_GLORIA_ _A Novel_ By MRS. E. D. E. N. SOUTHWORTH Author of “The Unloved Wife,” “Lilith,” “Em,” “Em’s Husband,” “For Whose Sake,” “Why Did He Wed Her?” “The Bride’s Ordeal,” “Her Love or Her Life,” Etc. [Illustration: logo] A. L. BURT COMPANY PUBLISHERS :: :: NEW YORK Popular Books By MRS. E. D. E. N. SOUTHWORTH In Handsome Cloth Binding Price 60 Cents per Volume * * * * * CAPITOLA’S PERIL CRUEL AS THE GRAVE “EM” EM’S HUSBAND FOR WHOSE SAKE ISHMAEL LILITH THE BRIDE’S FATE THE CHANGED BRIDES THE HIDDEN HAND THE UNLOVED WIFE TRIED FOR HER LIFE SELF-RAISED WHY DID HE WED HER GLORIA DAVID LINDSAY * * * * * For Sale by all Booksellers or will be sent postpaid on receipt of price A. L. BURT COMPANY PUBLISHERS 52 Duane Street New York Copyright, 1877 and 1891 By ROBERT BONNER’S SONS Renewal granted to Mrs. Charlotte Southworth Lawrence, 1905 “GLORIA” Printed by special arrangement with STREET & SMITH GLORIA CHAPTER I A SPOILED BEAUTY Her eyes flashed fire! Convulsive rage possessed Her trembling limbs and heaved her laboring breast; Blind to the future, by this rage misled, She pulled down ruin on her reckless head. DRYDEN. “David Lindsay, will you marry me?” The speaker was a girl scarcely past childhood, young, beautiful, good, wealthy, and yet—desperate, as not only her words, but her every look, tone, and gesture proved. Her voice was low, her tone steadied by a powerful self-control. She stood there with a pale horror, yet fixed resolution, on her face; as one might stand on the deck of a burning ship, wrought up to choose death between fire and water, ready to escape the flames by plunging into the sea.