Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1913-12-26

"But your father?'
Had Wright known what a piteous
outburst this would evoke. he never
would have spoken
my father! What am to him? l
haven't seen him from that day. Since
then I've been with Mrs. Hayes. When
| learned at luncheon that you were
going away, had to come because
can't forgive myself for what said
In Judge Gilbert's Office that came
near ending SO - disastrously - for
you"
please don't think of it," he begged.
81 don't connect you in any manner
with the attack on me-"
But | do" she insisted, because /
know the truth" Here was the whole
reason for her coming, she told her
self. "Since you're in this fight to
stay-even though you're lighting my
own father-I want you to have all the
protection that knowledge of the truth
will afford. I've come to warn you.'
Wright saw that he had not made
her understand that he was giving up
the fight.
But I'm going away"
Eyes, you've told me; but you're
coming back again because you know
your place is here. There's work to
do"
He recognized instantly that 1t was
her wish for him to remain. Her be
lief In him, such as it was, conferred
about his efforts to make Belmont q
better place. Not wishing to explain
what pain 1t would constantly give
him were he to do so. he avoided the
matter by referring to her own future
What are you going to do?"
az? I'm going abroad in few days
What does your father say to that 2
Gloria's lip curled with scorn at the
question. Her answer came with the
coldness of a woman of the world
"He can't say anything. What IL
he to me? l haven't even sent hin
word yet. He gave me everything IL
the world but then at the supremes
moment of my life he robbed me o
1t ALL Would father do that?" sh'
asked fiercely. What allegiance do
owe him The claim of blood! Bah
He's always wished I'd been a boy
He didn't lie to me because he love-
me. He didn't even know me. d.
you think it wrenches my heart t
/ leave him now? No; a thousand time
no. We've lived too many years apart
+ What have we in sympathy? We'd b.
| trrad rndQr thl
, same roof for years"
| But when you go abroad what ar
{ you going to do?" He could see M
I future for her.
: Just drift. There is SO much tina
r | want to forget"
E Much, Gloria?" he asked gently
{ Eyes, much" She would not let hin
T. trap her into a damaging admission.
3 "Everything?"
Everything painful"
--L-~If7sr- attitude. he falt it WAS. antage
-...sl.v, -s..-r.-s.vI.t- wen of .nls i-nIpdi
3 questioning, stirred him to a vigorou
:. reply. After all, she was but child
i lesson life was teaching her
s Surely I've not been mistaken Il
: you," he began. TITS by suffering tina
we learn to live. You've only com
s to see life as it is, that's all. Woul
4 you throw away the precious know
/ edge that is power for an Arcadial
g ignorance akin to weakness? You'v
just said that you've come to war
/ me of something. Were you true t
l your theory of life, you would leav
b me in ignorance, because the trutl
Y would give me pain. But you don
a believe that"
t From the depth of his world-scarre
8 heart he pitied her. She was s.
/ young, and so rebellious. He yearne,
4 with great longing to protect heI
t Its easy enough to talk and Civ
/ advice" Gloria flung: back at him
= What has suffering taught you?"
l Here was question he could an
: swer and answer decisively.
l ut has taught me to be true to m
better self" He spoke sternly. The
: he regretted that he had seemed harsl
Y with her, for it did not soften her, an
she made no comment
r please sit down." he said. She az
t cepted the proffered chair stiffly an
r waited
Wright came as close to her as h
:. dared AS he spoke, she abandone
a the rigid attitude she had felt cor
Q strained to assume and sank back i
s the big chair.
Gloria, | didn't mean to be hars
: just now. God knows | would spar
you all you have been through coul
), have done so. Blot out this terribl
week Can't we go back to that heat
e long courtship crowded into half a
e hour? Let everything be as it wal
Then begged you to go away. Nov
+ since you are going, let us go togetf
err. Listen, don't you remember?
t The sun is the flame of Nhe desert
J. And you are the flame of my heart,
h preary indeed Is the desert unsunned
And dreary without you my heart.
you know it's the truth, Gloris
IS Let us go together"
G Don't make 1t SO hard for me, 10
E dear" she begged. when you kisse
g me thought l knew my heart, bu
n now nothing in the whole world wi