Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1912-05-08
By ]. w. M,CoNAuGHY.


Copyright. 1912, by the New York Even
ing Journal Publishing Company.
We'll she said with a comfortable
sigh. as she drifted onto the divan.
Thank goodness. we're alone at last"
"lllona, you must go at once!" he said,
In his cold, precise tones.
GO" she echoed. looking up at him
in surprise.
YES
"oh." she cried. hinging herself off the
divan and picking up her hat off a chair
with a vicious slap, your everlasting
work, Well. I'll come back later-about
midnight
"lIlona. you must not come back"
mot come back" she repeated. slowly
and wonderingly, as she stared with
great round eyes at his cold impressive
face There was little silence and then
she broke out bitterly: Il know! It's
that man" she pointed to the door
through which Joshakawa had so recent
" vanished. You're always this way
after he has been here As If you didn't
have enough to worry you with that old
kin-joy hanging over you like an under
taker! Well, I'll come back later, any
way
"Illona, you must never return"
The woman gave a quick gasp and
WHAT she exclaimed in low voice.
Then: Il don't think I understand
you
He looked into her eyes with eyes that
told nothing.
you must leave at once and never re-
turn he repeated as dispassionately as
II he were Diminishing servant
"Why-why! Why-what's the mat
ter?" she stammered, in low voice, her
bosom beginning to heave.
1T would be better not to go into that
he said, coldly 1T is enough--you must
leave at once and never return
The woman crept nearer to him and half
held out her hands. tearfully, pleadingly.
"Tokoramo!" she exclaimed, in a voice
barely above a whisper. You are jok-
ing.
A Woman's Rage.
He looked at her in a way that left no
doubt on that point You must 60 Il
Iona"
Her eyes began TO fash
''Hhy?" she demanded, her little white
teeth clinched and her face as white as
her teeth.
Il do not wish to quarrel with you.
would be kind to the end-this is the
end, ask YOU to go at once"
tBut-why. why?'
IT do not care to say. Co."
But" she cried, with proud anger,
''vou can not look at me like that and
say such things-and not tell me why
1T is better So" he said again, with
no change in his cold, impersonal tone.
II would be kind to the end. Go, IL
Iona"
4 touch Of hectic color appeared in
stantly in the womans cheeks. Her eyes
blazed.
10 YOU think will be cast off like this
like a worn out coat? All, no, no." she
exclaimed, with a sudden softening, creep
ing toward him. You don't want to make
me angry Tell me what has happened
what is wrong? Am l not your Illona?
Have L not waited all through the even
ing for YOU with my heart in my throat
in there - She pointed to the divan.
Did I not lie there, throbbing with love
and sympathy while you sat here and
worked" Her voice broke for an in
slant Have I not been your quiet, COM
placant slave, helping you in every way
YOU would let me? And now you say l
must eo-without a word, without rea-
son-wer" Her anger blazed up again.
az viii not go. DO you hear?" She threw
herself into chair. 81 have right to a
little more consideration than that
have had little corner in your heart-it
has not been much, but | have had 1t!
And will hold it, He stood looking
at her without a ripple on his face. until
she sprang UP with a cry that was al
most a snarl
For goodness sake, say something
Don't stand there and look at me like
that
Tokoramo turned quietly to drawer in
his desk and drew it open There was
clink of coin.
q would be kind TO the end, 1llona," he
said You shall have as much money
as you desire"
The words struck the last drop of blood
from the vomans face,
Money" she gasped, in a Mortified
whisper
'.Yes." he said and stood expectantly
at the open drawer. n1ona bowed her
head and pressed both hands tightly to
her face. oh she moaned. You never
loved me-you never loved me! Is that
what you think of me? Is that what you
think of me-"
He opened his lips to speak but she
went on without needing
You never loved me, You never loved
me- But tonight" She stretched out her
arm to him appealingy. "Tonght-a lit
tie ago-you said YOU did. when were
alone-and 1 believed you! l thought that
underneath the ice you had one little
drop of warmth-one little drop of love
that YOU had heart. ] have given you
my all, You have stripped me of my
thoughts, my dreams-my all! And now
you say l can have money-and go!''
A swift shadow of pain passed across
the mans face. His eyes burned a little
brighter as he strobe swiftly UP to her
and stared into her face.
why do you lie?" he demanded in
low, passionate voice.
'Lie." exclaimed the woman, falling
back a step before him.
Eyes. nlona-you lie You have deceiv-
ed me-and YOU know it,
xxr1. fV:A nI- NJ