The Washington herald., 1913-03-23
CHAPTER VII (Continued).

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. Il know it, absolutely.
She is the daughter of one who was
my moSt-ny most intimate friend.
Grace repeated with delicate reproot
Your intimate friend
Il know it was wrong for him TO
desert his wife"
'Wrongm How inadequate seemed
that word from her pure lips.
But" he faltered, I've must make
allowances. My friend married Fran
mother in secret because she was ui-
terly worldly-frivolous-a butterfly.
Her own uncle was unable to control
her-to make her go to church. Soon
after the marriage he found out his
mistake-it broke his heart. the trag-
edy of it. | don't excuse him for 60
ing away to Europe
Il am glad you don't. He was no
true man. but weakling- | am glad
! have never been thrown with such
IA degenerate.
But. Miss Grace" he urged plead
ingly, do you think my friend. when
he went back to find her and she was
gonc-do you think he should have
kept hunting? Do you think, Grace,
that he should have remained yoked
to an unbeliever. after nc realized his
folly"
There was heavenly compa> sion IN
her ewes. for suddenly she had di-
vined his purpose in defending Fran S
father. He wa, thinking of his own
wife, and OF his wife'S mother and
brother-how they had ceased TO show
sympathy in what he regarded "a the
gested that as she ctuld not spesI;
without casting reflection upon Mrs
Gregory. she would say nothing. and
this tact was grateful to his grieved
heart.
To the degree that Grace Noir took
solemn satisfaction i'll attending every
service oil the Walnut Street Church
no matter what the weather. she had
grown to regard nonattendants as I'M
true soldiers. bivouacking amid scenes
at feasting and dancing. She made
nothing of Mrs. Gregory'> excuse that
she STAYED al home with her mother
the old lady should be wheeled 10 the
clinations As for the services being
had for Simon Jefterson's weak heart
she did not think they would hurt
his heart or that it would matter II
they did. Visible. flesh blood
presence was needful to uphold the IN
stitution. and Grace would have given
more for one body resting upright Ill
Il pew. than for hundred membeTa
L., ~, MIR
Il have been thinking OF something
very strange, Grace SAID. with {
marked effort to avoid the issue le>'
She commit the indiScretIon OF blan'
ing her employers wife Il rcmcmbc'
having heard YOU say that " hen Vol
were Young man. You left youi
fathers home to live with COUSIN II
a distant town. who happened to be
teacher in a college, and that you were
graduated from his college. Don't yor
think it marvellous. this claim OF Fran
who saws that her father, when young
man. went TO live with cousin who
va, a college professor. and that h:
was graduated from that college >
And She says that her fathers father
was a rich mau-Ju>t a. your was
and that the cousin Is dcad-Just a
YOURS is
At these piercing words. Grcgor,
bowed his head TO conceal his agitation
Could it be possible that she had guess
cd all and vet, in spite OF all. coulc
use that tone oi kindness? II bur,
upon him that ii he and she coulc
hold, this fatal secret in common, they
might. in sweetest comradeShip, torn
an alliance against fate itself.
She persisted: The account ths
Fran gives OF her father is really you
own history What docs that show: y
He spoke almost in whisper. MY
friend and ! were much alike Ther
he looked up swiftly to catch loO'
IF comprehension by surprise, il sucl
look were there.
Grace smiled coldly. But hardl,
identical, presume. Don't you SCI
that Fran has invented her Who'll,
story. and that she didn't have enough
imagination to keep from copying afte
your biographical sketch in the news
paper? | don't believe she is you
friends daughter | don't believe yol
could ever have liked the father of ;
girl like Fran-that he could have beef
YOUR intimate friend"
well faltered Gregory. Blu
whv should he defend Franz
Mr.. Gregory" she asked, as if wha
she was about to say belonged to wha
had gone before. would it greatly in
convenience you for me to leave you
employment?
He was electrified Grace Incon
yenience me would you-could
"I have not decided-not yet. Speak
ing of being yoked with unbelievers-
I have never told you that Mr.. Rober
Clinton has wanted me to marry him
As long as he was outside OF tn
church, of courst it was impossible
But now that he is converted-
Grace" groaned the pallid listener
He would like me to go with hir
TO Chicago"
But YOU couldn't love Bob Clinton
he isn't worthy of you, Grace. 1t
;r,possible. Heaven knows I've had dis
appointments enough" He starte
m and came toward her, his eyes glow
ing. "Will you make life a oomplet
failure, after all?"
Love him?" Grace repeated calml,
This is merely question of doin
the most good
But. Grace, love must be considere,
If If comes too late. it overturns tn
purest purposes. Don't wait until it
too late as I-as-I repeat, until il
too late"
q know nothing about love"
Then let me teach you, Grace
let"
"Shall we not discuss it?' she sal
q = Il ,,,lr rs