The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-11-29

To - 5Obos- Morrill, Col
Didn't ne marry Fran's mother
when he was college chap in Spring
neid. and then desert her? Didn't he
marry again, although his FIRST wife
Fran's mother-was living. and hadn' I
been divorced? Don't he refuse to ac-
knowledge Fran as his daughter. max
Ing her pass herself OF as the daugh-
ter OF some old college chum? That g
what he did. your choir-leader! I'd
like TO see that baton of his laid over
his back; I'd like to lay II, myself"
IL was impossible for Abbott to re-
ceive all this as whole; he took up
the revelations one at q time. els II
possible that Fran u Mr.. Gregory's
daughter!"
oh. shes his. all right, only child
OF his only legal wife--that's why she
came thinking her father would do
the right thing. him that's always
praying to be guided Alright. and balk.
Ing whenever the halter's pulled
straight"
Then" Abbott stammered, Mrs.
Gregory In :"
"Yap; In with q question mark. But
there's one thing she isn't; she isn't
tho legal wife OF this pirate what's
always a-preying upon the consciences
Of folks that thinks they're worse than
him"
"As for Mr.. Gregory" Abbott began
sternly--
Robert pursued the name with a
vigorous expletive. and growled. "One
thing. Mr.. Gregory has done for me,
he's opened the fiood-sates that have
been 90 long dammed-yes, I say
dammed-I say"
Bob" Abbott exclaimed. "dont Won
understand Frans object In keepinx
the secret? It's on account of Mrs.
Gregory IL she nnds II out--that she's
not legally married-don't you see /?
OF course Il would be to Fran's In.
teresta--bless her heart! What A.
what q Nonpareil!"
"Taint natural" returned Clinton.
for any girl to consult the interests
OF woman that's supplanted her
mother No. Fran's afraid to have Il
told r. fer she'd be injured by your
cn.slHsa paragon. your religions stuffed
pillow thai calls itself q man."
Fran afraid? That's q Joke! I tell
you. she's thinking only of Mr.. Greg.
ory."
I'm sorry for Mrs. Gregory" Rob
ert allowed. "but Grace Noir ia more
to me than any other woman on earth.
Y,u don't see the point When think
OF girl like Grace Noir living under
the same roof with that-that-"
Mr.. Gregory" Abbott supplied.
And she 90 pure. 90 high, % much
above us. IL makes me crazy.
And all the time she's been breathing
the same air, she's thought him q
Moses In the Wilderness. and us moth
Ing but the sticks. Think Of her be-
usvins In that Jelly pulp. that steel
engraving In q Family Bible! No. I
msan to open her eyes. and get her
out of his spiders web"
II nee your point Of view"
You do II you have eyes. Think
OF that perfect sngel--but Just say
Grace Noir and you've called all the
virtues. And her In his housei-"
You still believe In ansslsr' in
CURED .bbott sravely.
"Yap: and devils with long sort-of-
curly hair. nd pretty womanish faces.
and voices like molasses."
But Fran wants Mrs. Gregory
spared"
Abbott. when think OF Grace Noir
spending one more night under the
roof OF that burrowing mole, that croc-
odile with tears In his eyes and the
rest OF him nothing but bone and
sristle-"
Bob. 10 I assure you that Miss
Noir will never spend another day
under his roof will you agree to
keep this discovery to yourself1"
You can't make no such assurance.
N she Amt put wise TO what branch
OF tho animal kingdom he twigs to.
she'll not leave his roof"
Bob. II she leaves that house In tho
morning. for ever. won't you sgrse to
silence. for Mrs. Grsgory's saks-snd
because Fran asks IT,"
"Frnn's another angel. bless her
heart' But you can't work t."
Leave II to me. Bob. I'll be guided
by the spur OF the moment"
need a bookkeeper at my store" {"
Robert said. ruminating.
"r promise you that Miss Noir will
soon be open To ofYerr"
See here. Abbott. I can't an'ord to
lose any chances on this thing. I'm
going TO see :he feathers ny. No-I
don't want Mrs Gregory to learn about
II. any more than you or Fran: but
I'll limit the thing to Grace"
Shed tell Mrs. Gregory"
Don't you say anything against
Grace Noir. Abbott. for though you are
my friend"
II say nothing against her: I say