The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1917-02-22

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him toward the window.
II saw him murdered and you told
me IL was delirium. Why?"
you admitted 1t yourself when you
received his letters ana kilograms"
Royce answered hastily.
But / don't believe that now. And
/ don't believe that you do either"
Royce WINGED at this.
at was too much of a coincidence"
continued Gloria. II am not q child
any longer, Stephen, and though this
tragedy has nearly unbalanced my
mind, / I'm still able to think and rea-
son. Why, If this had happened q lit
tie later / would have been his wife"
Her lips trembled like a hurt child's
and Royce turned his head away in
pity.
IF I were his wife / should not sit
idly by and let the demon who took
his precious life go scot free, should /?
Should ], Stephenf"
Royce was silent. Gloria went on:
II am going to act as though | were
his widow In reality, as / am In heart.
l shall go to the police" Royce start
ed. "And tell them everything. VIII
you help me9"
II will do anything I can, Gloria, 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 knew nothing
of-the juggernauts Of scandal and
publicity. He determined to 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 l could keep 1t from you, Mr.. Stat
ford. There seemed to be nothing for
you to do and ] felt that you had
enough on your shoulders rs it was. /
do not know ifJ acted~wisely In keep
Ing you in the dark so long, but now
that Gloria wants to go to the police
with the matter / had to tell you so
that we could keep her from 1t and
save an Investigation that would ruin
your sons wife and bring horrible no
toriety to our innocent Gloria. Who
yer 1t was that killed Freneau, he
must have had his reasons. He has
made good his escape. Incidentally he
has saved Gloria from marrying a
%scoundrel. / could almost thank him
for that. But we must never let Gloria
know Freneau's unworthiness; II
would leave too deep a scar on her
fresh young heart. ruin all her ideals
and kill her faith in humanity"
Stafford gave Royce his hand. "How
right you are, Stephen. You are a
great and a noble friend to her and TO
my children. Gloria will get over her
lovers death. She would never re-
cover from the knowledge of his
treachery. Yes, we must save her from
that. May God help me to save David,
too"
After Royce had left her Gloria went
to her dressing room. Her maid and
the nurse were.unpacking a large box.
They tried to conceal 1t as she came In,
but she commanded them to give 1t to
her. 1t was her wedding gown.
Giasping the SOFT shining robe to her
heart with q little cry. she motioned
them to leave her alone with 1t. Then
she sank to the floor, clutching 1t In
her arms. She pressed her lips to the
satin folds and cuddled its beauty to
her cheek. As she fonlled the precious
lace In her fingers. she visioned her
self In the gown. she was standing at
the 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 the wedding march. as with
her head erect and her heart high she
came back up the aisle on her hus-
bands arms.
The dream crumbled and the girl
woke to the truth with nothing left OF
her dream but the gown in her arms.
She kissed It reverently. and laid 1t
awayln its box, as in q coffin. Then her
tears vanished and her eyes hardened
with resolution. She went down to 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 ieterminedly.
'Have you notified the police yeti"
Pierpont was fully prepared for this.
He shook his head.
eVhv nnf fafher9 You must or I
win. ct once"
'Gloria. wa can't tell the police any
thing. If they learned that you
engaged to Freneau. the house would
Tbe besieged By detectives and report
err. What evidence have your Moth
Ing but the imagination Of q delicious
girl. II you told them Of your D.
lirium yon would only SIR up I scan
dal. II would have no value In court"
Gloria stared at him incredulously,
nut nez went On xvidly % convlncs her.
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