Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-02-18


DRY alone, was akin to surprise. How
f: queerly lonesome he looked, without
his secretary! There was something
ghostly about Grace Noir's type
writer-it seemed to have fallen into
Fran's power like an enemy's trophy
too easily captured. The pens and
pencils were at her mercy, 20 readily
surrendered that they suggested
treachery. Did an ambuscade await
her? But impossible--no train re-
turned from the city until in the
evening, and 1t was now only In the
afternoon--six hours of clear field.
! She found the philanthropist i'm.
mersed in day dreams. So deep was
he below the surface OF every day
thoughts. that he might be likened to
man walking on the floor Of the sea,
The thought of the good his money
and influence were accomplishing
thrilled his soul. while through the
refined ether Of this pious Joy ap.
peared the loneliness of Grace Noir,
lending something like spiritual SEN
suousness to his vision of duty.
He did not want the applause of the
general public any more than he want.
ed his past unearthed. 1t was enough
II His philanthropy was known to God
and Grace Noir. She stood, to hIl
mind, as symbol Of religlon-there
can be no harm In reverencing sym.
bols.
Fran's eyes drew him abruptly from
the bottom of the sea. He emerged,
chilled and trembling.
Fran" he said, as II she had ap.
peared In answer to q summons, II am
unhappy about you. Your determine.
ton to have nothing to do with the
church not only distresses but EN-.
harnesses me. You have insisted on
coming into my life Then why do
you disgrace it? You pretend that you
want to be liked by us. yet you play
cards with strangers at nights out
rageous. You even threw a card In
my yard where card was never seen
before"
do you think cards SO very
wicked?" asked Fran, looking at him
curiously.
you know what I think. look
to be enough for me simply to forbid
it. Cards. and dancing, and the
theater-these things are what de-
stroy the influence of the church"
"And not going to the meeting
house. remarked Fran, with quiet
irony-"that's perfectly dreadful"
She closed the door, and placed her
back against it. A shake Of her head
seemed to throw aside what they had
been saying as of no more importance
than the waving tresses of black hair.
She. looked him In the eyes, and said
abruptly
Il want to be your secretary"
Hamilton gripped his chair. He
found the air hard to breathe after
his submarine Observation-Disclosures he
had stayed under too long. II have a
secretary" he retorted, looking at her
resentfully He checked words he
would have liked to utter, on reflect
ing that his secret was In Fran's keep.
ing. She need but declare 1t. and his
picture would blossom forth in all the
papers of the big cities. How Grace
would shrink from him, If she knew
the truth how that magnificent figure
would turn it's back upon him-an.
those scornfll, imperious, never.falter-
ing eyes. %a-s
Fran drew nearer. She seated her
self upon the arm Of a chair, one foot
on the floor, and spoke with restrain
ed intensity: I'm well enough edu-
Gated. can take dictation and make
good copy
He allowed his tone to sound de-
f1ance-"I already have secretary"
Fran continued with an effort,
Mother didn't like studying, very
we'll, but she was determined to get
me out of the condition was born In;
she taught me all she knew. When
] caught up, she'd 60 digging ahead
on her own account to pull me lit
tie higher. Wasn't she splendid! So
patient" Fran paused, and stared
straight before her, straight into the
memory of her mothers eyes.
Gregory reflected-"1f this child had
not come, had not intruded herself up
on my life! Haven't suffered enough
for my follies?"
when mother died." Fran resumed,
"she thought maybe Uncle Ephraim
had mellowed, 80 went to him, be-
cause l thought couldn't get along
without love-" She shook her head.
with pathetic little smile. But |
could! Uncle Ephraim didn't mellow,
he dried up. He blamed me for be-
ing born--1 think, myself IT was mis-
take. He turned me out, but was so
tough Il just couldn't be winter.killed.
After that l went back to the show
and stocked up in experience. I men
toned it to point out that mild little
Job like being your private secretary
wouldn't strain muscle. expect I
could even be a foreign secretary.
It's as easy to walk rope that's
rugged high, as one near the ground.
All the trouble is in the imagination. !"
Gregory's voice cut across hers,
showing no comprehension Of her last
words: my secretary must be in
sympathy with my work. To exercise
such talents as i have, Is my religion,
and need helper whose eyes are
fixed upon the higher life. This is
final and the subject must never be
reopened. find 1t very painful
Fran's discovery that he had not
heard her plea. crimsoned her face.
She jumped from the armchair, breath
ing rapidly. Then" she cried, III
you won't have me, get another. The
one you have must CO."
"She shall do nothing OF the sort, T"
he coldly responded.
"voa ,, Fran retorted violently II