Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1921-07-14
GLORIA
BY MoLLIE mATHEH.
%. isai. ws.t.rn Newspaper Union)


/ sure to disappear, her golden head pop
} ping out to mock him presently, from
IN upper window. 1t was this elus
iveness of the girl which first drew
and then piqued mis- fancy. Eyerton
of the old and honored Everton's, was
not usually evaded by the fair sex,
And If Gloria seemed to him q BIT of
thistledown, Everton. upon his part
impressed the girl just at first, pom
derously, and as an old, young per-
son Of depressing character. Frank
~, she did not care to know him. She
had heard so much from grandmoth-
er, since her arrival at the homestead
concerning the desirability of this
same dignlfied young man as future
husband, that she was In revolt at the
possibility.
To Gloria, families OF old and I'M
questioned standing or circumstances
Of like unQuestioned stability were
matters of indifference. She had come
to enjoy in full the novel experience
OF country life, and the sweet old ex-
perience of occupying the very room
that her own mother had occupied in
her far-away girlhood. After that,
Gloria wanted to 90 back to her ia
ther. The mother, whose picture on
the wall, was so like herself, had died
before she might even become men,
DRY.
Father Bob, Gloria preferred to call
him Bob" had cared for her In child
hood as tenderly as that mother might
have done, and had sent her later with
tears In his eyes-away from him to
school. And though Bob's money was
hard won, Gloria never lacked for
the things that her associates enjoyed.
She looked forward to graduation, |
merely as time when she would be |
reunited to her father, and then he |
had sent her abroad. Upon her re-
turn he urged that she try life In her
grandmother's home Gloria was
grieyed at Bob's desertion. 1t was
ness Of his plan. When Mrs. Everton
Blaine learned Of her sons infatu-
alton for the little stranger, she was
Mrs. Blaine remembered Gioria's
mother as graceful young person
who had married out Of town, and
gone away, never to return. Evsrton
came to her with the startling an
nouncement Of his engagement.
Gloria had consented to marry him.
ne said joyously.
"Everton," she bemoaned, IF you
lad but waited Now, your engage s
nent Will only have to be broken. An
iyerton may not bring dishonor upon
lis family. / am sure, no Everton 9
would"
Her son famed.
'Dishonor he exclaimed. ;
Mrs. Blaine nodded sadly.
IF not" she said, show do you ex-
lain the fact OF the girl being en- o
aged to you, professedly Ia love with {
on, and being each evening not only
| the company Of fiashy-looking In "A
vidual-but being-yes, my dear, in
he mans embrace as we'll"
Il don't believe It," Everton cried. .
"Then you must disbelieve your NJ
others word" she told him. for / M
i've repeatedly witnessed that en- "
ace from my seat In the car. The W
RI upon whom you have wasted your
lection, was evidently keeping a IN
vst each time I saw her. with her Ar
on the bridge by the mill" Tn
Without response the son turned
ndly, and made his way toward the
me hidden little bridge He scarce
realized why he chose that dIrec- Id
n or why he was going. But a. heap-
'ached in the deepest misery that =
had ever known, he saw Gloria
ire before him, her blonde head
aging In It's thlstledown fashion.
evident time to some merry tune
{ she was humming And near her
cd the man; fashlonably nashy. as
mother had said, but with hand
le eyes resting IN unmistakable
derness upon the girls face. With
a qualm, Gloria beckoned her low
Confusedly Everton came. This"
said gently, rs my dear, dear IA
r. Mother ran away with him
rs ago, Everton, and married him.
been in her place should have
e the same. Father happened 10
young travelling circus man then.
mothers people never forgaye.
:, father owns that circus and
s still every animal and every
ture In IT. He is trying to per
lie me to allow him to efYace him
for my sake, to foreswear the T.
father girl could know, because
he difference Of his life from the
OF your people. l had not
ght of that difference"
e blonde head bent to rest =
lst the gray tweed shoulder.
love you BOTH" Gloria said, but
st be true to Bob. RI
ood-bye, Everton." u
en- Everton Blaine, smiling his
relief, put forth his hand to
as father.