Omaha daily bee., 1916-05-08
G[oria's Romance

She was 20 pretty ttat she made bis heart
ache. II ached for himself and then for
her. the poor little prisoner. lie tapped
on the window.
Gloria turned amid recognized her visitor.
Her eyes twinkled with affection. She
did like DR.. Roycel David had presented
him TO her. DIR. Royce had graduated OF
David's college; they were members Of
the same fraternity.
"You ought to be out here in the sur"
DR.. Royce suggested.
Gloria was shocked at the idea She
pointed TO the blackboard: nm In jail
for thousand years. II will take me at
least that long TO do this hateful prob
| lem"
| Royce could not enter her room 10 go
to the blackboard, 70 he asked her 10
bring the blackboard 10 him, She fetched
IT ioyously and gave him chalk and said:
There isn't any answer though"
He was too polite to say, why, this
Is the easiest thing in the world, but he
showed that It was for him by the speed
and smiling case OF his chalk work.
In moment the riddle was solved
Gloria understood II little less than
before, but Il meant a release from cap
tiyity, and she was so entranccd that
she flung her arms about him and gave
him a resounding kiss and called him
"a wonderful marvellous, angel man"
To her II was a kiss OF childish graft
tude for tho help OF older wisdom. She
hurried tho blackboard TO the easel and
began TO copy tho Doctors neat figures
in her own scrawl.
But Royce stood aulgenng with the
unexpected attack. He knew that n was
young girls kiss given In confidence
and ignorance. and It was therefore sa-
cred. But he could not help feeling n
thrill Of prophetic hope. Soon she would
grow up to womanhood and--she must
love someone, and why not him? she
was very rich, but his own future was
gorgeous In his dreams, and Gloria was
the most gorgeous thing In his gorgeous
dreams
Then he reproaehed himself for the
mood and grew sad at the thought Of
the years that must roll over Glorias
sunlit head before he could even pay
court TO her. And IN those years what
dangers might she not cncounter-dan-
gers to her health. her soul. her happl-
ness7 IIo longed to protect her through
them all
Ie saw that Gloria had already for
gotten him. She had copied his work
and she was rubbing out his calculations.
lie wondered n that were prophetic. too.
When Gloria had the blackboard all
ship-shape she howled to the goyerness
to come and see her triumph. Gloria re-
GREETED tho deception; but what other
refuge has the weak from the strong7
Miss Sidney raised her eyebrows and
doubtless suspected that Gloria had en-
ioyed outside aid; but she had an en-
gagement OF her own with the tutor Of
rich young imbecile, and she pretended
to be convinced
Gloria was permitted to call II an algc-
bra lesson. and for q reward she was
assigned TO the study OF a list OF tho
English kings Gloria did not mind that.
for she hid stolen novel inside tho
page and read something far more Inn
portant TO her than ancient history-mod-
ern romance.
IF Gloria had not learned lesson Of
any Importance that day. neither had
her elders
When dinner time came at last GlorIa's
maid allowed her to select her newest
Paris gown for dinner. And II was a
pleasant dinner, on tho veranda, with
the twilight drawing round like soft cur
tains, sthe lamps glowing everywhere in
the tropical verdure like little moons and
the gllmmerlng automobiles spinning
everywhere along tho walks.
And there was music. The dancing
was beginning little distance away.
Gloria tried to sneak a sip Of her fathers
coffee, but Miss Sidney caught her at It
and took the cup away But except for
her everything was beautiful and tender;
the very atmosphere was fun OF pleasant
reyeries. And then Miss sidney had to
look at her watch and ruin everything
with tho insulting word: "Bedtlmei"
Gloria pretended not to hear and
talked vigorously to David. But he only
laughed an elder brotherly laugh and
lighted another cigarette. She ran to her
father and nestled in his arms. lie
Rugged her close. hut she could tell he
was afraid OF that gorgon governess