Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-11-17
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| S BY Mr. AND ER5 RyPfRI ENJd IB5S ~ : 1oaI,
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OF guilt when he said:
Lois, ! have decided TO give back to
you the letters you sent TO Freneau. L
read only one of them. and l have for
gotten, l think, what ii said. l think
you have earned them back. and 1 ad-
wise you TO burn them up at the first
opportunity.
He took the long envelope from his
pocket and her hand was just moving
forward to take II when he saw her
blush vanish in a flash of pallor.
My husband" she whispered. Royce
thrust the envelope back in his pocket
Just before he felt David's hand on
his shoulder and turned to look into
David's smile OF comradeship.
Royce had to play-act with all his
might TO pretend a cheer that he was
far from feeling. Once more the loath-
some phase of deceit was uppermost.
lie could not control himself under Da-
vid's eyes and he made an excuse to
move on.
Il was looking for Gloria" he said.
shes over by the marble pool"
David answered. Royce moved on,
knowing that he was watched. He did
not want to meet Gloria with those let
tiers in his pocket, but he must go on
with the role.
Gloria seemed a figure in a painting
as she stood at the edge Of the blue wa
ter in its white frame, with the formal
shrubbery and the graceful colonnade
back Of her. The boy Stas was on
one knee at her feet. He was sailing
a tiny sloop on the tiny ocean.
AS soon as Gloria saw Royce she beck
oned to him with a cordially that she
regretted at once, remembering that
someone else had waved TO him before.
Having Just seen him speak to Lois,
she felt sure that II was to Lois that
he had waved when he left the house.
Gloria was miserable in this thought and
angry at herself for giving it any i'm
portance.
When Stas saw Doctor Royce he left
the sloop TO its fate and ran whooping
to him. Royce caught the child In his
hands and tossed him high. then brought
him to the level OF his shoulders for
a hug and kiss. He loved children and
children loved him
He did not notice that the little CROP
ing hands OF Stas had happened on the
envelope full OF Frenau's letters and
lifted it stealthily from his pocket. When
he set the boys feet on the ground
again Stas ran away, brandishing the
envelope and challenging Royce to
game Of tag.
Royce's heart bounded with alarm. If
the child had carried a stick OF dyna-
mite in his hand IL would hardly have
been more dangerous.
"Give me the letter. my boy, Royce
said, putting out his hand.
Stas laughed and ran a little farther
off. Royce followed. demanding. The
more anxious Royce was the more Stas
liked the game. He edged closer and
closer toward Gloria.
Royce was in mortal terror lest the
letters fall from the envelope and some
how Gloria would learn their nature.
He made a dash for Stas. Stas whisk-
ed behind a jumper and circled II. Royce
chased him through a clump of rhoddo-
dendrons. Stas kept just beyond his
grasp.
Gloria began to laugh and TO encour-
age Stas. At length Royce made fran
tic rush for the boy, and Stas. grow
ing breathless. made for GloriR's arms
and flung himself into them, painting:
Take IT, take it, quick!'
He placed the envelope In Gloria's
hands She was about to return II to
Royce without a glance. But the heavy
seals on the back caught her eye and
she looked down.
Instantly she recognized the envelope
It was the one that had fallen from
Freneau's pocket the night he came to
bid her goodby. 1t was the one that
she had seen the crouching figure take
from Freneau's pocket after Trask had
murdered him and run awayl