Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1912-08-05
THE GATES SILENCE" By META ss AUTHOR OF FLUSHED up

Hypothetical situation before you and ask
YOU to Judge"
Edith began TO laugh, but there was no
mirth in her laughter.
"At least can set the scandal-moneers
| rsking among your past" she said. %
At that moment there came to the door
three light, huttering taps. Mrs. Bar
| rington started. The doctor glanced to-
ward the door and back to her again.
THAT is my wife" he said and for the
| first time Edith saw his face soften and
something akin to fear in his eyes. Be
fore he could speak or answer the door
! opened and woman came into the room
"Oh" on the threshold she paused
with a little exclamation II beg your
pardon. / am so very sorry. Tyson
| told me you were alone.
For the first time in DR. Mertons
| knowledge of her his wife seemed to
have lost her presence of mind. 1t was
such a blow to her wifely pride to have
| done this thing objectionable in doc
| tors wife--trespassed upon the privacy of
| a patient in the consulting room
| There was moments pause: the eyes
| of the two women met across the head
of the man standing there in the center
of the room, and Mrs. harrington saw
that the man had done but scant justice
| TO his wife when he said that the beauty
| of the photograph fell short of the orig
inal. Mrs. Mertons loyeliness was of the
| type that owes it's perfection to delicacy
of coloring-the inspiration of the pass
! ing mood AT that moment she looked
almost like a frightened child, with her
delicate cheeks afame, her eyes dark
! ened with emotion.
An Old Friend.
! II was Merton who spoke first.
THAT was exceedingly careless OF Ty-
SON" he said. 1T might have mattered
very much, though. in point of fact it
does not matter at all-except pleasantly.
] am glad you have come. This is my
wife Mrs. harrington. Squirrel-Mrs.
harrington is very old friend of mine"
The woman on the threshold came for
ward slowly Her eyes were on Edith s
tear stained cheeks, her disheveled hair
and shabby dress. Just at that moment
Robert MertOn's mind was quick in its
intuition as that of woman. AS his
wife passed he spoke in low voice.
Mrs. Darlington is in sore trouble Just
now" he said. You will remember, she
lost her little boy"
Mrs harrington. the wife of the well
known Anthony Darlington. the eccen-
trio millionaire artist All that was a
very different thing, And Bob must know
her very well, since he had let that pet
name. Squirrel, slip out Mrs. Merton 5
snObbish little mind worked quickly. She
determined on a bold bid for Mrs Bar
ringtons friendship Her steps quick
| ened Her tone was very kind and her
hand clasp very warm as she caught
| Ediths cold passive hands in hers
.Oh, | have wanted so much to meet
you" she said How glad ! am that
came. But just for moment | felt
ashamed-such fool.--to have come
poking my nose into Bobs room when a
patient was with him. II it had been
any one else, how angry he would have
been!' She gave a glance over her shout
der. and saw that her husband had slipped
from the room.
"Only-I had something to tell him-a
secret, and It hardly seemed possible &c
keep II moment longer" She paused
and looked up into Edith harrington
eyes with smile-a smile that was full
of the utterly unconscious Selhshness oil
a child Somehow, | feel that you viii
understand" she whispered, and heI
whisper raveled away into silence.
1t seemed to Edith that she had known
this thing that the woman whispered L
her now with so innocent a confidence
the moment she had looked at her radian
face when she stood in the doorway. TIL,
most potent argument to insure her 81