Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1913-09-25

his subconsciousness. Why did this
stranger speak of Miss Grace Noir as
the lady who isn't Mrs. Gregory"
The young man at times had caught
himself thinking Of her in just that
way.
School superintendents do not enjoy
being mystified. Really" Abbott de-
clared abruptly, 81 must go back to
the meeting.f
Fran had heard enough about his
leaving her. She decided to stop that
once and for all. "If you go back,
go, tool" she said conclusively. She
gave him a look to show that she
meant it, then became all humility.
please don't be cross with little
N~onpareil,S she coaxed. please don't
want to go back to that meeting.
Please don't want to leave me. You
are so learned and old and SO strong
you don't care why a little girl
laughs"
Fran tilted her head sidewise, and
the glance of her eyes proved irresist-
ible. "But tell me about Mr.. Greg
ory," she pleaded, "and don't mind my
ways. Ever since mother died I've
found nothing in this world but love
that was for somebody else, and
trouble that was for me-"
The pathetic cadence Of the slender.
throated tones moved Abbott more
than he cared to show.
"If you're in trouble" he exclaimed,
you've sought the right helper in Mr..
Gregory. He's the richest man in the
county, yet lives SO simply, so fru-
gally-they keep few servants-and
all because he wants to do good with
his money. l think Mr.. Gregory is one
of the best men that ever lived"
Fran asked with simplicity, Great
church worker?"
He's as good as he is rich. He
never misses a service. l can't give
the time to it that he does-to the
church, / mean; l have the ambition
to hold, n day, a chair at Yale or
Harvard-that means to teach in a
university" he broke off, in explana.
ton. ana,
you see," with a deprecatory
smile, Il want to make myself felt in
the world" d.
Fran's eyes shone with an unspoken
"Hurrah!" and as he met her gaze, he
felt a thrill Of pleasure from the i'm,
preston that he vas what she want,
ed him to be.
Fran allowed his soul to battle a
while in divine eye-beams of flattering
approval, then gave him a little sting
to bring him to life. "Yog are pretty
old, not to be married." sne remarked.
81 hope you won't find some woman to
put an end to your high intentions,
but men generally do. Men fall in
love, and when they finally pull them
selves out, they've lost sight of the
shore they were headed for"
A slight color stole 70 Abbott's face.
In fact, he was rather hard hit. This
wandering child was no doubt a witch.
He looked in the direction Of the tent,
as II to escape the weaving of her
magic. But he only said, THAT sounds
Impractical"
YES" said Fran, wondering who
"the woman" was, IF you can't be
practical, there's no use to be. Well
l a see you now, at the head Of
some university-you'n make it, be
cause you're so much like me. Why
when they first began teaching me to
feed Good gracious! What am
talking about?" She hurried on, as
If to cover her confusion. 'But J
haven't got as far in books as you
have, so I'm not religious"
Books aren't religion" he remon
strated, then added with unnecessary
g%entleness, Little Nonpareil! What
an ideal"
Eyes, books are" retorted Fran
shaking back her hair, swinging hei
foot, and twisting her body impatient
ly. That's the only kind of religion
I know anything about-just books
just doctrines; what you ought to be
lieve and how you ought to act-al
nicely printed and bound between GOV
ers. Did you W meet any religion
outside of a book, moving up ant
down, going about in the open?"
He answered in perfect confidence
MI. Gregory lives his religion daily
the kind that helps people, that make
the unfortunate happy"
Fran was not hopeful. well Nv
come all the way from New York Il
see him. l hope he can make m