Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1917-03-29
plunged into hot bath, treated hi
wounds as best he could, shaved, and

plunged into hot bath, treated his
wounds as best he could, shaved, and
put on fresh clothes.
Then he strolled out to order a new
evening dress in hurry from 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 yov
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, no, old man: nothing that ]
know of-except that l suppose J
ought to feel sorry that you arrived
TOD late. But 1 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 vel
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. 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 mako it mine," said
Royce.
=
After Gloria had enjoyed all the
redeeming influences of a tub, and
shampoo, and fine linen and a 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 SUM-
But when Pierpont came by that
way little later he found Dick Ere
neau basking in Gloria's most be
witching smile. They were Romeo
juliet at GILL DGdCU, SGDdIdLGU
only by a low wall and clump OF
rhododendrons. And Romeo was
reaching across that with his walking
stick
1t was the first time Pierpont had
seen his child in Irritation. He did
not like her in that employment He
took her by the ear and led her away
he Cd nd 4L4 IND;
Pierpont let go her ear He had al
ways been afraid of her and unable
/ to manage her. He was not afraid OF
| FTeneau, however. He went for him
at once. He was about to begin with
stout, How dare you speak to my
daughter" He paused, feeling that
without Freneau's help he might have
no daughter to be spoken to.
Pierpont was used to accomplishing
his ends with the weapon of the check
book. He drew the weapon now and
fountain pen and said:
"By the way, there's that reward.
1t will give me great pleasure to pay
it over"
He wrote after "Pay to the order Of
the name Richard Freneau" and the
amount Five thousand and no-hun.
dredths dollars-$5000" Freneau's
| fingers twitched to clutch the fortune,
but his brain advised him to play for
higher stakes. He put away the temp
tation with a proud smile.
1T is reward enough to have been
able to be of service to Miss Stafford"
If Gloria had not adored him be.
fore, that chivalrous speech would
have won her. 1t quite disarmed Pier
pont. With his check book ruled out.
his best weapon was gone. But he
clustered all the harder. my daugh.
ter is little girl. / won't have her
fooling time away with you. She must
get her education first She is hard
ly more than child"
"Oh, papa!" Gloria cried
Pierpont went on: "And she's go
ing to school at once. We start north
on the next train"
"Then Mr.. Freneau will come north,
too, and we shall see each other all
we want to. For we love each other,
don't we, Mr.. Freneau? Desperately!
Don't we, Mr.. FTeneau?
Mr., Freneau's answer was blurred.
Pierpont studied the two young peo
pie He had his own opinion of Ere
neau. It was formed on brief &C
quaintance, but he was a judge OF
men.
you love each other, eh? Desper
,ately, too? Well, well! Now, look
/ here, he said, after quick balanc
ing of his mind, tof course you both
know that Gloria is too young for
marriage. She must prepare herself
| for the solemn responsibilities of life
and graduate at a good finishing
school, Now, if you vii, wait, and
not see each other or write to each
other, till then, and if you still love
each other then, / will not oppose
your marriage. I'll do all can to