Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1913-10-08

I1dullllOu GISSOIg bOOh HeT III LIS
arms and held her to his breast.
Fran" he said brokenly, my unfor-
! tunata child my daughter-oh.
why we're you born?"
Yes" sobbed Fran. resting her
head upon his bosom, YES. why was
| l born?"
you break my heart he sobbed
with her. Fran, say the word. and
will tell everything; l will acknow[
edge you as my daughter. and my
wife"
Fran shock her head Tyou owe no
more to my mother than to her." she
said, catching her breath. mo. the
| secret must be kept-always. Father
i must never call you that except
whisper it, like a prayer-father, let
me be your secretary"
| 1t was strange that this request
should surround Fran with the chill
atmosphere of a tomb. His embrace
relaxed insensibly. He looked at his
daughter in frightened bewilderment.
| as If afraid she had drawn him too
ing. During the silence. she awaited
| his decision.
It was because OF her tumultuous
emotions that she failed to hear ad-
vancing footsteps.
Some one is coming" he exclaimed,
with ill-concealed relief. I'VE mustn't
| be seen thus-we would be misunder-
stood He strobe to the window, and
pretended to look out. His face
cleared momentarily.
The door opened, and Grace Noir
started In, then paused significantly.
Am I interrupting she asked, in
quiescent accent.
Certainly not" Gregory breathed
freedom. His surprise was so joyful
that he was carried beyond himself.
! Grace! It's Grace! Then you didn't
go to the city with Bob, There wasn't
| any train
II am here" began Grace easily
"Yes, Of course, that's the main
thing" his delight could not be held
in check. You are here, indeed! And
you are lookingI mean you look
WE'LL mean you are not ill-your re-
| turn is so unexpected"
! - am here" she steadily persisted,
| because l learned something that
| affects my interests l went part of
| the way with Mr. Clinton, but after
| thinking over what had been told me,
l decided to leave the train at the next
| station. | have been driven back in a
carriage. | may as well tell you, Mr.
| Gregory, that / am urged to accept a
responsible position in Chicago
He understood that she referred to
marriage with Robert Clinton. But"
| he began, very pale.
She repeated, "A responsible posi-
| ton in Chicago. And | was told, this
morning, that while I was away, Fran
meant to apply for the secretaryship
thus taking advantage of my absence"
Fran's face looked oddly white and
old, in its oval of black hair, who
told you this TRUTH" she demanded.
with menacing CLEAN OF teeth.
who knew of your intentions" the
other gracefully said. But this is no
matter. The point is that have this
Chicago opportunity So if Mr.. Greg
DRY wants to employ you, must know
1t at once, to make my arrangements
accordingly"
Can you imagine Hamilton cried
reproachfully, that without any warn
ing, | would make a change? Certain
ly not l have no intention Of employ
ing Fran. The idea is impossible.
More than that, 1t is-er-it is abso-
Iutely preposterous, Would ] calmly
tear down what you and | have been
building up So. carefully?"
Then you had already refused Fran
before | Gamer"
II had-haGn't l, Franz"
Fran gave her father look such
as had never before come into her
dark eyes-a look of reproach, look
that said Il cannot fight back because
of the agony In my heart" She went
away silent and with downcast bead
PtJApTER XIV