The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1914-04-17


ate the silence 1t seemed to him,
from the length Of time before she re-
piled, that Gloria was mentally inspect
ing the records of the weather bureau
for the last twenty years.
Yes" she said, word that did not
appear so ponderous as to require all
that time to bring it forth.
This did not prove conducive TO fur
Their conversation. He felt that the
weather had not been exhausted by
her voluble reply, however, and used
it again.
They tell me it's liable to be bad
for another month"
Again Gloria seemed to make a men
tai survey of all the weather records
of the last twenty years. Wright had
almost forgotten what he had said
when she at last gave the conversation
football dainty kick by saying:
Yes"
This time he was ready for her. His
embarrassment was wearing of and
he began again promptly:
Don't the rains make the road pref
ty bad out your way?"
my friends manage to get out tic
see me-"
This was chill rejoinder, and
Wright felt he had lost several points
in their game OF indirection.
Locust Lawn Is quite distance
/ out" he ventured.
Not far enough to discourage my
friends"
This goaded him to an apology. He
regretted that she was not making 1t
easy for him, but he forgave her be.
cause he knew she did not understand.
Because I've been so busy, please
don't think that I'm discouraged"
"Why should think Of it at all?"
she replied with spirit.
Her remark hurt him, both her words
and her manner OF speech. If tore
away his reserve and made him burst
forth in protest.
That's not like you, Gloria. We've
been such good friends"
Eve have been good friends" she
admitted promptly. lis there any
reason, Joe, why we should not be
now?"
His heart beat high within him at
her words. They were SO direct, so
honest, SO like the one woman of his
dreams. 1t grieved him that he could
not be as direct with her; but that
was impossible, for over them was the
sinister shadow Of David Kerr, her
father, the boss of Belmont.
There's no reason why we shouldn't
be good friends, Gloria. What put
that idea into your head?"
MY circle Of friends in Belmont
seems to have grown smaller and
smaller"
please don't put me on the out
side"
you seem to have put yourself
| there"
The conversation Jagged. There was
so much to think about. Gloria was
seeking to reconcile his explanations
with her own observations. Looking
at him closely she saw that he did not
have that fresh, robust look which a
month ago had made him seem fit fol-
a gIadiaIoriat contest AS he sat in
the big Office chair he seemed to
relax with fatigue. His face was thin
Nor, and there were little lines OF
Wy about his eyes. Between his
k.owc and On either side his mouth
were to be seen creases which the
girl thought proclaimed to the world
his strength of character A month
ago she had not noticed them. She
had felt he was such man, but the
wrinkles, confirming her belief, could
almost be called a, source of joy tc
| her. They had made away with some
of the youthfulness, but in his face
she now saw something which more
than compensated. 1t had greater
strength now, strength such as was
written on her fathers countenance.
you look tired" Her low, sympa
thetic tones and her solicitous look
did what nothing else could do. They
melted his stern purpose to bear il
all in silence for yet few days into
desire to take her as much as he
dared into his confidence. With {
womans quick perception she would
understand that he was unhappy. Hel
sympathy and her confidence in hin
would nerve him to fight the goot
fight as nothing else could and his
heart was stirred by the possibility.
| Yes" he admitted, I'm tired anl
sick at heart
why don't you take a vacation
Go to Europe"
II can't pick up and run away like
that; but I'd do it anyway II 1t would
bring back the dear old days"
t'The days l knew" the girl made
bold to ask.
"The days you made so-delighttul.
Can they be gone forever?"