The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1913-10-16


arms and held her to his breast.
Fran" he said brokenly, my unfor.
tunate child my daughter oh.
why were you born?"
Yes" sobbed Fran, resting her
head upon his bosom. yes, why was
/ born?"
You break my heart" he sobbed
with her, Fran, say the word. and
! will tell everything; | will acknowl,
edge you as my daughter, and II my
| wife"
Fran shook her head. you owe no
more to my mother than to her" she
said, catching her breath. NO, the
secret must be kept-always. Father
! must never call you that except
when we are alone--I must always
whisper It, like a prayer-father, let
me be your secretary"
It was strange that this request
should surround Fran with the chill
| atmosphere of tomb. His embrace
relaxed insensibly He looked at his
| daughter in frightened bewildermcnt,
as II afraid she had drawn him too
far from his security for further hid.
ing During the silence, she awaited
his decision.
II was because of her tumutuous
emotions that she failed to hear ad-
vancing footsteps.
Some one is coming" he exclaimed.
with illconcealed relief I'VE mustn't
be seen thus-we would be maunder-
stood" He strobe to the window, and
pretended to look out. His face
cleared momentarily.
The door opened, and Grace NoIr
started In, then paused significantly.
Am ! interrupting?' she asked. in
quIcscent accent
Certainly not" Gregory brea;hed
freedom. His surprise was 80 Joyful
that he was carried beyond himself
Grace! It's Grace! Then you didn't
20 to the city with Bob There wasn't
any train"
Il am here" began Grace easily
Yves, OF course, that's the main
thing" his delight could not be held
In check. You are here, indeed! And
you are looking-I mean you look
WE'LL mean you are not ill-your re-
turn Is 80 unexpected"
Il am here" she steadily persisted,
because learned something that
Affects my interests. ! went part OF
the way with Mr.. Clinton, but after
thinking over what had been told me- |
! decided to leave the train at the next |
station. have been driven back in a |
carriage. may as well tell you, Mr.. |
Gregory. that | am urged to accept a |
position in Chicago"
He understood that she referred to !
with Robert Clinton. But"
he began. very pale.
She repeated. "A responsible posi-.
ton In Chicago. And was told this
that while | was away Fran
meant TO apply for the secretaryship,
thus taking advantage OF my absence"
Fran's face looked oddly white and
old. in Its oval of black hair. who
told you this TRUTH" she demanded,
with n menacing CLEAN OF teeth.
Who knew Of your intentions?" the
other gracefully said. But this is no
matter. The point is that have this
Chicago opportunity. So II Mr.. Greg.
Dry wants to employ you. must know
L at once, to make my arrangements
accordingly"
Can you imagine" Hamilton cried
that without any warn.
ing. would make changer Certain.
y not have no intention OF employ
ng Fran. The idea is impossible.
More than that, 1t is-er-it Is abso.
utely preposterous. Would calmly
Lear down what you and have been
building up so carefully"
Then you had already refused Fran
before | Gamer"
81 had-hadn't |, Franz"
Fran save her father a look such
As had never before come into her
lark eyes-a look of reproach. look
hat said. 81 cannot fight back because
IF the agony in my heart" She went
oil |