Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1913-05-16

next step out Of the material furnished
BY her companion. but suppose she
IL IN impostor. He says she's not HE
daughter, this number one hundred
forty.three. Maybe she isn't. Would
you call her conduct sad?"
Gregory took exquisite pleasure in
arguing with Grace. because her Sc
rene assumption Of being in the right
gave to her beautiful face . touch Of
the angelic. II should call It impos-
sible."
Impossible? Do you think It's i'm.
possible that Fran's deceiving you?
How can you know that she is the
daughter Of your friend?"
| He grew pale. oh. II he could have
denied Fran-if he could have Joined
Grace in declaring her an impostor!
But she possessed proofs so irrefutable
that safety lay in admitting her claim,
lest she prove more than he had al.
ready admitted. II know 1t, absolute.
| ". She is the daughter Of one who
was my most-my most intimate
TREND"
| Grace repeated with delicate re-
proof-"Your intimate friend!"
II know it was wrong for him to de-
; sert his wife"
"Wrong!" How inadequate seemed
that word from her pure lips!
| But" he faltercd, Eve must make
allowances. My friend married Fran's
mother in secret because she was ut
terly neutrality-suspicious. butterfly.
Her own uncle was unable to control
her-to make her go to church. Soon
after the marriage he found out his
mistake-it broke his heart. the trag-
edy of 1t. don't excuse him for 60
ing away to Europe"
II am glad you don't. He was no
true man. but weakling. am glad
have never been thrown with such
IA degenerate"
But, Miss Grace" he urged plead
ingly, "do you think my friend. when
he went back to find her and she was
gone-do you think he should have
kept on hunting? Do you think, Grace,
that he should have remained yoked
to an unbeliever, after he realized his
/ folly?"
her eyes, for suddenly she had d.
vined his purpose in defending Frar's
father. He was thinking of his own
wife, and Of his wife's mother and
brother-how they had ceased to show
sympathy In what he regarded rs the
essentials of life. Her silence suggest
ed that as she could not speak without
casting reflection upon Mrs. Gregory,
she would say nothing, and this tact
was grateful to his grieved heart.
II have been thinking Of something
very strange" Grace said. with
marked effort to avoid the issue lest
she commit the indiscret1on Of blam-
ing her employers wife. II remem-
Der having heard you say that when
you were a young man, you left your
fathers home to live with cousin in
distant town who happened to be a
teacher in college, and that you were
graduated from his college. Don't you
think 1t marvellous, this claim Of Fran,
who says that her father, when a
young man. went to live with cousin
who was college professor, and that
he was graduated from that college?
| And she says that her fathers father
| was rich man-just as yours was
and that the cousin Is dead-just as
| yours is"
At these piercing words. Gregory
bowed his head to conceal his agita-
ton. Could 1t be possible that she
had guessed all and yet, in spite of all,
could use that tone Of kindness? It
burst upon him that If he and she
could hold this fatal secret in common,
they might, In sweetest comradcship,
form an alliance against fate itself.
She persisted: "The account that
Fran gives of her father is really your
own history. What does that show"
He spoke almost in whisper. "My
friend and I were much alike" Then
he looked up swiftly to catch a look
of comprehension by surprise. II such
look were there.
Grace smiled coolly. But hardly
identical, 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
newspaper? don't believe she is
your friends daughter. don't be-
lieve you could ever have liked the
father of girl like F'ran-that he
could have been your intimate friend"
well" faltered Gregory. But why
should he defend Fran?
"Mr. Gregory" she asked. as II what
she was about to say belonged to what
had gone before, would it greatly in.
convenience you for me to leave your
employment?
He was electrified. Grace! lncon-
venience me!-would you-could :"
Il have not decided-not yet.
Speaking Of being yoked with unbe-
lievers-1 have never told you that Mr..
Robert Clinton has wanted me to mar.
~ him. AS long as he was outside of
the church, of course it was impos-
sible. But now that he is converted-f'
"Grace!" groaned the pallid listener.
HE would like me to 60 with him
to Chicago"
But you couldn't love Bob Clinton
he isn't worthy of you, Grace. It's
impossible. Heaven knows I've had
disappointments enough" He st1rt-
ed up and came toward her, his eyes
glowing. will you make my life q
complete failure. after all?'' Z
Love him." Grace repeated calmly.
GpNks~ L.. ,no~ol~, = r,,~e&11. l>i.-