Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1913-05-14

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had died away, he still hesitated.
This" he sdld presently. els a-the
orphan-an orphan-one who has
come to me from She says her
name is Frances"
Fran" came the abrupt correction;
"just Fran"
There was a general feeling that an
orphan should speak less positively,
even about her own name-should' be.
az 1t were. subdued from the mere
fact Of orphanhood.
"An orphan!" Simon Jefferson ejac-
ulated. moving restlessly in his effort
to find the easiest corner Of his chair.
II hope nothing is going to excite me.
I have heart-disease, lStle girl, and
I'm liable to topple on at any moment.
I tell you, must not be excited"
Il 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 should 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 mo alone. because she h4d spe-
cial message-a-yes, message to
deliver to me. So asked Miss Grace
to leave US for half an hour. Then I
heard the girls story, while Miss
Grace waited upstairs"
WELL" Simon Jefferson interposed
irritably. Miss Grace 10 accounted for.
Go on, brother-in-law. 60 on, IL 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
very old friend Of mine friend who
was-was friend years ago. long be-
fore moved to Littleburg. long before
I saw you, Lucy. That was when my
home was In New York. l have told
you all about that time of my youth.
when lived with my father in New
York. Well, before my father died.
I was acquainted with-this friend. 1
owed that person q great debt, not OF
money! debt of-what shall say7"
Fran suggested. Honor"
Gregory mopped his brow while all
looked from Fran to him. He re-
sumed desperately: II owed a great
debt to that friend-oh, not Of money.
of course debt which circumstances
prevented me from paying-from
meeting-which l 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
preferred, directed the course Of fu-
ture events. Mr.. Gregory had not in
tentionally spoken Of his friend in
such q way a. 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
friend7 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 90 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. Il 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, l hope there'll be no objee-
ton to her staying here In the house
that Is. il 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 heeide hsr upon divan.
DO you know. she said gently, you
are the very hfst Of al his New York