Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-10-24


of brilliant turquoise blue, festooned
with garlands of varicolored flowers.
Gloria shuddered. But her father nod
ded his head approvingly.
That's it, Now l shall have my
own beautiful girl to dine with me-"
He left her.
|. Gloria studied the blue gown for a
moment then snatched it from Bur-
roughs threw it on the floor in wrath
and burst into tears.
The maid was at a loss. She ponder
ed then went again to the dressing room
and brought forth another gown. Here,
Miss Gloria, dear, here's your little
black tulle dress with the gold and black
brocade bodice. Mr.. Stafford won't mind
that and you'll feel better in it, too"
Gloria patted Burroughs on the Shout
der tenderly. YES, that will have 20
do" she murmured sorrowfully, and let
the maid dress her.
Then she went slowly down the stair
way. Her father met her and they en-
tered the dining room together
The table, laden with it's lace and sill
yer, was alight with candles; the but
Ter was waiting; a man stood behind
each chair Seating themselves, Pier
pont took UP his cocktail glass and lift
ed it to drink to Gloria, who picked up
her own glass with a faraway look.
Suddenly, it was as if Freneau stood
beside her. She imagined he was put
ting his cheek close to hers to sip from
the same brim. So wildly did she feel
his presence that she gave a startled
gasp and put down her glass.
Her father half rose: What is it
honey? You look as pale as a ghost
Gloria shivered at the word ghost
but summoned a smile to reassure him
Its nothing, dad. I'll be all right in
a minute" And raising her glass again
she put it to her lips.
The butler at the serving table hand
ed the soup plates to the second man
who conveyed them to Gloria's side.
Pierpont chatted jovially to entice
Gloria to a cheerful mood She tried
TO be gay with him, but her heart would
not respond. She tried to eat, but food
was distasteful to her, and. dropping
into a reverie again, she seemed to see
Freneau as she had so often seen him
enter the room and greet her.
Again his vision became almost real
1t was as if he put his arms about her
and embraced her, then her eyes fell
to her left hand, which their engage
ment ring had adorned, and it's naked
ness rebuked her. She seemed to see
the look Of anguish and reproach on
Freneau's face as he took account of
Its absence.
She put her hands before her face
Pierpont looked up anxiously, then went
to her side. She shivered with a chill
I'm so sorry, daddy, to spoil your din
ner. Please let me go to my room. III
pull myself together after a bit It's
just a fit of nerves. No, don't come
with me; I'm all right. Finish your
dinner, dear; don't mind at all. I'll be
all right"
She dragged herself YEARLY away
from him and on up to her own room
She threw herself down upon the BED
moaning: They've even taken your
ring from me. o Dick, Dick, come back
and help me-"
y ring on the finger is badge of
slavery that women are generally
proud to wear, especially when it
is an engagement ring, with a sparkle
Of diamonds like the price mark of a
princess, saying, See how much 1 cost!'
or He must love me a lot to have
aDent so much money on this diamond
advertisement"
When Freneau slipped the cleaning
circlet on Gloria's finger she had laugh
ed with JOY over it, never dreaming
that he had bought it on credit and
mentioned her name as security, and
still less dreaming that he had not yet
freed himself from the ringless engage
ment to Lois.
When Freneau died the gems that had
looked to Gloria like jeweled laughter
became teardrops of undying grief. She
had taken a dismal pleasure in kissing
the ring and talking to it as to her lost
lover. When her tender heart yielded to
the jealousy of her father and to his
authority and she surrendered the ring
to him her finger seemed to be sud-
denly naked and ashamed of itself. Her
60 II rrIN l. hs -fntr her oy,nc
only selfshness and an abuse of paren-
tai control.
Her very finger ached to have its
ring back and she determined to go to
her father and demand it. She went
down the stairway to his library with a
resolute step. She marched in upon him.
He looked lonesome in his big dark room
at his game of solitaire. Her mother
had been dead for years and the little
girl and boy he had raised had outgrown
him. David was married and living in
another house. Gloria had planned to
leave him. She had as 1t were packed
up her heart for departure. In her
own loneliness she understood his. The
look of determination in her face chang
ed to one of pity. She felt more like
her fathers mother than like a rebel
Iious daughter. She decided to post
pone the quarrel for the ring for few
minutes
He had not heard her, so she coughed.
The look of Joy that frightened his
eyes when they rested on her filled her
with tenderness. He pushed back his card
and opened his arms to her. She ran TO
him and seated herself on the arms Of
his chair, embracing him and twisting
his white hair into single spear as she
had done from childhood.
MY own little Gloria has come home
again. he groaned in a childish rap
ture that showed how blue and deserted
he had felt. "And you're not going to
leave me again, are your
Never, dandy, never!" she sighed
You poor old widower-you have a
little widow for a child. You'll never
lose me now"
That did not satisfy him either.
20, yes l will" he answered. your
smiles will come back and some day a
handsome man"
Hush" she said, and put her finger
across his lips. Don't say it,
Chapter x,
The next morning Gloria set about
her task with an analytical mind
She read in the morning paper
that Frank Mulry, the partner of the
late Richard Freneau, had decided to
incorporate the firm under the name of
Prank Mulry, Inc. 1t made her angry
to think of this businesslike haste. But
she realized that, after all she knew