The state herald., 1917-02-23

benefit and she hoped that he would
be there. She had something i'm
portant to tell him. Everything she
had to tell him was immensely i'm,
portant nowadays to her-and I'm
mensely unimpor,ant to him.
The thing that agitated Lois was
her knowledge that Gloria had come
back to New York and was still IN
love with the memory OF FreneaQ
Lois was in an anguish OF fear and
jealousy and she wanted to compel
Freneau to swear that he would moi
forsake her for Gloria.
Freneau was oblivious or this. but
he had no intention OF keeping his
promise to Lois till Mulry, who mad
overheard Freneau's end of the con.
versation. said: Come along. i got
stung for q couple Of tickets. You
can have one Of them We might
meet somebody who might give US .
line on the market"
So the Romeolike Freneau went
with his Falstaffian partner. They
haunted the promenade of the box.
holders, wishing to be seen in ex-
pensive company.
Glancing over the balustrade, Ere.
neau caught sight OF Lois mounting
the stairs with her husband. She was
looking for him. and he smiled back
at her with stinted grace. He did not
notice that on the other stairway Of
the big double zigzag Pierpont Stat
ford was coming up with vision Of
young loveliness At his side. He did
not know Gloria saw him. He did not
gee her clutch her fathers arm and
almost swoon with delight.
He might have observed all this and
still not have suspected who the girl
was. for the Gloria he had found In
squaw costume in the everglades. the
Gloria who had exchanged vows with
him on tho veranda Of the Poinciana,
the Gloria who had waved farewells
to him from the receding train five
years ago. had all but receded from
his memory. What recollection hs
had Of her was of little sixteen.year-
old thing with her hair down her back
and an air Of almost childish imma.
turity.
Tho Gloria who marched up the
broad steps Of the Metropolitan was
young lady Of twenty. one with her
hair up. her head full OF knowledge,
and her features changed a. the bud
10 changed when II becomes . rose.
Her costume was the latest thing from
Paris. still Paris in spite OF the war.
Gloria could hardly climb the steps
to the level Of Freneau. Her father
did not know him. but she did. She
left her fathers side and hurried to
Freneau's. He did not hear her or
know that she was At his elbow. trsm.
bling with rapture and trying to keep
from crying his name aloud and seiz.
Ing him BY the arm that had saved
her from the Indians. She coughed
and he did not hear. At last she ven.
tured the terrific deed Of touching his
sleeve with hor finger tip He turned
and she murmured:
"Mr. Freneau. I believer"
He turned. saw that . most exquis-
ite creature had addressed him. won.
dered who under the sun she was, lift.
cd his hat. made . violent pretense
At remembering her perfectly. having
met her Just the day before, and OK.
claimed: why. hello! I'm 20 GLAD
you got here"
He put out his hand. but hers tell
away before he could clasp II. She
had thrust her arm into her father1,
elbow and hurried him along toward
tho door OF their box while Freneau
whirlcd and stared.
Mulry stared. too, and muttsrsd:
Good Lord. who's the new peach with
old Pierponti"
1T must be his daughter; it's
0lorial' Frcneau gasped.
"His daughter! Do you know her?.
"know herl" Freasau LAUGHED,
well. ratheri I'm engaged 10 her IN
. way"
"Ensagcd in wayl" Mulry repeat.
Cd. well. marry her quick. Her old
mans money viii como In mighty
handy"
Frencau loaned against tho baius.
trade thinking 10 hard and rccasting
bis plans 10 rapidly and with such
enthusiasm that Lois not only touched
his arm but pinched Il norcciy before
hc noticed hcr. Thcn ho stared at
hcr with a cold Indifference that vcri.
Nod her widest fcars.
Meanwhile Gloria was sitting In
miserable splondor on = little gold
chair in . box like q prison coll 10
hcr. and she wns batting her eyes fast
to shake away tho toars that came
pellmcll shs was wrinsing her little
whitc sloyed hands and trying not TO
sob aloud: "Ho doesn't rcmember.
mol Ho doesn't remember mol"
(TO BU CONTlNUED.)