Putnam patriot., 1913-07-25
escaped its danger. 1ou know l,.

You, to Talk to You"
 escaped its danger. You know I,I
 And does your wife know?"
 Would I tell her. and not tell you? It's you I've tried to shield married Josephine Derry, and Fran is our child. You know Fran. We'll. her mother was just like her-frivolous, caring only for things of the world irreligious. And 1 was just a boy-a mere college youth. When I reanzed the awful mistake I'd made. thought it best to go away and let her live her own life. Years after, l put all that behind me. and came to Littleburg. l married Mrs. Gregory and l wanted | to put all my past life away-elear away-and live a good open life. Then | you came. Then found out I'd never known what love meant. It means a | fellowship of souls, love does; it has nothing to do with the physical man. It means just your soul and mine. i. !. and it's too late!'
 Grace. with hands locked upon her open ledger, stared straight before her, as if turned to stone. The little | fenced-in box, hanging high above ea- ger shoppers, was as peaceful haven in a storm of raging noises. From without, gusts of merriment shrieked and whistled, while above them boomed the raucous cries of showmen, | drowned in their turn by the inde- fatigable brass-band. The atmosphere of the bookkeeper's loft was a wedge | of efI r;& Nf | mutt
 Gregory covered his face with his | hands. Do you despise me, you pure angel of beauty? Oh say you don't utterly despfse me. I've not breathed this secret to any living soul but you. you whom I love with the madness of ! despair My heart is broken. Tel me what I can do.'
 At last Grace spoke in a thin tone: Where is that woman?"
 Trans mother?"
 She dis not reply; he ought to know l whom she meant.
 "She died few years ago-but l thought her dead when I married Mrs. Gregory. I didn't mean any wrong 1 to my wife, I wanted everything legal. and supposed it was. 1 thought every thing was all right until that awful night-when Fran came. There'd been no divorce, so Fran kept the secret not eon my account, oh, no, no. not on her fathers account She gave me no consideration. It was on account aof Mrs Gregory"
 Which Mrs. Gregory?"
 You know-Mrs. Gregory" Gan 1 believe that?" Grace asked, with chilled smile. You believe Fran really cares for your wife? You think any daughter could care for the woman who has stolen her mothers rightful placer"
 But Fran won't have the truth de- clared; if it weren't for her, Bob would have told you long ago"
 Suppose I were in Fran's place | would have kept the secret to spare man or woman? Noi Fran doesn't care a penny for your wife. She | couldn't. It would be monstrous-un- l natural. But she's always hated me. l That's why she acts as she does-to l triumph over me. l see it all. That ! l declared--she doesn't want me to know that you are-are free" Grace started up from the desk, her 1 face deathly white. She was totter- i ing, but when Gregory would have i leaped to her side, she whispered. They would see us" Suddenly herl l face became crimson. He caught his breath, speechless before her imperial loveliness.
 MT. Gregoryi" her eyes were burn ing into his. have you told me all the 1 secret? 2" !
 "Yes-all" |
 "Then Mir. Clinton deceived mel"
 "rHe agreed to hide everything, if I'd send you away" "Oh, l seei So even he is one of Fran's allies. Never mind-did you say that when you married the second time, your first wife was living. and had never been divorced ?"
 But Grace-dear Gracei I thought it all right. I believed" She did not seem to hear him. ''Then she is not your wife" she said in low whisper
 "She believes"
 scornfuily. And so that is the fact Fran wanted hidden you are not real ly bound to Mrs. Gregory"
 Not legally-but-"
 'In what way, then?' Why, in no regular way-I mean but don't you see, there could be no marriage to make it binding. without telling her"
 You are not bound at all" Grace in- terrupted. You are free-as free as air-as free as I am. Are you deter mined not to understand me? Since you are free, there is no obstacle. in Heaven or on earth. to your wishes" His passage from despair to sudden hope was so violent that he grasped the desk for support. What ?-Then? -You-you-Grace, would you - But -
 You are free" said Grace, "and since Mir. Clinton's treaehery, do not consider myself bound" "Gracei" he cried wildly, "Grace- star of my soul--go with me. go with me, fly with me in a week-darling. Let us arrange it for tomorrow" No. I will not go with you. unless you take me now"
 Now? Immediately he gasped. bewildered.
 Without once turning back" she returned. There's a train in some thing like an hour"