The state herald., 1913-11-14

her closer. and stroked her hair ten
deriy. trusting himself.
Presently she pulled herself to
rights. lifted his arm from about her,
and rested It on the back Of the seat
a friendly compromise. Then she
shook back her hair and raised her
eyes and faint smile came into the
rosy face. I'm 80 funny" she declared.
Sometimes l seem 80 strange that
need an introduction to myself" She
looked into Abbott's eyes feetingly,
and drew in the corners Of her mouth.
II guess. after all. there's something
in religion!"
Abbott was SO warmed by returning
sunshine that his eyes shone. Dear
Fran!" he said-it was very hard to
keep his arm where she had put It.
She tried to look at him steadily. but
somehow the light hurt her eyes. She
could feel its warmth burning her
cheeks.
"Oh. Fran" cried Abbott impul-
sively, "the bridge In the moonlight
was nothing to the way you look now
80 beautiful-and SO much more
than Just beautiful :"
This won't do" Fran exclaimed.
hiding her face. I'VE must get back
to Grace Noir Immediately"
"Oh, Fran. oh. no. please!"
II won't please. While we're in
Sure-Enough Country. mean to tell
you the whole truth about Grace Ncir."
The name seemed to settle the atmos-
phere-she could look at him. now.
II want you to understand that
something is going to happen-must
happen. Just from the nature OF things.
and the nature OF wives and husbands
and the other woman. Oh. you
needn't frown at me. I've seen you
look that other way at me. SO know
you, Abbott Ashton"
| Fran! Then you know that l."
mo. you must listen. You've moth.
ing important to tell me that don't
know. I've found out the whole Greg.
ory history from old Mrs. Jefferson,
without her knowing that she was tell
ing anything-she's n sort of PROBES.
sor Ashton in my hands-and I mean
to tell you that history. You know
that, for about three years. Mrs. Greg.
ory hasn't gone to church."
"You must admit that It doesn't ap-
pear we'll"
Admit Il? Yes, of course I must.
And the world cares for appearances.
and not for the truth. That's why It
condemns Mrs. Gregory-and me-and
that's why I'm afraid the school board
will condemn you: Just on account OF
appearances. For these past three
years. the church has meant to Mrs.
Gregory building plus Grace Noir.
don't mean that Mrs. Gregory got
jealous OF Grace Noir-I don't know
how to explain-you can't handle cob
webs without marring them" She
paused.
Jealous OF Miss Gracei" exclaimed
Abbott reprovingly.
Let's go back, and take n running
jump right into the thick OF IT, When
Mr.. Gregory came to Littleburg. com.
plete stranger-and when he mar.
ried. she was devoted church.mem-
ber-always went. and took great In.
terest In all his schemes to help folks
folks mt n distance. you understand
/. She Just devoured that relig-
ious magazine he edits-yes. I'll nd.
init. his religion shows up beautifully
In print: the pictures OF II are good.
too. Old Mrs. jefferson took pride
In being wheeled to church where she
could see her son.in.law leading the
music. and where she'd watch every
gesture OF the minister and catch the
sound OF his voice nj the high placcs.
where he cried and. or nevertheless,
Sometimes Mrs. Jefferson could get n
iozcn ants and butts out OF one dis.
course. Tlen comes your Grace Noir. ="
Abbett listened with absorbed attcn.
tion. II was impossible not to bo In.
fiucnced by the voice that had grown
TO menn NO much to him
Grace Noir is person that's SUI
pcrhumanly good. but she's not happy
In her goodness. II hurts her. all tho
time. because other folks ARE not nm
good as she You can't live IN tho
house with hcr without wishing she'd
make n mistake to show herself hu.
man. but she never does. she's always
right She's 70 fixed on being mar.
tyr. that n nobody crosses her. she
Just makes herself n martyr out OF
the shortcomings OF others"
AS for instance"
As for instance. she suffered mar.
tyrdom every time Mrs. Gregory
nestled In mn armchair beside III. coxy
hearth. when Ladies' Aid. or a Rally
was beating its way through snow.
drifts 10 tho Walnut Street church. Mr..
Gregory was like everybody else
about 0racc-bc took her at her own
value. and that gave the cquationl 20
him. religion meant Walnut Street
church plus Grace Noir For n while.
Mrs. Gregory clung 10 church.going
with grim determination. but II wasn't
any use. The sundny.sohooi would
have button contests, o. the Ladies'