Omaha daily bee., 1916-09-11

the papers. Not word. A hull week
passed and not a word. ! felt creepy
about 1t. Then ! read about him
bem' found down in the bay and |
couldn't understand. | been driven
near out O my senses tryin' to figger
out how he got there" :
The secretary in hiding wondered,
too, but the judge kept silence and
so did Gloria on her side of the
4 flower screen. n
| Gloria was not concerned about
Trask's bewilderment. She was star
ing at the little baby that Nell carried
always in her arms. Her last spark
OF love for Frenean died out. of her
soul, leaving It utterly dark. There
was not enough embers left to flare
with jealousy. She was restless to
have done with Freneau forever.
When Trask appealed for her for
giveness If he had caused her any
pain, she gave it freely. Her bitter
heart felt that Trask had done q
cleansing task in removing Freneau
from the earth.
Trask sank back exhausted and his
hand relaxed its hold on her. Then
she left him to the ministrations Of
Doctor Royce, who whispered to her
that she had better not finger to the
last He sent her away. She went to
her room in a loneliness more pro-
found than she had ever felt. She
had not even dead love for compan-
ionship now. She found the. photo
graph of Freneau there and her lips
curied with disgustsat the kisses she
squandered on that worshiped image.
In her wrath she broke II to pieces,
and laying the fragments in the
empty fireplace. set match to them.
She watched, them burn and flung
herself across the bed, weeping mad
ly. She wept herself to exhaustion
and finally to sleep. It was troubled
sleep with hideous vision Of Frcn-
eau in infernal flames that mounted
about him as the flames had danced
around his photograph, only they did
not consume hi,r
He put his arms out to her through
the flames, appealing for pardon. She
heard him say: Gloria, had re-
pented OF my evil ways and vowed to
mend them, but | was struck down
before I could. Forgive me"
/ She answered. him harshly: ASK
Nell, not me. Come back and undo
the evil you did" 4
He sighed: "If.I only could. There
is only one evil that can be undone.
/ stole your love from a man who
loved you before I did, and loves
you still. Give him your heart, Gloria.
Give him your heart, Gloria-Glo-
r-i-ap
His voice died away as tho vision OF
him faded and she woke. She wept
again to think Of the pity Of life and
| death and love, and her heart melted
a little toward Freneau.
She bathed her eyes and went out
into the hall There she found Nell
Trask weeping inconsolably. Her ia
Their was dead. Gloria took the girl
into her arms and tried to think of
consultations where there were none.
Her anger ragged again at Freneau,
whose treacheries were to blame for
everything, The man Jed, hearing
Nell weep, came laundering into the
house and up the stairs and claimed
her from Gloria's arms, saying
Leave her to me, miss. She belongs
to me, She told me all you heard to-
day long while ago. love her just
the same, or more, maybe. And III
take good care of her and the baby,
It's a nice baby; 1t amt to blame.
I'll take good care Of the baby, miss,
and Nell, too"
Gloria surrendered the girl to him
and saw that Nell leaned heavily upon
his strong, encircling arms.
Gloria left them together and went
down TO the living room. There she
\ found Judge Freeman. The haggard-
ness seemed to have left his ancient
face. He spoke to her:
II heard what Trask told you.
never was so glad or so proud to be
proved wrong. owe David humble
apology"
will you make II. to him.
"No, pot for the world. The most
profound apologies we make to people
are the silent ones they never hear. ]