The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1914-01-17


But your father?''
Had Wright known what a piteous
outburst this would evoke. he never
would have spoken
My father! What am l 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 l
can't forgive myself for what l said
in Judge .Gilbert's Office that came
near ending so disastrously = for
you
Please don't think of It," he begged.
Il don't connect you in any manner
with the attack on me-"
But l 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-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"
Yes, 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. centered
about his efforts to make Belmont a
better place. Not wishing to explain
what pain it 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?"
Il? 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
coldness 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 supremest
moment of my life he robbed me of
it all. Would a father do that?" she
asked fiercely. What allegiance do l
owe him. The claim of blood. Bah!
He's always wished I'd beep boy.
He didn't lie to me because he loved
me. He didn't even know me. Do
you think it wrenches my heart to
leave him now? No; a 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
Yes, much" She would not let him
trap her into damaging admission.
"Everything?"
Everything painful"
Her attitude, he felt it was antago-
nistic, impatient even OF his kindly
questioning, stirred him to a vigorous
reply. After all. she was but child,
and like child wanted to shirk the
lesson life was teaching her.
Surely I've not been mistaken in
you," he began. Its by suffering that
we learn to live. You've only como
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
It's easy enough to talk and give
advice" Gloria flung back at him.
What has suffering taught YOU"
Here was a question he could an
swer and answer decisively
1T has taught me to be true to my
better self" He spoke sternly. Then
he regretted that he had seemed harsh
with her, for it did not soften her, and
she made no comment
Please sit down." he said. She ac-
cepted the proffered chair stiffly and
waited.
Wright came as close to her as he
dared. AS he spoke, she abandoned
the rigid attitude she had felt con
strained to assume and sank back in
the big chair.
Gloria, | didn't mean to be harsh
just now God knows l would spare
you all you have been through could
l have done SO. Blot out this terrible
week. Can't we go back to that head
long courtship crowded into half an
hour? Let everything be as it was
Then l begged you to go away Now
since you are going, let US go togeth.
er. Listen. don't you remember?
The sun is the flame of the desert,
And you are the flame of my heart
Dreary indeed is the desert unsunned
And dreary without you, my heart