The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1917-01-11
Copyright, 1916. BY Adelaide NJ. Hughes

wounds as best he could, shaved, anC
put on fresh clothes.
Then he strolled out to order a new
evening dress IN a hurry from q Palm
Beach tailor. He met Freneau, carry.
ing his honors jauntily. Royce went
to him and held him skewered with
his eyes as he said:
Look here, Freneau. haven't you
a little something to say to me?"
Freneau colored a trife, but he
stared back at Royce without discom.
fort and he laughed no less easily
than usual:
Why, nc, old man: nothing that l
know of-except that / suppose !
ought to feel sorry that you arrived
TOD late. But | can't feel sorry. |
didn't even know you were there"
Royce glared at him, then laughed
harshly and said:
The diagnosis In your case is clear.
You are hopelessly infected with yell
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. a more ugly
laugh this time. THAT seems to me to
be Miss Stafford's business, and GER
tainly none OF yours"
I'm going to make 1t mine," said
Royce.
.
After Gloria had enjoyed all the
redeeming Influences Of q tub, and q
shampoo. and fine linen and q 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 out 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 sun."
But when Pierpont came by that
way . little later he found Dick Ere
neat basking in Gloria's most be
witchins smile. They were Romeo
and Juliet ut Palm Beach. separated
only by a low wall and a clump OF
rhododendrons. And Romeo was
reaching across that with his walking
stick.
II was the first time Pierpont had
cen his child In q Irritation. He did
not like her In that employment. He
took her BY the ear and led her away
She protested at the i~ndignity.
Pierpont let go her ear. He had al
ways been afraid Of her and unable
to manage her. He war not afraid o.
Frcneau. however. He went for hin
at once. He was about to begin with
q stout, How dare you speak to my
daughter" He paused. feeling thai
without Freneau's help he might hav,
no daughter to be spoken to.
Pierpont was used to accomplishing
his ends with the weapon OF the checl
book. He drew the weapon now ant
. fountain pen and said:
"By the way, there's that reward
It will give mo great pleasure to pa,
Il over"
He wrote after PAY to the order OF
tho name Richard Freneau" and thu
amount Five thousand and no-hun
dredths dollars-$5.000." Freneau'i
fingers twitched to clutch the fortune
but his brain advised him to play 70,
higher stakes. He put away the temp
tation with . proud smile.
1T IL reward enough to have bess
able to be of service to Miss Stafford.
II Gloria had not adored him be
fore, that chivalrous speech woult
have won her. It quite disarmed Pier
pont. With his check book ruled out
his best weapon was conc. But h
clustered all the harder. my daugh
ter II q little girl. ! won't have he
footing time away with you. She mus
get her education first. She IL hard
iy more than q child"
"Oh. papa!" Gloria cried.
Pierpont went on: And she's &c
ing to school at once. We start nortl
on the next train"
"Then Mr.. Freneau win come north
too, and WI shall 500 each other al
we want to. For We love each other
don't we. Mr.. Freneauf Desperately
Don't we, Mr.. Freneauf"
Mr.. Freneau's answer was blurred.
Pierpont studied the two young pec
pie. He had his own opinion of Fro
neau. II was formed on brief ~
q~uaintance. but he was . Judge 9
mon.
~You love each other. chr Despel
ately. too? Well. well! Now. loo
here" he said. after . quick balsn,
Ing Of his mind, "of course you bot
know that Gloria Is too young 70
marriage. She must prepare hersel
for the solemn responsibilities Of III
and graduate at = good fiutshih
school. Now. n you viii wait. an
not zee each other o write to eac
other. till then. and n you stin low
each other then. win not oppoa
your marriage. I'll do all ! can I
make you happy. II II . bargair9s