Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1912-08-15
TODAY'S INSTALLMENT.
The Red House.


Just for moment, as she looked at
him in the clear candlelight of the Croft
drawing room, the man who spoke to her
in such kindly accents, with so deferen-
tisl sympathy, had doomed up before
Betty's eyes in terrible guise. An en-
emy-a man who had trapped her father
and destroyed him-a man who wished
to make capital of her distress and her
need, that he might destroy her, too. She
hardly knew how she had got rid of him
how she had performed that hardest of
all tasks. the parrying of offers of help,
hut what she had known with perfect
ciearness was that she must seek a sane
tuayy where he would not dare to intrude
she must find a protector for herself.
Before SAKE had left the house Bet
tvs thoughts had fed TO the widowed
mistress of the Red House-to Jack Rim
ington's aunt There had never been
much intimacy between them. Like Rim
ington himself, she had always felt that
this was a woman whose real life was
interior and remote from the world in
which she moved; as child, she had
often wondered a Toby Rimngton's te-
merity in playing his boyish jokes upon
her vet she had never taken them amiss
she was kindly. She was a good WON
an. if a reserved one. 1t was not posi-
bic that she could refuse to help her in
her present distress
The gates of the Red House stood open.
That was fact that ought to have sur
prised Betty. had her thoughts not been
flying like scattered sheep before the wolf
of fear. There were deep ruts on the
gravel of the drive, as though some heavy
vehicle had recently passed up or down.
Betty, as she reached the front door, saw
that ii stood open and realized with a
startled dismay that the old stone hall
was dismantled and empty, save for the
debris of straw and paper that removal
leaves behind it.
Mrs. Rimington!' With a little gasp
ing cry of relief. Betty sprang forward
and accosted the figure of the mistress OF
the house, who, in bonnet and cloak, with
heavy veil covering her face. was crossing
through to one of the rooms. Il had
no idea you were going away"
why. Betty" Mrs Remington turned
putting back her veil. There was sur
prise in her eyes as she looked at the girl
who stood on the threshold, for Betty, in
her panic, had seized a lace scarf and
wound it about her head; but otherwise
she was in the thin house dress she had
been wearing when SAKE called. The
evening was sharply chill, but until that
moment she had not been conscious of it
MY dear child, l hope nothing has hap
pened. You look terribly upset
Everything has happened Betty
cried, with a great fearless sob AND
now you are going away, Mrs. Rimington
Oh. | don't know what ] shall do! r
She broke down completely, hiding hel
face on the elder woman's shoulder, blurt-
ing out the story OF her fathers death
hurting out something too, of the fears
that had driven her there tonight
II hoped prayed--that perhaps yot
would take me in-give me shelter" Betty
whispered "For--for Jacks sake"
She could feel a culver run through Mrs
Rimington's slight form.
A Noble Act.
My dear child, you know how gladly
would have helped you; but | am goinG
away. Didn't you know that? | am leav
ing WeybouTne forever" There was
perceptible hesitation in her voice. anC
she continued, almost hardly: II an
going into the country, No, Betty, why