The Elbert County tribune., 1917-02-16

plunged into hot cath, treated his
wounds as best he could. shaved, and
put on fresh clothes
Then he stroIled out to order a new
evening dress In q hurry from Palm
Beach tailor. He met Freneau. carry
ing his honors jauntiiy- Royce went
TO MIN and held him skewered with
his eyes as he said:
Look here. Freneau. haven't you
q little something to say to neT-
Frenesu coIored a trfhe, but he
stared back at Royce without discom-
fort and he laughed no less easily
than usual
Why. no, old man: nothing that /
know of-except that 1 suppose !
ought to feel sorry that you arrived
too late. But can't feel sorry 1
didn't even know you were there
Royce gIsred at MIN, then laughed
hArshly and said:
The diagnosis IN your case IS clear.
You are hopelessIy infected with yel-
low fever: but you are immune to all
honorable sentiments Don't lose your
head. though; and don't try any of
your tricks on little Gloria Stafford
Freneau laughed again. more ugly
laugh this time That seems to me to
be Miss Stanord's business. and GER
tainly none OF yours
I'm going to make # mine.' said
Royce
After Gloria had enjoyed all the
redeeming influences of a tub. and a
shampoo and fine linen and a silk
frock. she found that her interest In
Mr. Freneau was as keen as ever. She
even felt grateful to Lois Freeman for
flirting with David. She sat cut on
the ledge OF the ,veranda and day
dreamed.
When her father sauntered BY and
asked her what she was up to she
answered:
20. nothing, I'm Just basking IN
the SUM-
But when Pierpont came by that
way little later he found Dick Ere
neau basking in Gloria's most be
witching smile. They were Romeo
ana Juliet at Palm Reach. separated
only by a low wall and clump of
rhododendrons- And Romeo was
reaching across that with his walking
stick
1t was the first time Pierpont had
seen his child in a Irritation He did
not Ike her in that employment He
took her by the ear and led her away.
She protested at the indignity.
Pierpont let go her ear. He had al
ways been afraid of her and unable
to manage her. He was not afraid of
Freneau, however. He went for him
at cnce- He was about to begin with
a stout. How dare you speak to my
daughter" He paused, feeling that
without Freneau's help he might have
no daughter to be spoken to.
Pierpont was used to accomplishing
his ends with the weapon of the check
book. He drew the weapon now and
fountain pen and said:
by the way, there's that reward.
It will give me great pleasure to pay
1t over"
He wrote after PAY to the order or
the name Richard Freneau" and the
amount Five Thousand and no-hun-
dredths dollars-s5,O ,O00" Freneau's
fingers twitched to clutch the fortune.
but his brain advised him to play for
higher stakes. He put away the temp
tation with proud smile.
1T is reward enough to have been
able to be of service to Miss Stafford. ."
If Gloria had not adored him be-
fore, that chiyalrous speech would
hav a
pont- With his check book ruled lut.
his best weapon was gone. But he
clustered all the harder. My daugh-
ter is little girl. / won't have her
fooling time away with you. She must
get her education first She is hard
ly more than child"
"oh. papa," Gloria cried
Pierpont went on: "And she's 60
ing TO school at once. We start north
on the next train"
Then Mr.. Freneau VIII come north,
too, and we shall see each other all
we want to. For we love each other,
don't We. Mr.. Freneau? Desperately
Don't we. Mr.. Freneau?
Mr.. Freneau's answer was blurred
Pierpont studied the two young peo-
pie He had his own opinion of Ere
neau 1t was formed on brief ac-
quaintance. but he was Judge OF
men.
You love each other, eh? Desper-
ateiy, too? Well. well! Now, look
here" he said, after a quick balanc-
ing of his mind, ~of course you both
know that Gloria is too young for
marriage. She must prepare herself
for the solemn responsibilities OF life
ana graduate at a good finishing
school Now, ii you will wait. and
not see each other or write to each
other. It'll then. and IL you still love