Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1912-12-02


| full" commented almost reincarnation
outwardly of the old Broadway Jones.
81 don't understand" said the girl
| Nobody understands Broadway" he
| told her. THE people who hate it don't
know why. The people who love it don't
know why. It's just because it's Broad
way. Broadway"
| He pronounced the name of "the great
| est street in the world" without long
| ing, yet in the girls eyes there seemed
| a suspicion that he might one day be-
| come more intensified Broadway Jones.
broadway" he repeated, thinking of all
the fascination that had lain in the thing
| the name stood for, to himself and to all
that would come after him.
What are you thinking off" the girl
asked softly.
With a sort of sense of guilt, not at all
| justified, Broadway put the Broadway
thought behind him.
"Oh, l was just thinking what great
thing it would be if 1 made success Of
! this business.
"You are going to- returned the girl.
! "All you must do is to keep saying to
yourself: I'm going to make a success
| Pm going to make a success Keep say
! ing that and. you can't fail"
| With quite his old humor Broadway
repeated;
'Tm going to make a success-Tm go.
ing to make a success-Tm going to make
a success. Is that what you mean?"
| The girl laughed
you must make up your mind to work,
too" she said.
That's just it," he returned. 1--WE got
| to work. Now, tomorrow I'm going to
cut the grass-Tm going to milk the
cows-Im going to plant lot of vege-
tables. and I'm going to paint the house.
Oh, I'll be the busiest little fellow YOU
ever saw"
At the end Of his speech, Broadway
| stopped, and Josie said nothing, too. In
/ the consciousness of the two young peo-
| pie there had lain the knowledge back
| Of their, at times, bantering converse
ton that all this was merely a prelude
something was to be said that night.
and it would be said.
Now in the sudden pause which csne
to them, both realized that the moment
was now. What would be said, neither
knew but its purport they both realized.
! Into the tangle of their emotions Broad
way thrust word that rang like an
alarm warning of what was to come.
That word was:
Josie"
BROADWAY is DARING.
Then neither spoke, while they looked
at one another
But Broadways courage partially
| failed.
ooh, go on and say it, JOSIE he
stammered.
| ''What?' fsltered the girl
'fWhat you called me in the kitchen
you know-Broadway."
I %cI,z at
face was troubled. She did not appear
at all joyous young woman. waiting
| for the words which convention and SEN
timent have made sacred
| Josie he said again Then expert
mentally; Josie. Josie, Josie. You see,
I dare say it, He paused again, but not
| for long. The encouragement in her face
| he did not see, for he was looking into
| his own mind for words Josie, I'm
, the happiest man alive now. You knew
Of my supposed engagement. Well, that's
| all off I've got a little business, and
I realize what fool I've BEEN But I'll
never be a fool again. You know, /
wrote out something the other day about
my needing an incentive. Well no good
man needs an incentive; but I've got one
now that will make much more than a
mere good man. I'll be pretty near the
|
incentive I want. Josie, if YOU won't be
my incentive I'll stay right here and
work for the town anyway, but I'd
rather do that and be happy, too. Jo-
sic, will you-will you be my incentive?
| VIII you marry me?"
! Confidently Broadway put out his arms
toward her with a flash of his jovial
self
81 did pretty we'll for a little fellow,
didn't l. dear?" he asked, and then he
raised his eyes.
At what he read in the girls face his
arms slowly dropped and he stood star
ing. There was refusal there, and vet
it seemed almost longing, too.
81 must have made another mess of
it," he muttered Then, a little louder
''Why, Josie, / thought that that was
what you wanted. 1 thought that when
in the kitchen you called me Broadway
when you looked at me as you did
that maybe now that I was trying to
act the man-you'd see--you'd let me-
you'd be"
Broadway finished and waited for her to
speak
81 ought not to want should not al
low" said the girl. ut is my fault,
too, because 1 never ought to marry you.
can't"
why not?" came from his tense lips.
ooh, I can't tell you why" almost
moaned the girl.
There's somebody else2"
No"
"Then. why not?"
| ''No, no, no"
"'rell me"
q ought not to hurt YOU any more
than I have done"
! Due L,