Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1912-06-18
TODAY'S INSTALLMENT.
Dlsagreeable Moments.

"Divl a bit of it, my dear" said Bar
Fington, lightly; for your own little self
entirely, Mistress Darlington: and it's my
belief that the individual at the end of
the wire got something in the nature of
a shock when he discovered that twas
to a Mister he'd been speaking"
once again there was that subtle in
Election in Barrington's voice that told
her of the easily awakened suspicion of
an Unfortunately jealous man. Anthony,
who could not bear that she should so
much as buy handkerchief without his
knowledge, was obviously nettled by dis
covering two transactions of which he
was utterly ignorant He never asked
her question nor pried into a letter, yet
she knew that it was one of his most
sacred beliefs that the whole book of
her life lay open before his eyes for him
to read If he would. And, but for that
one misera BILE episode of which Betty was
her sole confidante 1t was true enough
She glored in the fact. She had taught
herself to believe her husbands credo
herself, telling herself that she had locked
the door of the past and thrown away
the key.
And now-the door was creaking slowly
on its hinges. swinging open, and all the
ugly grisly specters were stealing out one
by one in somber procession.
1t was not bearable. Heaven could not
be so unjust! A sudden spirit of revolt
rose up in her. She would not allow
the past to conquer-she would hang to
that door again, lock 1t fast on it's ugly
secret 1t must be possible. She would
fight for her peace for her happiness,
for her good name, to the very last gasp.
She turned back from the table and
looked up at him smiling.
well, then, It must just be some other
Mrs Darlington. Tony boy she said.
For certain sure it isn't for me. It's as
so much Greek to me and no less. Two
thousand guneas, indeed don't even
think in such sums!"
She spoke with a certain merry conf
dence, bat her smile was not merry, Bar
rington saw that
Il expect they got through to some
wrong number-theyre always ringing us
UP in mistake she said, dsmissingly
We'll. tell me what sort of a day you
have had in town. ] just missed you aw-
fully. and that's the truth. Oh, Tony
boy, III be glad-glad-glad when we
can get ourselves right, right away"
She nestled against him for a moment,
finding all infinite comfort in his near
ness in the clasp of his arms for he
had caught her to him with a sudden
fierce caress She was not, as a rule,
demonstrative, this woman, but there was
passion in her words now that was as
fuel to the flame of his own.
Why, then, for heavens sake, let us
go" he said. What is there to keep
us? Get Betty ready and come. Frank
Iy, I hate the place. Your father-yes
yes, he is your father. dear, l know that
but | always find it incredibly hard to
believe You can make an excuse for
Betty Betty will be the gamer by a
change from this environment l don t
know what it is, but, as | said yester
day. there is a deuced odd feeling in the
air ! am what novelists call 'obsessed
by a feeling of fear-as though some
hateful calamity was impending. Oh, of
course. it's ones liver, 1 know that-or
living so close to water But all the
same, I'll be jolly glad to get away.
! Tomorrow what's to prevent it? Tomor-
row night-that's a bargain, eh?"
Edlth's Fear.
There was an almost disproportionate
ca gerness in his tone He turned her
face to his.
That's a bargain, eh?" he repeated.
ooh, no. no! Not tomorrow; that isn't
possible. Tony" She stared at him with
wide, frightened eyes, her fingers inter
lacing nerVously What do you mean
why do you say such dreadful things?
You terrify me- What calamity could
happen to us? Oh. you are cruel and sus
picious and morbid. It's selfish. horribly
selfish. OF you to suggest that l should
leave dad Just now"
She spoke as a woman suddenly be-
side herself, 6inging away from him with
a petulance that amazed him. And she
was beside herself with fear. She knew
her husband we'll enough to realize that
if he made up his mind to return to
France tomorrow and to take her and
Betty with him, there was no power
that would prevent him doing so, short
of what he called battle, murder or sud
den death.
But my dear Edith, it was your own
suggestion" Darlington was honestly
bewildered - only want to please you
Ito get you out Of a morbid atmosphere
He would have taken her in his arms
again. but she refused to be comforted
She burst into a sudden tempest of tears
and ran out of the rom hanging the door
She left a thoroughly taken aback man
staring after her