Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1912-12-13

/ "Ehi -Impossiblel We are associates In
business; business of a most important
But what does that term signify to you.
my precious Iadybirds? Nothing! Enough,
then. to say that he saved me from dis
aster. Naturally / was overjoyed and
/ forgot myself"
His wife inquired timidy, "Ilave your
affairs gone disastrously?"
Worse than that! Ruin stared us in
the face until be came. Our deliv-
erer!"
Blake flushed at this fulsome extrav-
| agance, particularly as he saw Myra
! Nell making faces at him.
] Fortunately everything is arranged
/ now" he assured his hostess, but this
did not satisfy Miss Warren, who, with
apparent innocence, questioned the two
men until Papa La Branche began to
\ bog and founder in his explanations
Fortunately for the men she was divert
ed for the moment by discovering that
the table was set for only four.
"oh, we need another place. she ex-
claimed, "for Vittoria."
The old lady said quietly, mo, dear.
While we were alone it was permissi-
BILE, but it is better now in, thisNway."
Myra NelPs ready acquieseence, was
shock to Norvin, arguing as it did that
these people regarded the Countess Mar
gherita as an employee. Could it be that
( they were so utterly blind?
He was allowed little time for such
thoughts, however, since Myra Nell set
I herself to the agreeable task of unrnask-
ing her lover and confounding Montegut
/ La Branche. But Cousin Althea was
not Of a suspicious nature and con-
tinued to beam upon her husband, al
belt a trifle vaguely. Then when break
fast was out of the way the girl added
to Noryins embarrassment by flirting
with him 50 outrageously that he was
glad to flee TO Papa Monteguts piquet
game.
At the first opportunity he said to Wit
toria: q feel dreadfully about this.
Why. they sem to think you're IA
servant. It's unbearable."
That is part of my work; l am accus-
toned to it." She smiled.
Then you have changed. But If they
knew the truth how different they'd
act" n
"They must never suspect; more de-
ponds upon it than you know"
II fel horribl guilty, all the same
1T can make no difference what they
think of me. I'm afraid, however, that
you have-made it--difieult for Myra
Nell''
so it appears 1 didn't think Of her
WITCH Il tuNCiCu lulS uCl6nllul PiiSOns
you had no choice
1T wasn't altogether that. l wanted
to be near you, Vittoria."
Her glAnce was level and COOL her
voice steady. ut was chivalrous to try
and spare me the necessity of explain
ing The situation was trying, but we
were both to blame and now we must
make the best of it. Myra Nells misun-
derstanding Isl complete and she will be
unhappy unless you devote yourself to
her" Fs I'll
II simply can't 1 think I'll keep to
myself as much as possible" IS 4
you don't know that girl" vittoria
said. You think she is, frivolous and
incoEsequent, that she has the bright
ness of a sunbeam and no more sub
stance, but you are mistaken. She is
good and true and steadfastl underneath,
and she can feel deeply" N45e
But Blake found it was impossible to
isolate himself. Mr. La Branche chung
TO him like a drowning man, his bust
ness affairs called him repeatedly to the
telephone. /Myra Nell appropriated him
with all the calm assurance of a queen,
and Madame La Branche insisted upon
seeing personally to his every want The
only person of whom he saw little was
Vittofia Fabrizi. V
His disappearance, of course, required
much explaining and long conversations
with his office, with his associates, and
with police headquarters, where his
plight was regarded as a great joke. This
was all very WELL but there were other
and Unforeseen consequences
Bernie Dreux heard of the affair with
blank amazement which turned into
something resembling rage. His duty
however, was plain. He packed valise
and set out for the quarantined house
like man marching to his execution;
for he had deathly horror of disease,
| and smallpox was beyond compare the
most loathsome.
But the health department had given
strict orders and he was turned away;
nay, he was rudely repulsed. Crushed.
Inundated, he retired to his club and
there it was that Rilleau found him,
STEPPED in melancholy and a very insidi-
Gus brand of Kentucky Bourbon.
When lie Compile accused Blake of
breaking the rules of the game the little
bachelor rose resolutely to his sisters
defense.
"Norvin's got perfect right to pro-
tect her. he HE'D, 'and : honor him for
| it."
You mean he's engaged to herr" Rn-
leau inquired blankly
Bernie nodded
Weli' so am L. so are DelaVan and
Marigny and the others"
mot this way" Mr. Dreux's alcoholic
! flush deepened. He thought he was in
danger so he flew to her side Mighty
unselfish to sacrifice his business and
brave the disease He did it with my
consent, understand? When he asked
me, 1 said Norvin, my boy, she needs
you! So he went. Unselfish Is no word
for il, he's a man of honor, a hero
Mr.. Rilleau's gloom thickened and he
too ordered the famous Bourbon. He.
sighed.
I'D have done the same thing; I
offered to. and I'm no hero. 1 suppose
that ends us. It's a great disappoint-
| ment though. 1 hoped-during carni-
val week, that she'd-well, I wanted
/ her for my real queen"
Bernie undertook to clap the speaker
/ on the shoulder and admonish him to
/ buck up, but his eye was wavering AMI
his aim so uncertain that he knocked
/ off Mr.. Rilleau's hat. With due apoi-
! ogies he ran on:
she couldn't have been queen at all
only for him. He made it possible
II had as much to say about it as
! he did"
Bernie whispered He lent me the
| money. understand? 1t was all
/ right. under the circumstances, every