The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1917-05-29

hers which were an eve lasting dan
ger to her till she could regain them
and make sure of their destruction
Her smile faded as she saw the look
Of Wrathful contempt in Gloria's eyes,
Then she caught a glimpse of that fate
full envelope which she had last seen
in Doctor Royce's hands. How could
Gloria have obtained it? Of all peo-
pie in the world, Gloria was most to be
dreaded with chose letters in her pos
session. Lois heart began to pound,
her mind told her to run, but her
knees could not even uphold her.
Gloria wasted no time on prefaces.
She said: II see that you recognize
these letters. Shall I give them to
David now, or have you anything to
say frst?''
"What shall ] say? What can I say:"
Lois stammered.
"You might begin with the truth.
What was Dick Freneau to yOu?"
Lois Shivered at having to make con-
fession before such a court, for Gloria
was young and clean-minded and she
could not understand the trials and
tribulatiOns Of a woman like Lois.
And Gloria, too, had been wronged.
Her lover had been killed in his sins.
Lois realized what a hateful face vice
wears when its pink domino is ripped
from its smile.
But Lois told her story, justifying
herself by laying all the blame on Ere
neau ORION Gloria. She told how Ere
neau had won her heart in Florida, but
he had been poor and David had won
her from him with his wealth. Then
she made the old excuse. that David
had neglected her for his ambition and
had left her a prey to Freneau's fasci-
nations. Freneau had made her utter
ly his and led her into the depths Of
guilt only to cast her off when Gloria
appeared in all her panoply OF youth
and innocence and idOlatry.
She told Gloria that Freneau had
protested to her that he did not love
Gloria, but only wished to marry her
to save himself from bankruptcy and
poverty.
This was an unwise confession, for
Gloria was revolted by the proclamation
of her love. She did not believe the
charge. She cried out hoarsely that it
was a black falsehood. Lois persisted
that it was true. But she had lost the
tone of contrition and Gloria had lost
all power Of mercy.
When Lois finished her story and
told of Freneau's plan to elope with
her, Glorias heart was hard as marble
Lois made her final plea:
81 have sinned, but i have atoned
and David trusts me. Give me back
the letters and let our lives go on in
peace
Gloria looked at her in wonder, and
sneered:
''You don't ask much Of life, do you
You have the love Of two men; bring
one to death and one perhaps to crime
and then you say: Don't let any harm
befall me. I must keep everything !!
You act a little too much, Lois
Lois stared at her in Amusement.
"Ycu don't mean that you are going
to tell David what I have told yOu?"
"Yes.'
'And wreck our lives together?"
''That is for him to decide. HI
: shall have the truth, and then he cal
do what he pleases.'
''You will give him the letterS?"
Gloria nodded grimly. Lois stoct
: wavering in despair The silence wa
: pierced by the distant cry of a locomo
tive's whistle. An express train wa
/ coming round far-off curve. 1t WOult
sweep down the tracks that ran at thu
foot Of the Stafford estate, along tn
edge of the river.
Lois hardened a moment, then tn
engine shrieked again. She made he
wild decision.
"Give him the letters, then. It won
u matter to me-"
She turned and ran down the 1on
: terraces sloping to the embankmen
/ that hid the trains from view. G1Ori
had often paused on the edge of it t
L watch the train rush terribly past. Sh
understood Lois full purpose. Wha!
S ever and whatsoever the guilt. Their
$ had been tragedies enough. Lois mus
not die.
She ran after her calling, calling
But Lois was far ahead of her and tn
o train was rushing with terrible spec
s to the meeting place.
y (TO BE CONTINUED