Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1912-11-16


feelings toward him.
Ruined BY Her Father.
Il can only tell you what he has
told me, which is all 1 know-authori-
tatively," Holder replied. How could
he say to her that her father had ruin
ed Mr.. Bentley? Indeed, with a woman
Of her fearlessness and honesty-and
above all, her intuition-he felt the cru
| city Of his position keenly. Holder did
not relish half truths; and he felt that,
however scant his intercourse In the
future might be with Alison Parr, he
would have liked to have kept it on
that basis of frankness in which 1t had
| begun. But the exact stage of disil-
| lusionment she had reached in regard
to her father was unknown to him, and
| he feared that g. further revelation
might possibly sever the already pre-
carious tie between father and daugh-
| ter.
He recounted, therefore, that Mr.
Bentley had failed; and how he had
before that given much Of his estate
! away in charity, how he had been un-
able to keep his pew in st. Johns, and
had retired to the house in Dalton
street.
For some moments after he had fin
ished Alison did not reply.
what is his number in Dalton
street," she asked.
Holder informed her.
He could not read in her face wheth-
er she suspected that he could have
told her more. And in spite of an in
ordinate, human Joy in being again in
her presence his desire to hide from
her that which had taken place within
him, and the inability he felt to read
his future, were instructive: the more
so because of the very spontaneity they
had achieved at their first meeting.
AS man, he shrank from confessing
to her, however indirectly, the fact that
she herself was so vital an element in
his establishment.
my father told me before he left
| that you were to take q cruise with
him on the yacht he has chartered"
HE wrote me from New York.
was unable to co." Holder said slowly
He felt her gaze upon him, but reso-
lutely refused to meet it. They
walked on in silence until they came
to the more open spaces near the edge
| Of the park, thronged that Saturday
evening by crowds which had sought
| the city's breathing space. Perfec
trees cast long fantastic shadows acros!
the lawns, fountains flung up rain
| bows from the midst Of lakes; chill
dren of the tenements darted hithe1
and thither, rolled and romped on the
grass; family parties picnicked every
where, and a very babel Of tongues
greeted the ear-the language OF Eu'
rope from Sweden to Italy.
Suddenly an exclamation from hel
aroused and thrilled him.
isn't 1t wonderful how happy they
are, and with what simple pleasures
they are satisfied. 1 often come ovel
here on Saturdays and Sundays, just tC
talk to them"
"Giye me a little time" he begged
land perhaps I'll get over my pre1u'
1ices The worst of them, at any rate
You are helping me to do So" He
tried TO speak lightly, but his tone was
more serious in the next sentence. II
seems to me personally that you have
given proof of a concern for your Eel
low creatures"
Her color grew deeper, her name
changed.
"That gives me the opportunity tt
saw something I have hoped to say
ever since 1 saw you. l hoped / shoul'
see you again"
you are not going away soon?" NJ
said
The words were spoken before n
grasped their significance.
mot at once. I don't know how lon'
shall stay" she answered hurriedly
intent upon what was in her mind.
nave thought great deal about what
said TO YOU that afternoon, and I find
more than ever difficult to excuse my
self. I shan't attempt to. / mereE
mean to ask you to forgive me-.
Nothing to Forgive.
"There is nothing to forgive" ne as
sured her, under the influence OF TN
feeling she had aroused.
,er. to, re Won 10 saw so, ana u