Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1910-06-17
In The ROOM BEYOND.

Il thought you were dead" said
young Ganley. very quietly.
Elton, who had just entered the
parlor of the Briarside Inn, shivered
as though cold wind had come out
Of the summer night and struck him.
Its been worse than that" he de-
clared. After the Zelaya went
down, drifted on piece of plank
ing to the FUNNIEST isle in the Pa
citic. And I've been drifting ever
since. Ugh!"
Ganley began to pace the rich.
thick carpet. why didn't you, write?
Why the deuce didn't you write!"
he almost screamed.
Elton looked up quickly. whats
the row." he demanded. why
should you snap at shipwrecked
man like that?"
"Oh, nothing" answered Ganley,
with sigh. He dropped into one of
the luxurious leather chairs and GOV.
cred his drawn face with his hands
In the adjoining parlor, gil began
the most plaintive air upon the grand
piano.
you see the fortunes of William
Lawrence Elton went with the Ze
laya-down, down to the -mermaids
and cuttlefish and the rotted dere-
hcts OF the forgotten age," explained
Elton. my bonds, papers, the Elton
jewels, everything went in the swirl
and the gurgle after the sinking ship
I didn't get back to civilization until
after nine months of dickering anc
fussing and fighting with the greas
lest, dirtiest. fiercest people of those
greasy, dirty, fierce seas. After
got back, l thought maybe I'd better
wait. There was Lois, you know
Young Ganley, his face still buried
in his hands. groaned; while the cir,
at the piano changed her chords tc
lithesome trill Of springtime.
Il thought I'd see how the girl
would take it" continued Elton, my
absence-and everything. But what's
the matter with you, anyhow? Aren't
you glad to see fellow"
Il don't KNOW" answered Ganley
suddenly,
You don't know!" repeated Elton
well, you're frank about it. How's
Lois? l understand she's here"
Ganley arose and started for the
adjoining room, then halted. Lois is
well-and happy" he announced.
Happy" asked Elton, with
frown.
Perfectly so-but now"-Ganley
left the other to guess the rest.
Elton nodded. Il see. She has
found balm in the eyes of other
men,"
Ganley nodded. "She was deeply
grieved. l thought she would moi
get over it. But Lois is young"
From the parlor adjoining came
lullaby chords, the soothing charming
strains of the time of going-to-bed.
Elton looked keenly at Ganley. And
you're the man." he declared, with
emphasis.
Il thought you Dead" explained
Ganley. ut was not until months
after"
Elton was moodily silent for sew.
eral dragging moments. Does she
love your" he demanded.
Absolutely" said Ganley. more
than she ever did you-or would
again. She is older, and she has sui
fered."
The two men sat in gloomy silence
for five full minutes. Come" saio
Ganley, finally, "I'll take you to her."
Elton did not move, Il don't know,
he said. Il don't like to be stalk
ing ghost of the past"
-"Tut, tut" scolded Ganley. "Come
on-let her choose
Elton started up, then dropped
back. NO." he declared, II won't
wreck her life twice"
Ganley sat down irresolutely and
the minutes licked by. The grand
piano rendered stormy, passionate.
thunderous
"Pll tell you," said Elton, pres
emily. We'll leave it to Fate to de-
eide for little Lois" He produced
shining coin.
Ganley shuddered. "She ought te
know and choose"
No. insisted Elton. II blighted
her young life once, But she has
forgotten-and is happy. I've no de
sire to play the unwelcome specter
and maybe render the three of us
miserable forever; though-welI, you
know how a man loves Lois. Come.
it's Fate!"
tits Fate then" acquiesced Ganley
sternly. "Heads!"
Elton spun the coin, glitterihg in
the flicker from the gas jet. The
golden head of Miss America showed
uppermost upon the carpet.
you win," announced Elton
"Good-by."
Ganley could not answer. The soft
sweet cadence of a Venetian love
tune came from the room beyond.
"Good-by," repeated Elton. "Tm
back to the wrec'-age and strife and
unloveliness of the life that aids to
forget" Their he passed into the
night
Ganley stood, unhearing, unseeing
until the grand piano hushed alto
gether. Then a sweet-faced, radiant
girl came from the parlor adjoining
and took him by the hand.
"You look weary" she whispered.
"Come outside and we will talk of
our love-"
Lois, child of circumstance" muir
INJURED Ganley, when they had set
tied themselves upon the wicker set
tee,
And she wondered.