The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1913-04-27
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new superintendent 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,
"Now, shall we talk sensibly?" she re-
| sumed: Il approve the action of the
school board 1t did we'll in dismissing
Prof. Ashton May ! speak about Mr..
| Clinton? He urges me to marry him
at once"
NONSENSE he exclaimed.
at 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 |
couldn't do more good by personal
contact with evil, than l can here, with
person like Fran always clogging my
efforts"
He started up. "Gracel You go
| away And-and leave me and my
work."
LET Fran fiji my position. You
think she's the daughter of your boy
hood friend-it would give her position
and independence"
mo one can ever fill your place"
Gregory exclaimed, with violence. His
cheeks burned. lambert flames CLEANED
in his brown eyes. The effect was
startlingly beautiful. At such exalted
moments, thinking no evil because
ceasing TO think, grown all feeling, and
it but an infinite longing, the glow of
passion refined his face, always deli
cately sensitive The vision of Grace,
in giving herself to another, like a
devouring fire consumed those tenn
porary supports that held him above
the shifting sands of his inner nature
Grace! But Grace! You wouldn't
marry him
Because she found his beauty appeal
ing to her as never before, her voice
was the colder: "Any ones place can
be filled"
"You don't carel"- he cried out des-
perately.
For Mr. Clinton? Yes, I 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-don't care for me-"
For" she began abruptly, then
added in an. odd whisper, "for you?"
Eyes, for me don't care
how much / suffer, or whether l suf-
fer at ALL mean my work, if it suf-
fers. If | lose you, Grace"
''Oh, you will always have Fran"
Franz, he calculated. $50 you
don't care, Grace 1t seems
incredible because / care so much.
Gracep His accent was that of utter
despair. How can ! lose you since
you are everything? What would be
left to live for? Nobody else sympa-
thizes with my aims. Who but. you
understands? Oh, nobody will ever
sympathy-ever care"
But, Mr.. Gregory she began, con-
fused Her face had grown white.
"Gracep he caught her hand, ex-
pecting it to be snatched away-the
hand he had hourly admired at its
work; he could feel its warmth. caress
its shapeliness-and it did not resist.
1t trembled.
He was afraid to press it at first, lest
it be wrenched free; and then, the next
moment, he was clasping it convulsive-
ly. For the first time in her life, Grace
did not meet his eyes.
"Gracew he painted, not knowing
what he was saying, you care, | see
you care for NEEDN'T your"
NO" she whispered. Her lips were
dry, her eyes wide, her bosom heaving.
Boundaries hitherto Interchangeable, were
suddenly submerged Desperately, as if
for her life, she sought to cling to such
floating landmarks as duty. conscience,
virtue-but they were drifting madly
beyond reach.
"But you can't love him, can your"
Gregory asked brokenly
Grace, with closed eyes, shook her
head-what harm could there be in that
confession? after his voice ceased,
she still heard the roaring of shell,
as if she might be half drowned in
mere sound.
you won't go away, will you,
Grace?" he pleaded, drawing her closer.
She shook her head, lips still parted,
eyes still closed.
Speak to me, Grace. Tell me you
will never leave me-"
Her lips trembled, then he heard a
faint Never Instantly neck and
brow were crimsoned; her face, always
superb, became enchanting. The dig
nifty of the queen was lost in the wom-
ans greater charm.
Because you love mep cried Greg |
DRY wildly. Il know you do, now,
know you dor His arm was about
her. "You will never leave me because
you love me. Look at me, Grace"
1t seemed that her eyelids were held |
down by tyrannous thumbs. She. tried |
to lift them, and tried again. Her |
face was irradiated by the sunrise glow
of master passion. Swiftly he kissed
her lips, and as she remained motion !
less. he kissed her again and again.
Suddenly she exclaimed blindly, ooh, !
my Godw Then she threw her arms
about him, as he drew her to his
bosom
1t was at that moment, as if Fate
herself had timed the interruption, that
Fran entered.
There was a violent movement of
mutual repulsion on the part of Hamil-
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