The commonwealth., 1917-05-01

She Heard Voices Q
doctor he was ideal. So Gloria dashed
away with Casimir and Stas, while
Hortensia and Pierpont held up their
hands in despair of her.
When Gloria's chauffeur and foot
man heard the address she gave them
they thought they had misunderstood.
She repeated it in most positive tones.
They raised their eyebrows in way
that insinuated, "What next?'
Condolences do happen now ard
then in real life-not quite so often or
SO gracefully as in fiction, and yet
once in a while. In fact, condolences
make life what it is. And SO it CHANGED
that the murderer Of Dick Freneau
whom Gloria had followed from the
night court had found a hiding place
in the same block where Casimir
lived.
Gloria recognized the region as soon
as her limousine turned into it. She
recognized the saloon and dance hall
where she had found and lost her
man. But she did not recognize the
murderer's daughter in the crowd that
gathered about the unusual limousine
when it drew up along the garbage
cans.
Nell Trask was looking for her faith
er, and she paused to see the fine lady
descending from the palace car. In
Nell's arms was the child Of Richard
Freneau, a beautiful creature like it's
father. Gloria, hurrying through the
crowd, could not help pausing to ad-
mire the baby and to tweak the little
finger j. held up. There for a moment
the two women paused with Dick
Freneau's child between them; and
neither dreamed that the other had
ever heard Of him. Gloria passed on
into the tenement and Nell went to
seek her father.
When Gloria was led up and up a
gloomy staircase to the one dismal,
barren room which Casimir and his
wife and their child had had to call
home, she felt that she had no right to
complain of any woes that had befal-
len her.
The sick mother was outstretched
on an old bed by dark window. A
neighbor's wife, who introduced her
self as Mrs. Slattery, thank you kind
ly,'' was sitting by her. Casilnir ran
to his wife, and gasning with terror
at her appearances, dropped on his
+! knees. She embraced him with long
! white arms so gaunt that they fright
! ened Gloria. StaS ran to the other
! side of the bed and clambered up
His mother turned, stared at him, and
! only realized after a long look that
he was hers. Then she gathered him
! to her poor bosom with a sob of pitt.
full rapture.
Mrs. Slattery rubbed off chair with
her apron and invited Gloria to rest
| herself, but Gloria went to Casimir's
wife. The Wretched woman clutcheC
; her hands and held them to her cheek
! While Stas and Casinlir both explained
to her who Gloria was. They told hel
what miracles Gloria had performed
and they plainly hoped for another
but Gloria was filed With dread thai
money would be useless here She
promised glibly, but her heart felt
helpless.
Doctor Royce came at last and she
mad some hope that he might redeem
the lie OF the victim Of life He made
MS examination and spoke cheerfully
enough, but Gloria was sure from his
tone that he was lying, too. She leo
him out into the hall to question him
He shook his head gfocmily. Gloria
protested.
but surely there must be some way
to help her!''
Not in this cavern" Doctor Royce
insisted. "Of course if she were in
the country soinewhere-in the air un
der the sky-but what chance has she
of that?''
ihat was so easy that Gloria
laughed aloud. "Oh, if that is all, II
1urnlsh the air and the sky. I'll take
them all up to our country place al
once. You get them ready. I'll &c
tell my father that we are expecting
guests
But What will he say to"
! 'What does it matter what he says? p
said Gloria as she ran back into the
, dingy hall to scatter good news like
flowers. She ordered Royce to attend
to the details Of transportation ant
: hurried away te inform her father tha
she had invited three strangers to hi:
country estate. Gloria's feet skipped
down the stairway and she was hum