The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1913-09-27


ept religion. When he wasn't at
.hurch-he went most all the time
he was reading about it.. Mother said
he was most religious in Hebrew, but
he enjoyed his Greek verbs awfully.'
Grace Noir asked remotely, Did
you say that your parents eloped?
They didn't run far" Fran sx-
planned; they were married in the
county, not far from Springfield
Il thought you said" Grace inter
rupted, that they were in New York
Did you?" said Fran politely. so
father graduated. and went away to
tell his father all about being mar
ried to Josephine Derry. | don't know
what happened then, as he didn't come
back to tell. My mother waited and
waited-and ! was born-and then
Uncle Ephraim drove mother oIt OF
his house with her tiny baby-thats
me-and | grew to be-as old as you
see me now. We were always Lunt-
ing father We went all over the
United States, first and last-it looked
like the son of a millionaire ought to
be easy to find. But he kept himself
close, and there was never a clew.
Then mother died. Sometimes she
used to tell me that she believed him
dead. that If he'd been alive he'd have
come for her, because she loved him
with all ner soul, and wrecked her
whole life because of him. She was
happiest when she thought he was
dead, so | wouldn't say anything. but
| was sure he was alive, all right, as
big and strong as you please. oh. |
know his kind. I've had lots Of expe-
rience."
so I'd suppose" said Grace Noir
quietly. May l ask-if you don't
mind-if this travelling about the Unit
ed States didn't take a great deal Of
money"
"Oh, we had all the money we want
ed" Fran returned easily.
Indeed? And did you become rec
onciled to your mothers uncle?"
"Yes-after he was dead. He didn't
leave a will, and there wasn't anybody
else, and as mother had just been
taken from me, the money just natu-
rally came in my hands. But | didn't
need it, particularly"
but before that" Grace persisted;
before, when your mother was first
disinherited, how could she make her
living?"
Mother was like me. She didn't
stand around folding her hands and
crossing her feet-she used 'em. Bless
you, / could get along wherever you'd
drop me. Success isn't in the world
It's in me, and that's good thing to
know-it saves hunting"
DO you consider yourself a sue
cess'?" inquired the secretary with a
chilly smile.
Il had everything l wanted except
home" Fran responded with charm
ing good-humor, and now I've goi
that. In New York paper. found a
picture of Hamilton Gregory. and II
told about all his charities. 1t said
he had millions, and was giving away
everything. l said to myself, I'll &c
there and have him give me a home
you see, I'd often heard mother speal
of him-and / said other things t.
myself-and then, as l generally de-
what | tell myself to dot keeps vi
confidence in the general manager
came"
Dear child" said Mrs. Gregory
stroking her hair, your mother dead
your father-that kind OF a man-yo,
shall indeed find a home with US, 70
. life. And SO your father was MI
Gregory's friend. 1t seems-strange.
I MY father" said Fran, looking a
Mr.. Gregory inscrutably, was the bes
friend you ever had, wasn't he? 70,
loved him better than anybody else II
. the world, didn't your"
! T-I-yes," the other stammered
} looking at her wildly, and passing hi
/ agitated hand across his eyes. as
to shut out some terrible vision, yes
I IL was-er-fond of-him."
, T guess you were," Fran cried en-
, phatically You'd have done an,
) thing for him."
1 81 have this to say" remarked 8
r mon Jefferson. that l may not com
I'D to the mark in all particulars. an
> / reckon / have my weaknesses; bu
| wouldn't own a friend that prove
: himself the miserable scoundrel. tn
. weak cur, that this child's fathe
. proved himself"