Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-03-01

"Mr. Gregory, Fran hasn't any IN
terest in your work. ,. ..5
81 love you, Grace-I adore you.
Beautiful darling-don't you see you
must go away because you are so In
expressibly precious to me? That's
why mustn't have you under my roof. "
He sank upon his knees and caught
her hand. "See me at your feet
should this thing be y"
Grace coldly withdrew her hand.
'In spite Of all you say, you have en-
gagged Fran in my place"
mo one can take your place, dear.
Grace's voice suddenly vibrated:
"You tell me you love me, yet you
agree to hire that woman, in my place
the woman I hate, tell you; yes,
the spy, the enemy Of his home"
Eyes, Grace, do tell you that love
you-would be kneeling here wor-
Shipping you, otherwise? And what is
more, you know that you love me-you
know it. That's why must send you
away"
"Then send Fran away, when you
send mo away"
ooh, my God, il could!" he ex-
claimed, starting up wildly. But you
see, it's impossible. can't do that,
and ! can't keep you"
"Whv is 1t impossible? Must you
treat better the daughter of an old col
lege friend, than the woman. you say
you love? What are those mysterious
Springfield interests?
And you are the woman who
loves mel" Gregory interrupted quick
". "Say it, Grace! Tell me you love
me before you 60 away-just those
three words before sink back into my
lonely despair. We will never be
alone together in this life-tell me.
then, that you love me-let me hear
those words from your beautiful
lips" ... /,
at makes me taught" Grace cried
out in wrath that could not be con-
trolled. ito hear you speak Of love in
one breath and of Fran in the next.
Maybe some day you'll speak both in
the same breath! Yes. I will go and
YOU can hire your Fran"
"But won't you tell me goodbye
he pleaded. GAS soon as I have be-
come complete master of my love for
you, Fran shall be sent unceremonious.
Nv about her business. l fancy Abbott
Ashton wants to marry her-let him
take her away. Then she will be
gone. Then my-er-duty-to friend
ship will be fulfilled. And If you will
come back again then, we might be
happy together, after all"
She stamped her foot violently.
"This need not be. and you know 1t.
You speak of being master of your
self. What do you mean? I already
know you love me. What Is there to
hide?" sa..
Put others would see. Others
would suspect. Others would betray.
Good heavens, Grace, all my life has
been made horribly miserable because
I've always had to be considering
what others would think and do!'
"Betray? What is there to betray?
Nothing. You are what you have al
ways been. and so am |. We didn, t
commit a crime in speaking the truth
for ont You are sending me away
for ever and yet. you try to tempor1ze
on this eternity. Well-keep your
Fran! It's fortunate for me that |
have one friend" She snatched up the
open letter, and hurried toward the
door.
."Grace." Gregory followed her i'm
ploringly, mot Bob Clinton! Hear me,
Grace. II you ever marry that man, l
shall kill myself"
She laughed scornfully as she
snatched open the door.
Grace, tell you that Fran
"Yes!" exclaimed the other, her
voice trembling with concentrated
anger. 'let that be the last word be-
tween us, for it is that. and that only
which separates us. Yes-that Fran! I"
CHAPTER Xxx.
The Enemy Triumphs.
Sometimes the history Of any house
hold progresses rapidly in closely re
lated scenes Of action; but, for the
most part, months pass by during
,uhfch life has annarentlY ceased to