The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1913-11-14
CHAPTER XVI.
A Tanner of Lions.

| - VI -tShSs
The life of household progresses
usually by insensible gradations, to-
ward some great event, some climax
for the building of which each day has
furnished it's grain of sand. Today
Hamilton Gregory and Grace Noir
were in the library, with nothing to
indicate the approach of the great mo.
ment in their lives. 1t was Graces
Impotence to drive Fran away even
before Robert Clinton should bring
the secret from Springfield, that pre-
cipitated matters.
May / speak to you, Mr.. Gregory?
She rose from the typewriter, slightly
pale from sudden resolution.
| Gregory never missed a movement
of his secretary, but now he lifted his
head ostensibly, to make his observa-
ton official.
Its about Mr.. Clinton" said Grace
in low voice, feeling her way to that
Fran"
He laid down his pen with frown.
Suddenly lis missions in New York
and Chicago became dead weights.
Why Grace's Mr.. Clinton" instead of
her customary Brother Clinton?" 1t
seemed to equip the school director
with formidable powers. Gregory has
tened to put him where he belonged.
"Oh! Something about Bob?" he
asked casually.
Her look was steady, her voice
humble: Yes"
Her humility touched him profound
ly. Knowing how unshakable were
her resolutions, he made a desperate
attempt to divert her mind: That is
settled, Miss Grace, and it's too late
now to alter the decision, for the
school board has already voted us a
| new superintendent-he has been sent
his notification. Abbott Ashton is out
| of it, and it's all his fault. Bob was
the only one to stand up for him, but
| he wasn't strong enough to hold his
friend above the wave of popular opin-
| ion. Don't ask me to interview Bob
| for Abbott Ashton"
Grace calmly waited for this futility
| to pass; then with an air suggesting,
Nov, shall we talk sensibly?" she re-
sumed: Il approve the action of the
| school board. 1t did well in dismiss
| ing Professor Ashton. May / ask about
Mr.. Clinton? He urges me to marry
| him at once"
NONSENSE" he exclaimed
1T is not nonsense" Grace calmly
responded. HE thinks | could make
| him better man. We would work
among the very poor in the Chicago
settlements; maybe in one of your
! own missions. | often wonder if I
couldn't do more good by personal
contact with evil, than l can here.
with a person like Fran always clog
ging my efforts"
He started up. Grace! You go
away?-And-and leave me and my
work.
Let Fran fill my position. You
think she's the daughter of your boy
hood friend-it would give her posi-
ton and independence"
mo one can ever fill your place, -
Gregory claimed, with violence. His
cheeks burned, lambert flames
cleaned in his brown eyes. The eff
feet was startlingly beautiful. At such
exalted moments, thinking no evil be-
cause ceasing to think, grown all feel
ing, and it but an infinite longing. the
| glow Of passion refined his face, al
ways delicately sensitive. The vision
of Grace, in giving herself to another
like a devouring fire consumed those
temporary supports that held him
above the shifting sands of his inner
nature.
Grace! But Grace, You wouldn't
marry himi"
Because she found his beauty appeal
ing to her as never before, her voice
was the colder: "Anyone's place can
be filled" ..
You don't care!" he cried out des
perately.
For Mr.. Clinton? Yes, admire his
persistence in seeking God. and his
wish to work for mankind. God comes
easier to some than to others. and
believe l could help"
Gregory, aghast at her measured
tone, interrupted: but / mean that
you don't care-den't care for me-
For" she began abruptly, tner
ADDED IN an odd whisper, "for you?"