Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-09-01
p" The LeoD0rd'S Spots
81 can't understand it." she interrupted.

'I can't understand it," she interrupted.
''Now he suddenly shows me the door
and refuses TO allow me to even ask an
explanation. If he thinks he can settle
my life for me in that simple manner, I'll
show him that I'll at least help in the set
| Element"
Good! like to see your eyes flash that
J fire! Don't forget your resolution. Your
/ enemies are your best friends" She said
| this wI,h a ring of her old aristocratc
pride. Come" she continued, I've
nice warm breakfast saved for you. You
/ don't know how much good you have done
me in my lonely life"
Dear Mother! he whispered pressing
her hand.
After breakfast he went to his office and
| read over slowly the letters he had receiv-
ed from Sallie, kissed them one by one
tied them UP and sent them to her mother
He took the ring out of his pocket and
locked II. I'm one of his drawers.
81 can't work today. It's no use try
! ing!" he muttered looking out of his win
dow. He locked his office and started down
| town with no purpose except in the walk
to try to fight his pain. Instinctively he
found his way to Tom Camps cottage
tom, old boy, I'm in deep water
You've been there. 1 just want to feel
your hand"
Tom was clearing Up his kitchen with
one hand and holding the other tightly
over the wound near his spinal column
He had suffered untold agonies through
the night past and was suffering yet, but
| he never mentioned II.
you've just got your blues again." Tom
laughed.
mo, a devil has stabbed me in the back
in the dark And he told Tom of his love
and his inexplicable trouble.
80, sou Tom unused with dancing eyes.
| 1.-THE generals gal, Miss Sallie. My my!
| but amt she a beauty! Next to my own
! little gal there she's the purtiest thing in
Moth Caliny. And you're her sweetheart,
and she told you she loved ycu?"
yes"
''Then what ails you? Man, to hear that
from such lips as she's got's music,
enough fer a year! You want the whole
: regimental band to be playin' all the time.
! If shs loves you, that's enough now to
give you nerve to fight all earth and hell
! combined!" Tom urged this with an en-
| thusiasm that ADMITTED no reply.
Flora had climbed in .4ls lap and was
going through his pockets to find some
candy.
you didn't bring me bit this time!"
she cried reproachfully.
Honey. forgot it," he apologized.
at don't believe you love me any more,
! Charlie" she declared placing her hands
on his cheeks and looking steadily into his
eyes. Am 7 your sweetheart YETI" she
asked.
"of course. dearie. and about the only
one can depend on!"
LA Charlie, your eyes are redF' she
cried in surprise. do you cry2'
Sometimes, when my heart gets too
full"
| "Then, I'll kiss the red away!" she said
I as she softly kissed his eyes.
That's coed, Flora. 1t will make them
better"
Now, Pappy," she said triumphantly,
you say I'm getting too big to cry, and
| I amt but IL years old and Charities big
as you and he cries.
| Tom took her in his arms and smoothed
| his hand over her fair hair with a tender
ness that had an its trembling touch all
I the mystery of both mother and father
love ia which his broo0lng soul had wrap
| ped her.
CASTOR returned home with lighter step
He met, as he crossed the square, the
Preacher who was waiting for MIN.
"Cone here and cit down a minute. I've
heard of your trouble. You have my SYM
pathy. But you'll come out all right. The
| oak that's bent by the storm makes a fibre
! fit for ships rib. You can't make steel
without white heat. Gods Just trying your
! temper, boy, to see II there anything In
you. When he has tried you in the fire.
and the pure gold shines, he viii call you
to higher things"
| CASTOR NODDED MS assent 10 TINS saying
| "Apd yet, doctor, none Of us like the
touch of fire or the smell of the smoke of
our clothes"
"You are right But it's good for the
soul. You are learning now that we must
| face things that we don't like In this
world. 1 am older than you. will tell
you something that you can't really know
| until you have lived through this. Love
seems to you at this time the only thing in
| the world. But 1t is not. My deepest SYM
pathy is with Sallie. She's already pure
| gold. TO such a woman love is the CEN
] ter of gravity Of all life. This is not true
1 of a strong normal man. The center of
gravity Of a strong mans life as a whole
IS not In love and the emotions, but in
| justice and intellect and their expression
| in the wider social relations
"And that means that l must brace up
for this political flght?"
Exactly so. And it's the best thing you
can do for your love- Become a power and
you can coerce even a man Of the generals
| character"
'You are right, doctor. I had my mind
| about fixed on that course"
you will find the county committee in
| session in the clerks Office there now
| They want OF see you. tell you to fight
this coalition of Mcleod and he farmers
| every inch up to tine last hour it is formed
and If Mcleod wins them, and the alliance
is made, then fight to break it every day
and every hour and every minute till the
votes are counted out"
CASTOR went at once into the consulta-
ton with the Democratic county commit
| tee.