Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-03-08

Something very strange had hap
pened up there, but 1t was lost to Clin-
toms keen Jealous gaze-one OF those
happenings in the soul, which, how
ever momentous, passes unobServed
in the midst of the throng.
mot 80 fast!" Grace cautioned
Gregory. 1--WE must wait up here till
the very last--don't you see Mr.. Cl1n-
ton? And Simon Jefferson Is now
pointing us out We can't go down
that way"
1--WE Gregory harshly echoed. I'VE!
have nothing to do with you, Grace
Noir. Go to him, II you will"
Grace turned ashen pale. What do
YOU mean?' she stammered. you tell
me to go to Mr.. Clinton?"
II tell you to 60 where you please.
That girl yonder is my daughter. do
YOU understand? Don't hold me back!
I shall 60 to her and proclaim her as
my child to the world. Do you hear
me? That's my Franz"
Grace shrank back in the suspicion
that Hamilton Gregory had gone mad
like the rest of the crowd. DO you
mean that you never want to see me
again1 Do you mean that you want
me to marry Mr.. Clinton?"
81 do not care what you do,", he said
still more roughly.
you do not carer" she stammered,
bewildered. What has happened?
You do not care-for me?'
She looked deep into his eyes, but
found no incense burning there. The
shrine was cold.
"Mr. Gregory! And after all that
has passed between us? After have
given you my-myself-"
Gregory seized her arm, as II to
hold her off. His eyes were burning
dangerously: II saw murder in your
heart while you were watching Fran
he whispered fercely. That's my
daughter, do you understand? ! know
YOU now, know you now. =
He stumbled down the steps, pushing
out OF his way those who opposed his
progress.
Grace stared after him with blood
less cheeks and smoldering eyes.
Clearly, she decided, the sight Of
Fran's fearful danger had unbalanced
his mind. But how could he care so
much about that Fran? And how
could he leave her, knowing that
Robert Clinton was beginning to climb
upward with eyes fastened upon her
face? -
But it was not the sight of Fran's
danger that had forever alienated
Gregory from Grace Noir. In an in
slant. she had stood revealed to him
as an unlovely monster. His sensi-
tive nature, always abnormally alive
to outward Impressions, had thrilled
responsibility to the exultation Of the
audience. He had endured the agony
of suspense, he had shared the, uni
versal enthusiasm. If, in sense, he
was a series of moods, each the result
of blind impulse, it so happened that
Grace's hiss-"It's the hand OF GOO"
turned his love to aversion; she was
appealing as justification of personal
hatred, to the God they were both be-
traying. y
Grace began to tremble as she
watched Robert Clinton coming up, and
Hamilton Gregory descending. She
had trusted foolishy to broken reed,
but it was not too late to preserve the
good name she had been about to be-
smirch. The furnace heat in which
rash resolves are forged, was cooled.
Gregory had deserted Fran's mother;
he was false to Mrs. Gregory; he
would perhaps have betrayed Grace IN
the end; but Clinton was at hand, and
his alteration would endure.
In the meantime, the voice Of Fran
was to be heard above that of the
happy crowd: II love you all. You
helped me do 1t. should certainly
have been mangled but for you per-
feet heroes. Yes, thank you.
Yes, l feel fine. 4 And, oh, men
and women, I could just feel your
spirits holding mine up till l was so
high was in the clouds. That's
what subdued Samson. He knew l
wasn't afraid. He knew it! And 1
wanted to win out for your sakes as
well as my own-yes did! Thank
you. men. - Thank you, women.
= +. Well, If here aren't the children,
too-bless your brave hearts!
And is that your baby? My goodness.
and what baby it Is! No, I'm
not a bit tired" a..,
She stopped suddenly, on feeling a
crushing grip. She looked down, a
frown forming on her brow, but the
sun shone clear when she saw Abbott
Ashton. She gave him a swift look,
as If to penetrate his inmost thoughts.
He met her eyes unfalteringly. ITS
already 9 o'clock" he said with Singh.
lar composure. Don't forget $780,
Then he disappeared in the crowd.
Fran saw the ranks thinning before
her. She was glad, for suddenly she
found herself very tired. What would
Abbott think? Would he, henceforth,
see nothing but the show girl of tinsel
and trainers whip, for ever showing
through the clear glass of her real
self? At $3.50, what would Abbott say
to her? and how should she reply
The thought of him obscured her Wis
ion Of admiring faces. Her manner
lost its spontaneity.
Then. to her amazement, she beheld
Hamilton Gregory stumbling toward
her, looking neither to right nor left,
seeing none but her-Hamilton Greg
DRY at show! Hamilton Gregory
here of all places, his eyes wide, his
head thrown back as If to bare his
face to her startled gaze.