Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-02-18


CHAPTER XIII.
"But she's been his secretary for five
years-is it reasonable he'd give her
up? And would it be honorable for
you to work against her In that way?
Besides, Fran, she Is really necessary
to Mr.. Gregory's great charity enter
prises-'
1.-The more reason for getting rid Of
her"
81 don't understand how you mean
that. know Mr.. Gregory's work
would be seriously crippled. And it
would be a great blow to Walnut
street church-she's always there"
"Still, you see she can't stay"
mo, don't see. You and Miss
Grace must be reconciled."
o, Abbott, can't you understand or Is
it that you just won't? 1t isn't on my
account that Miss Noir must leave this
house. She's going to bring trouble
she's already done it. I've lots of ex-
perience, and when see people hurry
ing down hill, l expect to find them at
the bottom, not because it's in the peo-
pie, but because it's in the direction.
I don't care how no-account folks are,
if they keep doggedly climbing up out
of the valley, just give 'em time, and
they'll reach the mountain-top. be-
lieve some mighty good-intentioned
men are stumbling down hill, carrying
their religion right into hell"
Hush, little friend! You don't un-
derstand what religion u.s."
IF l can't find out from it's fruits,
don't want to know"
D,,k ct L.. i~~
Grace's labors are blessing the help
less"
abbott, unless the fruits of religion
are favored by love, they're no more
account than apples taken with bitter
rot-not worth fifty cents a barrel.
The trouble with good deal of the
church-fruit today is bitter-rot."
Abbott asked slyly, What about
your fruit, out there in the world?"
"Oh," Fran confessed with a CLEAN,
we're not in the orchard business at
all, out here"
Abbott laid his hand earnestly upon
her arm. Fran! Come in and help
us spray"
"You dear old prosy, preachy pro-
fessor!" she exclaimed affectionately,
81 have been thinking of it. I've half
mind to try, really. Wouldn't Grace
Noir just die? = O Lord, there she
comes, now!"
Fran left the disconsolate young man
in wild precipitation, and flew into the
house. He wondered If she had been
standing there, and he realized that,
If so, the purest motives could not
outweigh appearances. He turned of
=. a n
Grace came slowly toward the house,
having, without much difficulty elm
mated Simon Jefferson from their COM
pany.
In truth, Simon, rather than be i'm
proved by their conversation, had
dived down a back alley, and found
entrance through the side door. When
Hamilton Gregory and his secretary
came into the reception hall, the old
bachelor lay upon a divan thinking
of his weak heart--Fran's flight from
the choir loft had reminded him Of 1t
and Mrs. Jefferson was tanning him,
as If he were never to be grown
man. Mrs. Gregory sat near the group,
silently embroidering In white silk.
Fran, had hastily thrown herself upon
the stairway, and, with half-closed
eyes. looked as if she had been there
a long time.
Fran" said Mr.. Gregory coldly,
"you left the choir practice before we
were two-thirds done. OF course l
could hardly expect YOU" he looked
at his wife-"to stay, although your
presence would certainly have kept
Fran there; and it does look as II we
should be willing to resort to any ex-
pedient to keep her there!"
How would lock and chain do?"
Fran inquired meekly.
81 don't think she came straight
home, either" remarked Grace Noir
significantly. did you Franz"
Miss Noir," said Fran, smiling at
her through the banister-slats, you
are SO satisfactory; you always say
just about what I expect. Yes, l
came straight home. I'm glad it's
your business. so you could ask"
Hamilton Gregory turned to his
wife again, with restraint more mark
ca. Next Sunday is roll call day, Mrs
Gregory. The board has decided to
revise the lists. We've been carrying
so many names that it's burden to
the church. The world reproaches us,
saying, isn't So-and-so member?
He never attends, does he? do hope
you will go next Sunday"
Mrs. Gregory looked down at her
work thoughtfully, then said, Mother
would be left"
cts just this way her husband In
terposed abruptly: IL no excuses,
such as sickness are sent, and Ii the
q