Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1913-10-31

L guess o Were, Fran cried en-
~phatically. You'd have done any
thing for him."
IT have this to say" remarked ST.
mon Jefferson, that I may not come
up to the mark in all particulars, and
l reckon l have my weaknesses; but
l wouldn't own a friend that proved
himself the miserable scoundrel, the
weak cur, that this child's father
proved himself"
"And l agree with you," declared
Grace, who seldom agreed with him
in anything. How Mr.. Gregory, the
best nan she had ever known, could
be fond of Fran's father, was incom-
prehensible. Ever since Fran had come
knocking at the door, Grace's exalted
faith in MI. Gregory had been per-
picked by the foreboding that he was
not altogether what she had imagined.
Hamilton Gregory felt the change In
her attitude. THAT friend" he said
quickly, was not altogether to be CEN
sured. At least, he meant to do right.
He wanted to do right. With all the
strength of his nature, he strove to
do right"
'"Then why didn't he do right?"
snapped Simon Jefferson. "Why
didn't he go back after that young
woman, and take care of her? Huh ?
What was holding him?"
HE did go back" exclaimed Greg
ory. "Well-not at first, but after.
ward. He went to tell his father, and
his father showed him that it would
never do, that the girl-his wife
wasn't of their sphere, their life, that
he couldn't have made her happy
that it wouldn't-that it just wouldn't
do. For three years he stayed in the
mountains of Germany, the most mis-.
cradle man in the world. But his
conscience wouldn't let him rest. II
told him he should acknowledge his
wife. So he went back-but she'd dis
appeared-he couldn't find her-and
he'd lever heard-he'd never dreamed
of the birth of a-of the-of this girl
He eve knew that he had a daugh.
ter. Neveri"
WELL" said Simon Jefferson, hes
dead now, and that's one comfort.
Good thing he's not alive; I'd always
be afraid l might come up with him
and then, afterward, that might not
get my sentence committed to life-im.
prisonment."
who is exciting my SOM" demand.
ed the old lady from her wheel-chair.
Simon Jefferson's red face and staring
eyes told plainly that his spirit was up
81 ffAr oil - catI T.,- -L.o-cI1.
we are here, and needn't bother
about what's past. My mother wasn't
given her chance, but she's dead now,
blessed soul-and my father had his
chance, but 1t wasn't In him to be a
man. Let's forget him as much as
we can, and let's have nothing but
sweet and peaceful thoughts about
mother. That's all over, and I'm here
to take my chance with the rest of
you. We're the world, while our day
lasts"
What a remarkable child" muir
INJURED Grace Noir, as they prepared to
separate. quite a philosopher in
short dresses"
"They used to call me a prodigy"
murmured Fran, as she obeyed Mrs.
Gregory's gesture inviting her to fol-
low upstairs.
Now It's stopped raining" Simon
Jefferson complained, as he wheeled
his mother toward the back hall.
That's a good omen," said Fran,
pressing Mrs. Gregory's hand. 1.-THE
moonlight was beautiful when l was
on the bridge-when / first came
here"
But we need rain" said Grace Noir
r~eproving1y. Her voice was that of
one familiar with the designs of Prov
idence. AS usual, she and Hamilton
Gregory were about to be left alone.
who needs it?" called the I'M
abashed Fran, looking over the banis-
ters. 1.-THE frogs?"
Life" responded the secretary som
berly.