Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1913-11-19


He left the sentence unfinished. The
thought of Grace had grown supreme
lit seemed to illuminate some wide
and splendid road into a glorious rlt
ture.
The bookkeepers desk was in a gal
lery near the ceiling of the Clinton
grocery store; one looked thence
through picket-fence, down upon the
only floor. Doubtless Grace, thus look
ing, saw him coming. When he reached
her side, he was breathless, partly
from the struggle through the masses,
principally from excitement of fancied
security.
She was posting up the ledger, and
made no sign of recognition until he
called her name.
Mr.. Clinton is not here" she said
remotely. Can l do anything for
| your"
He admired her calm courtesy. If
at the same time she could have been
reserved and yielding he would have
found the impossible combination per-
feet. Because it was impossible, he
was determined to preserve her an
gelic purity in Imagination. and to re-
store her womanly charm to actual
being.
How can you receive me so coldly,"
he said impulsively, when I've not
| seen you for weeks"
you see me at church." she an
swered impersonaily.
But l have been dying to be near
you, to talk to you
"Stop!" she held up her hand. "You
should know that Mr.. Clinton and l
are"
"Grace!" he groaned.
She whispered. her face suddenly
growing pale, Are engaged" The
tete-a-tete was beyond her supposed
strength
Engaged" he echoed, as if she had
pronounced one of the worlds great
tragedies. Then you will give your
self to that man-yourself, Grace. that
beautiful self-and without love? It's
a crime! Don't commit the horrible
blunder that's ruined my life. See
what wretchedness has come to me"
Then you think" very slowly, chat
]. ought to let Fran ruin my whole life
because your wife has ruined yours
Then you Think that after l have been
driven out OF the house to make room
for FraE, that l ought to stay single
because you married unwisely?"
Grace, don't say you are driven
out"
What do you call it? A resigna
tion?"
"Grace!-we have only a few mo
ments to be alone For PHYS sake,
look at me kindly and use another
tone-a tone like the dear days when
you were by my side. We may
never be together again.
She looked at him with the same re-
pellent expression, and spoke in the
same bitter tone: Well, suppose " ere
not? You and that Fran will be to-
gether"
In his realization that it was Fran,
and Fran alone, who separated them,
Gregory passed into a state of anger.
to which his love added recklessness.
Grace, hate me if you must but you
shall not misunderstood mel"
She laughed. Please don't ask me
to understand you, Mr.. Gregory. while
you hide the only secret to your TN
Don't come to me with
pretended liking when what you call
mysterious business interests at
Springfield drive me from your door,
and keep Fran at my desk"
He interposed in e low, passionate
voice. 81 am resolved that you should
know everything. Fran-is my own
laughter"
She gave no sign save a sudden
of the mouth; neverthe-
less, her surprise was extreme Her
mind flashed along the wires of the
past END returned Illuminated TO the1
present ENHANCEMENT
He thought her merely stunned, and
surst forth: Il tell you, Fran is my
child. Now you know why I'm COM
PEELED to do what she wants That's
The secret Bob brought from Spring
ield That's the secret Abbott Ash.
ION hung oye- my head-the traitor!
after I'd befriended him! All Of my
lngrateful friends have conspired to
ruin me, to force you from me by this
secret. But you know it now. and I've
its danger. You know it,"
And does your wife know"
Would l tell her, and not tell you?
It's you I've tried to shield l married
Josephine Derry. and Fran is our
.hild You know Fran Well her
mother was just like her-frivolous.
caring only for things of the world
religious. And l was just boy-a
mere college youth. When l realized
he awful mistake I'd made, | thought
t best to go away and let her live her
own life. Years after. put all that
;ekind ne, and came to Littleburg