Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1912-11-12
TIE NET"
copyrigAted. 1919, BY Res Beach.

nurses, and I wouldn't want you to hate
her as you hate the countess"
ooh, I couldn't hate vittoria, she's
such a dear. She saved my life, you
know"
''Nonsensei You only had sprained
ankle
YES but II was a perfectly odious
sprain. Nobody knows how / suffered.
And to think II was all Bernie's fault"
How so? You fell of horse"
ct did not" Indignantly declared Miss
Warren. ct was thrown. hurled. flung,
violently projected. and then 1 was
frightfuny trampled by q snorting
steed"
Norvin laughed heartily at this, for
he knew the rickety old family horse
very well by sight. and the picture she
conjured up was amusing.
How do you manage to blame II on
Bernie?" he inquired.
well, he forbade me TO ride horse
back. so of course had TO do it"
"Oh. I see"
Il fixed up a perfectly ravishing habit
I couldn't ask Bernie to buy me one,
since he refused to let me ride so
made a skirt out of our grand-piano
COVERT was miles long, and a darling
shade of green. When 1t came TO
hat I was stumped, until I thought Of
Bernie's silk one. No mother ever loved
a child as he loved that hat. you know.
I twisted his evening scarf around it, and
the effect was really stunning-it floated
beautifully. Babylon and I formed a
: picture. I can tell you'll call the horse
Babylon because he's such an old ruin.
But don't believe anyone ever rode him
before: he didn't seem to know what II
was all about. He was very honey, too,
and he stuck out in places 1 suppose we
would have gotten right along all right
If hadn't tried to make him prance. He
wouldn't do it. so I jabbed him."
"Jabbed him?'
AIyra Nell nodded vigorously. With my
hatpin didn't mean TO hurt him, but.
Oh, my. He isn't nearly so old as we
think. I suppose the surprise did it. Any
how, he became a raging demon in
second, and when they picked me up
had a sprained ankle and the piano
cover was a sight. -.-s
II suppose Babylon ran away?"
mo. he was standing there. with one
foot right through Bernie's high hat.
That was the terrible part of it ALL
had to pretend that 1 was nearly killed,
lust to take Bernie's mind of the hat.
1 stayed in bed for the longest time-I
was afraid TO get up-and he got Vittoria
Fabrizi to wait on me. So that's how 1
met her"
BIake's face reflected amusement and
something more. He was thinking what
a shame il would be for this girl to
miss her chance of being queen of the
carnival. He resolved to risk Bernies
displeasure-
IF you'll promise to make no scene,
refrain from Mysteries, and all that" he
began warningly, I'll tell you some good
news"
How siIIyl I'm an iceberg! never get
excited" she declared.
'''well, then, how would you like to be
queen of the next Mardi Gras?"
Myra Nell gasped family in the dark
ness and sat bolt upright
''You-you're joking?'
That's no answer"
IL Do you mean it? OH" She was
out OF the hamock now and poised
Honestly? You're not fooling? Norvin
you dear ducki' She clasped her hands
together gleefully and began to dance up
and down. Tim going to scream!'
Remember your promise"
"Oh, but queenl Queen! Why, I'm
dreaming. must scream"
Il gather from these rapt incoheren-
cies that you'd like It."
Like it? You silly! Like it? Haven't
lived for 1T Haven't dreamed ABOUT
II ever since was a baby? Wouldn't
any girl give her eyes to be queen?'
She seemed upon the verge of kissing
him, perhaps upon the nose, but changed
ner mind and went dancing around his
chair like some moon-mad sprite.
my. accepting she chartered. Dear,
dear Why shouldn't I? And it was love-
LAS If there could be any question of
ly Of you to arrange it for me, too. OH
know you did, so you needn't deny it.
I hope you're to be Rex. Wouldn't that
be splendid? But Of curse you wouldn't
tell me-"
<'T can tell you this much-that I am
not to be king. Now, I have already
spoken to Bernie
'''The wretchl He never breathed a
word of it."
He's afraid he can't afford it,
''Oh. la, la He'll have to. Ill die IL
he refuses-just die. You snow I Will"
Wen bring him around. between us
You talk TO him after go. and the next
time 1 see him I'll clinch matters. You'll
make the most gorgeous of queens, MyrS
Nell"
You think so?" She blushed prettily in
the gloom. I'm have to be very digni-
fled. The train is as long as a hall car
pet and I'll have to walk this way
She illustrated<he royal step, bowling to
him with a regal inclination OF her head.
and then broke into ripping life and
VnH0 HEA0T