Putnam patriot., 1913-04-25


 Fran" came the abrupt correction; just Fran" There was general feeling that an orphan should speak less positively even about her own name-should be, as 1t were, subdued from the mere fact of orphanhood.
 "An orphanl" Simon Jefferson ejac- ulated. moving restlessly in his effort to find the easiest corner of his chair T hope nothing Is going to excite me. I have heart-disease. little girl, and | I'm liable to topple of at any moment. I tell you. I must not be excited"
 'I don't think" replied Fran, with cheerful interest in his malady, that | orphans are very exciting" Hamilton Gregory resumed. eau tiously stepping over dangerous | ground, while the others looked at Fran, and Grace never ceased to look at him. She came here tonight, after the services at the Big Tent She came here and, or shoald say, to re- quest, to ask-Miss Grace saw her when she came. Miss Grace knew of her being here" He seized upon this fact as if to lift himself over pitfalls. | Grace's eyes were gravely judicial. | She would not condemn him unheard, | but at the same time she let him see | that her knowledge of Fran would not <, help his case. It did not surprise : Mrs. Gregory that Grace had known of the strange presence; the secretary knew of events before the rest of the family.
 Gregory continued, delicately pick ing his way: But the child asked to see me alone, because she had a spe- cial message-a-yes, a message to deliver to me. So asked Miss Grace to leave us for half an hour. Then heard the girls story, while Miss Grace waited upstairs"
 Well" Simon Jefferson interposed irritably, Miss Grace is accounted for. Go on. brother-in-law, go on, if we must have it."
 "The fact is, Lucy" Gregory at this point turned to his wife-for at certain odd moments he found relief in doing so-"the fact is-the fact is. this girl is the-er-daughter of-of a very old friend of mine-a friend who was-was a friend years ago, long be- fore moved to Littleburg, long before I saw you, Lucy. That was when my home was in New York. I have told you all about that time of my youth, when I lived with my father in New York. We'll, before my father died, I was acquainted with-this friend. owed that person great debt, not of money-a debt of-what shall l say?" Fran suggested, Honor" Gregory mopped his brow while all looked from Fran to him. He re- sumed desperately: q owed a great debt to that friend-oh, not of money, of course-a debt which circumstances prevented me from paying-from meeting-which I still owe to the memory of that-er-of that dead friend. The friend is dead. you under stand, yes, dead"
 Mrs. Gregory could not understand her husbands unaccustomed hesitan- cy She inquired of Fran, And is your mother dead. too, little girl?"
 That simple question, innocently preferSed, directed the course of fu- ture events. MT. Gregory had not in- tentionally spoken of his friend in such a way as to throw doubt upon the sex. Now that he realized how his wife's misunderstanding might save him. he had not the courage to unde- ceive her.
 Fran waited for him to speak. The delay had lost him the power to re- veal the truth. Would Fran betray him? He wished that the thunder might drown out the sound of her words, but the storm seemed holding its breath to listen.
 Fran said quietly, My mother died three years ago."
 Mrs. Gregory asked her husband, Did you ever tell me about this friend? I'd remember from his name; what was it?"
 It seemed impossible for him to ut ter the name which had sounded from his lips so often in love. He opened his lips, but he could not say Jose phine." Besides, the last name would do. Derry" he gasped.
 Come here, Fran Derry" said Mrs. Gregory, reaching out her hand, with that sweet smile that somehow made Fran feel the dew of tears.
 Hamilton Gregory plucked up spir- it's. "I couldn't turn away the daugh- ter of my old friend. You wouldn't want me to do that. None of you would Now that I've explained ev- erything, I hope there1l be no objec- tion to her staying here in the house that is, if she wants to stay. She has come to do it, she says-all the way from New York"
 Mrs. Gregory slipped her arm about the independent shoulders, and drew the girl down beside her upon a divan.l Do you know" she said gently, you are the very first of all his New York friends who has come into my life 2, Indeed. am willing. and indeed you shall stay with us. just as long as you will"
 Fran asked impulsively. as she clasped her hands. Do you think you could like me? Could-your
 Dear child"-the answer was ac- companied by gentle pressure, you are the daughter of my husbands friend. That's enough for me. You need a home. and you shall have one with us. like you already. dear"
 Tears dimmed Fran's eyes. And I just love you" she cried. My! What a woman you arei.
 Grace Noir was silent She liked Fran less than ever, but her look was that of hired secretary. saying, With all this. have nothing to do." Doubtless. when alone with Hamilton, Gregory, she would express her sin