The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-11-01


Her friends are mere puppets, It
appears" Abbott said, smiling. "But
that's rather to her credit, isn't It?
Would you mind to explain your imagi-
nation OF her character?"
His jesting tone made her impa.
tient IL don't think her character
has ever had chance to develop;
she's too fixed on thinking herself
what she isn't. Her opinion of what
she ought To be Is 30 sure, that she
has never discovered what she really
In And you can't possibly hold q Sc
cret from her. II you're her friend; she
takes 1t from you as one snatches a
toy from little child"
Abbott was still amused HAS she
emptied me Of all she wants?"
Yes. You have given her strong
weapons against me, and you may be
sure she'll use them to her advantage"
Fran. step back into the light-let
me see your face: are you in earnest!
Your eyes are smoldering-Oh. Fran.
those eyes! What weapons have I
given herr
Fran set her back against the fence
and looked at him darkly. "The secret
0f my age. and the secret OF my past
II told her neither"
AS soon AZ you and Mrs. Gregory
wheeled away Mrs. JEFFERSON" said
Fran. Il went right down from the
choir loft. and straight over to her.
j looked her in the eye, and asked
what you had been telling about me.
Why. you told her everything, even
that ] was trying TO flnd out whether
you and would ever'-vould ever get
married. I might as well say Il. II
came pat en~ssh from ber-and you
toidi Nobody else knew. And You
dropped your King of Hearts over the
fence-you told her that! And when
We were standing there ut the gate.
you even tried-but no. III leave you
and Miss Grace to discuss such sub.
1ects. Here we are at the same gate.
but I guess there's not much danger,
now!" -
'Fran!" cried Abbott, with burning
cheeks, "T didn't tell her upcn nv
honor l didn't had % admit drop
ping the card. 10 keep her from link.
NIX you out here az midnight with A
stranger. She saw Us In the shadow.
and guessei-that other. | didn't tell
her anything about your age. didn't
mention the carnival company"
Fran's concentrated tones grew mild
er: But Mrs. Gregory has known
about the show all this time. She
would die before she'd tell on me-"
Il never told. Fran. I'm not going
TO say that again: but you shall be-
llieve me-"
"of course. Abbott. But it 1ust
proves what I said. about her empty.
Ing her friends. about taking their Sc
crets from them even without their
knowing she's doing II. said TO her.
sharp and quick. What have you been
saying about me. Miss Noir?' She
said-I understand from Professor
Ashton that you are not young girl
at All. but a masquerader OF at least
eighteen years. answered-'Being
a masquerader OF at least thirty.flye.
you should have found that out, your.
SELF j hardly think she's thirty-five:
it wasn't a fair blow, but you have to
night Indians In the brush. Then your
friend said. Professor Ashton informs
me that you are a circus-girI. Don't
you think you've strayed too far from
the tentT she asked. said-'Oh. I
brought the show with me; Professor
Ashton is my advance advertising
agent Then she said that IL I'd
leave. Mr.. Gregory need never know
that I'm an impostor. But told her
no tickets are going to be returned.
said-'This show absolutely takes
place. rain or shine"
Fran" said Abbott in distress. 81
want TO talk this overcome here I'm
the yard where you're not 80 con-
splcuous."
"Show-girls ought TO be conspicu.
Gus. No, sir. stay right here I'm the
siaring moonlight. II doesn't call for
darkness 10 tell me anything that is
On your mind, Professor"
Fran. you can't hold me responsible
for what Miss Grace guessed. I tell
you' she guessed everything. was
trying to defend you-suddenly she
saw through It all. I don't know how
" was-maybe Mrs. Gregory can ex-
piain, as she's a woman. You shall
not deem me capable OF adding an
atom TO your difficulties. You shall
feel that I'm your friend while we're
together and after we part You must
believe me when I tell you that I need
your smile" Bis voice trembled with
sudden tenderness.
She looked at him searchingly. then
her face relaxed to the eve OF reyo-
luton. Who have you been trying
to get q glimpse OF. all the times you
parade the street In front OF our
house7"
Abbott declared. "You!" In mute