Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-02-08

happier; you'd be learning how to do
right, and be good"
"Oh, and would ~" she flashed at
him, somewhat incoherently. Eyes, I
know some folks think It makes 'em
good just to sit In meeting. houses,
while somebody's talking about relig-
ion. But look At me. Why! the peo.
pie who ought to have loved me, and
cared for my mother--the people that
didn't know but what we were starving
they wouldn't have missed a service
any sooner than you would; no sir. |
want to tell you." Fran cried, her face
flaming. her voice vibrating with emo
ton long pent.up, "just the reason that
religions nothing to me. It's because
the only kind I've known is going to
the church, dressed up. and sitting in
the church feeling pious--and then.
on the outside. and between times.
being just as grasping, and as anxious
to overreach everybody else. and try.
ing just as hard to get even with their
enemies. as II there wasn't church
on the ground" -..s .... ..-...
This is sacrilege!" gasped Hamilton
Gregory. ,ef ..,-r,.-. ., .-..-
You show me little religion" Fran
cried. carried beyond herself, that
means doing som ething besides ringing
bells and hiring preachers; you show
me little religion that means making
people happy--not people clear out of
sight, but those living in your own
house--and maybe I'll like It and
want some Of It. Got any Of that
kind? But II l stay here, I'll say too
much--I'll 60, so you can all be good
She darted from the
room. g.. *-
Grace looked at Gregory, seeming to
ask him II, after this outrageous be-
'havior, he would suffer Fran to dwell
under his roof or course, Mrs. Greg
DRY did not count; Grace made no at.
tempt to understand this woman who,
while seemingly of a yielding ma.
ture. could show such hardness, such
fixed purpose in separating herself
from her husbands spiritual adven-
lures. It made Grace feel so sorry for
the husband that she quietly resumed
her place at the table.
Grace was now more than ever re-
solved that she would drive Fran away
1T had become religious duty. How
could it be accomplished? The way
was already prepared the secretary
was convinced that Fran was an i'm
rostor. It was merely needful to
prove that the girl was not the daugh.
ter Of Gregory's dead friend. Grace
would have to delve into the past. pos
sioly visit the scenes of Gregory's
youthful it would pay. She looked
at her employer with an air suggesting
protection.
uregorv's face relaxed on finding
himself once more near her. Forum
ately for his peace Of mind, he could
not read the purpose hidden behind
those beautiful eyes.
81 wonder" Simon Jefferson growled,
why somebody doesn't badger me to
20 to church," Indignant because
Fran had fed the pleasing fields Of
his interested vision, he paused, as II
to invite antagonism; but all avoided
the anticlimax. ... y. ...r
Z, He announced. This talk has ex-
cited me. II We can't live and let live.
I'll 20 and take my meals at Miss
Sapphire Clinton's." 81.
No one dared to answer him, not
even Grace. He marched into the gar.
den where Fran sat huddled upon a
rustic bench. II was just saying"
Simon told her ingratiatingly, that II
all this TODD over religion isn't put a
stop to-. III take my meals at the Clin-
tons" 'a1.
Fran looked up at him without NOV
mig her chin from her palms. and
asked as she tried. apparently, to tie
her feet into q ,-nnt. "1sn't that where
Abbott Ashton boards?" 's..
DO you mean Professor Ashton?'
he returned with subtle reproof.
Fran. still detected. nodded careless.
". Were both after the same man y
Z Simon lit the pipe which his ph"si-
clan had warned him was bad for his
heert. Yves. Professor Ashton boards
at tie C'intons'." r'-:a .9s. .
= 'Mrst be awfully jolly at the Clin
tcnsr." Fran said wistfully. e..
..',.t CHAPTER X.
Fran's conception of the Clinton
boarding house, the home OF jollity,
was not warranted by its re atmos-
7 here. Since there were not many In
hahitants of Littleburg detached from
housekeeping, Miss Sapphire Clinton
depended for the most part on tran
SENT: and. to hold such in subject
ion. preventing them from INDUCING
in that noisy gaietv to which tran
sients' are naturally inclined-just be-
cause they are transitory--the elderly
spirster had developed an abnormal
sol unity,
his solemnity was not only bene-
fetal to ''drummers' and court men
acutely conscious Of being away from
home. but it helped her brother Bob
Before the charms of Grace Noir had
penetrated his thick skin, the popular
Littleburg merchant was as unmana'
geable as the worst. Before he grew
accustomed to fall into semi-coma-
tose condition at the approach OF Grace
Noir, and. therefore. before his famous
attempt to get religion" the bache-
Tor merchant often sWore--not from
aroused wrath. but from his peculiar
sense of humor. In those Anti-Grace
and heather days. Bob, sitting on the
long veranda of the green frame build
ing. one leg swinging over the other