Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-01-30

trouble.
ut was fun while it lasted, wasn't
IT." Fran exclaimed, with sudden
gurgle.
part OF it was he admitted.
"Gooc-by then, little Nonpareil."
he held out his hand.
NO, sir" cried Fran. claspins her
hands behind her. That's what got
you into trouble. GooG-Ey. Run for it,"
CHAPTER Nv.
The Woman Who Was No. Mrs.
Gregory.
Hardly had Abbott Ashton disap-
peared down the village vista of moon
light and shadow patches before
Frans moon changed. Instead Of Sc II
Ing to carry out her threat Of beard
Ing the lion In the den, she sank down
on the porch steps, gathered her
knees in her arms. and stared straight
before her.
: She made woebegone little figure
with her dusty shoes, her black stock
ings. her huddled body. while the big
hat threw all into deepest gloom.
FroT hat to drawn-in feet, she was
NOT unlike narrow edge Of dark
ness splitting the moon-sheen, a SOM
Der shadow cast by goodness-knOws-
what and threatening gOodness-knOws.
WI on
Though Of skilful resources, Of i'm.
pregnable resolution, Fran could be
Respondent to the bluest degree; ard
though competent ut the clash, shs
often found herself purpling on the
eve of the crisis. The moment had
come to test her fighting qualities, yet
she drOoped deSpOndently &&se
Hamilton Gregory was coming
through the gate. AS he halted In sur.
prise, the black shadow rose slowly,
YEARLY. He. little dreaming that he
was confronted by shadow from the
past, saw in her only the girl who had
been publicly expelled from the tent.
The choir-leader had expected his
Homecoming to no crowned by a
vision very differen. He came up the
walk slowly, not knowing what to
say. She waited, outwardly calm. I'M
wardly gathering power. Whl.e-hot
action from Fran. when the iron was
to be welded. Ou- OF the deepening
shadows her will leaped keen as =
blade.
She addressed him, "Good evening.
Mr. Gregory"
He halted. When he spoke, his tore
expressed not only general dtsap.
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 vanished
behind the rising masses Of storm
clouds. not to appear again, but the
light through the glass door revealed
his poetic features Flashes Of
lightning as yet faint but rapid In re-
currence, showed his beauty as that Of
a young man. Fran remained silent,
moved more than she could have
thought possible. He stared intently,
but under that preposterous hat, sne
was practically invisible, save as q
black shadow. He asked again, with
growing Impotence, What do You
want?"
His unfriendliness gave her the spur
she needed. 81 want home" she
said decidedly.
Hamilton Gregory was seriously dis
turbed. However evil-disposed, the
waif should not be left to wander aim
lessly about the streets. OF the three
hotels in Littleburg, the cheapest was
not overly particular. He would take
her there. do you mean to tell me, =
he temporized, that you are absolute
ly alone?"
Fran's tone was little hard, not be-
cause she felt bitter but lest she be-
tray too great feeling, Absolutely
alone 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 resigna.
ton, III you'll follow me-, I'll take you
where you can spend the night, and
tomorrow, I'll try to find you work. :"
Work." She laughed. "Oh, thank
you!" Her accent was that OF repudia-
ton. Work, indeed!
He drew hack in surprise and dis
pleasure.
''You didn't understand me-" she re-
don't want to follow you anywhere.
This is where want to stay"
"You can not stay here" he
answered. Will n 0u6ut ouAiC a. tAU
presumptuous request, "but I'm will
ing to pay for q 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 so pleased to see the
gentleman who was Mr.. Gregory
they had not met since the evening
meal-tbat. 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 mo-
Of delighted recognition are
infinitesimal when third person,
however shadowy is present; yet had
the world been there, this exchange
of glances must have taken place.
Fran did not understand-her very
wisdom blinded her as with too great
light. She had seen so much Of the