Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1912-06-18
TODAY'S INSTRUMENT.
Dlssoreeable Moments


"Dvil bit Of It, my dear" said Bar
rington. lightly: for your own little self
entirely, Mistress Barrington, and it's my
belief that the individual at the end Of
the wire got something in the nature Of
shock when he discovered that twas
to Mister he'd been speaking"
once again there was that subtle in
| Election in Barrington's voice that told
her Of the easily awakened suspicion of
an inordinatey jealous man Anthony.
who could not bear that she should so
much S buy handkerchief without his
knowledge was obviously nettled by dis
covering two transactions Of which he
was utterly ignorant He never asked
her question nor pried into letter. yet
she knew that il was one of his most
sacred beliefs thai the whole book Of
her life lay open before his eyes for him
to read if he would. And, but for that
one misera bic episode of which Betty was
her sole conhdante. it was true enough.
She gloried in the fact. She had taught
herself to believe her husbands credo
herself telling herself that she had locked
the door of the past and thrown away
the key
And now-the door was creaking slowly
on its hinges swinging open. and all the
ugly. grisly specters were stealing out one
by one. in somber procession
II was not bearaole. Heaven could not
be so unjust A sudden spirit of revolt
rose up in her She. would not allow
the past to conquer--she would hang to
that door again, lock it fast on its ugly
secret 1t must be possible. she would
fight for her peace for her happiness
for her good name. TO TIE very last gasp
she turned back from the table and
looked up at him smiling
well. then. it must Just be some other
Mrs harrington. Tony boy" she said
For certain sure it isn't for me. It's as
SO much Greek to me and no less. Two
thousand guineas indeed / don't even
think in such SUMS
She spoke wish a certain merry conf
dence but her smile was not merry, Bar
rington saw that
II expect they got through to some
wrong number-they always ringing us
well. tell me what sort of day you
have had in town. just missed you aw
fully, and that's the truth Oh, Tony
boy. III be glad glad glad when we
can get ourselves right. right away.
She nestled against him for a moment
finding an infinite comfort in his near
ness in the clasp of his arms for he
had caught her to him with a sudden
fierce caress She was not as rule
demonstratve, this woman, but there was
a passion in her words now that was as
fuel to the flame OF his own.
why, then, for heavens sake let us
go" he said What is there to keep
us? Get Betty ready and come. Frank
ly. hate the place Your fathers yes
yes he is your father. dear, know that
but always find it incredibly hard to
believe You can make an excuse for
Betty Betty will be the gamer by
change from this environment don
know what 1t is. but, as ] said yester-
day. there is a deuced odd feeling in the
air | am what novelsts call 'obsessed
by feeling of fear'-as though some
hateful calamity was impending oh, of
course it's ones liver, know that-of
living so close to water. But, all the
same. IN be Jolly glad to get away
Tomorrow what's to prevent it? Tomor-
row night-thats a bargain eh?'
EdIths Fear.
There was an almost sproportiOnate
eagerness in his tone. He turned her
face to his.
That's bargain eh2" he repeated
"Oh. no. no. Not tomorrow that isn't
possible Tony" She stared at him with
wide, frightened eyes her fingers inter
acng nervously What do you mean
why do YOU say such dreadful things?
You terrify me. What calamity could
happen to us? oh, you are cruel and sus-
picious and morbid It's selfish, horribly
selfish of you TO suggest That | should
leave dad just now
She spoke as woman suddenly be-
side herself hinging away from him with
a petulance that amazed him And she
was beside herself with fear She knew
her husband well enough to realize that
if he made up his mind to return toll
France tomorrow and to take her and
Betty with him. there was no power
that would prevent him doing So short
of what he called battle, murder or sud
den death
But my dear Edith. il was your own
suggestion Darlington was honestly
bewldered. Il only want to please YOU
TO get you cut Of a morbid atmosphere
He would have taken her in his arms
again, but she refused to be comforted
She burst into sudden tempest Of tears
and ran out of the rom, banging the door
She left thoroughly taken-aback man
staring after her