Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-10-05

Indeed, he fancled that It were danger
, Gus to oppose her; she was overweight,
on the verge of losing her command of
; self. She wished this thing. and though
with all his soul he hated IT, he would do
as she desired.
Very WELL" he assented quietly.
shall stop the cab now?"
Please"
He tapped on the roof of the hanson
and told the cabby to draw in at the
next corner. Thus he was put down not
far from his home-below the Thirty
third street grade.
Neither spoke as he alighted. and
she believed that he was leaving her in
dispIeasure and abhorrence; but he had
only stepped behind the cab for a mo-
ment to speak to the driver. In a mo-
ment he was back, standing by the step
with one hand on the apron and staring
in very earnestly and soberly at the
Swallowed sweetness of her pallid face.
that cleaned in the gloom there like
some pale, shy, sad flower.
Could there be evil combined with such
lcveliness, with features that in every
line bodied forth the purity of the spirit
that abode within? In the soul OF him he
could not believe that a thief's nature
fed canker-lIlxe at the heart of a woman
so divinely, naively dear and desirable.
And . he would not.
Won't you let me go?"
Just a minute. should like
to If 1 find that you have done
nothing so very dreadful" he laughed
uneasily, do you wish to known
You know I do" She could not help
saying that. letting him see that far INTO
her heart.
you spoke OF my calling. 1 believe.
That means tomorrow afternoon, at the
earliest May 1 not call you up on the
telephone?"
''The number is in the book" she said
| in a tremulous voice.
And your name in the card-case?
YES"
And if 1 should call in half ar
/ hour
20. I shall not sleep until I know
l.. Good night"
Good night. Drive on, caooy.
He stood. smiling queerly, until the
hanson, climbing the PARK avenue mn
| vanished over it's shoulder. Then swung
about and with an eager step retraced
his way to his rooms, very confident tna'
God was in His Heaven and all well with
the world.
The cab stopped. The girl rose and De,
scended to the walk. The driver toucheo
his hat and refined the horse away.
"Good night. ma'am," he babe he
cheerfully. And she told him Good
night" in her turn.
For a moment she seemed bit hesi-
tant and fearful, left thus alone. The
house I'm front of which she stood, like its
neighbors, reared a high facade TO the
tender, start-lit sky, its windows with
drawn shades and no light, wearing a
singular look of blind patience. 1t had
high stoop and a sunken area. There
was a dull glow in one of the basement
windows. WIZ.
It was very late-or extremely early
The moon was down, though Its place
was in some way filled by the golden disk
of the clock in the Grand Central stations
tower. The air was impregnated with the
sweet and fragrant breath of the new
born day. In the tunnel beneath the
street a trolley car rumbled and whined
and clanked lonesomely. stray cat
wandered out of a cross street with the
air of a seasoned debauchee; stopped,
scratched itself with inimitable abandon,
and suddenly, mysteriously alarmed at
nothing, turned itself into a streak of
shadow that fled across the street and
vanished And as II affected by its ter
ror, the gray girl slipped silently into the
area and tapped at the lighted window.
Almost Immediately the gate was eau
tionusly opened. A woman's head looked
out with suspicion. "Oh,. thank heav-
ing!'' it said with abrupt fervor. II was
afraid it mightn't be you, Miss Sylvia.
I'm so glad you're back There Amt
hasn't been a minute these past two
nights that 1 haven't been in a fidget."
The girl laughed quietly and passed
he Oafauvav (xvhiCh was
behind herr into the basement hall, where
she fingered a brief moment.
my father, Annie?' she inquired.
He ain't-hasn't stirred since you went
out, Miss Sylvia. He's sleepin' peaceful
as a lamb."
Everything is all right" them"
Now that you're home, IL is, praises
ber' The servant secured the inner door
and turned up the gas. mot il / was to
be given notice tomorrow mornin'," she
announced firmly will 1 ever consent
to be a party to such goin's-on another
night"
There will be no occasion, Annie"
said the girl. Thank you, and-good
night"
A resigned sigh-"Good night Miss Syl-
via"-followed her up the stairs.
She went very cautiously, careful to
brush against no article of movable fur
niture in the halls, at pains to make no
noise on the stairs. At the door of her
fathers room on the second floor she
stopped and listened for full moment;
but he was sleeping as quietly, as sound
ly, as the servant had declared. Then on,
more hurriedly up another flight, to her
own room, where she turned on the cleo
trio bulb in panic haste. For it had Just
occurred to her that the telephone bell
might ring before she could change her
clothing, and get downstairs and shut
herself into the library, whose closed door
would prevent the bell from being audi
bic through the house.
In less than ten minutes she was steal
ing silently down to the drawing room
floor again, quiet as a spirit Of the night.
The library door shut without a sound;
for the first time she breathed freely.
Then, pressing the button on the wall,
she switched on the light in the drop
amp on the center table. The telephone
stood beside II.
She drew up a chair and sat down near
the instrument, ready to lift the receiver
of its hook the instant the bell began
to sound; and waited, the soft light burn
ing in the loosened tresses of her hair,
enhancing the soft color that pulsed in her
cheeks, fading before the joy that lived
in her eyes when she hoped
For she dared hope-at times; and at
times could not but fear So greatly had
she dared, who greatly loved, so heavy
~ ba hfYr