The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1917-05-10

WY y III lltI uE1l. llcE lASL cDNlik Va
love for Freneau died out in her soul,
leaving 1t utterly dark. There was not
enough embers left to flare with jea-
lousy. She was restless to have done
with Freneau forever.
When Trask appealed for her for
giveness IL he had caused her any pain,
she gave 1t freely. Her bitter heart
felt that Trask had done a cleansing
task In removing Freneau from the
earth.
Trask sank back exhausted and his
hand relaxed its hold on her. Then
she left him to the illustrations of
Doctor Royce, who whispered to her
that she had better not linger to the
last. He sent her away. She went to
her room In a loneliness more pro-
found than she had ever felt. She
had not even a dead love for compan-
ionship now. She found the photo
graph Of Freneau there and her lips
curled with disgust at the kisses she
had squandered on that worshiped
image.
In her wrath she broke it to pieces,
and laying the fragments in the empty
fireplace, set a match to them. She
watched them burn and flung herself
across her bed weeping madly. She
wept herself to exhaustion and finally
to sleep. 1t was q troubled sleep with
u hideOus vision of Frcneau in Internal
flames that mounted abou. him as the
Hnnlac hoH 1onca6 apotInd htC nhAf4
graph only they did not consume him.
He put his arms out to her through
the flames, appealing for pardon. She
heard him say: "Gloria, / had repent |
ed of my evil ways and vowed to mend
them, but ] was struck down before |
] could. Forgive mel"
She answered him harshly: ASK
Nell, not me. Come back and undo
the evil you did,"
He sighed: IF only I could. There
Is only one evil that can be undone. 1
stole your love from q man who loved
you before did, and loves you still.
Give him your heart, Gloria. Give him
your heart, Gloria-Glo-ri-al II
His voice died away as the vision
of him faded and she woke. She wept
again to think of the pity of life and
death and love, and her heart melted
a little toward Freneau.
She bathed her eyes and went out
into the hall. There she found Nell
Trask weeping inconsolably. Her ia
ther was dead. Gloria took the girl
bnr arms opd triad 70 th;uI- 20
consultations where there were none.
anger ragged again at Freneau,
whose t~reacheries were to blame for
everything. The man Jed, hearing
Nell weep, came laundering into the
house and up the stairs and claimed
her from Gloria's arms, saying: +
Leave her to me, miss. She belongs to
me. She told me all you heard today
q long while ago. I love her just the
same, or more, maybe. And I'll take
good care of her and the baby. It's
nice baby; 1t amt to blame. I'll
axe good care of the baby, miss, and
Nell, too"
Gloria surrendered the girl to him
and saw that Nell leaned heavily upon
his strong, encircling arms.
Gloria left them together and vent
Town to the living room-Thsre she i
found Judge Freeman. The haggard-
ness seemed to have left his ancient {
lace. He spoke to her: K
II heard what Trask told you. I
never was so glad or so proud to be =,
proved wrong. / owe David a humble
apology" 7
"WiI you make 1t to hima' I
mo. not for world. The most pro- I
'ound apologies we make to people IRE I
he silent enes they never hear. I
Gould not apologize to David without '
cling him what I apologized for, and 1
hat ! could never do. Lois is going c
o be a good wife to him. She ought
Q have her chance to build up their I
Ives together. Have you the heart to I
ear their home to pieces now3 Have Q
'ou the right2"
Gloria, answered drearily: 81 haven't t
strength. That's about all / know ,
She walked out upon the lawn where =
sunset was adding almost intoler- '
BILE beauty to the majesty of the river !.
nd the Palisades. The vast old peaks. I
he relentless judges, We're being soft !
ned into q tenderness by the soft !
olors from the sky. Gloria sat down !,
q q bench before q softly FLASHING 7
ountain whose waters we're made rosy ?
y the light. Royce found her there =
nd sat down by her. He was tired .
nd very solemn with the last rites of
ID Trask. y
SIS your heart at peace at last, q
loria?" he murmured. -
AT peace. mol" she gasped. .It is :,
4 In chaos. IL
"About Freneau. * mean"
"No. ! hate him now-or at least I'm !,
ying to-" -
Don't hate him, Gloria. Don't hate =,
m. -
you ask thatY" H.,
"Yes, for how was he to blame? He :,
as born what he wns; he vent the -
ny his nature drove him. He had lit ~
} help from ONE except to be what -
was. He paid a h.deous price for IN
q wrong he did" u1
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