The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1914-03-13
Copyright by 4. G. HcClurg = Co, 1913

Illustrations by Ray Walters

Copyright BY l. g. HcClurg = Co, 1ol3
~ her own curiosity now that she had
told him something about herself.
"Only a month or So"
II think it's the %queerest thing In
the world that we should meet here
of all places. What are you doing
here?"
And then Wright lied. He did not
have time to consider what might be
the ethics of the case. He listened to
his heart, which may have made him a
traitor to himself, and answered
promptly:
1--we been doing some magazine
writing and an occasional bit of news
paper and similar work."
Had he been asked he could no.
have explained why he had not replied
just as promptly that he was the own
err Of the Belmont News. What the
real reason was he could not even ex-
plain to himself. Earlier in the eve
ming he had talked glibly of a news
paper and Its duty, and here an hour
later he was denying his own under
the fire Of a pair Of laughing eyes.
Gloria, whose Ideas Of business we're
as vague as her notions of politics or
esoteric Buddhism, accepted his expla-
nation az adequate; especially since
she recalled that when in Europe he
had been writing some magazine ar.
ticles about the tariff. Since she never
thought about the matter at all she
never thought 1t strange that Belmont
should be the place for such labors.
"Have you ever been to Locust
Lawn" was her next question.
Il have that pleasure in store for
me-"
This pleased her. Even before he
came there were many little things
she could do to make the house appear
to better advantage. Although he had
not yet made explanation Of his fail
ure to come to Paris, she found her
self anxious to have him once more
on the old footing Of intimate friend.
ship.
Are you the same as in the mad
old. glad old Paris days." he asked.
She parted the question with an
other.
Are your"
In some respects-only more So"
That's . riddle. / hate riddles
A he made no reply to this. she went
on after the pause Of which he had not
taken advantage. II hope we meet
accidentally ~ often ~ you met oul
party abroad"
twas It accident? I" he made bold ia
ask.
Wasn't It? You pretended 1t was
Then the mischievous little spirit that
ruled her tongue forced her to say, Il
don't blame you: / think Annabel
Hitchcock IL . beautiful girl. We ali
know you were crazy about her."
Was IT" Rising injection.
Weren't your" Also rising inhec
ton.
"I1l admit l followed your party
he conceded.
Nov we're getting at the truth ol
the matter" she replied triumphantly
She felt she was teasing him, and she
enjoyed II. But why didn't you come
on to Paris a. you promised Us! ID
like to know why We suddenly los,
you. Was It another girl wen prettiel
than Annabel?"
He did not join her when shs
laughed ct the picture she had painted
All the light j~oyousness, the mrs
which had been his since he had come
to Belmont. died out Of his face as h
answered:
AFTER the Rhine l had hoped Il
meet you In Paris again. looke<
forward to It 40 the beginning Of IN
other happy time. And then. In Lon
don, I received . cable-my mothel
was dying"
mo-" protested tho girl. her syel
wide with pity.
II had Just time to catch the expires,
for Liverpool that would put mi
aboard . liner m hour before sh,
sailed. Miss Kerr. I know l thought o
Paris. but things Ill seemed blurrs<
to me. and 10 the message / ha(
planned to you-not TO Miss HitcAeecl
was never sent"
my poor friend"
II reached America too late"
I'm 70 sorry" she sighed.
He had told the whole story. Their,
Wa nothing more To say.
Both sat gasing into the opon flre
busy with the thoughts Of life ant
death. ~ last Gloria SKID quietly
with no more movement than II hel
Thoughts had Of themselves become
Vocal:
Tell me OF your mother. l ncvel
knew my mother. and 20 ! envy you
You loved herr"
! II loved her." he began. OF hi
own affairs he seldom spoke. yet herr
was one who BY her very presenc.
made him glad to tell his story. ant
glad that It was : story he could tel
| with pride. "Son never loved mother