Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1917-04-05

whenever Freneau's attempts to get
word alone with Gloria became too
nagrantly expressive.
The chase was watched also by An.
other-the terrified, conscience-haunt.
ed wife of David. Lois had given up
her peace and happiness and her re
spect of self for the prize that she
now saw being taken from her. She
felt no repentance, but only . helpless
rage.
Gloria had counted on dancing the
FIRST dance with her Mr.. Freneau. She
was so beset with wooers that he
could not reach her. He was not the
only man in New York willing to
make love to the heiress of the Stat
ford wealth, who was, incidentally
lowered IN her own right with beau,
ty and magnetism that would have
meant fortune to any girl.
Gloria tried to dodge the gnatIike
suitors: May have this dance? The
next? The one after that, them
They followed her among the pillars
about the ballroom floor. They cor
nered her at last, and DR.. Royce con
fronted her She was about to take
him In desperation when she saw Ere
neau at her shoulder
He was the man of men, but sud
! den shyness overwhelmed her. Her
betrothal to him had not yet been rati
fed again, and she was afraid to let
everyone see her choose him. Her
humid eyes caught sight of her father
who was smiling in the hope that
there was security in numbers. She
made dive at him and made him
her beau. Everybody admired her
tactful choice; but Pierpont knew
more about investments than about
the fox trot, and he had more rheu
matism in his muscles than grace. He
made a sorry figure in the crowd OF
| dancers, and finally collapsed In
Royce's arms. Gloria giggled.
II turn him over to you, doctor"
Royce laughed till he saw that she
surrendered herself to Freneau. Then
he frowned. He was In miserable
dilemma He could SEQ that Freneau
cast spell over the young soul Of
| Gloria. and he knew him to b un.
worthy of the girls trust. Royce
knew that Freneau was q cad. He
had stolen from Royce the fruits OF
his victory over the Indian chief
Royce had fought for Gloria and for
his own life while Freneau carried
| her on. And now Royce wanted to
save her from Freneau a. he had
saved her from tho Seminole. But.
alas! this was quite another matter,
| for Gloria did not want to be saved.
Royce could not bring himself to
declaring the truth OF the matter, for
no could not endure to exploit his own
prowess. He, knew enough Of the'
world. too. to know that II he went
TO Gloria with criticism Of her cava-
iier. he would only add to Frneau the
charm Of persecution. He was in the
presence OF . complication OF danger
, ous symptoms, aNd ne did not know
how to act to prevent their developing
into q plague of troubles. He could
only do what he could to keep Fre-
neau assured that his conquest of the
young girls heart would not be op-
posed.
Suddenly careless glance at Lois
gave him q start. She was in such
distress that he moved to her to offer
his help. She was watching Freneau
dance with Gloria. She saw how con-
tent they were together and her heart
turned sick. But before Royce could
reach her determined youth cut in
On Gloria's dance with Freneau and
dragged her from his arms for the
rest of the dance. Then Freneau hur-
ried to lois.
Instantly Lois was better, smiling
once more, for now 1t was she whom
Freneau encircled with his arm and
piloted through the skipping and glid-
ing traffic on the ballroom floor.
Freneau held Lois tightly and whis-
pered to her honeyed lies, He ex-
planned that he had to be polite to his
hostess and that Gloria was a dear
child, but, of course, she was nothing
to him, while Lois was all In all
And Lois believed.
Bad women are. of course, bigger
fools than good women; otherwise
they would be wise enough to be good.
But, being fools, It is not strange,
perhaps, that they should be so easily
fooled They can seldom believe or
disbelieve truly The intuition upon
which they so confidently rely con-
stantly plays them false, and belief
becomes the servant of wish
That dance over, the godlika young
: neart breaker betook himself again to
the trail and followed the Stafford
millions.