Putnam patriot., 1913-05-02

OcIOTSs Nu6n your mother was 0rSt 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 it's in me, and that's good thing to know--it saves hunting"
 Do you consider yourself a sue cess'?' inquired the secretary with a chilly smile.
 T had everything I wanted except home," Fran responded with charm ing good-humor, "and now I've got that, In New York paper, found picture of Hamilton Gregory, and it told about all his charities. It said he had millions, and was giving away everything. I said to myself. I'll go there and have him give me a home you see, I'd often heard mother speak of him-and I said other things to myself-and then. as I generally do what l tell myself to do-it keeps up confidence in the general manager-I came"
 Dear child" said Mrs. Gregory, stroking her hair, your mother dead, your father-that kind of a man-you shall indeed find home with us, for life. And so your father was MT. Gregory's friend. It seems-strange"
 My father" said Fran, looking at MT. Gregory inscrutably, was the best friend you ever had, wasn't he? You loved him better than anybody else in the world, didn't your"
 "I-I-yes," the other stammered, looking at her wildly, and passing his agitated hand across his eyes, as if to shut out some terrible vision, yes, IT was-er-fond of-him.'
 q guess you were," Fran cried em- phatically. You'd have done any thing for him.
 T have this to say" remarked s. mon Jefferson, that I may not come up to the mark in all particulars, and l reckon I have my weaknesses; but l wouldn't own a friend that proved himself the miserable seoundrel, the weak cur. that this child's father proved himself."
 And I agree with you" declared Grace, who seldom agreed with him in anything. How MT. Gregory, the best man 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 MT. Gregory had been per plexed 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- erable man in the world. But his conscience wouldn't let him rest. It told him he should acknowledge his wife. So he went back-but she'd dis appeared-he couldn't find her-and he'd never heard-he'd never dreamed of the birth of a-of the-of this girl He never knew that he had 8 daugh- ter. Neverl"
 Well" said Simon Jefferson, he's dead now, and that's one comfort. Good thing he's not alive; I'd always be afraid I might come up with him and then, afterward, that I might not get my sentence commuted to life-im- prisonment"
 Who is exciting my son?" demand cd the old lady from her wheel-chair. Simon Jeffersons red face and staring eyes told plainly that his spirit was up.
 After all" said Fran cheerfully, i've 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 it 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 childl" mur- mured Grace Noir, as they prepared to separate. Quite a philosopher in short dresses"
 They used to call me a prodigy,' murmared 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. "The moonlight was beautiful when l was on the bridge-when I first came here"
 But we need rain" said Grace Noir reprovingly. 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 un- abashed Fran. looking over the banis- ters. "The frogsf'
 ..Lifs," responded the secretary som herly.
 CHAPTER VIII.