Putnam patriot., 1913-04-11
CHAPTER ". The Woman Who Was Not Mrs. Greg

The Woman Who Was Not Mrs. Greg
 ory.
 Hardly had Abbott Ashton disap- peared down the village vista of moon hgst and shadow-patches, before Trans mood changed. Instead of
 eeking to carry out her threat of boarding the lion in the den, she sank down on the porch-steps. gathered her knees in her arms, and stared straight before her.
 Though of skillful resources, of im- pregnable resolution. Fran could be Respondent to the bluest degree; and though competent at the clash, she often found herself purpling on the eve of the crisis. The moment had come to test her fighting qualities. yet
 she dropped despondenuy.
 Hamilton Gregory was coming through the gate. As he halted in sur prise, black shadow rose slowly, wearily. He, little dreaming that he was confronted by a shadow from the past, saw in her only the girl who had been publicly expelled from the tent.
 The choir-leader had expected his homecoming to be crowned by vision very different. He came up the walk slowly. not knowing what to say. She waited. outwardly calm. in-
 wardly gathering power. White-hot | action from Fran. when the iron was to be welded. Out of the deepening ! shadows her will leaped keen as blade
 She addressed him, Good evening. MT. Gregory"
 He halted. When he spoke, his tone expressed not only general disap- proval of all girls who wander away, | from their homes in the night. but an especial repugnance to one who could ! laugh during religious services. Do you want to speak to me. child?"
 Yes" The word was almost a
 whisper. The sound of his voice had | weakened her. What do you want?" He stepped | up on the porch. The moon had van
 ished behind the rising masses of | storm-clouds, not to appear again, but
 the light through the glass door re- vealed his poetic features. Flashes of lightning as yet faint but rapid in re- currence, showed his beauty as that I of a young man. Fran remained si- l lent, moved more than she could have l thought possible. He stared intently. but under that preposterous hat she
 was practically invisible, save as a
 black shadow. He added again. with growing impatience, What do you want?"
 His unfriendliness gave her the spur she needed. "I want a home," she said decidedly.
 Hamilton Gregory was seriously dis turbed. However eyil-disposed. the waif should not be left to wander aim lessly about the streets. Of the three hotels in Littleburg. the cheapest was not overly particular. He would take
 her there. Do you mean to tell me" he temporized, that you are abso- lutely alone?"
 Fran's tone was little hard, not because she felt bitter, but lest she betray too great feeling, Absolutely alone in the world" He was sorry for her; at the same time he was subject to the reaction of his exhausting labors as song leader. "Then," he said. with tired resignation, If you'll follow me, I'll take you where you can spend the night, and tomorrow, I'll try to find you work"
 Work" She laughed. "Oh, thank you!" Her accent was that of repu- diation. Work, indeed! He drew back in surprise and dis pleasure.
 You didn't understand me-" she resumed What I want is a home. don't want to follow you anywhere. This is where I want to stay" You cannot stay here," he an- swered with a slight smile at the pre-
 sumptuous request, but I'm willing to pay for a room at the hotel-"
 At this moment the door was opened
 by the young woman who, some hours
 earlier, had responded to Fran's
 knocking. Footsteps upon the porch
 had told of Gregory's return. Gro Be Continued9