Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1913-05-26

tender and sacred. 1T was, all my
mother" he explained simply. "she
died before received my state Ger.
tificate, but she thought I'd be Z great
man-so am trying for It."
and she'll never know" Fran
lamented
She slipped her hand into his.
Didn't I have mother? Oh, these
mothers! And who can make mother
wishes come true? Well! And you
just studied with all your might; and
you'll keep, on and on. till you're - !.
out Of my reach, of course. Which
would have suited your mother. too.
She withdrew her hand.
my mother would have loved you"
he declared, for he did not understand,
so we'll as Fran, about mothers liking
for strange young ladies who train
lions.
Mine would you." Fran asserted.
with moro reason. :.
Abbott, conscious Of q dreadful emp
tiness, took Fran's hand again. I'LL
never be out Of your reach, Fran"
She did not seek to draw away, but
said. with dark meaning. Remember
the bridge at midnight"
the moonlight silvering your face-you
were just beautiful that night, little
Nonpareil."
my chin is so sharp" she mur
INJURED.
- Yes" he said. softly feeling the
warm little fingers, one by one as II
to make sure all were there That's
I the way like it-sharp:''
"And I'm 80 ridiculously thin"
You're nothing like 20 thin a.
when you first came to Lttleburg,'
he declared. Tive noticed how you
are-have been-I mean :"
''Filling out?" cried Fran gleefully
"Oh. yes, and I'm 80 glad you know,
because since I've been wearing long
dresses. rye been afraid you'd never
find it out and would always be think.
ing Of me az you saw me at the be-
ginning But am-yes-filling out. I"
"And your little feet Fran
yes. always had small foot.
But let's get or OF this subject"
Not until I say something about
your smile-oh. Fran, that smile!"
The subject. now" remarked Fran,
"1aturally returns to Grace Notr." go
please, Franz"
"1'll tell you why you hurt my feel
tngs. Abbott. You've disappointed me
twice. Oh. II we're q man. I'd show
any meek-faced little hypocrite II she
could prize secrets out of me. Just
because It wears dresses and; long hair.
you think It an angel"
Meaning Miss Grace, I presume! ?"
remarked Abbott dryly. But what Il
the secret. this time?"
Didn't trust you with the secret
that meant to apply for the position
of secretary az soon as Grace Noir
was out Of the way? And I was just
about to win the fight when here she
came-hadnt been to the city at all,
because you told her what meant to
do-handed her the secret, like child
giving up something it doesn't want"
You are very unjust. did not tell
her your plan. I don't know how she
found 1t out"
From you: nobody else knew it,"
And that's what gets me!-you
tell her everything. and don't even
know you tell. Just hypnottzed! An
iswer my questions: the morning after
i told you what meant to do-etand-
ing there at the fence by the gate
,connding in you. telling you every
,thing-I say the next morning, didn't
you tell Grace Noir all about tt!''
Certainly not"
Abbott tried to remember, then said
casually. Il believe we did meet on
the street that morning"
YES" said Fran ironically; II be-
lieve you did meet somewhere. OF
course she engaged you in her pecui
lar style Of inquiSltorial conversational
Eve went dswn the street together"
Nov, prisoner at the bar, relate all
that was said while going down the
street together.
Most charming. but unjust Judge,
not word that can remember, so IL
couldn't have been OF any interest I
did tell her that since she-yes, re-
member now-since she was to be out
Of town all day. I would wait until to-
morrow to bring her a book she want
ed to borrow"
ooh! And she wanted to know who
told you she would be out of town
all day, didn't she?'
Abbott reflected deeply, then said
with triumph, Yes, she did. She asked
me how I knew she was going to tho
s~kM vkRl1. IL