New-York tribune., 1910-12-18
CHAPTER II. A Departed Glory

CHAPTER II. Departed Glory
THEY had always walked the mile to Thurleys
home to prolong their hour OF pleasure Tonight
as the dusk of ning slowly gathered they both
exceptionally silent. Gailard, indeed, had been far
m )re than usually reserved all afternoon.
To Thurley feminine intuition was presently voucf-
safed an nkling of portent in the air From time to
tt she glance at Gallards face, as If to read
his thoughts. She found him gazing straight ahead,
persisently. worry that she could not gloss with
day-end happiness was present in her mind
When she spoke at last she went frankly to the issue
that she felt had been presented What very odd
with the Major. 1t was-luSt little bit en-
barrassng.
Gaillard answered, YES" He still looked straight
ahead.
For some strange, nexplicabe reason Thurey felt
sinking at her heart She summoned her courage to
proceed 1t kind of the Major, am sure, to make
such offer; but of course
She halted there wishing have him complete her
thought, wishing to see him flare up warmly declare
his ownership in all she was, and even abuse the MAJOR
for his bunder
But he stared up the thoroughfare and silent,
while she waitei at his side. Then last he said,
what hoarsey, why didn't you accept what ne
oferedo''
For a moment she was certain she had heard incor-
reCty, that unreal fear her breast had voiced
itself if from his scarcely parted lips; but, looking
intently his set averted face she felt almost
wheming weakness attack her, and her cheeks lost
their color and were white.
"But-Acton-yo How could r. she faltered
helplessy. After all that's happened between and
she halted as before.
"All what? he said after a moment.
He could hardly have asked a question more brutal
She realized suddenly that all she had given her love,
her kiss which to her had been very much indeed,
meant possibly nothing at all to him. save pleasure to
be taken for the asking Even then she did not and
could not wholly credit her senses
'All what" she repeated weakly. "All what
'Yes-all what? His voice was increasing in firm
ness as he found her weak instead of accusing. Il
should think you'd be glad of the Majors splendid
offer 1t might a very great improvement
DO you mean, she said, in a dream, chat
that all YOU We said to eand all the attention-that
f01rU
Yol-yOu re not suggesting, really
See here, Thurey, he broke in Immediately, this
sort of thing couldn't go forever! You know that.
I'm going away tomorrow, and I'm going abroad next
week.
A LII the weight of his meaning, suspended before
crashed down her unprotected head, as it
AMI left her partially stunned She could barely think
She could not reason she could not rise to anger.
"Ths-sOrt of thing?" she repeated.
Cerainly- uSt the usual college sort of thing, he
confessed BADLY. "You knew all along I'd some day
leave and follow my career, the my family will
naturally expect, which of contemplated
this
She closed her eyes for the shame that rushed upon
her, not much for his ntmation that between his
family and hers there could be no hint of equality, not
much for this as for that sckenlng characterize
ton of their association the usual college of
thing.
Her whole nature shrank upon itself, abashed and
quivering. The love she had given him she could
snatch away, it had gone beyond recalling; but the
love she had folded to her heart-hs love-was gone,
while still her hands blindly cropping. 1t had
been hers it had been college loan to be taken away
like pin or any tr1nket.
1t seemed incredible the whole affair, untrue that a
could change like this within time brief after
all he had said and all he had done and all she had given
of her love.
Her voice was trembling when she spoke. you
Acton you surely do not that-I'm not to see
an mOre-that this is