Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1912-08-23
TODAY'S INSTALLMENT.

With a little sound that was almost
animal in its satisfaction, Remington had
gone over to the fire that roared up the
great open chimney fragrant fire of
reat-stacks and driftwood. The play of
its blue and violet flames fascinated him,
as though he were child. He held out
his dead hands to their glow and felt
his eyelids smart with the moisture the
pain of their returning life brought to his
eyes.
Only One Thought.
II almost seemed as though the sight
of the fire-the glow of warmth that
wrapped about him in the air of the com
Portable kitchen-had banished for the
instant all other thoughts from his mind
He hardly seemed aware of the girl as
she moved swiftly about the kitchen, set
ting out meat and a loaf-ar the food
that the larder could afford-on the table
behind him. AS for her. it was plain that
she kept her eyes averted from the figure
of shame at the fire. AS she went about
her task her lips We're forming words. TT
isn't possble-it isn't possible" The
tears ran down her cheeks and she was
not aware of them.
Betty" She turned to see the man
beside her looking at her with those eyes
so familiar and yet so strange-eyes that
held an odd, half-f urtive, half-ashamed
look-a look that seemed to pierce through
the StupOr that for the last few seconds
had held her for with a broken cry, she
put out ner hands.
"Oh. my dear. my dear Oh, my bitter
ly wronged Jack! l never knew or guessed
what the truth was"-with a self-con-
temptuous gesture that comprehended all
of the cozy kitchen, with the glory of fire
light playing on copper and crockery the
coarse, white-covered table, and the
rough, plentiful food And I came here
with your aunt-to live your life, Jack: to
. walk step by step with you in your
agony. Oh, the irony of IT.
Remington made a movement as though
to take her in his arms, then shrinkngly
drew back. 1t was a movement that
spoke more eloquentlv than words, and
the girl answered it by another. In a
moment she was against his breast, her
face upturned to his, her lips seeking his.
The fire glow on her face showed the
man the love-light in her eyes that he
had often dreamed of, and never, even in
dreams, had hoped to see. Then, as
quickly, she drew away from him.
Selfish woman that I am-to satisfy
my own hunger first when you are starry
ing"
She drew him to the big, old fashioned
settee beside the fire. waiting on him as
she would have waited upon a child, cut
ting up food, choosing dainty portions,
mindful Of the danger Of the long, cruel
fast hat he was breaking, talking to him
all the while in a low voice as she might
I1lN lion f4 chi FNrys1 mil i'm
about with the glow of her love, so that
TO this man, who for months past had
not heard the sound of a womans voice,
this low ceilinged kitchen was trans
formed into the threshold Of paradise.
He refused to drink, though she urged
him to take a little spirits and water
for it's medicinal sake.
no; l shall need all the few wits that
are left me darling" ne told her. For
l am only the veriest bird of passage here.
Has the cottage been searched YETI
mo" The girl looked at him with
troubled eyes IT don't understand We
had not even heard that you had es-
capped"
Her frightened senses leaped to the
thought of a trap, and she read a con-
firmation of her fears in the mans eyes
THAT means they've been waiting for
said, in his roughened voice. that seemed
to have grown rusty through long dis
service. Il mustn't stay a minute. No,
no, darlington your own sake, as well as
mine. Wherever I am taken-and it
seems inevitable that l will be taken
it must not be here. Where is my
aunt?"
"She is in her room. Jack" Betty said.
mo if you must CO. best not wake her.
She is a little strange-a little worried.
She ought never to have come. But about
your clothes, Jack If l had only thought
of It, If I had only guessed. we ought to
have had a change for you here"
But how could you guess?"
For a moment he took her in his arms,
laid his face against her cheek. Then,
with a little cry, she started apart from
him.
whats that" she said. in sharp
whisper
Remington stood rigid, listening To
him the silence seemed unbroken save
for the loud ticking of a te-faced
clock on the mantelpiece; it brought back
to him ugly memories of another mo-
ment of tension when he had stood wait
ing while about him the air vibrated with
the voices of many clocks, and once again
he had d feeling of silence itself Is a
tangible thing that, like himself, watched
and waited.
The girl tip-toed to the door and bent
her head against it, The long. sough-
ing breath of the wind through it's i'll
hung hinges, was the only sound she