Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-09-26
:. One Woman's Story =:
By VIRGINIA TERHUNE VAN DE WATER

You're all upset and unsettled,
Mary" she said, and you will be UNI
/ Ill this divorce matter Is settled and
YOU have sold all your furniture. Be
sides, what would be the use OF look
ing for a situation when you couldn't
take It until you finish breakin' up out
in Middlebrook
But" said Mary that will take
only a couple OF days, and l want to
know what l can count on"
The other woman shook her head.
"Do the first task first" she advised
Go out to the country tomorrow, and
stay there until you get rid Of your
things. take a week-weu, then, take
| week. Then youU know where you're
at"
Considering the matter sanely and
soherly. Mary knew that she had
shrunk from doing the very thing. Mid
dlebrook held terrifying and sad memo
ries for her. Suu. they must be faced.
a week later she closed behind her
the door Of the little country cottage
for the last time. She had had a pub
lie auction Of all her household effects,
and these had gone, as is always the
.
tenth Of what they were worth. But
the weary young creature upon whom
such heavy trouble had come Of late
thought OF the money received only as
something with which TO buy food for
her child until she could obtain work.
A kind-hearted neighbor, with whom
she had but a speaking acquaintance,
suspected her distress and came i'm 70
e q wont
SO far as the railroad station with her.
Mary was grateful for this attention,
Vet she longed 10 be alone. At last
she boarded her train and sat lost in
, thought until she reached Jersey City.
She took a CroSStuWn surface car at
the ferry, and the man sitting next to
| her got out at Ninth avenue. leaving
an evening paper on the seat. List
over it, Suddenly a short paragraph
| In the lower corner Of one sheet caught
| her eye 1t was dated Philadelphia,
and at a glance Mary took in the con
/ tents. It told how a man, probably
{ intoxicated, had become confused cross
| ing the tracks u the Reading Railway,
and had stepped right in front of an
1 express train He was killed instant
| ly. Letters in his pockets and the
/ name on his clothing showed that he
| was a Herbert Fletcher, once of New
/ York, recently OF Philadelphia. Hts
| body was identified later by the Wo-
!
Horror held Mary spellbound as she
read and re-read the item. The car
1 had carried her down to the East
/ Twenty third street ferry before she
/ noticed her surroundings Stiu dazed,
/ She walked back 10 the avenue on
[ which lived and climbed the stairs to
/ the nat which was now her only home.
I Halfway up the stairs she heard a
/ door above her open, ana her child 5
! laugh rang out clear and happy And.
/ as she listened, her heart gave a leap
/ OF gratitude Her child was now hers,
/ and hers only, Then with a great
! throh Of pity she remembered the elder
/ ~ woman TO whom the news that
I meant the wife'S release from bond
/ age would mean another stab from
/ me son who had almost broken her
/ heart The younger woman knew that,
! u" matter what "A son does, the true
! mother-loye can never die And she
/ prayed for wisdom and strength To COM
TORT the olSEraCe3 and Eereaved mother
/ % whom this latest blow could not
/ bTng the peace and freedom from fear
that II brought to the dishonored wife.