Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-09-04
p" The Leop0rdS Spots


and write these letters your lover never
sees. You may send him one letter q
week. 1 don't care what the general says.
There was a sob and another kiss and
Sallie was crying on her breast.
In answer to her first letter, CASTOR
was thrilled with a new inspiration He
sat down that night and answered 1t in
verse. All the deep lOngtngs or his soul,
his hopes and fears, his pain and dreams
he set In rhythmic music. Her mother
read all his letters after Sallie. And she
cried with sorrow and pride over this
poem.
"Sallie, I don't blame you for being
proud of such a lover. Your life is rich
hallowed by the love of such a man. Your
father Is wrong in his position. If were
a girl and held the love Of such man, I'd
cherish II as 1 would my souls salvation
Be patient and faithful
Sweet mother hearth she whispered as
she smoothed the gray hair tenderly.
Allan Mcleod had arrived in Boston
the day before and the mornings papers
were full of an interview with him on his
brilliant achievement in breaking the
ranks Of the Bourbon Democracy In
North Carolina, and the certainty OF the
success Of his ticket at the approaching
election.
Mcleod sent the paper to Mrs. Worth
by a special messenger, lest she might not
see It, ard that evening called, He asked
Sallie to accompany him to the theatre,
and when she refused spent the evening.
When her mother had retired Mcleod
drew his seat near her and again told her
in burning words his love.
miss Sallie, 1 have won the battle OF
life at its very threshold. / shall be a
United States senator in few months.
want to lead you, my bride. into the gal
lery Of the senate before I walk down its
aisles to take the oath. 1 have loved you
faithfully for years. 1 have your father S
leaving on this trip. Surely you will not
say no?"
'Allan Mcleod, I do not love you. do
! love another hate. the sight of you and
the sound Of your voice"
IF you do not marry CASTOR, will you
give me a CHANGER
'If 1 do not marry the man Of my
choice, 1 will never marry. Now 60"
Mcleod returned to the hotel with the
fury Of the devil seething in his soul. He
determined to return to Hambright, and
II possible entrap CASTOR in dissipation
and destroy his faith in Sallie's loyalty.
He wrote to the general that he had
been rejected by his daughter who still
correspondent with CASTOR. When Gen.
eral Worth received this letter he wrote
in wrath to his wife, peremptorily for
| bidding Sallie to write another line to
CASTOR and closed saying:
"I had trusted this matter to you, my
dear, now 1 take It our Of your hands. |
forbid another line or word to this man."
CASTOR watched and waited in vain for
the letter he was to receive next week.
Again his soul sank with doubt and fear.
What 1end was striking him with an I'M
seen hand? He felt he should choke with
rage as he thought Of the infamy Of such
a warfare.
His mother said to him shortly after
McLeod's arrival:
Charlie. have some bad news for
you"
'It can't be any worse than have, the
misery Of an unexplained silence Of two
weeks
az feel that 1 ought to tell you. 1t is
the explanation of that silence, I fear"
what is It, mother?" he asked, soberly.
ct hear that sallie has plunged into
frivolous society. IS dancing every night
at the hotel at Narragansett Pier where
they are stopping now. and flirting with q
half dozen young men"
'I don't believe it, growled CASTOR.
I'm afraid it's true, Charlie, and I'm
furious with her for treating you like this.
thought she had more character"
"I'll love and trust her to the end!' he
declared as he went modify to his office.
But the poison Of suspicion ranked in his
thoughts Why had she ceased to write?
Was not this mask Of society habit with
those who had learned to wear It? Was
not habit, after all. life? Could one ever
escape It? 1t seemed TO him more than
probable that the old habits should re-
assert themselves in such crisis, thou
sand miles removed from him or his per-
sonal influence. He held very exagger-
ated idea of the corruption of modern So
ciety. And his heart grew heavier from
day to day with the feeling that she was
slipping away from him.