Putnam patriot., 1913-05-09

,.ushter of your friend?"
 ue orev pale. Oh, if he could have ,.n,od Fran-if he could have joined s-aee in declaring her an impostor! oat she possessed proofs so irrefutable, sat safety lay in admitting her claim. -. she prove more than he had al s.av admitted. q know 1t, absolute Che is the daughter of one who
 s my most-my most intimate ! treDd."
 crace repeated with delicate re- ,-oof-eYour intimate friend!" q know 1t was wrong for him to de- ert his wife" I ~Wrongi" How inadequate seemed I ,sat word from her pure lips! aBut." he faltered, I've must make 4 advances. My friend married Fran's nother in secret because she was ut 1 ,srly worldly-frivolous- butterfly. usr own uncle was unable to control I ,er-to make her go to church. Soon .Ner the marriage he found out his \ nistake-it broke his heart, the trag- I sdy of 1t. I don't excuse him for go- I hg away to Europe"
 q am glad you don't. He was no true man, but a weakling. l am glad I have never been thrown with such Ia-a degenerate"
 aBut. Miss Grace" he urged plead do you think my friend. when he went back to find her and she was pne-do you think he should have tept on hunting? Do you think, Grace, That he should have remained yoked In an unbeliever, after he realized his 1hlly?"
 There was heavenly compassion In Her eyes, for suddenly she had di- Timed his purpose In defending Fran's Rather. He was thinking of his own yife, and of his wife's mother and 2rother-how they had ceased to show /gmpathy in what he regarded as the ssentials of life. Her silence suggest Id that as she could not speak without asting reflection upon Mrs. Gregory, she would say nothing. and this tact vas grateful to his grieved heart.
 T have been thinking of something rery strange" Grace said. with narked effort to avoid the issue lest X.he commit the indiscretion of blam- Ihg her employers wife. T remem-. Der having heard you say that when 1ou were a young man, you left your hther's home to live with cousin in distant town who happened to be eacher in a college, and that you were raduated from his college. Don't you anb it marvellous, this claim of Fran, rho says that her father, when a pung man, went to live with a cousin who was a college professor, and that .e was graduated from that college? And she says that her fathers father sas rich man-just as yours was Ind that the cousin is dead-just as ours is"
 At these piercing words, Gregory lowed his head to conceal his agita- ton. Could it be possible that she lad guessed all and yet, in spite of all, nuld use that tone of kindness? It mrst upon him that If he ard she nuld hold this fatal secret in common, hey might, in sweetest comradeship, hrm an alliance against fate itself.
 She persisted: "The account that Tran gives of her father is really your evn history. What does that show?", He spoke almost in a whisper. My tiend and I were much alike" Then he looked up swiftly to catch a look, d comprehension by surprise, if such look were there. Grace smiled coolly. But hardly hentical, I presume. Don't you see that Fran has invented her whole story, and that she didn't have enough Imagination to keep from copying after your biographical sketch in the aewspaper? I don't believe she IS Your friends daughter. I don't be- feve you could ever have liked the father of a girl like Fran-that he could have been your intimate friend"
 Well" faltered Gregory. But why should he defend Fran?
 MT. Gregory" she asked, as if what sae was abaut to say belonged to what had gone before, would 1t greatly in- eonvenience you for me to leave your, enployment?"
 He was electrified. Grace! Incon1 'enience me!-would you-could :"
 have not decided-not yet. speaking of being yoked with unbe-i ae'ers-I have never told you that Mr.. Robert Clinton has wanted me to mar !! him. AS long as he was outside of 'ne church, of course 1t was impos- aoe. But now that he is converted"
 Grace" groaned the pallid listener.
 He would like me to go with him to Chicago"
 But you couldn't love Bob Clinton
 ne isn't worthy of you, Grace. It's .npossible. Heaven knows I've had osappointments enough" He start 70 up and came toward her. his eyes sowing. will you make my life q '0mpete failure. after all?"
 Love him?" Grace repeated calmly
 ms Is merely a question of doing nveH
 Then let me teach you. Grace.
 shall We not discuss it?" she said seaus' That Is best, think. If de-
 ue 10 marry Mir Clinton. I will tell
 " even before I tell him. l don't
 Vs what l shall choose as my best sithout-n
 saaii we just agree to say no mora ". IF! she softly interposed. That "sest until my decision is made. were talking about Fran--do you aI 'his a good opportunity for Mrs. eory to attend services? Fran can
 Nith Mrs. Jefferson"
 ,,. nave no doubt" he saids still agi-
 Necs that my wife vou,d find if easy