Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1912-07-22
The Gates of Silence
By Meta SmmIn5, Author Of "Hu5hed Up"
TODAY'S INSTALLMENT.

TODAY S INSTALLMENT
Back in his cell again with his silent
watchers-the men whose masklike fea-
rares must hide all they feel Of pity or
.curiosity-feeling a very different man
from the one who had left it, Rmington
was conscious Of a curious uplifting Of
the heart. Of something that was not
hope, in SO far as II brought no ehimer!-
cal belief in the Intervention of the mira
Gle without which he could not he saved,
that he certainly did not recognize as
resignation; feeling of complete peace
within himself conviction of his own
ability 10 play the game For the sake
Of the woman he loved for the sake OF
the stricken man and woman IN the de-
pleted lonely Red House on the Thames
there must be no repetition OF the weak
ness of last night He was innocent he
could 90 out through the gate Of death
into the ife beyond with nothing 70 fear;
for the DAYS 81 ufe that remained to him
he must show that he was captain Of his
own soul
He forced his eyes to follow the lines
of the printed pages Of the book he held
10 turn the pages The leaden minutes
ORA eeed themselves ont into hours Then
Information was given 20 him that made
the blood rush to his heart so that every
pulse throbbed and throbbed again
visitor for the condemned man
visitor IN the great glass room where
only the privileged can gain an order for
Ambulance.
AS Rimington followed bis escort he
became aware az one thing very Ger
,,f n &c tffp
despite that inward peace that had de-
seconded on him after that half hour OF
strangely mingled feelings IN the prison
cha pel-hope was not dead In his heart
There was hope in It now as he walked
q mad rioung. preposterous hope, not to
be eainsaid or subdued the hope that
perhaps the visitor who awaited him
was the only human being he desired to
see the woman he loved
Then he saw her It sounds so cheap
TO write II. but the sight of her stand.
ing there in that sordid place. slim and
young and gracious, was like the sight Of
some white lily growing on dust heap
He stood staring at her and she at him,
and for the moment the world was blot
ted out. the official eavesdroppers and
eyewitnesses forgotten.
Betty Speaks
1t was the woman who found her voice
first
Jack" she said, and again Jack"
Nothing more, but all her heart spoke
to his heart in that two-fold utterance of
his name; It blotted out and healed, for
ever that picture bitten in on his memory
of her white face against Paul saxe's
shoulders, the dark, triumphant face Of
the man who held her unconscious in his
arms
He made step forward and caught her
hands, drawing her close to him.
"Betty-my poor girl. l hardly dared
to dream 1t could be you, and vet some
thing told me that It was" he said
How did you find your way how did
you manage to get into this CHASTITY place?
I hate TO see you here to think Of YOU
here"
"could you think | wouldn't come, Jack
after yesterday Oh, my darIingl It
isn't true-lt can't be true!"
Her voice faltered. Jacks hand, hold
ing her frightened its grasp. The very
necessity OF aiding her courage gave
strength TO his own.
ITS a bad dream, little girl" he whis-
pered. "A dream from which we shall
waken one day-above the stars
"Jack"-she chung to him convulsively
how brave you are And II am
such coward Yesterday Yesterday Il
didn't dare to look at you after all my
protestations after after
Hush, hush!' He did not know how
to silence her, glancing desperately to-
wards the open door where the watchers
were stationed No room for humanity
here, for the blind eye; their grim bust
ness was to watch. "narlng, you don't
want to add to my pain, he whispered
For heavens sake, say no more We've
got to keep a stiff upper lip, Betty You
know and ! know the truth. however
black circumstances may look that ! am