Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-02-06

II know II was wrong for him to
desert his WIFE,"
"Wrong!" How inadequate seemed
that word from her pure lips!
But" he fsltered, I'VE must make
allowances. My friend married Fran's
mother in secret because she was ut
terly neutrality-suspicious. butterfly.
Her own uncle was unable to control
her--to make her go to church. Soon
after the marriage he found out his
mistake--it broke his heart, the
tragedy Of 1t. l don't excuse him for
going away to Europe
81 am glad you don't. He was no
true man. but a weakling. | am glad
! have never been thrown with such a
"a degenerate"
"But, Miss Grace" he urged plead
ingly, do you think my friend when
he went back to find her and she was
gone--do YOU think he should have
kept on hunting? DO you think. Grace,
that he should have remained yoked to
an unbeliever, after he realized his
folly?"
There was heavenly compassion in
her eyes, for suddenly she had OWNED
his purpose in defending Fran's father.
He was thinking OF his own wife, and
of his wife's mother and brother-how
they had ceased to show sympathy
in what he regarded as the essentials
OF life. Her silence suggested that as
she could not speak without casting re-
Election upon Mrs. Gregory, she would
say nothing, and this tact was grateful
to his grieved heart. 49,
To the davree that Grace Noir took
solemn satisfaction In attending every
service of the Walnut Street church.
no matter what the weather, she had
grown to regard non-attendants as un.
true soldiers. bivouacking amidst
scenes of feasting and dancing. She
, made nothing Of Mrs. Gregory's ex-
cuse that she stayed at home with
her mother--the old lady should be
! wheeled to the meeting house. even II
against her inclinations. As for the
services being bad for Simon Jeffer-
sons weak heart,-she did not think
they would hurt his heart or that it
would matter II they did. Visible,
flesh-and-blood presence was needful
! to uphold the institution, and Grace
would have given more for one body
resting upright in a pew, than for a
hundred members who were there only
"in the spirit" vs.. ~. ..
Il have been thinking Of something
very strange" Grace said, with a
marked effort to avoid the issue lest
she commit the indiscretion OF blaming
her employers wife, II remember
having heard you say that when you
were young man. you left your
fathers home to live with cousin in
a distant town who happened to be a
teacher in college, and that you were
graduated from his college. Don't
you think it marvellous, this claim of
Fran. who says that her father, when
a young man, went to live with a
cousin who was college professor.
and that he was graduated from that
college? And she says that her
fathers father was rich man--just
as yours was-and that the cousin is
ldead-just as yours is
| At these piercing words, Gregory
bowed his head to conceal his agita'
ton. Could 1t be possible that she
had guessed all and yet. in spite of all
could use that tone OF kindness? 1t
burst upon him that II he and she
could hold this fatal secret in common,
' H.,
form an alliance against fate itself.
| She persisted: "The account that
Fran gives of her father is really your
own history. What does that show?"
He spoke almost in whisper. my
friend and I were much alike" Then
he looked up swiftly to catch look OF
comprehension by surprise, II such a
look were there
Grace smiled coolly. But hardly
identical. presume. Don't you see
that Fran has invented her whole
story. and that she didn't have enough
imagination to keep from copying after
your biographical sketch in the news
paper? I don't believe she Is your
friends daughter. I don't believe you
could ever have liked the father Of a
girl like Fran,--that he could have
been your intimate friend"
"Well-" faltered Gregory. But why
. should he defend Fran? 4
"Mr. Gregory" she asked, az If what
she was about to say belonged to what
had gone before would 1t greatly In
convenience you for me to leave your
employment" 49,.
He was electrified. Grace! In
convenience me,-would you-could
81 have not decid ed-not yet. Speak
ing OF being yoked with unbelievers-
II have never told you that Mr.. Robert
Clinton had wanted me to marry him.
AS long as he was outside OF the
church. Of course it was impossible.
But now that he is converted"
"Grace!" groaned the pallid listener.
"He would like me to go with him
to Chicago"
But you couldn't love Bob Clinton
he isn't worthy Of you. Grace. It's
impossible. Heaven knows I've had
disappointments enough" He started
ND and came toward her, his eyes glow
ing. "Will you make my life COM
plete failure. after all?"
Love him." Grace repeated calmly.
"This is merely question Of doing
the most good"
But. Grace. love must be considered
If it comes too late, 1t .overturns the
purest purposes. Don't wait until it's
too late as I--as--1 repeat. until it's
too late"
'T know nothing about love-
"Then let me teach you, Grace,
let"