Middletown transcript., 1903-12-12
GLADYS THE HEIRESS
By HILoT WHYTE

had left her in her poverty for her richie
rival, whom he had never seen. If onl,
she would follow the words of that son,
she used to sing-she never sang it now
"Ah, folly to remember,
Twere wisdom to forget!
But Gladys remembered and forgot il
an exactly opposite way to that which
Gerard wished.
On that last evening there we're M
guests at dinner. except the Vicarag'
people; for the night was to be devoted
to ball for the servants. On the follow
ing evening there was to be grand bal
for the country folk; and the rejoicing
on the estate were to be held when th'
bride and bridegroom had returned from
their honeymoon-Gladys carefully spok'
Of it as their wedding tour"
| The dinner was not Of very long dura
ton; for the dancing was to begin at eigh
O'Clock, and all declared they must have
half an hours rest between the ending o
the one and the beginning of the other
The gentlemen left the table with the
ladies.
Gerard, as soon as they reached the
drawingroom, followed Gladys to hel
accustomed seat.
Gladys! he said.
She turned round at once.
Yes?
Am 1 to dance with any one in par.
ticular tonight?
You ought to open the ball with Mrs.
Hunt, she answered, and with Robert,
of course.
Robert was the solemn-faced butler.
Then perhaps, Gladys, you will dance
the second with me? he asked humbly.
Oh, yes-if you like! 1t is waltz, l
believe, she said promptly.
Thanks.
He stayed where he was, leaning be-
tween her chair and the chimney shelf;
but neither of them spoke.
Until that very day, the kind tone in
which she said, Oh, yes-if you like! and
the furthur information that the dance
in question was waltz, would have been
sufficient for the "tender leaves of hope"
to put forth blossom; but now he had
passed beyond that. 1.-The killing FROST
of Gladys's coldness had nipped the root,
and his hope was dead.
Gerard's thoughts were interrupted by
movement from Gladys, who arose.
Are you going? he asked.
Only upstairs, she answered gloves
and bracelets and so on, you know.
He caught his breath in kind of sob
SO like the old Gladys was she just then.
He noticed as she crossed the large
room that she had no ornaments OF any
kind. He thought he liked her better
without; yet, when she returned, wear
ing those he had first given her-tiger's
claws set in dull Indian gold-he felt he
had never seen her look go lovely before.
And then they went in great state to
the ballroom, where Gladys was immed-
lately approached and led to her place by
the solemn butler, who treated the whole
proceeding with a solemnity impossible
to break through or thaw in any way.
Gerard followed suit with the honsekeeper
a good tempered, portly woman, who per-
sisted in calling him 'Master Gerard"
and painted audibly in the more energetic |
portions of the quadrille. At last the
dance was over, and Gerard was free to |
claim that which Gladys had promised
him.
l have never danced with you before,
he said. as they stood waiting for the
music to begin.
No; I hope you dance well, she an
swered. All, there is the musicl
He had no fear as to the style of his
and Gladys's was perfect.
If she was cold at ordinary times and
kept him literally at arms length, she
did not spoil their dance by her
,oldness or her stiffness.
He could feel the clasp of her left hand
upon his shoulder, and, instead of giving
him two fingers of the other, she had
aid her whole hand in his; and the touch
,ent thrill through him.
He was wishing that the dance would
asst for ever, when Gladys stopped with
! jerk.
Oh, why do you stopf he asked re-
Are you always ike that when you
waltz? she said sharply.
Like what?
She laid her hand for an instant upon
lis heart.
l have never heard anything like it,
he said, in an awe-struck tone.
Oh, that!-laughing a little. Yes;
lare say it will finish me one Of these
lays. You'll be waking up and finding
'ourself widow one fine morning. Now
hall we 60 on?
Certainly not. / would not dance with
'ou again on any consideration, she said
decidedly. +,
She walked away through the drawing
DOM to the conservatory as she spoke,
nd Gerard followed her.
You don't mean that surely? he said.
was enjoying our waltz so much. Come
ack and finish it.
And finish It'll she repeated. And per-
aps finish you too. II
FIJI risk that, he laughed. /,
: But / will not, she answered SO reso-
ltely that Gerard laughed outright. II
Then l must 60 and find some one else
Tho won't have so many scruples. II
You are not to do i'll forbid you to
o it-imperatively.
Why, Gladys, he said teasingly, if you i
lake such fuss over me, shall begin 7
, think you really do care for me after !
L..
He half expected to see the usual cold. /
ass Green over her face. and to hear the I