Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1917-01-30

lit was too much OF a coincidence"
continued Gloria. II am not a child
any longer. Stephen. and though this
tragedy has nearly unbalanced my
mind. l am still able 10 think and rea-
son.. Why. II this had happened a lit
tie later / would nave been his wife"
Her lips trembled like a hurt child's
and Royce turned his head away In
pity.
IF / were his wife | should not sit
idly by and let the demon who took
his precious life 90 scot free, should i?
Should |. S%tephen?"
Royce was silent. Gloria went on:
Il am going 10 act as though | were
his widow in reality, as | am in heart.
| shall 60 to the police" Royce start
ed. "And tell them everything. VIII
you help me?"
~ will do anything I can. Clara. but
first we must consult your father"
Doctor Royce was dumbfounded at
the new Gloria he had To face, and to
save from monsters she new nothing
of-the j~uggernauts of scandal and
publicity. He determined 10 confer
with Mr.. Stafford at once. and descend
ed the stairs TO find Pierpont In his
library.
Royce told Mr.. Stafford things which
amazed and Mortified him, and when
he had finished he said; II did not
want you to know any OF this as long
as could keep II from you. Mr.. STAFF
ford. There seemed 10 be nothing for
you 10 do and | felt that you had
enough on your shoulders as Ii was. |
do o know il | acted wisely in keep
ing you in the dark so long. but now
that Gloria wants to 20 To the police
with the matter | had 10 tell you SO
that we could keep her from il n
save an investigation that would ruin
your sons wife and bring horrible no.
toriety 10 our innocent Gloria. Who
ever IL was that killed Freneau. he
must have had his reasons. He has
made good his escape. Incidentally he
has saved Gloria from marrying n
s%coundrel. ! could almost thank him
for that. But w must never let Gloria
know Freneau's un~worthiness: IL
would leave too deep "A scar on her
fresh young heart. ruin all her ideals
and XIII her faith In humanity"
Stafford gave Royce his hand. How
right YOU are, Stephen. You are a
great and d noble friend 70 her and TO
my children. Gloria will get over her
lovers death. She would never re-
cover from the knowledge az his
treachery. Yes. we must save her from
that. May God help me 70 save David.
too"
After Royce had left her Gloria went
70 her dressing room. Her maid and
the nurse were u%npacking "A large box.
They tried TO conceal IL AZ she came IN.
but she commanded them TO give it TO
her. 1t was her wedding gown.
Clasping the soft shining robe to her
heart with a little cry. She motioncd
them 10 leave her alone with It.. Then
h sank 70 the floor, clutching ID In
her arms. She pressed her lips 70 the
satin folds and cuddIed its beauty To
her cheek. AS She fondled the precious
lace In her fingers, she viSioned her
self i'm the gown. She was standing nj
he altar with Freneau by her side;
all the friends Of her world were sit
ting in their pews behind her. To her
rapt ears came the organ music swell
ing into he wedding march. as with
her head erect and her heart high she
came back up the aisle on her hus-
bands arms.
The dream crumblcl and the girl
woke to the truth with nothing left Of
her dream but the gown In her arms.
She kissed IL reverently. and laid II
away In its box. as in n coffin. Then her
tears vanished ard her eyes hardened
with resolution. She went down 20 the
library, where she found her father
pacing the floor in deep meditation.
Gloria ran to him and put her arms
about his neck.
Daddy she spoke determInedly.
"Have you notified the police yet?'
Pierpont was fully prepared for this.
He shook his head.
"Why not. father? You must, or I
will, at once
"Gloria. we can't tell the police any
thing. If they learned that you were
engaged to Freneau, the house would
be besieged by detectives and report
FRS. What evidence have you? Moth
Ing but the Imagination Of n delirious
girl. IL you told them of your de-
lirlum o would only stir up n scan
.ial. II would have no value In court"
Gloria stared at him incredulously.
but he went on wildly TO convince her.
I'VE should be laid open TO enormous
publicity at once. There would be head
lines In all the papers about you every
lay. Gloria Stafford Involved in FREE
heau Mystery: Secret Engagement Of
Helress Just Discovered Gloria STAFF
ford Claims She Saw Freneau Muir
dered': The Beautiful Daughter OF
Pierpont Stafford"
She groaned. "Oh. don't, father; I
can't bear IT,"
But Stafford continued inexorably:
you could never leave the house nor
enter II without a dozen cameras be-
Ing focused on you. The police would
swarm the house. demand all your pfT-
xata onrrDya.nI,... x-fst. I-.,r~ TO