The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1917-06-01

her gown and held it out to Lois. say
ing:
II forgive you, dear. I have no
right to judge you. I can't take that
responsibility. Keep your life and your
past and make what YOU will Of tIiem.''
Lois rather saw the prize than heard
the counsel and she snatched at the
letters with the instinct Of a child.
Gloria felt her heart harden again.
She could not keep back a feeling Of
contempt for the selfish pettiness OF
Lois.
Gloria was afraid to speak lest she
waste further rebukes on a soul that
could not profit by any other chastise-
ment than sacrifice and fear So Gloria
left her and climbed the terraces. She
noted with relief that no one had seen
the brief drama that might have star
tied the whole nation. She was afraid
that she had done everything she
ought not to have done.
AS she was entering the house to go
to her room the boy Stas called her
He was Juggling a picture book Of for
eign paintings. He knew nothing of
i
questions she could not answer. One
OF the pictures represented Christ
kneeling and writing on the ground
Near him lay q coItrite woman in
shame and tears. In the background
q number Of men were turning away
shamefaced. The picture was labeled,
"Neither Do I Condemn Thee, Go and
Sin No More
Now, Gloria felt that she was iusti-
| fed in laying aside her impulse to ex-
act penalty from Lois. She told Stas
| that the picture was beyond the IN
! derstanding Of q child, and that he
was lucky to be & child. She wished
! that she had never grown uD. Then
j she went to her room. Looking from
| her window, she could see the embank-
ment where she had won a double VIC
| tory over Lois and herself Lois was
! tearing the bundle Of letters to bits
and scattering the pieces upon the
railroad track, where she had nearly
been torn to pieces herself.
Gloria felt that one riddle at least
was solved, She felt sorry for David
and his choice among women. Then
she remembered the Judges accusa-
ton against David. According to that
her brother was guilty Of q more helm
GUS crime than Lois. lie had taken Il
life or, With even greater wicizedness,
had persuaded another man to com
init murder for him. She could not
rest till she had either cleared David
Of that suspicion OF warned him that
MS secret was known.
The reason that the duel between
Gloria and Lois had not been observed
by anyone but the feeting eyes Of the
fireman on the express engine was
that the Stafford estate was a little
world in itself.
David had been comforting with his
business associates by telephone. Pier
pont had been inspecting the prize cat
tie with which he jealousy expected
to confound his rival nejghbors at the
next county fair. StaS had been look
ing at the big picture books On the
huge table il the great living room.
His father, Casimir, had been working
among the rose bushes with the head
gardener. Judge Freeman had been
involved ia one more conspiracy, which
he firmly hoped would be the last.
It was Casimir who first interrupt
ed Gloria in her search for David.
Casimir had hardly believed that there
We're as many roses in all the world
/ as there in the Stafford close. He
| could see his wife lying in a recEn-
| ing chair in sunny nook and it Oc-
cured to him that one Of those roses
would cheer her and serve as bit OF
gallantry. SO he pIucked one. The
gardener saw the deed, charged on
him with roar, and snatched the
flower from him. The deep thorn bite
: he received in his thumb did not pacify
him. He stood sucking his thumb and
= swearing when Pierpont stroIied by.
q Pierpont had lost his temper at the
h dairy because the head valet to the
COWS had not brushed their teeth to his
n satisfaction nor nanicured their hoofs
, TO perfection. When the gardener eA
II planned that Casimir had dared tx
q pluck one Of the famous and priceless
4 pierpont roses Which had never faile(
= Of honorable mention at the annual ex
llihition Of the Garden club, Pierpon
was more wroth than the head gar
| Gener.
| Casinir quailed before the on
| s;!s;Ught, and Gloria, drawn to the spC
| by the noisy voices, found him cravcl
| with confusion. She took his part q
/ once, and when the gardener and he
/ father explained the atrccity he ha'
i committed Gloria also turned on him
Il In heavens name, Casimir, VIVA
4 did you mean by taking the only ros
Il my poor father has?'
II Il cid take it," NIees Gloria, for t
i @eeye my poor wife. Better I shout
il % away now, YES I!