Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1913-12-18


bolt, against Grace and Mr.. Gregory"
He mupmured, looking away, you
take me for granted, Fran"
| Yes" Fran's reply was almost a
whisper. A sudden terror of what he
might think of her, smote her heart.
But she repeated bravely. "Yes!'
He turned, and she saw in his eyes
a confiding trust that seemed to
hedge her soul about. And you can
always take me for granted, Fran; and
always is a long time"
Not too long for you and me-" said
Fran, looking at him breathlessly.
Il may have felt" he said, for some
time, in a vague way, what you have
told me. OF course it is evident that
he prefers Miss Noir's society. But !
have always thought-or hoped--o>
wanted to feel, that it was only the
common tie of religion"
ut was not the truth that you
chung to, Abbott, but appearances. As
for me, let truth kill rather than live
as a sham. If Grace Noir stays, the
worst is going to happen. She may
not know how far she's going. He
may not suspect he's doing wrong.
People al make anything they want
seem right in their own eyes. But I've
found out that wickedness isn't sta
tionary, it's got a sort Of perpetual
motion. If we don't drive Grace away,
the crash will come"
"Fran-how you must love Mrs.
Gregory"
"She breaks my heart"
Dear faithful Fran! What can we
do?-I say we, Fran, observe"
ooh, you Abbott Ashton Just
what I thought you! No. no, you
mustn't interrupt. I'll manage Grace
Noir, II you'll manage Bob Clinton
Where does Bob Clinton come in?'
Grace is trying to open a door so
he can como in. l mean a secret in
Mr.. Gregory's past. She suspects that
there's a secret in his past, and she
intends to send Bob to Springfield
where Mr.. Gregory left that secret.
Bob will bring it to Littleburg. He'll
hand it over to Grace, and then she'll
have Mr.. Gregory in her power
therell be no getting her hands off
him, after that"
Surely you don't mean that Mr..
Gregory did wrong when he was
young, and that Miss Noir suspects
it," 20
Bob will bring home the secret
and it will kill Mrs. Gregory, Abbott
and Grace will go off with him
know how it'll end"
what is this secret?"
you are eve to know, Abbott"
Every well-so be it. But / don't
believe Mr.. Gregory ever did very
wrong--he is too good a man."
isn't he daily breaking his wife's
hearth retorted Fran with a curl OF
the lip. 81 call that murder"
"But still!-But / can't think he
realizes it."
Then" said Fran satirically, "we'll
just call 1t manslaughter. When
think Of his wife's meek patient face
don't you recall that look in her
eyes of the wounded deer-and the
thousands of times you've seen those
two together, at church, on the street
in the library-everywhere
seeing only each other, leaning closer
smiling deeper-as If doing good
meant getting close-Oh, Abbott, you
know what / mean-don't you, don't
your"
"Yes!" cried Abbott sharply. Fran
you are right. l have been-all OF us
have been-clinging to appearances
Yes, / know what you mean"
You'll keep Bob Clinton from tell
ing that secret, won't you? He's to &c
tonight, on the long journey-tonight
after the board meeting. It'll take hin
J three or four days. Then he'll come
! back :"
But he'll never tell the secret" Alb
, bolt declared. His mouth closed az
! by a spring.
mo DIN nnHJnTHrrrrn .N.