Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-11-21

Her smile faded as she saw the look
of wrathful contempt in Gloria's eyes
Then she caught glimpse of that fate
full envelope which she had last seen In
DR.. Royce's hands. How could Gloria
have obtained it? OF all people in the
world, Gloria was most to be dreaded
with those letters in her possession
Lois heart began to pound. her mind
told her to run, but her knees could not
even uphold her.
Gloria wasted no time on pref
aces She said: II see that you
recognize these letters. Shall 1 give
them 10 David now, or have you any,
thing to say first?"
What shall 1 say? What can 1 say?"
Lois stanmered.
| you might begin with the truth.
What was Dick Freneau to you?"
| Lois shivered at having to make con-
fession before such a court, for Gloria
was young and clean-minded and she
could not understand the desires and the
passions of a woman like Lois. And
Gloria, too, had been wronged. Her lover
had been killed in his sins. Lois re-
allied what a hateful face vice wears
when its pink domino is ripped from its
smile.
But Lois told her story, .justifying
herself by laying all the blame on Fren-
eau or on Gloria. She told how Freneau
had won her heart in Florida, but he had
been poor and David had won her from
him with his wealth. Then she made the
| old excuse, that David had neglected her
rOr his ambition and had left her a prey
TO Freneau's destinations. Freneau had
made her utterly his and led her into
the depths of guilt only to cast her off
when Gloria appeared in all her panoply
OF youth and innocence and idolatry.
She told Gloria that Freneau had pro-
tested to her that he did not love Gloria,
tut only wished to marry her to save
himself from bankruptcy and poverty.
This was an unwise confession, for
Gloria was revolted by the proclamation
of her love She did not believe the
charge. She cried out hoarsely that 1t
was a black falsehood. Lois persisted
tnat il was true. But she had lost the
tone of .contrition and Gloria had lost
all power of mercy.
When Lois finished her story and told
OF Freneau's plan to elope with her,
Cdoria's heart was hard as marble. Lois
made her final plea:
II have sinned, but have atoned, and
David trusts me. Give me back the let
ters and let our lives go on in peace"
Gloria looked at her in wonder, and
sneered:
"You don't ask much of life. do YOU?
/ GU nave the -ONS VI bWO AlCAly ~ lis SA'N
to death and one perhaps to crime, and
then you say: Don't let any harm be-
fall me. I must keep everything? You
act a little too much. Lois"
| Lois stared at her in amazement.
You don't mean that you are going
10 tell David what have told you?"
YES"
And wreck our life together?"
THAT is for him to decide. He shall
= Al hot
lyon will give him the lettersg'
Gloria nodded grimly. Lois stood
wavering in despair The silence was
pierced by the distant cry of locomo-
tive whistle. An express train was com
ing round n far-off curve. 1t would
sweep down the tracks that ran at the
foot of the Stafford estate, along the
edge of the river.
! Lois hearkened moment. then the
engine shrieked again. She made her
Give him the letters. then 1t won't
matter to me-"
She turned and ran down the long ter
races slipping to the embankment that
| hid the train from view. Gloria had
often paused on the edge Of it to watch
the train rush terribly past. She under
stood Lois full purpose. whatever and
whosever the guilt, there had been TRACE
dies enough. Lois must not die.
She ran after her calling, calling. But
Lois was far ahead of her and the train
was rushing with monstrous speed to
| the meeting place.
| CHAPTER Xix,
| As Lois Stafford fed down the
terraces of her father-in-law's ma
iestic estate, her own life seemed
TO be symbolized in her desperate am
bition to destroy herself. The flowers
and the aromatic shrubs threw out their
fragrance about hec. but she would not
pause. She was bent upon the tragedy
waiting for her in the deep ravine to-
ward which the express train was plung-
ing as If in obedience to her summons.
/ The cries Of Gloria, who pursued her
frantically, came to her like the voice of
conscience She had never needed that
voice and she would not hearken to 1t
now. She had trodden the primrose path
of dalliance and it had led her forth
into the glare Of exposure. She would
not endure the shame. 1t seemed better
to her irresponsible soul TO run away
from self-denial. She had not cared what
laws of fidelity she broke and she did
not care now what hearts she might
break Her husbands furnished honor,
her fathers blighted career. did not win
a thought from her.
1t was Gloria who thought of these
things even as she followed. Gloria felt
more guilt than Lois, for Gloria had
confronted Lois with the proofs Of her
lperfdy, never fancying that Lois would
l.. h. aAa hxy