Charlevoix county herald. (East Jordan, Mich.) 189?-1953, 1913-10-04

II she would show half as much inter
est in her souls welfare"
He left the sentence unfinished. The
thought of Grace had grown supreme
it seemed to illuminate some wide
and splendid road into a glorious fu
ture.
The bookkeeper's desk was in gal
lery near the ceiling OF the Clinton
grocery store; one looked thence,
through picket-fence. down upon the
only floor. Doubtless Grace, thus look
ing, saw him coming. When he reached
her side, he was breathless, partly
from the struggle through the masses.
principally from excitement of fancied
security.
She was posting up the ledger, and
made no sign of recognition until he
called her name.
MIR. Clinton is not here" she said
remotely. Can / do anything for
your"
He admired her calm courtesy. II
at the same time she could have been
reserved and yielding he would have
| feet. Because 1t was impossible, he
was determined to preserve her an
gelic purity in imagination, and to re-
store her womanly charm to actual
being.
How can you receive me so coldly,"
he said impulsively, when I've not
seen you for weeks?"
"You see me at church. she an
swered impersonally.
But / have been dying to be near
you, to talk to you"
"Stop!" she held up her hand you
should know that Mr.. Clinton and /
are"
"Grace!" he groaned.
She whispered, her face suddenly
growing pale, Are engaged" The
tete-atete was beyond her supposed
strength.
Engaged" he echoed, as II she had
| pronounced one OF the worlds great
tragedies. Then you will give your.
self to that man-yourself, Grace, that
beautiful self--and without love? It's
crime! Don't commit the horrible
blunder that's ruined my life. See
what wretchedness has come to me-
Then you think" very slowly, that
ought to let Fran ruin my whole life
because your wife has ruined yours
Then you think that after / have been
driven out Of the house to make room
for Fran, that l ought to stay single
because you marripa unwisely?"
Grace, don't say you are driven
out"
What do you call it? A resigna
tion?"
"Grace!-we have only a few mo-
ments to be alone. For PHYS sake
look at me kindly and use another
tone-a tone like the dear days when
you were by my side. We may
never be together again"
She looked at him with the same re
pellent expression, and spoke in the
same bitter tone: We'll. suppose we're
not? You and that Fran will be to
gether."
In his realization that it was Fran
and Fran alone, VINE separated them
Gregory passed into a state of anger
to which his love added recklessness
Grace, hate me If you must, but you
shall not misunderstood met"
She laughed. please don't ask me
to understand you, Mr.. Gregory, while
you hide the only secret to your un
derstanding. Don't come to me with
pretended liking when what you cal
mysterious business interests al
Springfield drive me from your door
and keep Fran at my desk"
He interposed in a low, passionate
voice. Il am resolved that you should
know everything. Fran-is my owl
daughter"
She gave no sign save sudden
compression OF the mouth; neverthe
less. her surprise was extreme. Hei
mind flashed along the wires Of the
past and returned illuminated to the
present ENHANCEMENT.
He thought her merely stunned, and
burst forth: II tell you, Fran Is m,
child. Now you know why I'm com
PEELED to do what she wants. That's
the secret Bob brought from Spring
field. That's the secret Abbott Ash
ton hung over my head-the traitor!
after I'd befriended himl All of my
unsrateful friends have conspired te
ruin me. to force you from me by thi,
secret. But you know 1t now, and I've
escaped its danger. You know IT,"
And does your wife know"
Would tell her. and not tell you
It's you I've tried to shield. / married
Josephine Derry, and Fran Is oui
child. You know Fran. Well, hel
mother was just like her-frivolous
caring only for things of the world
irreligious. And / was just a boy-s
mere college youth. When l realized
the awful mistake Id made. though
1t best to 20 away and let her live hel
own life. Years after. I put all tha
behind me, and came to Littlebure