The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1916-10-05

ings Of the department If that is what
she refers to-"
Then we-have lost?" Mrs. Gerard's
pallor increased.
Technically, yes! In reality l shall
show that our titles were good and
that our patents should ISSUE"
"But'-the woman's bloodless fingers
were tightly interlaced-"all | have,
all Natalie has. is in those claims"
Eyes. And it would require another
fortune the size Of both to comply with
the senseless vagaries of the interior
department and to protect your inter.
ests. / grew weary of forever sending
good hard earned dollars after bad ones
merely because of the shifting whim
of some theorist 5000 miles away"
Then | am afraid Mrs. Gerard's
voice trailed out miserably. 1T is all
we have and you told me-
Gordon broke in irritably: MY dear
Gloria, spare me this painful fault
finding. If can win for YOU | shall
do SO. and then you will agree that |
acted wisely. IL ] lose--it will merely
be the luck of the average investor.
We played for big returns and. of
course, the risks were great"
But Mr.. O'Neil told her his claims
Gordon's blazing eyes warned her.
"O'Neil, eh? So he is the friend in
the land office! No doubt he also gave
Natalie the suggestion that led to her
scene with you. Tell her to occupy
herself less with affairs which do not
concern her and more with her own
conduct. Her actions with that up
start have been outrageous"
What about your own actions with
the Golden womanT' cried Mrs. Ge-
rard. %reverting with feminine insist
ence to the subject of their first diff
ference. what are you going to do
about herr"
Nothing"
Remember, | refuse to share the
same roof with her. You wouldn't ask
1t of your wife"
Now his second reference to a dis.
agreeable subject was unfortunate.
Gordon was given to the widest vaga-
ries Of temper, and this interview had
CAaoltld itu I'LL bCy olu hiNhSulC, "
he was strained by other worries. He
exploded harshly:
Please remember that you are not
my wife. My ideas on matrimony win
never change. You ought to know by
this time that j I'm granite"
81 can't give up Natalie. | would
give up much, for we women don't
change, but
"a fallacy!" he laughed disagree.
ably. Pardon me, Gloria, If | tell you
that you do change; that you have
changed; that time has left its i'm
print upon even you-a cruel fact, but
true" He took a savage pleasure In
her trembling. for she had reused all
the devils in him and they were many.
you are growing tired"
"Not at all. But you have just
voiced the strongest possible argument
against marriage. We grow old. Age
brings its alterations. l have ever
been a slave to youth and beauty, and
the years bring to me only an increas'
ing appreciation, a more critical judg'
ment, Of the beautiful. If l chose
to marry-well, frankly, the mature
charms Of a woman Of my W age
would have slight attraction for me-"
"Then l will CO." said Mrs. Gerard
family.
"Not by any wish Of mine," he as
sured her. You are quite welcome to
stay. Things will run along In the
usual way-more smoothly, perhaps,
now that we have attained a complete
understanding. You have no place to
60 nor means with which to insure q
living for yourself and Natalie. i
would hate to see you sacrifice your
self and her to a Puritanical within,
sure l should miss you greatly. Some
M must rule, and since nature has
given me the right shall exercise 1t.
We will have no more rebellion"
Mrs. Gerard left the room dazed and
sick with despair.
"We must go! We must gov' she
kept repeating, but her tragic look
alarmed Natalie far more than her
words.
"Yes, yes" The girl took her In her
arms and tried to still the ceaseless
trembling which shook the mothers
frame, while her own tears fell un-
needed.
I'VE must go! Now!"
Eyes, dearest! But where?"
"You-love me still?' asked Gloria.
II suppose you need me, too, don't
you? l hadn't thought Of that"
Every hOur!" The round young arms
pressed her closer. you won't think
of-of leaving me-"
Mrs. Gerard shook her head slowly.
mo! / suppose that must be part of
the price. But-penniless! Friendless!
Where can we go?"
"Mr. O'Neil-my Irish prince fal.
tered the daughter through her tears.
Perhaps he would take US in"
Omar Khayam," said Eliza Apple.
ton, entering O'Neil's office briskly,
"you are the general trouble man. SO
prepare to listen to mine"
Wont the kitchen fGe draw, or has