Omaha daily bee., 1916-06-26
Ninth Installment.

had ordered her wedding gown while
she was dangerously i'll. But now her
bridegroom would not appear. The
newspapers said that he was drowned
IN the lower bay. She believed she
had seen him throttled to death on
Riverside drive, and her mourning
was embittered with doubt.
AT such an incongruous moment the
little bridal gown came home from
the dressmaker's to torture her with
its beauty and its futile intent. Gloria
was in her bedroom, looking out of
her window at the fateful monument
below, living over again the scene of
the murder.
With the pathetic droop Of her
head and her arms hanging at her
sides, and the long lines OF her gown
sweeping about her inert. almost life
less form, she stood like a Tanagra
figure Of grief. Poor little soul, she
was just entering the real world of
womanhood when the grim arms of
tragedy infolded her! II was her
\ first great sorrow.
4lCt Oiu ndt DC NoilN VIVIAN MT
Gloria moved, gave little moan of
horror, and ran to put her head on
the nurses breast, sobbing out her
pent-up agony.
1T cant be true | can't bear It!
It's too horrible. A week ago he was
alive and happy. Now he--oh, I'll
60 mad if think about what he is
nowT
aThere. there, Miss Gloria" the
nurse importuned her. TRY to keep
your mind off your loss as much as
you can Think Of your father and
your brother and how much they
need you. That will help YOU"
A knock was heard at the door and
4 the nurse went to it to admit DR..
Royce. His heart contracted with
quick pain at sight Of his idolized pa
TENTS distress. Gloria sank into a
chair and made brave effort to stifle
her cries, gritting her teeth together
and wringing her hands, but in vain.
The doctor prepared a sedative and
held II out to her.
Take this, dear child; il will quiet
your nerves.
But before the words were finished
she had brushed the glass from his
hand.
Il don't want your opiates. Stephen;
there is only one medicine for my
pain, and that is revenge. Will you
help me 10 thatf"
He shook his head sadly. Struck
with 4 sudden memory, Gloria pulled
lS T. - k1,n x,t,s. dn,u
Il saw him murdered and you told
me It was delirium. WhyT
sYou admitted il yourself when you
received his letters and kilograms
Royce answered hastily.
siBut don't believe that now. And
/ don't believe that you do either"
Royce WINGED at this. J,
II was too much of coincidence,
continued Gloria. u am not child
any longer, Stephen, and though this
tragedy has nearly unbalanced my
mind. / am still able to think and
reason. Why, If this had happened .
little later ! would have been his
wife.
Her lips trembled like hurt child's
and Royce turned his head away N
Iii I were his wife could not oil
idly BY and let the demon who took
Iii precious life 60 scot free, should Il
Should |, Stephenr
Royce was silent. Gloria went on
II am going to act as though were
his widow in reality, IS ! am IN heart
/ shall 60 to the police. Royce
started. "And tell them everything
Will you help mel"
Il viii do anything I can, Gloria
but first we must consult your father
Dr. Royce was dunnbfounded a,
the new Gloria he had to face. ant
10 save from monsters she knew
nothing of--the juggernauts OF scan
dal and publicity. He determined te
confer with Mr.. Stafford at once, ant
descended the stairs to find Pierpont
in his library.
Royce told Mr.. Stafford thing;
which amazed and Mortified him, ant
when Re had finished he said: u dit
NOT want YOU to known any OF thi:
& long a. could keep It from you
MI. Stafford. There seemed to bs
nothing for you to do and ! fclt tha'
YOU had enough on your shoulders
Is II was | do not know It ! actet
wisely in keeping you in the dark 81
long. but now that Gloria wants e
10 ID the police with the matter
had to tell you so that we could keel
her from II and save an investigator
that would ruin your sons wife ans
bring horrible nctoriety to our IN
i,ocent Gloris. Whoever It was tina
killed Freneau, he must have had hi
reason. He has made good his Is
cnpe. Incidentally he has saved Clorii
from marrying a scoundrel. coult
almost thank him for that. But w
must never let Gloria know Freneau'
unworfhiness; 1t would leave too deel
scar on her fresh young heart. run
al her ideals and kill her faith II
humanity.
Stafford gave Royce his hand
How right you are, Stephen. io'
are 1 great and noble friend to he
and TO my children Gloria will &c
over her lovers death. She woul
never recover from the knowledge o
his treachery. Yes, we must save he
from that. May God help me TO saw
David. too"
After Royce had left her Glori
went to her dressing room. Her mai
and the nurse were unpacking a larg
box. They tried to conceal It as sh
ZANE IN. but she commanded them I
give it to her It was her weddin
gown. -.
Her heart with little cry, she me
toned then to leave her alone with !