The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1913-11-29


And that's what gets me!-you
tell her everything, and don't even
know you tell. Just hypnotized! An
swer my questions: the morning after
/ told you what | meant to do-stand-
ing there at the fence by the gate
confiding in you. telling you every
thing say the next morning, didn't
you tell Grace Noir all about it?"
Certainly not"
Abbott tried TO remember. then said
casually, Il believe we did meet on
the street that morning"
Yes" said Fran ironically, Il be-
lieve you did meet somewhere. OF
course she engaged you in her pecul-
lar style of inquisitorial conversation"
We went down the street together"
Now, prisoner at the bar, relate all
that was said while going down the
street together.
Most charming, but unjust Judge
not word that | can remember. so it
couldn't have been of any interest |
did tell her that since she-yes, re-
member now-since she was to be out
of town all day, would wait until to-
morrow to bring her book she want
ed to borrow"
oh. And she wanted to know who
told you she would be out OF town
all day, didn't she?"
Abbott reflected deeply. then sid
with triumph, Yes, she did. She asked
me how knew she was going TO the
city with Bob Clinton. And | merely
said that ii was the understanding
they were to select the church music
Not another word was said on the sub
ject."
THAT was enough. Mighty neat AS
soon as she saw you were trying to
avoid a direct answer, she knew I'd
told you. That gave her a clew 20 my
leaving the choir practice before the
rest of them. She guessed something
important was up. Well. Abbott, you
are certainly an infant in her hands.
but ] guess you can't help it,"
Self-pride was touched, and he re-
taliated: Fran. | hate to think of
your being willing to take her posi-
ton behind her back"
She crimsoned
You'd know how ! feel about it,"
he went on, IF you understood her
better. l know her duty drives her
to act in opposition to you, and I'm
sorry for it. But her religious ideals"
Abbott, be honest and answers
there anything in it--this talk of do
ing Gods will? Can people love God
and hate one another? JUST hate
shams," she went on. becoming more
excited. Il don't care what fine names
you give them-whether it's marriage,
or education, or culture, or religion, if
there's no heart in it, it's a sham, and
! hate it. hate a lie. But a thou
sand times more, do ! hate life that
is lie"
Fran, you don't know what you are
saying"
Yes / do know what I'm saying. Is
religion going to church? That's all
can see in it, / want to believe there's
something else, I've honestly searched,
for | wanted to be comforted. | tell
you, need it. But / can't fine any
comfort in mortar and stained-glass
windows. / want something that
makes a man true to his wife, and
makes a family live together in bles-
sed harmony, something that's good
on the streets and in the stores. some
thing that makes people even treat a
show-girl well. II there's anything in
it. why doesn't father"
She snatched away her hand that
she might cover her face, for she had
burst into passionate weeping. Why
doesn't a father, who's always talking
about religion, and singing about it,
and praying about it-why doesn't that
father draw his daughter to his breast
close, close to his heart-that's
the only home she asks for-that's the
home she has a right to. yes a right,
| don't care how far she's wandered"
"Fran!" cried Abbott, in great dis
tress. Don't cry. little one!" He
had no intelligent word, but his arm
was full of meaning as it slipped about
her who has been unkind to you.
Nonpareil?" She let her head sink
upon his shoulder, as she sobbed
without restraint. What shams have
pierced your pure heart? Am the
cause of any of these tears? Ain II"
YES" Fran answered, between her
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