The state herald., 1917-03-02

he put all his contempt into his eyes
whenever Freneau's attempts to get
word alone with Gloria became too
fiagrantly 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 . helpless
rage.
Gloria had counted on dancing the
drst dance with her Mr.. Freneau. She
was 80 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 beau
ty and magnetism that would have
meant fortune to any girl.
Gloria tried to dodge the gnatlike
suitors: MAY l have this dancer 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 q sud.
den shyness overwhelmed her. Her
betrothal to him had not yet been rati-
ned 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 q 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 . miserable
dilemma. He could sec that Freneau
cast q spell over the young soul Of
Gloria. and he knew him to be un.
worthy Of the girls trust. Royce
knew that Freneau was Q 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 Freneau carried
her Oh. And now Royce wanted to
save her from Freneau a. he had
saved her from the Seminole But.
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-
licr. he would only add TO Freneau the
charm Of persecution. He was In tho
presence Of . 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 Fro.
neau assured that his conquest OF the
young girls heart would not be op-
posed.
Suddenly q careless glance at Lois
gave him = stnrt. She was in such
distress that no moved TO her to offer
his help. she was watching Freneau
dance with Gloria. She saw how con.
tcnt they wore together and her heart
turned sick. But before Royce could
reach her . determined youth cut In
on Gloria's dance with Frcneau and
dragged her from his arms for the
rest Of the dance. Then Freneau hur
ried 10 Lois.
Instantly Lois was better. smiling
oncc more. for now II was she whom
Ffcncau cncircied with his arm and
piiotcd through tho skipping and Gid
Ing trafYic on tho ballroom floor.
Frcncau held Lois tightly and whis
pcred to hcr honcycd iios. Ho OK
planned that no had to bo polite to hia
hostess and that 0lorin was q dear
child. but. Of course. she was nothing
to him. whiic Lois was all IN all.
And Lois believed.
Bad women arc. Of course. bigger
fools than good women: otherwise
they would bc wise enough TO be good
But. bcing fools. II Ia not strange
pcrhnpH. that thcy should bo no eaeiiv
fooled. They can seldom believe OF
disbeiievo truly. Tho intuition upon
which they no confidently roiy con
stantly plays them false, and belief
becomes tho servant Of wish.
That dance over. tho godliko youns
heart breaker betook himself ngain "a
the trail and followed the Stafford
millions.