Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1913-10-24


brother a fresh interest in life"
Old Mrs. Jefferson beamed upon
Fran and added her commentator:
"She pushes me when ! want 10 be
pushed, and pulls me when | want to
be pulled"
Fran clapped her hands like a child.
indeed. "Oh, what a gay old world!
she cried. There are so many people
in 1t that like me-" She danced befo re
the old lady, then wheeled about with
such energy that her skirts threat
ened to level to the breeze
Don't, don't!" cried Mrs. Gregory
precipitately. "Fran!"
"Bravo!" shouted Simon Jefferson.
"EncoreI"
Fran widened her fingers to push
down the rebellious dress. IF don't
put leads on me-" she said with con-
triton, I'll be floating away. When
/ feel good. l always want to do some
thing wrong-lt's awfully dangerous
for a person to feel good, l guess Mrs.
Gregory, you say can belong to you
when think about that, want to
dance. l guess you hardly
know what IL means for Fran to be
long to a person. You're going TO ind
out. Come on" she shouted to Mrs.
Jefferson, without using the trumpet
always a subtle compliment to those
nearly stone-deaf, 81 mustn't wheel
myself about. so I'm going to wheel
you"
AS she passed with her charge into
the garden, her mind was busy with
thoughts Of Grace Noir. Belonging to
Mrs. Gregory naturally suggested get.
ting rid of the secretary. 1t would
be exceedingly difficult But two
months ought to settle her." Fran
unused
In the meantime, Grace Noir and
Gregory sat in the library, silently
turning out an immense amount OF
work, feeding the hungry and consol-
ing the weak with stroke of pen and
click of typewriter.
About this case, number one hun
dred forty-three," Grace said, looking
up from her work as copyist, 'the
girl whose father wouldn't acknowl
edge her
Write to the matron to give her
good clothing and good schooling" He
spoke softly. There prevailed an at
mosphere of subtle tenderness; or
this island-the library-blossomed
love of mankind and devotion to lofty
ideals. These two mariners found
themselves ever surrounded by j sea
of indifference; there was not a sail
in sight. 'It is a sad case" he muir
INJURED
You think number one hundred
forty-three a sad case?" she repeated
always. when possible, building her
next step out of the material furnished
by her companion. But suppose she
is an impostor. He says she's not his
daughter, this number one hundred
forty-three. Maybe she isn't. Would
you call her conduct sad?"
Gregory took exquisite pleasure in
arguing with Grace, because her Sc
rene assumption of being in the right
gave to her beautiful face a touch OF
the angelic. Il should call 1t impos
sible."
Impossible? Do you think it's i'm
possible that Fran's deceiving you
How can you know that she is the
daughter of your friend?"
He grew pale. Oh. IL he could have
denied Fran-if he could have Joined
Grace in declaring her an impostor
But she possessed proofs so irrefutable
that safety lay in admitting her claim
lest she prove more than he had al
ready admitted. 81 know 1t, absolute
ly. She is the daughter Of one who
was my most-my most intimate
friend"
Grace repeated with delicate re
proof-"Your intimate friendl"
81 know it was wrong for him to de
sert his WIFE"
"Wrong!" How inadequate seemed
that word from her pure lips!
But" he faltered, I'VE must max,
allowances. My friend married Franz
mother in secret because she was ut
terly worldly-frivolous-a butterfly
Her own uncle was unable to contro
her-to make her go to church. Soor
after the marriage he found out hi
mistake-it broke his heart, the trag
edy of it. don't excuse him for 90
ing away to Europe"
' II am glad you don't. He was NJ