Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1913-05-10
CHAPTER ~.


10 Wossan Who Wss Not nrs. GREG.
ory.
Hardly had Abbott Ashton disap.
hred down the village vista Of moon.
1t and shadow-patches, before
kn's mood changed. Instead Of
king 70 carry out her threat Of
hrding the lion in tho den, she sank
IN on the porch steps. gathered her
ses In her arms, and stared straight
orc her.
though Of skiliful resources. OF I'M
enable resolution. Fran could be
pondent to the bluest degree; and
ugh oompstent At tho clash. she
IN found herself purpltng on the
Of the crisis. The moment had
10 10 test her fighting qualities. yet
dropped despondently.
hamilton Gregory was coming
ugh the safe. As he halted in sur
%, . black shadow rose slowly,
|riiy. He, little dreaming that he
confronted by shadow from the
saw In her only the girl who
been publicly expelled from the
The ohoirleader had expected his
ne coming to be crowned BY q
on very different. He came up
walk slowly. not moving what to
She waited. outwardly calm. in
rdly gathering power. White-hot
Ion from Fran, when the iron was
be welded. Out Of the deepening
hadows her will leaped keen a. Q
lade.
She addressed him, Good evening,
Mr.. Gregory"
He halted. When he spoke, his tone
Expressed not only general disap-
prevail of all girls Who wander away
from their homes in the night, but an
especial repugnance to one who could
laugh during religious services. DO
you want to speak to me, child?"
yes" The word was almost .
whisper. The sound Of his voice had
weakened her.
What do you want?" He stepped
up on the porch. The moon had van
shed behind the rising masses OF
torn clouds. not to appear again. bat
he light through the glass door re-
called his poetic features. Flashes OF
ghtning ~ yet faint but rapid in re-
hrrence. showed his beauty az that
4 young man. Fran remained 81
Int, moved more than she could have
bought possible. He stared intently,
It under that preposterous hat she
l. Dractically Invisible. save ~ q
black shadow. He added again, with
growing Impotence, What do you
want?"
His unfriendliness gave her the spur
she needed. Il want q home" she
said decidedly.
Hamilton Gregory was seriously dis
turbed. However evil-disposed. the
Nwaif should not be left to wander aim
lessly about the streets. OF the three
hotels In Lttleburg. the cheapest was
not overly particular. He would take
her there. do you mean to tell me-"
he temporised. that you are abso-
Iutely alone7"
Fran's tone was . little hard. not
because she felt bitter, but lest she
betray too great feeling. Absolutely
klone in the world"
He was sorry for her: at the same
time he was subject to the reaction
/ Of his exhausting labors as song
leader. ~Then," he said, with tired
resignation. III you'll follow me. I'll
take you where you can spend the
night, and tomorrow, I'll try to ind
you work"
Work." She laughed. "Oh, thank
you!" Her accent was that Of repu-
diation. Work, indeed!
He drew hack In surprise and dis
pleasure.
"You didn't understand me-" she
resumed. What want is q home. 1
don't want to follow you anywhere.
This 10 where I want to stay"
"You cannot stay here he an
swered with slight smile at the pre-
sumptuous request, "but I'm willing to
nay for . room at the hotel"
At this moment the door was opened
by the young woman who. some hours
earlier. had responded to Fran's
knocking. Footsteps upon the porch
had told Of Gregory's return.
The lady who was not Mrs. Gregory
was 20 pleased to see the gentleman
who was Mr.. Gregory-they had not
met since the evening meal-that. at
first, she was unaware Of the black
shadow; and Mr.. Gregory, in spite Of
his perplexity. forgot'the shadow also.
so cheered was he by the glimpse Of
his secretary as she stood In the
brightly lighted hall. Such moments
Of delighted recognition are infinitesi-
NAL when . third person, however
shadowy, Ii present; yet had the world
been there, this exchange of glances
must have taken place.
Fran did not understand-her very
wisdom blinded her a. with too great
light. She had seen 90 much Of tho
world that, on finding q tree bearing
apples, she at once classified 1t as an
apple tree. To Gregory. Grace Noir
was but charming and conscientious
sympathizer in his life-work. the at
Jrospbere in which he breathed freest.
He had not breathed freely for half q
dozen hours-no wonder he was glad
to sec her. To Grace Noir, Hamilton
Gregory was but benefactor to man.
kind, q man of lofty ideals whom it
was . privilege to aid. and since she
knew that her very eyes gave him
strength, no wonder she was glad to
zee him.
Could Fran have read their thoughts.