The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-11-29
CHAPTER XVIII.
just Thirty Minutes.


q consciousness Of his absence and its
cause was like hot iron branding
Gregory's brain. What q mocking IT,
tality. that 1t should have been Grace
to send Robert on his terrible errand-
an errand which must result in ruin!
Mrs. Gregory would be pitied when
1t became known how she had been de.
celved: Fran would be pitied because
she was a disowned daughter; Grace
would be pitied for trusting In the in.
tegrity Of her emrloyer-but Gregory.
who Of all men needed pity most,
would be utterly despised. He did not
think Of himself alone. but Of his works
OF charity-they. too. would fall. in his
disgrace. and Walnut Street church.
even religion itself-would be dis
credited because of an exposure that
could avail nothing.
Gregory had been too long proclaim
Ing the living God not to feel Him as
a Presence. and in this Presence he
fe,- q shuddering fear that could sug.
sest no relief but propitiation. He as
well as Abbott Ashton had kept him.
self informed OF Roberts movements
as far as they were known to Miss
Sapphira, hence the day Of Roberts
return found his thought of atonemeut
at Ito most frenzied stage.
As evening wore on. he made up bis
mind to the fatal step.
Before Robert could oppose him,
Gregory would confess. Now that
the last hour had come. he sought his
wife. reeling like q sick man as he
descended the hall stairs.
Mrs. Gregory was softly playing an
old hymn. when he discovered her
presence in the brilliantly lighted par.
lor. Grace was expecting a visit from
Clinton and had made the room cheer.
ful for his coming, and Mrs. Gregory.
looking in and finding no one present
had sunk upon the stool before the
piano. She did not see her husband.
for her face was bent low as she feel.
insly played, II Need Thee Every
Hour"
Gregory. well-nigh overwhelmed
with the realization Of what he meant
to do, grasped the door for support.
Presently he spoke. brokenly. Lucy.
how true that is-we do. indeed, need
Him every hour"
She did not start at his voice, though
his presence had been unsuspected.
She raised her serious eyes. and OBJ
served his hagyard face. "Mr. Greg-
oEy, you are ILL.,"
"No-the light hurts my eyes," He
turned on the lights and drew q chair
near her. The room was partly 10
vsaled ~ an electric arc that :wung
at tho street corner-its mei,owed
beams entered the open window.
Lucy. I have something 7ery impor.
tant to say % you"
Her Angers continued to wander
among the ieys. making he lynn
barely audible. then letting It die
away. only to - revived.
Lucy. have lever .,oken of this
before. but It las seemed to me for
long time that We Lave Sandered
rather far apart-yes. Jery far apart.
We sit close together. alone, our lands
could touch. but our souls i've m dif.
ferent worlds. % you ever feel that
way?"
She ceased playing abruptly. and
enswered almost In whisper. yes"
Perhaps II In my fault" aid Greg
ory. although 1 know that IL you had
M t. ,hox
me. IL you had been true to the Faith
as I have tried to be-"
II have been true to you." said Mrs.
Gregory.
"Of course-of course-there Is no
question OF our being true to each
other. feel that l am not wholly to
blame. Lucy. 1t has been my fault
and 1t has been your fault-that is
how look at It,"
There was silence, then she said,
There seems nothing to be DONE"
How do you mean! You speak as
II our love were dead and buried"
She rose abruptly, saying. And Its
grave unmarked"
"Sit down. Lucy haven't told you
wnat l came 10 tell--yOu must listen
and try to see it as I see it. Let us
be reasonable and discuss the future
in Ain . sensible and matter-of-fact
way. IL you will agree"
IL will not agree 20 It," she answered
firmly. Let mo 90. Mr.. Gregory.
there Is no need ever to bring up that
subject"
He had risen, and now In blank
amazement. he stared at her, repeat
ing. you will not agree to It? To
what? You are unreasonable. What
subject have l brought up?"
at is very true that we have drifted
too far apart to be as We were in the
beginning. But there Is still some
thing left to me. and this something
shall cling to as long as can. mean
to avoid the publicity. the open expos
ure. the shame of-of--a neglected