Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-09-26

ria out of her great ooat-how we'll he
took off coat, she thought She emsrg-
ed like a golden-brown butterfly in a
velvet gown.
The blazing logs in the deep fireplace
gilded the beauty of a truly charming
old room. Gloria fingered the quaint
pewter pieces on the mantel and FIRE.
neau waited restlessly for Mrs. Bailey
to hurry in with the tea things and
hurry away. Soon they were left alone
seated opposite each other, the little tea
table between. Gloria learned his SUI
gar. She became suddenly timid and
embarrassed. 1t did seem very inti-
mate and daring. 1t was the first time
she had ever asked a man about his SUI
gar all alone with him!
Dick perceived her shyness ana
di\ined the cause at once. He
must speak now. He would never
have better chance, he thought.
Putting down his cup. he reached across
the table for her hand.
Gloria, dear little Gloria" he sighed,
my five years Of probation are up. I've
waited patiently and always hopefully.
Mayn't l have my reward now? Please
say that you will marry me quickly and
put me out of my misery, will your
Gloria could not answer. She hung
tie farther into the grandfathers chair
Perhaps she did not want to end the
luxury of keeping him anxious with a
too immediate yes. He would not daily
He picked up the little table that stood
between them and putting it aside
dropped on one knee before her, like the
true artist in love that he was. He
clasped his arms about her and she
closed her eyes and gave him her lips
Thaxr ord he INIT a1x
preaching and he sat back in his chair,
twirling his mustache, while Gloria
tried to look as if nothing had happened.
Nothing had happened except a short
flight to heaven.
On the way home they chartered mer-
rily of the everythings that would make
up their new life. The scenery was the
same, yet how different They were be-
trothed now. For many reasons Freneau
was impatient to have her fathers sane
tion to their engagement as soon as pos
sible. Gloria decided that she would
motor him home with her and beard her
parent in his lair without delay.
Pierpont Stafford was not unprepared
for the "Will you let me marry your
daughter" speech that Richard Freneau
made him. He had given his own word
five years before that if F'reneau and
frame of mind at this date he would
raise no further objections. He gave up
the fight now, and took his defeat like
the true sport he was, graciously con-
cealing his own sad heart.
The radiance of his child and the evil
dent sincerity of Freneau almost repaid
him; at least they made him hopeful
for her happiness. One stipulation only
he insisted upon, that the engagement
should not be made public at once. He
knew that engagements were not neces-
sarily certain to end in marriage, and
he wanted to test Freneau a little
further. He insisted upon guarding his
daughters name to that extent If any
thing went wrong with them they should
not have taken the great American
public into the secret. Freneau agreed
TO this, the more readily since it would
give him the more time to propitiate
and get rid of Lois. And old Trask
might have to be given his quietus in
one way or another.
While Freneau and her father held
the council of war Gloria had gone out
to the hall to wait it's outcome. There
Freneau found her huddled up on the
lower step, hugging herself as if she
were cold. He rushed to take her in
his arms for a kiss. She battled him
with mock resistance, before she ran up
the stairs to play Juliet to his Romeo.
Then, throwing kisses. they parted.
When she reached her room Gloria
found herself shivering with a violent
chill that all the warmth of her heart
could not subdue. Burroughs was in
stantly alarmed. She summoned Glorias
father, who was even more alarmed. He