The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1913-12-12

her closer, and stroked her hair ten 4
derby, trusting himself.
Presently she pulled herself to
rights, lifted his arm from about her'
and rested 1t on the back of the seat
friendly compromise. Then she
shook back her hair and raised her
eyes and faint smile came into the
rosy face. I'm SO funny" she declared.
Sometimes | seem so strange that
need an introduction to myself" She
looked into Abbott's eyes fieetingly,
and drew in the corners of her mouth.
81 guess, after all. there's something
in religion!"
Abbott was 80 warmed by returning
sunshine that his eyes shone. Dear |
Franz" he said-it was very hard TO
keen his arm where she had put 1t.
She tried to look at him steadily, but
somehow the light hurt her eyes She
could feel its warmth burning her
cheeks.
"Oh. Frsn," cried Abbott impul-
sively, 1.-THE bridge in the moonlight
was nothing to the way you look now
: so beautiful-and SO much more
= than just beautiful . s. :"
: "This won't do" Fran exclaimed,
/. hiding her face. 1--WE must get back
. to Grace Noir Immediately"
Q ooh, Fran, oh. no, pleased"
= 81 won't please. While we're In
o. Enough Country, mean to tell
YOU the whole truth about Grace Nc1r."
= The name seemed to settle the atmos-
u nhere-she could look at him, now.
~ 81 want you to understand that
something is going to happen-mus'
;, happen, just from the nature of things
. and the nature OF wives and husbands
u and the other woman. Oh, you
OF needn't frown at me, I've seen 20,
u, look that other way at me, SO know
!. you, Abbott Ashton"
=, "Fran! Then you know that +
~ mo. you must listen. You've moth
w ing important to tell me that don
l'e know. I'VE found out the whole Gree
'fe ory history from old Mrs. Jefferson
zoo without her knowing that she was tel
So. ing anything she's sort OF PROBES
\ sor Ashton in my hands-and mea
hu IN tell YOU that history. You kno'
gu that for about three years, Mrs. Gree
ia' ory hasn't gone to church"
.You must admit that it doesn't a
= pear we'll"
admit it? Yes, of course l mus
IS And the world cares for appearance
IL ! and not for the truth. That's why
res condemns Mrs. Gregory--and meal
led, that's why I'm afraid the sehooE5oa
tell will condemn you: just on account
any onnearanees. For these past thr
lass wears. the church has meant to MI
hat Gregory a building plus Grace NO
and don't mean that Mrs. Gregory
lies Jealous of Grace Noir-I don't kn'
.ood how to explain-you can't handle G
me- webs without marring them. .
~ 9 paused.
8 In aIealous of Miss Grace!" exclain
s.. Abbott reprovingly.
that Lets go back, and take ruhn'
had hmm right into the thick Of IT. WI
Why NJ gregory came to Littleburg. C
- nlete stranger-and when ne N
m ried, she was devoted churcn-me
$f ber-always went, and took gfea.
DihlH forest in all his schemes to help 10
NkyB folks at a distance, you unders.'
llNkN She just devoured that re
IAN ious magazine he edits-yes, III
NN 4 nit, his religion shows UP oeaut'l
Ilh IN nrint. the pictures of 1t are q
NtlB too Old Mrs. Jefferson took p'
WV in being wheeled to church Whers
could see her son-in-law leading
sS{h music. and where she'd watch e'
FHMJr gesture Of the minister and eaten
6lA sound of his voice al the high pia
#A where he cried and, or nevertnel
s:l5 Sometimes Mrs. Jefferson could g
eGG ,ozen ands and butts out OF one
Vas course Then comes your Grace ~
py Abbott listened with absorbed a
Ol ton It was impossible not to o.
~ | Auenced by the voice that had 81
I'll to mean so much to him
"Grace Noir is person that
nerhumanly good, but she's not q
in her goodness; it hurts her, al
time. because other folks are nc
Weep good as She You cant i've 10
house with her without wishing
~, : make q mistake to show herse,
a.Ains man but she never does. she's al
~, :. ~ right. She's SO fixed on being
!, !. saa. tyr that II nobody crosses hef
pfease mat makes herself martyr 0
Una. ~ 49, the shortcomings Of others.
!. an. "As for instance
lsn,, GAS for instance, she suffered
feas tyrdom every time Mrs. Or
a. = us ms nestled in an armchair beside tn
S, !. :, hearth, when Ladies Aid or
/, - 49, 80 was beating It's way through
aooa , drifts to the Walnut Street churcl
= s sTa Gregory was like everybody
: u.s s1 about Grace--he took her at ne
:, aos sosa value, and that gave the eauati'
z az him. religion meant Walnut
!. : I,s church plus Grace Noir. For 9
aid - raovorv cIung to church