Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1913-10-24

II she would show half as much inter
est in her souls welfare"
i He left the sentence unfinished. The
thought of Grace had grown supreme
lit seemed to illuminate some vide
and splendid road into glorious ru
ture.
The bookkeeper's desk was In a gal
lery near the ceiling OF the Clinton
grocery store; ono 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 GREATNESS, partly
from the struggle through the masses,
principally from excitement of fancied
security.
She was posting up the ledger, aud
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. II
at the same time she could have been
reserved and yielding he would have
found the impossible combination per
feet. Because 1t 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."
ne said impulsively, when I've not
seen you for weeks7"
You see me at church." she an.
swered impersonaily.
But ! have teen dying to be near
you, to talk to you"
"Stop!" she held up her hand. You
should know that Mr.. Clinton and Il
are"
"Grace!~ he groaned.
She whispered, her face suddenly
growing pale, Are engaged" The
tete-a' tete was beyond her supposed
strength.
"EngagedH he echoed, as II she had
pronounced one of the worlds great
tragedies. Then you will give your |
self to that man-yourseIf, 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. that
ought to let Fran ruin my whole life
because your wife has ruined yours?
Then you think that after have been
driven out OF the house to make room
for Fran, that | ought to stay single
because you married unwisely?"
Grace. don't say you are driven
OFT"
What do you call it? A resigna.
tion?"
"Grace!-w5 have only q 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: We'll. suppose we're
not? You and that Fran will be to-
gether."
In his realization that It was Fran. I,
and Fran alone, who separated them,
Gregory passed into state of anger.
to which his love added recklessness.
Grace. hate me II you must, but you
shall not misunderstood met
She laughed. please don't ask ne
10 understand you. Mr. Gregory. while
you hide the only secret to your TN
Don't come To me s.ith
pretended liking when what you call
mysterious business interests at
Springfield drive me from your door,
aud keep Fran at my desk"
He interposed in low. passionate
voice. Il am resolved that you should I
know everything. Fran-is my own /
daughter"
She gave no sign save sudden |
compression of the mouth: neverthe- |
less, her surprise was extreme. Her |
mind flashed along the wires of the |
past end returned Illuminated 10 the |
present ENHANCEMENT.
He thought her merely stunned. and |
burst forth; Il tell you, Fran is my
child. Now you know why i'm com
9elled to do what she wants. That's
he secret Bob brought from Spring
neld. That's the secret Abbott Ash
,on 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 1t now. and I've
escaped its danger You know it,"
And does your wife know"
Would tell her. and not tell you
it's you I've tried to shield ] married
Josephine Derrr. and Fran IL our
child You know Fran. Well her
mother was just like her-frivolous.
caring only for things of the world
! irreligious Ard was just a boy--a
mere college youth. When realized
the awful mistake I'd made, | thought
| I best to so away and let her live her
Dvsn life Years after. put sh that
/ lahinn M -rd car,,e 10 LII. hlrr