Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-02-27
Copyright 1912 ]


CHAPTER XVII (Continued).
Gregory had been too long proclaim
ing the living God not to feel him as a
presence, and In this presence he telt
a shuddering fear that could suggest
no relief but Precipitation. He as we'll
as Abbott Ashton had kept himself in
formed of Roberts movements as far
as they were known to Miss Sapphire,
hence the day of Roberts return found
his thought of atonement at it's most
frenzied stage.
AS evening wore on, he made up his
mind to the fatal step.
Before Robert could expose him,
Gregory would confess. It had seemed
Inevitable since learning Of the school
directors mission; but he could not
shorten, by one hour, the sweet COM
radeship in the library. Now that the
last hour had come, he sought his
wife. Keeling like sick man es he
descended the hall stairs.
Mrs. Gregory was softly playing an
old hymn. when he discovered her
presence in the brilliantly lighted par
lor. Grace was expecting visit from
Clinton and had made the room cheer
full for his coming. and Mrs. Gregory,
looking in and finding no one present,
had sunk upon the stool before the
piano. She did not see her husband,
for her face was bent low as she feel
ingly played, ~ Need Thee Livery
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 unsus-
pected She raised her serious eyes,
and observed his haggard face. "Mr.
Gregory, you are 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 it's mellowed
beams entered the open window.
Lucy, have something very i'm
portant 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 it was the old matter Of her GO
ing to church but since her name
had been taken "off the book" what
was left to be said!
Lucy. I have never spoken Of this
before, but 1t has seemed to me for
a long time that we have wandered
rather far apart-yes. very far apart.
We sit close together, alone. our
hands could touch, but our souls live
in different worlds. Do you ever feel
that way?"
She ceased playing abruptly. and
answered almost in whisper, Eyes. :"
Perhaps 1t is my fault" said Greg
Dry, although know that If you had
taken more interest in what interests
me, if you had been true to the Faith
as I have tried to be-"
IT have been true to you," said Mrs.
Gregory.
"Of course-of course-there is no
question of our being true to each
other. But it's because you have alien
ated yourself from what look upon
as the only duty in life, that we have
drifted-and you could have prevented
that. I feel that am not wholly to
blame. Lucy, 1t has been my fault
and it has been your fault-that is
how I look at It,"
There was silence, then she said.
"There seems nothing to be DONE"
How do you mean? You speak as
if our love were dead and buried
She rose abruptly, saying, "And it's
grave unmarked"
"Sit down, Lucy haven't told you
what came to tell-you must listen
and try to see it as see it. Let us
be reasonable and discuss the future
in ain a sensible and matter-of- fact
way. II you will agree"
81 will not agree to it," she an
swered firmly. LET me go, Mr.. Greg
ory, there is no need ever to bring up
that subject"
He had risen, and now in blank
amazement, he stared at her, repeat
ing, You will not agree to It? To
what? You are unreasonable. What
subject have brought up?"
ut is very true that we have drifted
too far apart to be as we were In the
beginning. But there is still some
thing left to me, and this something I
shall cling to as long as can. mean
to avoid the publicity, the open ex-
posure, the shame of-of-a neglected
wife"
"My God!" whispered Gregory. fall
ing back, "then somebody has told you
about Springfield was Franz"
Il don't know what you mean" she
returned, apparently without emotion.
ttVVhaf mean Ia thar shall never