Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1913-11-28

Gregory's home in Littleburg. but finds
him absent conducting the choir at a
camp meeting.
CHAPTER II-She repairs thither in
search OF him. laughs during the service
and is asked to leave.
CHAPTER III-Abbott Ashton. super
1ntendent of schools. escorts Fran from
the tent. He tells her Gregory Is a
wealthy man. deeply interested in charity
work, and is a pillar Of the church. Ash.
and. while aking leave of her. holds her
hand and Is seen by Sapphire Clinton.
sister of Robert Clinton. chairman OF the
school board.
CHAPTER Iv-Fran tells Gregory she
wants a home with him. Grace Noir.
Gregory's private secretary. takes a vio-
Gent dislike to Fran and advises her to go
away at once. Fran hints at a twenty
Eear-old secret, and Gregory, In agitation.
asks Grace to leave the room.
CHAPTER v-Fran relates a story Of
how Gregory married a young girl at
Springfield while attending college and
then deserted her. Fran Is the child Of
present wife three years before the death
of Fran's mother.
CHAPTER vI-Fran finds Mrs. Greg
niking to her.
II cannot think So" said Mrs. Greg.
sory firmly.
after making up my mind what to
ldo," continued Grace evenly, 81 took
her aside. told her what | had seen
land heard. l gave her back her card
but how can we be sure she will not
lido 1t again? That is what troubles me
lOughtn't l to tell Mr.. Gregory, so q
scandal a be avoided?"
Abbott looked blankly at Fran, who
was singing with all her might. She
lcaught his look, and closed her eyes.
abbot asked weakly: what did she
Fsay"
Grace answered.: "She denied 1t, OF
tcourse-said she hadn't been playing
cards with anybody, hadn't dropped
the card | found, and wouldn't even adj
init that she'd been with a a If ]
tell Mr.. Gregory about her playing
cards with a man at that hour, l don't
believe he will think he ought to keer
her longer, even if she does claim to
lbe his friends daughter"
But you tell u.s." Mrs. Gregory in.
iterposed swiftly, that she said she
hadn't been playing cards."
fShe saidl" Grace echoed unpleas.
antly, "she said!"
THAT card you found" began Alb
bott guiltily, was it the king OF
hearts?" Possibly he had dropped II
from his pocket when leaning over the
gate to- But why had he leaned over
the gate?
Grace coldly answered, 81 do not
know n care from another"
Let me try to describe it,"
II hope you cannot describe the card
4 found" said Grace, the presentiment
that she was On the eve of discoveries
giving her eyes a starlike directness.
Il suspect / dropped that card over
the fence" he confessed, "for I had
the king of hearts, and last night.
about that time l was standing at the
gate"
"Oh," Grace exclaimed, d~isagreeably
surprised. Il did not know that you
play cards, Professor Ashton. Do you
also attend the dances? Surely you
haven't been dancing and playing
cards very long?"
Not for a great WHILE" responded
Abbott, with the obstinacy of q good
conscience wrongfully accused.
only since Fran came, l am sure,H
she said, feeling him escaping. She
looked at him with something like
scorn, inspired by righteous indigna-
tion that such as he could be influ,
enced by Fran. That look wrought
havoc with the halo he had SO long
blinked at, as It swung above her head.
docs that mean," he inquired, with
q steady look, 'that you imagine Fran
has led me into bad habits?"
II trust the habits are not fixed"
rather contemptuously. 81 hardly
think you mean to desert the church.
and lose your position at school, for
the sake of-of that Fran"
II hardly think 80, either" returned
Abbott. And now I'd better go to my
school work"
Fran is imprudent," said Mrs. Greg.
lory, in distress. "but her heart is pure
gold. | don't know what all this means.
but when l have hadsa talk with her"
Don't go, Professor Ashton" inter
posed Grace. as he started up, until
you advise me. Shall / tell Mr.. Greg
lory? Or shall l conceal It on the as
lsurances that 1t will never happen
lagain?"
Abbott seated himself with sudden
"REMINISCENCES. Conceal it, Miss
Grace, conceal It'll" he urged.
IF you will frankly explain what
happened-here before Mrs. Gregory.
$50 she can have the real truth, we will
never betray the secret. But If you
cannot tell everything, l shall feel 1t
my duty-I don't know how Mrs. Greg
fory feels about it-but | must tell Mr..
Gregory"
Il would rather wait" said Mrs.
Gregory. and talk to Fran. She will
promise me anything. / trust you, Alb
Ibott; / ] know you would never lead my
1ittla girl into Wrnng-doinR. Iaava IL