The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1914-03-18

II she would show half as much inter.
eat In her souls welfare"
He left the sentence unfinished. The
thought OF Grace had grown supreme
1T seemed to illuminate some wide
and splendid road into . glorious fu.
ture.
The bookkeeper's desk was in n gal.
lery near the ceiling Of the Clinton
grocery store; one looked thence.
through q picket.fence. down upon the
only floor. Doubtless Grace. thus look.
Ing. saw him coming. When he reached
her side. he was breathiess. partly
from the struggle through the masses.
principally from excitement Of fancied
security.
She was posting up the ledger. and
made nc sign OF recognition until he
called her name.
"Mr. Clinton 10 not here she said
remotely. Can I do anything for
your"
He admired her calm courtesy. II
at the same time she could have been
reserved and yielding he would have
found the impossible combination per-
feet. Because II was impossible, he
was determined 20 preserve her an.
gelic purity In imagination. and to re-
store her womanly charm TO actual
being.
How a you receive me 80 coldly."
he said impulsively. when I've not
seen you for weeks?"
You see me at church." she an.
swered impersonally.
but ! have been dying TO be near
you. to talk 10 YOU"
stop" she held up her hand. "You
should know that Mr.. Clinton and ]
are"
"Grace!" he groaned.
She whispered, her face suddenly
growing pale. Are engaged" The
tete.a.tete was beyond her supposed
strength.
Engaged" he echoed, as II she had
pronounced 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 Indebtedness has come to me"
''Then you think" very slowly, that
I ought to let Fran ruin my whole life
because your wife has ruined yours?
Then you think that after I have been
driven out OF the house to make room
for Fran. that ! ought to stay single
because you married unwisely?"
Grace, don't say you are driven
out"
what do you call III A resigna.
tion7"
"Grace!-we have only a few mo-
ments TO be alone. For PHYS sake,
look ut 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 him with the same re-
pellent 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 II was Fran,
and Fran alone. who separated them.
Gregory passed into n state OF anger.
to which his love added recklessness.
Grace. hate me II you must. but you
shall not misunderstood mel"
She laughed. please don't ask me
to understand you. Mr.. Gregory, while
you hide the only secret to your un.
Outstanding. Don't come to me with
pretended liking when what you call
mysterious business interests at
Springfield drive me from your door.
and keep Fran at my desk"
He interposed In q low. passionate
voice. IL am resolved that you should
know everything. Fran-is my own
daughter"
She gave no sign save q sudden
compression OF the mouth; neverths.
less. her surprise was extreme. Her
mind flashed along the wires of the
past and returned illuminated TO the
present ENHANCEMENT.
He thought her merely stunned. and
burst forth: II tell you. Fran IL my
child. Now you know why I'm com
PEELED to do what she wants, That's
the secret Bob brought from Spring
field. That's the secret Abbott Ash
ton hung owe my head-the traitor!
after I'D ~befriended him! All OF my
u~ngratefui friends have conspired to
ruin me. to force you from me by this
secret. But you know It now. and I've
escaped it's danger. You know III"
"And does your wife known"
would l tell her. and not tell you
It's you I've tried to shield. ! married
Josephine Derry. and Fran To- oul
child. You know Fran. Well. hel
mother was Just like her-frivolous
caring only for things of the world
irreligious, And l was just a boys
mere college youth. When l realized
the awful mistake I'D made. I thought
It best to go away and let her live hcl
own life. Years after, I put all tina
behind me, and came TO L~ttlsburg