQIlrse--of course-there is no
question OF our being true to each
other. But it's because you have
alienated Yourself from what I look
upon as the only duty in life, that
We have drifted-and you could have
prevented that. | feel that | am not
wholly to blame. Lucy, IL has been
my fault and 1t has been your fault
that is how look at It,"
There was silence, then she said
There seems nothing TO be done"
How do you mean? You speak as
II our love were dead ard buried"
She rose abruptly, saying, "And its
grave unmarked
sit down, LUCY haven't told you
what came 20 tell-you must listen
and Try to sec il as | see il. let US
Le reasonable and discuss the future
n Ain a sensible and matte.-cf-fact
way. II you Will agree"
II will not agree to it, she an.
swered firmly. Let me go, Mr.. Greg.
DRY, there is TO need ever to brt1g up
that subject"
He had risen, and now In blank
amazcElent. he stared at her. repeat
Ing, You will not agree to H.? To
what? You arc unreasonable What
subject have brought up?"
1T is very true that we have driftcd
100 far apart TO be as we were in the
beginning BI' there Is still some.
thing left TO ME, and this something |
shall ciins to as long as can /
mean 10 avoid The publicity, the open
exposure, the shame of-of-a neg
lected wife"
MY Cod" v hispered Gregory. fall
ing back. then somebody has told you
about Springhcld-it was Fran"
Il don't know what you mean," she
returned. apparently without emotion
what mean Is, that shall never
consent to a divorce"
"A divorcef Good heavens, Lucy
are you mad? Do you think want
a separation because you disown tho