The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-09-13

eyes.
Hamilton Gregory was almost able
to persuade himself that he had re-
ceived the orphan of his own free
choice, thus to make reparation. "It
Is my duty" he said: "and I always
try to do my duty. as I see It,"
Would you like to know more about
me?" Fran asked confdentially Of Mrs.
Gregory.
Gregory turned pale. II don't think
Il Is neces-"
do tell mel" exclaimed his wife.
Father and mother married secret.
ly," Fran said, solely addressing Mrs.
Gregory. but occasionally sending q
furtive glance at her husband. "He
was q college-student, boarding with
his cousin. who was one of the profes
sors. Mother was an orphan and lived
with her half-uncle-a mighty crusty
old man, Uncle Ephraim was, who
didn't have one bit Of use for peoples
getting married in secret. Father and
mother agreed not to mention their
marriage till after his graduation;
then he'd go to his father and make
everything easy, and come for mother
So he went and told him-father's IA
ther was q millionaire on Wall street
Mothers uncle was pretty we'll fixed
too. but he didn't enjoy anything ex
cept religion. When he wasn't 1t
church-he went most all the time
he was reading about II. 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 ex.
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 your" said Fran politely. $50
father graduated. and went away to
tell his father all about being mar.
ried to Josephine Derry. don't know
what happened then. az he didn't come
back to tell. My mother waited and
waited-and ! was born-and then
Uncle Ephraim drove mother out of
his house with her tiny baby-that's
ms-and I grew to be-as old az you
see me now. We were always hunt.
Ing father. We went all over the
United States, Arst ami last-it looked
Ike the son OF millionaire ought to
be easy to nnd. But be kept himself
close. and there was never q clew.
Then mother died. Sometimes she
used TO tell me that she believed him
dead. that II he'd been alive he'd have
come for her. because she loved him
with all her soul. and wrecked her
whole life because Of him. She was
happiest when she thought he was
dead. 30 wouldn't say anything. but
] was SIRE he was alive, all right, as
big .ad strong as you please. oh, I
know his kind. I've had lots OF exps.
rience."
$50 I'd suppose" Baid Grace Noir
quietly. May I ask-if you don't
mind--if this travelling about the Unit.
cd States didn't take . 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. aud there wasn't anybody
else. and a. 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
disinheritsd. how could sho make her
hving?"
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 q sue.
cess" inquired the secretary with q
chilly smile.
Il had everything I wanted except
home" Fran responded with charm.
Ing good-humor. "and now I've got
that. In New York paper. I found a
picture Of Hamilton Gregory, and it
told about all his charities. Il said
he had millions. and was giving away
everything. said to myself, I'll 10
there and have him give me a home
you see. I'D often heard mother speak
or him-and ! said other things TO
myself-and then. % generally do
what I tell myself to dot keeps up
confidence In the general manager-I
came"
Dear child" said Mrs. Gregory,
strokins her hair. your mother dead,
your father-that kind of a man-you
shall indeed find q home with us, for
life. And so your father was Mr..
Gregory's friend. II seems-strange.
MY father." said Fran, looking at
Mr.. Gregory inscrutably. was the best
friend you ever had. wasn't he? You
loved him better than anybody else IN