Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1914-01-15

schemes. HIS rage vas sill hoe upon
him.
q found you in thfs-this adyentur-
er's room. / Leave you here. Lock to
yerself. you are no child O nine.
The door banged behind him and
GIor'd Kerr knew that they had met
for the last tine. The girl. feeling SO
miserably alone in the world turned
to find bent upon her the tender gaze
of the man whom she had once sworn
to follow 10 the end OF the world For
them love was dead. she knew. and
now life would be for her only a sue
cession Of weary days.
I thought all but my body died that
day We spoke Of love TO find il but
dream, she acknowledged sadly, yet
there was one cup still more bitter l
had to drain-and this was that cups
dregs"
oh. Gloria, believe ne. out of I'M
happiness happiness comes. Your
place is with me now l hadn't told
you, but I, too, am going away for
ever And what is more, I'm going to
take you with ne"
She looked at him in wonder, then
slowly Shook her head.
No. you can't leave Belmont, ice
You're not a coward. I'm going. but
your place is. here.
DO you think l shall let you go
alone? Never. The one reason I am
going east is to sell the Belmont
News. I'm through with it. Then
shall follow you over the world until
/ make you mine-because I love
YOU"
The girl looked at him with the
settled melancholy. He was border
ing on melodrama, and she was re
garding him with the same gentleness
a loving mother exhibits toward an un-
reasoning little child.
How selfish you are. Joe. All your
fine sermons are going for naught
You've preached of your duty. and yet
at the chance to show your devotion
TO that duty you're wanting TO give UP
the fight. I'm not worth it, Joe, really
I'm not Think Of Belmont A gen
eral doesn't desert his soldiers after
/ victory, Just because he Knows the
enemy has sent for achievements
That would be cowaTdly, and it isn't
like you, joe The brave general
doesn't give ground. he advances
Don't follow me; l would hate you
| know how Belmont needs you"
But l need you, Gloria. And what
is more, you need me and l can't let
you go alone There is a world else
where, even other Belmonts where We
can live and labor and love. l didn't
know till your father referred to it
that you were at Noonan's that day.
Can't you see how | need you for my
TO be there?"
Briefly she detailed the visit, min
inning her part in saving him None
lie less he was able to see that it was
to her he owed perhaps life Itself. He
listened in silence, letting her tell her
story in her own way.
Gloria, I've come to a decision
| She looked at him questioningly. I'm
| going to do what you've ordered. I'm
going to stay here and fight for Bel
mont"
Joe, you mean it," Her face lit up
With pleasure and she held out both
her hands to him. He took them
both, and to her surprise, and despite
| her resistance, drew her to him.
But I'm not going to stay alone. II
! I'm to fight the good fight I'm not
! al u
coward for wanting to go; won't you
reward me for deciding to stay? And
I out of unhappiness happiness will
/ come You must stay, Gloria; our
! place is here
Our place" she echoed, and then
was silent for little time, her head
upon his shoulder He held her tight
| Iy. she could not escape. The feeble
efforts she had made to break from
/ him were now abandoned as she
! thought more and more upon his
/ words At last she looked up at him
and smiled Yes, Joe, our place is
/ here. and our happiness. Right in this
ICON all my old pride died. But there
! has been born a new pride. pride in
i you ana III me, anu III NnaL IL mas
| been given us to do" The tears came
into her eyes as she thought of what
they We're to each other. You are all
[ have in the world, dear; you are my
world. Make me always proud that I
am your wife.
Wright drew her closer to his heart
and kissed her. And there in the shell
ter Of his arms she rested. Peace had
come to her.
THE END.