Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-04-07

II NHL1 next Jay DF- tOnTau came
r. to see me. thought it sig
nifcant that he came in my
fathers big motor cara car of great
speed and power.
| was in my dressing gown before
the fire in the boudoir and a the first
glance OF his cheerful face under his
iron-g grey head l knew what Alma
had said in the letter which had sum-
moned him.
In his soft voive he asked me a few
questions, and though | could have
wished to conceal the truth l dared
not I noticed that his face bright
ened a each of my replies, and at the
end of them he said
There is nothing to be alarmed at.
We shall be better than ever by-and-
by"
Then in his sweet and delicate way
(as If he We're saying something thas
would be very grateful he told me
what I knew already, and / listened
with nv head down and my face to-
ward the fire.
He must have been disappointed at
the sad way / received his news for
he proceeded TO talk of my general
health, saying the great thing in such
a case a mine was TO be cheerful to
keep a good heart, and to look hope
fully TO the future.
you must have pleasant surround
ings and the society of agreeable peo-
ple-old friends. old school-fellows
familiar and happy faces
I said Yes" and Yes" knowing
| only too well how impossible it all
was: and then his talk turned on gen
eral topics my father, whose condi-
a. HI
then his wife. Christian Ann, whos'
name caused his gentle old eyes t.
gleam with sunshine
She had charged him with a mes
sage to me
"Ten her" she said, q shall never
forget what she did for me in the au-
tumn ana whites and whites I'm
thanking God for her"
That cut me TO the quick, but ! was
nearly torn to pieces by what came
next
christian Ann told me to say, too,
that sunny Lodge is longing for you.
She's a great lady now said she. but
maybe great ladies have their trou-
bles same as ourselves, poor things,
and IL she ever wants to rest her
sweet head in a poor woman's bed,
Mary O'Neilrs little room is always
waiting fOr uef.
God bless herr" ! said-it was an
7 could say-aud then, TO my great
relief. he talked on other subjects.
The one thing I was afraid Of was
that he might speak OF Martin.
Heaven alone. which looks into the
deep places OF woman's heart in her
hour Of sorest trial. knows why j
was I'm such dread that he might do
so. but sure ! ann that II he had men
toned Martin Al that moment ! should
have screamed
When he rose 10 90 he repeated his
warnings
You'll remember what said about
being bright and cheerful
"Til try"
And keep happy and agreeable
faces about your
Yes"
Hardly had he left the room when
Alma came sweeping into 1t, full Of
her warmest and insincerest congrat-
ulations
There" she cried, with all the Bit
ter honey in her tongue Wasn't ]
right n sending for the doctor? such
news too, Oh, happy happy YOU
But ! must not keep YOU now, dear
est. You'll be just crazy to write to
your husband and tell him all about
IT,"
Alma g mother was the next to Wis
n me The comfortable old soul
redolent OF perfume and glittering
with diamonds began by congratu-
lating herself on her persplcacity
81 knew it," she said when I saw
ar how YOU were so and so, ] said to
Alma as I was sure you were that
way Impossible said Alma, but its
us married women TO know. isn't it2'
After that and some homely coun-
sol out Of her own eNperience--to take
INV breakfast in bed In future, avoid
ing tea. etc-she told me how fortu
nate ! was to have Alma In the house
40 such a moment,
"The doctor SAYS you're 10 keep
bright and cheerful, and she's such
happy heart, is Alma. SO crazy about
Won. too, You wouldn't believe It, bur
she's actually talking Of staying with
you until the December sailing at.
AN events.
The prospect of having Alma two
months longer, TO probe my secret
soul as with q red-hot iron, seemed
enough to destroy me but my mar
tyrdom had only begun
Next day. Aunt Bridget came, and
the bright glitter of the unusually
cold gray eyes behind her gold-rim-
med spectacles told me al glance
mat her visit was not an uuecIiish
o1c
TA as cnntinnssi To. MARIAN