Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1913-05-24
JOHN BRET KE1GllD@ Ellis
ILLUSTRATIONS ~
.O.WWN ..MN2S

A0AAAo y
wouldn't strain q sHslpele."
Grssorys vpics cut Acfoss hers. my
secretary must b In sympathy with
my work. To ezercise such talents II
I have, is my religion. and I need q
helper whose eyes ays nxsd upon the
higher life. This = Anal. and the sub
tect must never DO reopensd. ! dnd
It very painful"
Fran's discovery that he had not
heard her plea. crimsoned her taco
She jumped from tho armchair
breathing rapidly. "Then." she cried
III you won't have mo. get another,
The ono you have must Co."
"She shall do nothing Of the sort,
he coldly responded.
EYES," Fran retorted violently. "
tell you she must so!''
He struck the table With his palm
"Never!"
"shall I use my last resource7 r
Fran's eyes cleaned ominously.
The hand upon the table became q
list. That was his only reply.
II would entreat you" said Fran,
faltsring, land with. tsars-but what
good would it dot None. There's no
use for one woman to weep II another
woman IL smiling. Dismiss your sec
retary."
He leaned toward her from over the
table, and spoke ina low, level tone:
II am going to appeal to your better
nature. Think Of the girls Of the
street who need rescue. and the WON
en- Of the cities who are dying from
neglect and vice. II you hinder my
work, let the souls Of these outoasts
be upon your soul! You can ruin me.
but not without running my good
works. don't ask you to keep silent
on my account-what am but an in
strument in the hands Of Providence?
but for the sake Of tho homeless
thousands. have atoned for my past.
but the world, always ready to cruelty
the. divine. would rejoice to point the
finger of scorn ut mo. - II were still
the fool of twenty years ago."
but your secretaxy-"
"She IL vital factor In my work.
It would be- impossible to replace her. %
Fran made step toward hinn-'.My
mother was replaced"
He started up. you shall not speak
Of that She lived her life. and I
demand the right 10 live mine. ! tell
you. the past 10 ended"
"But I am here" returned Fran.
Il have not ended. Cant you look
into my face and $50 my mother Nv.
ing! She paid TOR hsr sscrst mar
riage, wandering over the face OF the
earth with her baby. trying to ind
you. don't deny that you've paid for
alEyes. even for your. desertion and
your living hidden life in this town.
Maybe you've suffered enough. But
that isn't the question. Look ct me.
I am here. I have como % truly out
o. your past ~ out Of the past OF my
darling, Observation-Disclosures did. you
call her?-'friend.' And being here l
ask, What will you do with me?' All
I want is-just little love-"
The long loneliness Of her lie found
expression In the eager voice, in the
yearnins eyes,. A. no stared at her,
half-stupefled he imagined she >Has
holding out her arms to him In plead
ing. -
Fran thought his covered face , TO-
ken Of weakening. You must have
loved my mother once. ID It all 70
dead and forgotten that there - none
left for your childf"
But she was seeking to play upon
strings that had long since ceased to
vibrate. He could not bring back,
even in retrospect, the emotions in
spired by Josephine Derry. Those
strings had been tuned to other love
harmonies. To remember Fran's moth
or was to bring hack not the rapture
Of first passion, but the garish days
Of distllusionment He could not tell
Fran that he had never loved her
mother. Tho dead must not be 10
preached: the living could not be de-
nied-so he was slant.
His silence tnsptrsd Fran With hope.
II am 90 lonely. - lonsly!" she muir
INJURED plaintively. 20 very lonely!
There seems . reason for everybody
but mel cant b. explained. That's
why am disltked. II there could be
one heart for mo TO- claim-whose
heart should It be-? Does no sort of
feeling tell you whose heart 1t should
BET"
"of course you arc lonely; child, but
that is your fault. You are In this
house on footing Of equality, and all
seem to like you. except Miss Grace
and must say. her disapproval dis
turbs you very little. But you won't
adopt our ways. You make everybody
talk by your indiscrest behavior-then
wonder that the town shuAs your 90
ciety. and complain because you feel
Fran's eyes filed with tears. IT you
believe in me-if you try to like me
that's all ask. The whole town can
talk. II I have you. I don't care for
the world and its street ooE1srS-there
are no street corners IN my. world"
But, child"
"You never call me Fran II you can
help IT," she inteEpoosd pAssionatsay.
Even the dogs have names. CAN me
by mine; it's Fran. Say t. say It
Call me-oh, father. fathae. ] want
your love-"
"Hushi" no taspsd. ashsn pale
You viii b ovefhsards
She sxteaded her arms Wildly:
Whist Do you know sbose 0od. except
that Hes Father. That's al-Father
and yoa worship Hin - HIS son.
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