Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-09-26
:. One Woman Story =:
Ru uIPcINIA rERHI1NE VAN DE WATER

You're all upset and unsettled,
Mary" she said, and you will be un-
I'll this divorce matter is settled and
you have sold all your furniture. Be
sides. what would be the use OF look
take II until you finish breakin' up out
in Middlebrooko"
But" said Mary, that will take
only a couple Of days, and | want to
know what ] 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-wen, then take
a week. Then youIl 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
rics for her. sim. they must be faced.
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
case on such occasions. for about one
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 20 buy food for
Her child until she could obtain work.
a kiud-hearted neighbor. with whom
she had but speaking acquaintance,
suspected her distress and came i'm TO
help her ON this last day and went
SO far as the railroad station with her.
Mary was grateful for this attention,
Yet she lorged TO be alone. Al last
she boarded her train and sat lost in
thought until she reached Jersey City.
She took CrOSStOWu 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
leSSlY, Mary picked il up and glanced
over it, suddenly a short paragraph
/ In the lower corner Of one sheet caught
! her eye Il was dated Philadelphia,
! and at a glance Mary took in the con-
tents II told how man. probably
intoxicated, had become confused cross
| ing the tracks Of the Reading Railway,
and had stepped right in front of an
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 His
I
man with whom he was living
Horror held Mary spsIlbound as she
read and re-read the item. The car
had carried her down to the East
| Twenty thInd street ferry before she
noticed her Surroundings. Stiu dazed,
she walked back to the avenue on
which lived and climbed the stairs Il
the fiat which was now her only home.
Halfway up The stairs She heard a
E door above her open. and her child $
/ laugh rang out clear and happy And.
/ as she listened, her heart gave a lear
I OF gratitude. Her child was now hers
/ ana hers only Then with a great
/ throh Of pity she remembered the elder
/ ly woman to whom the news that
/ meant the wifas release from bond
( age would mean another stab from
4 the son who had almost broken her
! heart The younger woman knew that
/ no matter what son does. the true
! mother-'ove can never die And she
I prayed for wisdom and strength 20 com
. fort tho dtSErace3 and hereaved mother
( to whom this latest blow could no,
/ bring the peace and freedom from fear
that 1t brought to the dlshonored wife