The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1911-12-21
CHAPTER XIII.
II GAUNTLET.

cidedly spoiled girl of nine
e Marriage proved a bitter awak.
enlng, Six months. revealing to her
both in their own Intimate relations
ana In what she learned of his other
lie the weak sensuality Of her hus.
band. suficed to transform her into a
cold, self contained woman Of an acid.
ulous cynicism startling In n 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repealed her.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 proffered sym
pathy, but acquiesced indifferently in
whatever he proposed.
Then he atoned In part for his un-
wise guidance Of her youth. The a
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
ly watching, saw the natural resilien-
cy Of youth gradually breaking down
her hardness of spirit Selfish she re-
manned. 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 McAdoo.
Late in the afternoon. the day Of
Bob's talk with Paul concerning her,
Mrs. Gilbert sat before a luxurious log
fire in her W particular den. In a
box by her side was an armful Of roses.
which she vas 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 boy!' she said
aloud. "One expects every minute that
your conversation and letters will
break into blank verse. I wish-I don't
know what l WISH" she concluded re-
sentfully. "But. whatever It is. it's
fairly certain that l can't have 1t. Just
as l thought l 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 up the old
wicked recklessness that I 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 he turned In and
walked with swift, decided steps to-
ward the house. Then Eleanor recog-
nized him.
"Ohr 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.
"Mr. McAdoo to see you. madam"
"Show MIR. McAdoo into the library.
Thomas" she replied after d moments
hesitation. "And l shall o be at
home the rest Of the afternoon"
Why had Bob come to see Mrs. Gill
bert? Bob himself was trying to IN
swer the same question. Blindly he
felt that one Of his possessions was
threatened and that he must fight with
a m for supremacy over Paul.
The portieres were parted. and she
stood before him. Bob realized resent
fully that here was a very beautiful
woman. far more beautiful than either
Kathleen Finn or Mrs. Dunmeade. the
only ome Of finer type he knew.
For the fraction of a second while she
paused on the threshold there was the
same fencing Of glances with which
they had net in the theater-the adver-
saries' salute-then her eyes softened
to an amused CLEAN. While Bob stood
still she went over to him.
I've been trying to decide wheth-
er this is a pleasant or unpleasant sur
PRISE" she smiled quizzically. (which
is itT" She held out her hand.
Bob looked at the outstretched hand
and shook his head colby. The hand
was at once returned to her side.
you persist in the hostile attitude?"
why not? Let US have no false
pretenses. | dislike yor: YOU dislike
me. II we stick to hat It will sim
plify matters"
How do you know | don't like you"