Rocky Ford enterprise., 1914-01-23


hind it.
Almost" she said. in a 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. l 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 ac-
count of her. He pointed In the d.
rection of his wife.
Fran knew very well what he meant.
If she told the secret, 1t would dis
grace Mrs. Gregory. The revelation
might drive Grace away. though Fran
did not think so, but certainly whether
Grace went, or stayed. it 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?-yov
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 interrogated her
self. NO" she declared with delib-
GRAFTON, II feel no sense of danger be-
cause ] mean to guard myself after
this. And my conscience bids me
stay, to show that / 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 | tell what have
seem
We'll" said Grace. flashing out de-
family, land suppose you dol"
Gregory muttered: who would be-
lieve your
Fran looked at him. Then" she
said. the coward spoke" She added:
81 guess the only way is for you to
make her leave. There's nothing in
her for me to appeal to-"
Il will never tell her to CO." he ar
sured her defiantly
while. on the contrary" said
Grace. 81 fancy you will be put to flight
in three or four days"
Fran threw back her head AMI
laughed silently while they stared at
her in blank perplexity.
Fran regained composure to say
coolly. 81 was just laughing" Thea
she stepped to her fathers chair and
handed him the sheet she had drawH
from the typewriter. The upper part
was an unfinished letter to the Chica-
go mission, just as Grace had left 1t
in her haste to get rid of Fran. At
odd variance with its philanthropic
message were the words FraB had
pounded out for the deception of Mrs
Gregory.
Hamilton Gregory glared at them
at first uncomprehendingly. then In
growing amazemeut. 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 ana smiled coldly. Yes
she said. the little spy has even fer
reted that out. has she. Very well.
she won't be so cool when Mr.. Clinton
returns from Springfield"
a M ~
aghast
From Springfield. Mr.. Gregory. ]
have made the discovery that this
Fran. whom you imagined only about
sixteen years old. and the daughter OF
an old friend. is really of age. She's
nothing but circus-girl You thought
her joking when she called herself a
lion-tamer; that's the way she meant
for us to take it-but she can't de-
ceive me. She's nothing but show
girl pretending to come from Spring
field But | know better. So I've
sent Mr.. Clinton there to find out all
about the family of your friend, and in
particular about the girl that this Fran
is impersonating."
You sent Bob Clinton to Spring
field!" gasped Gregory. as if his mind
could get no further than that Then
he turned savagely upon Fran-"And
did you tell her about Springfield?"
Fran smiled her crooked smile.
Grace interposed: You may be sure
she didn't, Do you think she wanted
her history cleared up? Mr.. Gregory,
you are so blinded by what she says
that you won't investigate her claims.
I decided to do this for your sake.
When Mr.. Clinton comes back, It's
good-by to this circus-girll"