El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-10-10
CHAPTER XIII.
THE GAUNTLET.

w rather highly strung and De
cidedly spoiled girl OF nine
teen. Marriage proved a bitter aWak-
ening. Six months. revealing to her
both in their own intimate relations
and in what she learned Of his other
life the weak sensuality Of her hus-
band, suficed to transform her into
cold, self contained woman Of an acid
ulOus cynicism startling in one Of her
years. 1t was the weakness Of the
man more than his immortality that
repealed her. She herself came Of an
active. sturdy stock whose virility and
power of resistance had not been de-
stroyed by generations OF self indul-
gence. Her experience discovered to
her the existence Of inherited ideals
heretofore dormant in her. In the ap-
parent impossibility Of seeing those
ideals realized in her own life she was
becoming bitter and reckless when the
incubus on her life was suddenly re
moved, two years after her marriage,
by the pistol Of a Jealous Viennese.
When her uncle reached her he
found a stony eyed. icy woman who
laughed bitterly at his proRered sym
pathy. but acquiesced indiferently In
whatever he proposed
Then he atoned in part for his IN
wise guidance Of her youth. The man
agement Of his great business interests
he placed in the competent hands Of
Henry Sanger, Jr., Eleanor's brother,
and devoted himself entirely to her.
For three years they Travelled as her
whims dictated. Mr.. Sanger. anxious
" watching. saw the natural resilien-
cy Of youth gradually breaking down
her hardness Of spirit Selfish she re-
NAMED. as was the logical result Of a
lack Of definite purpose in life other
than to amuse herself and to forget
Then Mr. Sanger died. leaving the
bulk Of his fortune to Henry Sanger,
Jr., to Eleanor a comparative pittance.
This curtailment Of her inheritance
was at her request A quiet year in
Germany, spent studying music. fol
lowed. and then she returned to the
Steel City to play her part in the max
ing Of Robert AIcAdOO.
Late IN the afternoon. the day Of
Bob's talk with Paul concerning her.
Mrs Gilbert sat before a luxurious log
ire in her own particular den. In a
box BY her side was an armful Of roses.
which she was arranging in a huge
glass bowl. When the roses were be
slowed to her satisfaction she reread
the note that had accompanied them,
smiling at some sentiment expressed
by the writer.
you poor, romantic boyF' she said
aloud zone expects every minute that
your conversation and letters will
break into blank verse. wish-I don't
know what I wish" she concluded re-
sentfully. "But. Whatever It is, its
fairly certain that I can't have It. Just
as I thought / had achieved content 7
meet two men absolutely out OF my
sphere, and the one stirs up the old.
uncertain longings. which he can't sat
isfy, and the other stirs I'D the old
wicked recklessDess that 7 had thought
dead forever" She sighed impatiently.
A half hour later she stood by the
window. her eyes mechanically follow
ing the figure Of a man walking up the
street When the pedestrian came to
the Sanger entrance be turned in and
walked with swift. decided steps to-
ward the house Then Eleanor recOg-
nized him.
"OhF' she gasped in establishment
and with a hint Of dismay in her voice.
She hastily left the window. There
was a knock at the door. and the but
Ter entered
'3Ir. McAdoo to see you, madam"
SHOW Mr.. McAdoo into the library.
Thomas she replied after a moments
hesitation. And ! shall not be at
home the rest Of the afternoon"
why had Bob come to see Mrs. Gil
bert? Bob himself was trying to an
swer the same question Blindly he
felt that one Of his possessions was
threatened and that he must fight with
a woman for supremacy over Paul
The porueres we're parted. and she
stood before him. Bob realized resent
fully that here was a very beautiful