The Elbert County tribune., 1917-02-23

he put all his contempt into his eyes
whenever Freneau's attempts to get a
word alone with Gloria became too
fagrantly expressive.
The chase was watched also by an
other-the terrified, conscience-haunt-
ed wife of David. Lois had given up
her peace and happiness and her re-
spect of self for the prize that she
now saw being taken from her. She
felt no repentance, but only a helpless
rage.
Gloria had counted on dancing the
first dance with her Mr.. Freneau She
was SO beset with wooers that he
could not reach her. He was not the
only man in New York willing to
make love to the heiress of the Stat
ford wealth, who was, incidentally,
lowered in her own right with a beau
ty and magnetism that would have
meant fortune to any girl.
Gloria tried to dodge the gnatlike
suitors: May / have this dance? The
next? The one after that, them"
They followed her among the pillars
about the ballroom floor. They cor
nered her at last, and DR.. Royce con-
fronted her. She was about to take
him in desperation when she saw Ere
neau at her shoulder
He was the man of men, but sud-
den shyness overwhelmed her. Her
betrothal to him had not yet been rati-
fled again, and she was afraid to let
everyone see her choose him. Her
humid eyes caught sight of her father,
who was smiling in the hope that
there was security in numbers. She
made a dive at him and made him
her beau. Everybody admired her
tactful choice; but Pierpont knew
more about investments than about
the fox trot, and he had more rheu-
matism in his muscles than grace. He
made sorry figure in the crowd of
dancers, and finally collapsed in
Royce's arms. Gloria giggled.
II turn him over to you, doctor"
Royce laughed till he saw that she
surrendered herself to Freneau. Then
he frowned. He was in a miserable
dilemma. He could see that Freneau
cast spell over the young soul of
Gloria. and he knew him to be un-
worthy of the girls trust. Royce
knew that Freneau was a cad. He
had stolen from Royce the fruits of
his victory over the Indian chief.
Royce had fought for Gloria and for
his own life while F'reneau carried
her of. And now Royce wanted to
save her from Freneau as he had
hnr fhn ppt
alas! this was quite another matter,
for Gloria did not want to be saved.
Royce could not bring himself to
declaring the truth of the matter, for
he could not endure to exploit his own
prowess. He knew enough of the
world. too, to know that II he went
to Gloria with criticism of her cava-
lier. he would only add to Freneau the
charm of persecution. He was in the
presence of a complication of danger
GUS symptoms, and he did not know
how to act to prevent their developing
into plague of troubles. He could
only do what he could to keep Ere
neau assured that his conquest of the
young girls heart would not be op-
posed.
Suddenly careless glance at Lois
gave him a start. She was in such
distress that he moved to her to offer
his help. She was watching Freneau
dance with Gloria. She saw how con-
tent they were together and her heart
turned sick. But before Royce could
reach her a determined youth cut in
on Glorla's dance with Freneau ana
dragged her from his arms for the
rest of the dance. Then Freneau hur-
ried to Lois.
Instantly Lois was better, smiling
once more. for now 1t was she whom
Freneau encircled with his arm and
piloted through the skipping and glid-
ing traffic on the ballroom floor.
Freneau held Lois tightly and whis-
pered to her honeyed lies. He ex-
planned that he had to be polite to his
hostess and that Gloria was dear
child. but, of course, she was nothing
to him. while Lois was all in all.
And Lois believed.
Bad women are, of course, bigger
fools than good women; otherwise
they would be wise enough to be good.
But, being fools, it is not strange,
perhaps, that they should be SO easily
fooled. They can seldom believe or
disbelieve truly. The intuition upon
which they SO confidently rely con-
stantly plays them false, and belief
becomes the servant of wish.
That dance over, the godlike young
heart breaker betook himself again to
the trail and followed the Stafford
millions.