Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1914-01-23


daughter"
She gave no sign save a 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 ENHANCEMENT.
He thought her merely stunned. and
burst forth: Il tell you, Fran is 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 over my head-the traitor!
after I'd befriended him! All of my
ungrateful friends have conspired to
ruin me. to force you from me by this
secret. But you know 1t now. and I've
escaped its danger. You know it,"
And does your wife know?"
Would I tell her. and not tell you?
It's you I've tried to shield. married
Josephine Derry. and Fran is our
child. You know Fran. Well. her
mother was just like her-frivolous.
caring only for things of the world
irreligious And l was Just a boy-a
mere college youth. When I realized
the awful mistake I'd made, l thought
1t best to 60 away and let her live her
own life. Years after. put all that
behind me. and came to Attlebure.
married Mrs. Gregory and l wanted
to put all my past life away-clear
away-and live a good open life. Then
you came. Then found out I'd never
known what love meant. 1t means a
fellowship of souls. love does; It has
nothing to do with the physical man
1t means just your soul and mine. =.
and it's too late!"
Grace, with hands locked upon her
open ledger, stared straight before
her, as IL turned to stone. The little
fenced-in box. hanging high above ca.
ger shoppers. was as peaceful haven
in a storm of raging noises. From
without. gusts of merriment shrieked
and whstled. while above them
doomed the raucous cries of showmen.
drowned in their turn by the indie
fatigable Grassland. The atmosphere
Of the bookkeeper's loft was a wedge
Of silence. splitting solidarity of tu-
multi
Gregory covered his face with his
hands. do you despise me. you pure
angel of beauty? Oh. say you don't
utterly despise re. I've not breathed
this secret to any living soul but you.
you whom love with the madness OF
despair My heart IL broken. Tell
me what can do"
At last Grace spoke in a thin tone:
Where Is that woman?"
"Fran's mother"
She did not reply; he ought to know
whom she meant
"She died a few years ago-but
thought her dead when l married Mrs
Gregory. l didn't mean any wrong
to my wife, wanted everything legal
and supposed 1t was. thought every
thing was all right until that awful
night-when Fran came. There'd been
no divorce, so Fran kept the secret
not on my account. oh, no. no, not on
her fathers account! She gave me
no consideration. 1t was on account
of Mrs. Gregory"
which Mrs. Gregory"
"You know-Mrs. Gregory"
Can l believe that?" Grace asked
with a chilled smile. You believe
Fran really cares for your wife? You
think any daughter could care for the
woman who has stolen her mothers
rightful placer"
But Fran won't have the truth de
clared; If It weren't for her. Bob w0ult
have told you long ago."
Suppose l were in Fran's place
would l have kept the secret to spare
man or woman? No! Fran doesn'
care a penny for your wife. Shs
couldn't. 1t would be monstrous-un
natural. But she's always hated me
That's why she acts as she does-tt
triumph over me. l see 1t all. Tha
is the reason she won't have the trutl
declared-she doesn't want me Il
know that you are-are Free"
Grace started up from the desk. he
face deathly white. She was totter
ing, but when Gregory would hav,
leaped TO her side, she whispered
They would see u.s." Suddenly he
!, face became crimson. He caught hi
breath, speechless before her imperia
} loneliness.
Mr.. Gregory" her eyes were burn