The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-09-06

Fran looked up at Grace. undaunt.
ed. Il want to speak to Mr.. Greg.
ory. II you are the manager of this
house. he and I can go outdoors.
don't mind getting wet. I've been IN
al, kinds of weather"
Grace looked at Gregory. Her ST.
lences were effective weapons.
II have no secrets from this lady,
he said. looking into Grace's eyes, an.
swer'ng her silence. What do you
want to say to me. child?"
Fran shrugged her shoulders, always
looking at Grace, while neither of the
others looked at her. VERY we'll,
then, OF course IL doesn't matter to
me. but ! thought 1t might to Mr..
gregory. Since he hasn't any secrets
from you. Of course he has told you
that one OF nearly twenty years ago
IL was not the rumble of distant
thunder, but a strange exclamation
from the man that interrupted her; 1t
was some such cry as human crea-
lures may have uttered before the
crystallizing Of recurring experiences
into the terms of speech.
Fran gave quick, relentless blows
"Of course he has told you all about
his Springfield life"
"Silence!" shouted Gregory, culver.
Ing from head to foot. The word was
like an imprecation, and for g time It
Kept Kissing between his locked teeth.
And OF course" Fran continued.
fitting up her chin as IL to drive In
the words. Since you know all of his
secrets-an OF them-you have natu-
rally been told the most important
one. And so you know that when he
was boarding with his cousin in
Springfield and attending the college
there. something like twenty years
ago"
Leave us!" Gregory cried, waving
q violent arm at his secretary, as II
to sweep her beyond the possibility
OF overhearing another word.
Leave you-with herr" Grace STAN
mered, too amazed by his attitude to
feel offended.
Yes, yes. yes! Go at once!" He
seemed the victim of some mysterious
terror. -
Grace compressed her full lips till
they were thinned to o white liue.
DO you mean forever?
"Oh. Grace-I beg your pardon
Miss Grace-I don't mean that. of
course. What could do without YOU l.?
Nothing. nothing, Grace-you are the
soul Of my work. Don't look at me so
cruelty"
Then you just mean." Grace said
steadily. "for me to 60 away for a
little while?"
only half an hour; that's all. Only
half an hour. and then come back to
me. and I will explain"
You needn't 60 at all, on my &C
count" observed Fran, with a twist
OF her mouth. cts nothing to me
whether you 60 or stay"
She has learned secret" Gregory
stammered, that vitality affects--af-
fects some people, some friends of
mine. I must talk to her about
about that secret, just for q little
while. Half an hour, Miss Grace, that
Is all. That Is really all-then come
back to me. You understand that it's
on account Of the secret that I ask
you TO leave us. You understand that
would never send you away from me
II l had my way. don't you, Grace?"
Il understand that you want me to
go now." Grace Noir replied unre-
sponsive. She ascended the stairway.
at each step seeming to mount that
much the higher into an atmosphere
OF righteous remoteness.
No one who separated Gregory from
his secretary could enjoy his tolera-
tion. but Fran mad struck far below
the surface Of likings and dislikings.
She had turned back the covering OF
conventionality to lay bare the culver.
Ing heartstrings Of life itself. There
was no time to hesitate. The stone
ak which on other occasions might be
q laughing, elfish face was now held
ready for battle.
Hadn't we better 60 in a room
where we can talk privately?" rrar.
asked. II don't like this hall. That
woman would just as soon listen over
the banisters as not. I've seen lots of
people like her. and I understand her
kind"