The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1913-11-15
spring weather we're

rms remark served only to punctu-
| ate the silence. 1t seemed to him.
from the length of time before she re-
phed, that Gloria was mentally inspect
| ing the records of the weather bureau
Tor the last twenty years.
| les, she said. word that did not
appear so psnderous as to require all
that time TO bring it forth.
This did not prove conducive to fur
ther conversation. He felt that the
| weather had not been exhausted by
her yoluble reply, however, and used
it again.
| They tell me it's liable to be bad
FOR another month"
| Again Gloria seemed to make a men,
tai survey of all the weather records
OF the last twenty years. Wright had
almost forgotten what he had said
when she at last gave the conversation
| football dainty kick by saying:
| Yes"
lhls time he was ready for her. His
embarrassment was wearing Off and
he began again promptly:
Don't the rains make the road pref
ty bad out your way?"
| My friends manage to get out to
see NE"
This was a chill rejonder, and
| Wright felt he had lost several points
In their game of indirection.
Locust Lawn is quite dis:ancs
/ out" he ventured
Not far enough to discourage my
friends"
ms goaded him to an apology. He
| regretted that she was not making it
easy for him, but he forgave her be-
cause he knew she did not understand
Because I've been so busy. please
dom think that I'm discouraged"
why should | think of 1t at all?"
She replied with spirit.
Her remark hurt him. both her words
| and her manner of speech. II tore
away his reserve and made him burst
forth in protest.
That's not like you. Gloria. We've
been such good friends"
We have been good friends" she
admitted promptly. ''Is there any
reason. Joe, why we should not be
now"
His heart beat high within him at
her words. They were so direct, SO
honest, SO like the one woman of his
dreams 1t grieved him that he could
not be as direct with her; but that
was impossible. for over them was the
sinister shadow of David Kerr. her
father, the boss of Belmont.
There's no reason why we shouldn't
be good friends, Gloria. What put
that idea into your head?"
My circle of friends in Belmont
seems to have grown smaller and
smaller"
Please don't put me on the out
side"
You seem to have put yourself
there"
The conversation Jagged. There was
go much to think about. Gloria was
seeking to reconcile his explanations
with her own observations. Locking
at him closely she saw that he did not
have that fresh, robust look which a
month ago had made him seem fit for
a gladiatorial contest As he sat in
the big office chair he seemed to
relax with fatigue. His face was thin
ner, and there were little lines of
worry about his eyes. Between his
brows and on either side his mouth
were to be seen creases which the
girl thought proclaimed to the world
his strength Of character. A month
ago she had not noticed them. She
had felt he was such man. but the
wrinkles, confirming her belief, could
almost be called a source of Joy to
her. They had made away with some
of the youthfulness, but In his face
she now saw something which more
than compensated. 1t had greater
strength now, strength such as was
written on her fathers countenance.
You look tired" Her low. sympa-
thetic tones and her solicitous look
did what nothing else could do. They
melted his stern purpose to bear 1t
all In silence for yet few days into
desire to take her as much as he
dared into his confidence. With a
woman's quick perception she would
understand that he was unhappy. Her
sympathy and her confidence In him
would nerve him to fight the good
fight as nothing else could and his
heart was stirred by the possibility"
Yes" he admitted, I'm tired and
sick at heart
Why don't you take a vacation?
Go to Europe
II can't pick up and run away like
that; but I'd do it anyway If it would
bring back the dear old days"
"The days l knew" the girl made
bold to ask.
THE days you made so-delightful."
Can they be gone forever"
you mean" Wright did not dare
to put his hope in words.
Carried farther than she had in
tended, Gloria beat a retreat by say
ing: