The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1913-12-26

Almost" she said, In solemn un-
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 1t 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 see4v on &C
count of her" He pointed N the di-
rection of his wife,
Fran knew very well what he meant.
If she told the secret, it ysuld dis
grace Mrs. Gregory. The revelation
might drive Grace away, thcagh Fran
did not think 80, but certaini4 whether
Grace went, or stayed, it woGld break
the heart of the one she loved best in
that home. Gregory was right; Fran
could never betray him.
She turned hlindly upos Grace:
"Then have you no consciea:e You
are always talking about one. Does no
sense of danger warn you away? Can't
you feel any shame?"
Grace did not smile contensptuously,
She weighed these words at .heir real
+ value, and soberly Intercepted her
, self. "No," she declared wish delib-
Grafton, 81 feel no sense of danger be.
+ cause mean to guard myself after
e this. And my conscience bids me
n stay, to show that | have bot really
. done anything But she could not
s deny the feeling of shame, for the
k burning of her cheeks paved the
d recollection OF hot kisses
o But suppose ! tell what ] have
!, seen"
g WELL" said Grace. flashing out de
!; family, "and suppose you doi'
Gregory muttered: who could oe
d lieve your" !,
Id Fran looked at him. '"Tsen,'' sh'
ID said "the coward spoke" She added
y ~ guess the only way Is far you =
1T make her leave. There's nathing Il
I'd her for me to appeal to-"
er Il will never tell her to &C." ne al
IT. sured her defiantly.
,e- "While, on the contrary" sal
OF Grace. Il fancy you will be put to figf
he in three or four days
nd Fran threw back her head an
laughed silently while they stared
ad her In blank perplexity
ed Fran regained composure 10 So
In coolly. Il was just laughing The
she stepped to her fathers chair an
on handed him the sheet she had draw
an from the typewriter. The upper pa
was an unfinished letter to the Chic
ay, 90 mission, just as Grace had leff
nd in her haste to get rid OF Fran.
he odd variance with its pnilanlnfop
message were the words Fran Of
rounded out for the deception OF al
il Gregory. .sa
Il Hamilton Gregory glared at tne
/ - frst uncomprehendingly, then
Growing amazement. They read
aAsk her why she sent Bob ciint'
to Springfield. :.
He started up. what 10 this
exclaimed wildly, extending the pap
Il toward Grace. 30.
Z she read IT and smiled coldly. fe =
she said, .'the little spy has even !
: reted that out. has she! Very VIZ
s,e wont be so cool when Mr.. Clin'
q returns from Springfield
% From Springfield echoed Grege
|E aghast.
III @From Springfield. Mr.. Gregory
IH have made the discovery tnat !
.H fran whom you imagined only 40
IIl sixteen years old, and the daughter
1 an old friend. is really Of age. ol
nothing but circus-girl. You tnoa y,
: her Joking when she called nefse,
ljon-tamer; that's the way sne ine
far US to take it--but she can !,
~, ceiye me. she's nothing but 81 Y
llple girl pretending to come from Sps
! so = feld. But know better. ~
2 % sent Mr., Clinton there to find Out
J, about the family Of your friend a. an J
particular about the girl tna' enls I
is impersonating.' s e.,
'You sent Bob Clinton 70 :. sp I,
field!, gasped Gregory, as ! ms :
arev could get no further than shas, !.
! ba turned savagely upon Fran an,
: - aid YOU tell her about Sprlngns 9,
$ y ~ Fran smiled her crooked smile.
:, 8 Grace interposed: You may o. =,
. ansa sbe didn't. Do You think she 3 W.
SAVIOR her history cleared up M ~ aas'
sa : = ue,, are s. blinded by what sne
heart that you won't investigate a a.ss,,r .
.,va,, "a, assided to do this for your