Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1912-08-13
"The Gates Of Silence
d, By Meta Smmin5, Author Of "Hn5hed Up"
TODAY'S INSTALLMENT.

''wen, isn't she worth even the descent
into hades?"
Betty gazed at the face Of the woman
who looked out from the canvas at heT
The first glance was revelation OF he@"-
ty that almost took her breath away, me
second a revolt against The insult II OIL
fered TO all her 1enderest susccpuhIhue7
IA sense Of horror which, as II seemed.
would never leave her
And vet the subject and the treatment
In all save one particular were absolutely
conventional II represented the woman
bearing her box of splkcnard exceeding
precious the glorious hair Of tradition
streamed over her white. bare shoulders
and from the cloudy background sh"ne
out the spear Of light symbol Of the Holy
Spirit. once again the painters VIE had
served as his model harrington, who had
never painted Edith who had never SUI
tered others TO paint her
ONLY IN one instance the departure
from conventional treatment. Yet It made
of the picture a moCkery, a hlasphemN
and a horror The eyes OF the Magdalen
were not tear-fIled, cast up in penitence
10 heaven: they looked ont from the can
vas, filed with evil laughter the mailg-
nant laughter Of the woman who has
tasted Of all things, who has seen all
things and behold, they were very eVii
Not Finished.
oh" The girl gave little cry and
flung up her hands 20 her face TO shut
out the sight Of H.
You like it, Barringtons voice came
to her as from great distance, penetfa'-
ing into this world Of horror where her
senses sickened and reeled You like 1T.
No. don't expect you do. 1t is too true
II conveys too notable lesson. But II
is not finished yet the foreshortenng is
wrong here Oh for three weeks more
Of sight-three weeks
Tony" Betty had found her voice
again. the world was settling about her,
the spasm of spiritual nausea passed
She was dealing, not with the Anthony
harrington she had known, but with
man outside reason-a man who, because
he believed himself to be wronged was
full Of the waspsh instinct 70 sting ana
slay, even if IT meant his own life ana
the light Of life 10 do so, Tony you
must destroy this thing You must You
don't know what YOU have done Even
II she was what you imagined her 10 be
land she was not that-it was scanda-
lous, brutal unmanly. | haven't words
for it-for you. Tony, dear, 1t isn't
rhinkahe!'
harrington replaced the covering over
the picture and turned, looking down at
Betty's flushed. upturned face. lie stood
between her and the easel, as though he
almost dreaded an attack on it and what
il held
Little fool" he said. so YOU believe
In her yet? Though it was she who sent
your lover to the scaffod and the other
fool to his judgment? Though she has
turned my blood to gain and robbed me
Of my child and of faith in everything
even in myself
Tony, you wrong her, She sinned in
one thing only-her love for you. 1t was
her one fault-her fear OF losing you. /
know what you hint at, but it isn't true
Whatever her will was, she failed in aC-
complishment He-he was arrested be-
fore her poor letter reached the police
That was for you too. Tony
harrington raised his head and laughed
terrible sounding laughter. As Betty
looked at him she was reminded sudden
~ of Samson in the house Of the Phil
istines Samson degraded, mutiated yet
Samson stll.
Betty, she is your sister. but ! can't
help IT, She was had-false TO the core.
IL am glad the child died. II l dared,
Id thank God for that"
His voice ceased suddenly He made
a curious gesture with his outtiung
hands
whats that?" he said, and stood in
the attitude OF one who listens. "Oh,
heaven Betty, it's come! The darkness
the darknessl"
Betty Lumsden knew what fear was.
the fear that grips on the heart with
fingers Of ice the fear that numbs the