The enterprise. [volume] (Harlem, Mont.) 1899-1926, 1914-03-12

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
I learned at luncheon that you were
going away, had to come because l
can't forgive myself for what I said
lin Judge GDbert's Office that came
near ending so disastrously 49, for
you"
please don't think Of it," he begged.
Il don't connect you in any manner
with the attack on me-"
"But I do" she insisted because l
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 fighting my
own father 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
N~AAAAAAS N0SA 050AA OCVdu6C you AAO"
your place Is here. There's work to
do" d..
He recognized instantly that it was
her wish for him to remain. Her be-
lief in him, such a. It was. centered
about his efforts to make Belmont a
better place. Not wishing to explain
what pain It would constantly give
him we're he to do SO, he avoided the
matter by referring to her own future
What are you going to do?"
II? I'm going abroad in a few days"
What does your father say to that?"
Gloria's lip curled with scorn at the
question. Her answer came with the
GOODNESS of a woman Of the world.
"He can't say anything. What is
he to me? l haven't even sent him
word yet. He gave me everything in
the world, but then at the supre,nest
moment of my life he robbed me Of
it all. Would father do that?" she
asked fiercely. "What allegiance do
owe him. The claim Of blood! Bah!
He's always wished I'd been boy.
He didn't lie to me because he loved
me. He didn't even know me. Do
you think 1t wrenches my heart to
leave him now? No; thousand times
no. We've lived too many years apart.
What have we in sympathy? We'd be
strangers though we lived under the
same roof for years.
but when you go abroad what are
you going to do?" He could see no
future for her.
"Just drift. There is SO much that
l want to forget"
Much, Gloria ?" he asked gently.
Eyes, much" She would not let him
trap her into a damaging admission.
"Everything?"
Everything painful"
Her attitude, he felt 1t was antago-
nistic, impatient even Of his kindly
questioning, stirred him to a vigorous
reply. After all. she was but a child,
and like child wanted to shirk the
lesson life was teaching her.
Surely I've not been mistaken in
you," he began. TITS by suffering that
we learn to live. You've only CONS
to see life as it is, that's all. Would
you throw away the precious knowl-
edge that is power for an Arcadian
ignorance akin to weakness? You've
just said that you've come to warn
me of something. Were you true to
your theory of life. you would leave
me in ignorance, because the truth
would give me pain. But you don't
believe that"
From the depth of his world-scarred
heart he pitied her. She was SO
young, and so rebellious. He yearned
with great longing to protect her
Its easy enough to talk and give
Gloria flung back at him.
What has suffering taught you?"
Here was q question he could an
swer, and answer decisively
ut he's taught me to be true to my
better self" He spoke sternly, Then |
be regretted that he had seemed harsh |
With her, for it cid not soften her and |
she made no comment
please sit down." hs said She &C
repted the proffered chair stiffly and |
waited.
Wright came as close to her as he
dared. AS he spoke, she abandoned |
thn rigid attitude she had felt con-
strained to assume and sank back in
he big chair.
GLORIA, l didn't mean to be harsh
Just now. God knows l would spare
you all you have been through could
have done SO. Blot out this terrible
week. Can't we 60 back to that head
ong courtship crowded into half an
lour7 Let everything be as it was.
Then begged you to 60 away. Now
since you are going. let us go togeth-
sr. Listen, don't you remember!
The sun IL the fame Of the desert,
And you are the flame of my heart
)reary indeed is the desert unsunned
And dreary without you. my heart.
you know It's the truth, Gloria.
Let us go together"
"DOn't mako II IN hard for mo lon |