Putnam patriot., 1913-07-25

waved a solemn greeting, and he felt reassured-for he was always afraid Robert would tell" He pushed his way nearer.
 'Is Miss Noir here7" Gregory asked in a strained voice; the confusion hid the odd catch his voice had suffered in getting over the name.
 ''No. She's down-town-but not at any show, you may be sure. She's left late at the store becauseI guess you've heard Abbott Ashton has been away long time"
 'I have heard nothing of the young man." Gregory replied stiff1y.
 Well, he's been off two or three weeks somewhere. nobody knows un- less it's Bob, and Bob won't tell any thing any more. Abbott wrote he'd be home tonight, and Bob drove over to Simmtown to meet him in the sur rey, so Miss Grace is alone down there" She nodded ponderously.
 ''Alone!" he exclaimed involuntarily.
 ''Yes-I look for Bob and Abbott now just any minute" She added, eying the crowd-"I saw Fran on the street. long and merry agoi" Her ac- cent was that of condemnation. Like a rock she sat, letting the fickle pop ulaoe drift by to minstrel show and snake den. The severity of her double chin said they might all go thither- she would not.
 This was also Gregory's point of view; and even in his Joy at finding the coast clear, he paused to say, T am sorry that Fran seems to have lost all reason over this carnival company. If she would show half as much inter- est in her souls welfare"
 He left the sentence unfinished. The thought of Grace had grown supreme it seemed to illuminate some wide and splendid road into glorious fu- ture
 The bookkeeper's desk was in gal lery near the ceiling of the Clinton grocery store; one looked thence, through a picket-fence. down upon the only floor Doubtless Grace, thus look ing, saw him coming. When he reached her side, he was breathless, partly from the struggle through the masses, principally from excitement of fancied security.
 She was posting up the ledger, and made no sign of recognition until he called her name.
 Mir. Clinton is not here" she said remotely. fCan I do anything for you?"
 He admired her calm courtesy. If at the same time she could have been reserved and yielding he would have found the impossible combination per feet Because it was impossible, he was determined to preserve her an gelie purity in imagination, and to re- store her womanly charm to actual being
 How can you receive me so coldly," he said impulsively. when I've not seen you for weeksT'
 You see me at church." she an- swered impersonalv.
 But have been dying to be near you, to talk to you"
 Stop" she held up her hand You should know that Mir. Clinton and l are"
 "Graeei" he groaned.
 She whispered, her face suddenly growing pale, Are engaged" The tete-a-tete was beyond her supposed strength.
 "Engaged," he echoed, as if she had pronounced one of the worlds great tragedies. Then you will give your- self to that man-yourself. Grace. that beautiful self-and without love? It's a crime! Don't commit the horrible blunder that's ruined my life. See what wretchedness has come to me"
 "Then yea think" very slowly, that I ought to let Fran ruin my whole life because your wife has ruined yours? Then you think that after have been driven out Of the house to make room for Fran, that I ought to stay single because you married unwiselT %
 Grace, don't say you are driven Slt."
 What do you call it? A resigna- tion?"
 rGracel-we have only few mo- ments to be alone. For pity's sake, look at me kindly and use another tone-a tone like the dear days when you were by my side. We may never be together again"
 She looked at hin with the same re- peIlent expression, and spoke in the same bitter tone: Well, suppose we're not? You and that Fran will be to- gether-
 In his realization that 1t was Fran, and Fran alone, who separated them. Gregory passed into state of anger, to which his love added reckiessness. Grace, hare me If you must, but you shall not misunderstood mel"
 She laughed. Please don't ask me to understand you. NIT. Gregory, while you hide the only secret to your un- derstanding. Bont come to me with pretended liking when what you call mysterious business interests at Springfield drive me from your door, and keep Fran at any desk"
 He interposed in low, passionate voice q am resolved that you should know everything. Fran-is my own daughter
 She gave no sign save . sudden compression of the mouth; neverthe- less, her surprise was extreme. Her mind flashed along the wires of the past and returned illuminated to the present entanglement
 He thought her merely stunned. and burst forth: sI tell you, Fran is my child. Now you know why I'm com peIled to do what she wants. That's the secret Bob brought from Spring field. That's the secret Abbott Ash ton hung over my head--the traitor! after I'd befriended him, All of my -o+afpl friends have conspired 10