Putnam patriot., 1913-06-06


terposed swiftly. that she saio sue
hadn't been playing cards"
She said" Grace echoed unpleas-
antly. "she saidi',
That card you found" began Alb
bott guiltily. was it the king OF
hearts?" Possibly he had dropped IL
from his pocket when leaning over the
gate to- But why had he leaned over
the gate?
Grace coldly answered, II do not
know one card from another"
Let me try to describe it,"
Il hope you cannot describe the card
found" said Grace, the presentiment
that she was on the eve of discoveries
giving her eyes a starlike directness.
Il suspect l dropped that card over
the fence" he confessed, for / had
the king of hearts, and last night,
about that time was standing at the
gate"
oh" Grace exclaimed, disagreeably
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 good
conscience wrongfully accused.
Only since Fran came, am sure"
she said, feeling him escaping. She
looked at him with something like
scorn, inspired by righteous indigna-
ton that such as he could be infiu-
enced by Fran. That look wrought
havoc with the halo he had 30 long
blinked at, as it swung above her head.
Does that mean," he inquired, with
steady look, that you imagine Fran
has led me into bad habits?"
Il trust the habits are not fixed"
rather contemptuously. Il hardly
think you mean to desert the church,
and lose your position at school. for
the sake of-of that Fran"
Il hardly think so. either" returned
Abbott. And now I'd better go to my
school work"
Fran is imprudent," said Mrs. Greg
DRY, in distress. "but her heart is pure
gold. | don't know what all this means.
but when 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
Dry? Or shall | conceal it on the as
surances that 1t will never happen
again?"
Abbott seated himself with sudden
persuasiveness. Conceal it, Miss
Grace. conceal 1T" he urged
"If you will frankly explain what
happened-here before Mrs. Gregory,
so she can have the real truth, we will
never betray the secret, But If you
cannot tell everything, l shall feel it
my duty don't know how Mrs. Greg
DRY feels about it-but must tell Mr..
Gregory"
q would rather wait" said Mrs.
Gregory, land talk to Fran. She will
promise me anything. l trust you, Abb
bolt; | know you would never lead my
little girl into wrong-doing. Leave IL
all to me. will have good talk with
Fran"
And" said Abbott eagerly, 'if we
both solemnly PROMISE
Grace bit her lip. His "we'' con-
demned him.
81 don't ask you to hide the affair on
my account" he said, holding up his
unjust light She isn't to be judged
like other people"
oh" murmured Grace, then you
think there is more than one standard
of right? | don't There's one God
and one right, No, | cannot consent;
what might safety Mrs Gregory might
not seem best to me. No, professor,
If you feel that you cannot explain
what l saw, last night, | shall feel
obliged to tell Mr.. Gregory as soon as
the choir practice ends"
Didn't Fran refuse to tell?" Abbott
temporized.
YES" was the skilful response; but
you, for the girl never seems ashamed
of anything she does. l imagine she
hated to get you into trouble"
Miss Grace. you have heard Mrs.
Gregory say that she trusts me-and
she is Fran's guardian. l ask you to
do the same"
81 must consider my conscience"
That answer closed all argument
you had better tell her." said Mrs.
Gregory, for she is determined to
know"
81 was taking a walk to rest my
mind" Abbott said slowly. proceeding
as If he would have liked to fight his
ground inch by inch, 'and 1t was rath.
er late. l was strolling about Little
burg. At last l found myself at the
new bridge that leads to the camp
meeting grounds, when ahead OF me.
there was-I saw Fran. i was much
surprised to find her out there, alone =
II can understand that" said Grace
quietly, for l should have been sur
prised myself"
Mrs. Gregory turned upon Grace
~Let him go oni" she said with flash
that petrified the secretary.
When c>ne up to the bridge. she
& M(|1|'Ica0'