The Washington herald., 1913-03-16

wife. again embracing Fran, How els
could it be-"
This is going to be a good thint
for you. if you only knew it." FraI
said, looking into her face with loving
eyes.
Hamilton Gregory was almost abl,
to persuade himself that he had re
ceived the orphan of his own FIRE,
choice, thus to make reparation. II
is my duty" he said" and I alway:
try to do my duty, as | see it."
Would you like to know NOR,
about me?" Fran asked confidential,
OF Mrs. Gregory
Gregory turned pale. Il don't thinl
DO tell me-" exclaimed his wife.
"Oh, Lord" murmured Simon JEFF.
ferson, sinking back into the hall chair
Father and mother married secret.
ly," Fran said, solely addressing Mrs
Gregory, but occasionally sending {
furtive glance at her husband H,
was a college student, boarding witt
his cousin, who was one of the pro,
fessors. Mother was an orphan anc
lived with her half-uncle-a mighty
crusty old man, Uncle Ephraim was
who didn't have one bit OF use fol
people getting married in secret
Father and mother agreed not to men
ton their marriage till after his grad.
uation; then he'd go to his father and
make everything easy, and come fol
mother. So he went and told him
fathers father was millionaire or
Wall Street Mothers uncle wa:
pretty well fixed. too. but he didn',
enjoy anything except religion. Wher
he wasn't at church-he went most al
the time-he was reading about it
Mother said he was most religious ir
Hebrew, but he enjoyed his Greek
verbs awfully."
Grace Noir asked remotely. "Did
you say that your parents eloped?'
They didn't run far" Fran ex.
planned; they were married in the
county. not far from Springfield
Il thought you said" Grace inter,
rupted. that they were in New York
Did YOU" said Fran politely. Sc
father graduated. and went away to tel
his father all about being married tc
Josephine Derry. 7 don't know wha,
happened then, as he didn't come back
TO tell My mother waited and wait
ed-and | was born-and then Uncle
Ephraim drove mother out Of his
house with her tiny baby-that's me-
and | grew to be--as old as you see
me now. We were always hunting
father. We went all over the United
States. first and last-it looked like
the son of millionaire ought to be
aSy to find. But he kept himself close
and there was never clew. Then
mother died. Sometimes she used to
tell me that she believed him dead
that if he'd hecn alive he'd have come
for her. because she loved him with
all her soul. and wrecked her whole life
because OF him She was happics,
when she thought he was dead. so ]
wouldn't say anything. but I was sure
he was alive. all right. as big and
strong as you please Oh. I know his
kind. I've had lots of experience"
SO I'd suppose" said Grace Noir
quietly. May ! aSk-if YOU don't mind
If this travelling about the United
States didn't take a great deal OF
money!"
"Oh. we had all the money we want
cd" Fran returned easily.
Indeed: And did YOU become rec
onciled to YOUR mothers uncle
"feS-after he was dead He didn't
else. and as mother had just been
taken from me. the money just nat
ururally came in my hands. But I
didn't need it. particularly
But before that" Grace persisted g;
Before. when your mother was first
disinherited. how could she make her
living?'
Mother was like me. She didn't
stand around folding her hands and
crossing her feet-she used 'em. Bless
You. | could get along wherever you'd
drop me Success isn't in the world.
its in me. and that's good thing to
know-it save hunting"
DO You consider yourself a sue
cess?" inquired the secretary with a
chilly smile
Il had everything | wanted except a
home" Fran responded with charm
ing good humor, "and now I've got
that In New York paper. | found
a picture Of Hamilton Gregory. and it
told about all his charities. 1t said
he had millions. and was giving away
everything. | said to myself. I'll go
there and have him give me home
you see. I'd often heard mother speak
of him-and I said other things to
myself-and then. as | generally do
what tell myself to dot keeps tip
confidence in the general manager-I
came"
Dear child" said Mrs Gregory,
stroking her hair, "your mother dead.
your father-that kind of man-you
shall indeed find a home with us, for
life. And so your father was Mr.
Gregory's friend 1t seems-strange"
my father" said Fran, looking at