The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1913-04-13
| F IRA

are favored by love. they're no more
account than apples taken with bitter
rot-not worth so cents a barrel. The
trouble with good deal of the church
fruit today is bitter rot"
Abbott asked slyly, What about
your fruit, out there in the world :"
"Oh," Fran confessed; with CLEAN
we're not in the orchard business al
| all, out here"
Abbott laid his hand earnestly upon
| her arm: Fran! Come in and help
us spray"
You dear old prosy, preachy pro-
fessor;" she exclaimed affectionatelyl
Il have been thinking of it. I've half
mind to try, really. Wouldn't Grace
Noir Just die? y o Lord, there
she comes, now!'
Fran left the disconsolate young man
in wild precipitation, and few into the
house He wondered if she had been
seen standing there. and he realized
that, if so, the tlrest motives could
not outweigh appearances. He turned
off in another direction, and Gregory
and Grace came slowly toward the
house, having, without difficulty, elm
mated Simon Jefferson from their
company.
In truth, Simon, rather than be i'm
proved by their conversation, had
dived down a back alley, and found
entrance through the side door. When
Hamilton Gregory and his secretary
came into the reception hall, the old
bachelor lay upon divan thinking of
his weak heart-Fran's flight from the
choir loft had reminded him, as if he
were never to be grown man. Mrs.
Gregory sat near the group, silently
embrcidering in white silk. Fran had
hastily thrown herself upon the stair
way, and, with half-closed eyes, looked
as if she had been there a long time.
Fran" said Mr. Gregory coldly,
you left the choir practice before we
were two-thirds done. Of course, |
could hardly expect you-" he look
ed at his wife-"to stay. although your
presence would certainly have kept
Fran there; and it does look as if we
should be willing to resort to any ex-
pedient to keep her there"
How would a lock and chain dog
Fran inquired meekly.
Il don't think she came straight
home, either" remarked Grace Noir
significantly. Did you, Fran"
Miss Noir," said Fran, smiling at
her through the banister Stats, you
are so satisfactory; you always say
just about what | expect Yes, |
came straight home I'm glad it's
your business, so you could ask"
Hamilton Gregory turned to his wife
again. with restraint more marked.
Next Sunday is roll call day, Mrs.
Gregory. The board has decided to re-
wise the lists We've been carrying so
many names that it's burden to the
church. The world reproaches us, say
ing, Isn't So-and-so member? He
never attends, does he? | do hope
you will go next Sunday"
Mrs. Gregory looked down at her
work thoughtfully, then said, Mother
would be left"
It's just this way" her husband in
terposed abruptly: "If no excuses,
such as sickness, are sent, and if the
people haven't been coming for months
and don't intend coming, we are simply
determined to drop the names-strike
'em out We believe church members
should show where they stand. And
and if you-"
Mrs. Gregory looked up quietly. Her
voice seemed woven of the silk threads
she was stitching in the white pattern.
eff | am not a member of the church.
sitting an hour in the building couldn't
make me one
Simon Jefferson cried out. as that
my sister Lucy? Blessed if | thought
she had so much spirit"
do you call that spirit" returned
Gregory, with displeasure.
Well snorted Simon, what do
you call it. them"
Perhaps" responded Gregory, with
marked disapprobation, perhaps it
was spirit
Grace, still attired for the street,
looked down upon Mrs Gregory as
if turned to stone. Her beautiful face
expressed something like horror at the
others irreverence.
Fran shook back her hair. and
watched with cleaning eyes from be-