Putnam patriot., 1913-07-04
THE PUTNAM PATRIOT July a ror,

less 70 assure heTseal .nas 49,
writer was at work. II she did not
hear the clicking Of the keys, she
might conclude Grace was absent, and
enter.
Gregory raised his haggard head
with an air suggesting meditated
flight. Even Grace covered back in
stinctively.
Swift as a shadow, Fran darted on
tiptoe to the typewriter, and began
pounding upon it vigorously.
Mrs. Gregory passed on her way,
and when she reached the farther end
of the hall. an old hymn which she
had been humming, broke into audible
words. Fran snatched the sheet from
the typewriter. and bent her head to
listen. The words were soft, full of a
thrilling faith, dauntless courage
'stnl all my song shall be
Nearer my God to Thee,
Nearer"
A door closed. She was gone. Greg
DRY dropped his head with a groan.
1t seemed to Fran that the voice OF
his wife who was not wife, fingered
In the room. The hymn. no longer
audible, had left behind it fragrance,
as sometimes fingers the sweet SAVIOR
of prayer, after its amen" has, as it
were. dropped back into the heart
whence it issued. Fran instinctlvely
held out both arms toward the direc-
ton of the door just closed, as if she
could see Mrs. Gregory kneeling be-
hind it.
Almost" she said, in a solemn IN
dertone, thou persuadest me to be a
Christian"
Had anyone but Mrs. Gregory been
singing that hymn, had anyone but
Fran been the one to intrude upon the
library scene, Grace must have been
overwhelmed. AS it was, she stood
quite untouched, resolving to stay in
order to prove herself, and to show
Gregory that they must sacrifice their
love for conscience sake.
Gregory. however, was deeply
touched by Fran's yearning arms. He
rose and stood before her. Fran,
child, we promise that what you saw
shall never happen again. But you
mustn't tell about it. | know you won't
tell. can't send Grace away. because
! need her. She will not go because
she knows herself to be strong. We
are going to hide our souls. And you
can't tell what you've seen. on ae-
count of her" He pointed in the d.
rection of his wife,
Fran knew very we'll what he meant
If she told the secret. it would dis
grace Mrs Gregory. The revelation
might drive Grace away, though Fran
did not think so, but certainly whether
Grace vent, or stayed, 1t would break
the heart of the one she loved best in
that home. Gregory was right; Fran
could never betray him.
She turned blindly upon Grace:
Then have you no conscience you
are always talking about one. Does no
sense of danger warn you away? Can't
you feel any shame?"
Grace did not smile contemptuously.
She weighed these words at their real
value, and soberly Intercepted her
self. NO" she declared with delib-
Grafton, 81 feel no sense of danger be-
cause | mean to guard myself after
this. Ard my conscience bids me
stay, to show that l have not really
done anything" But she could not
deny the feeling of shame, for the
burning of her cheeks proved the
recollection of hot kisses.
But suppose l tell what 1 have
seen"
Well" said Grace, flashing out de-
family, land suppose you dol"
Gregory muttered: who would be-
lieve,you?"
Fran looked at him. Then" she
said, 1.-The coward spoke" She added:
Il guess the only way is for you to
make her leave. There's nothing in
her for me to appeal to-"
q will never tell her to go" he as
sured her defantly.
While, on the contrary" said
Grace. q fancy you will be put to fight
in three or four days"
Fran threw back her head and
laughed silently while they stared at
her in blank perplexity.
Fran regained composure to say
coo.ly, 81 was just laughing Then
she stepped to her fathers chair and
handed him the sheet she had drawn
from the typewriter The upper part
was an unfinished letter to the Chica-
go mission, just as Grace had left it
in her haste to get rid of Fran. At
odd variance with its philanthropie
message were the words Fran had
pounded out for the deception of Mrs.
Gregory.
Hamilton Gregory glared at them
at first uncomprehendingly, then in
growing amazenent. They read
ASK her why she sent Bob Clinton
to Springfield"
He started up. what is this?" he
exclaimed wildly, extending the paper
toward Grace.
She read it and smiled coldly. eyes
she said, "the little spy has even fer
reted that out, has she, Very well,