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

r to see me. l 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 at the first
glance Of his cheerful face under mis-
iron grey head l knew what Alma
had said in the letter which had sum-
moned him.
In his soft voive he asked me few
questions, and though / could have
wished to conceal the truth | dared
not | noticed that his face bright
ened at 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 il he were saving something thai
would be very grateful he told me
what ! knew already, and | listened
with my 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 as 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 peu-
ple-old friends. old school fellows
familiar and happy faces
said Yes" and Yes" knowing
only too well how impossible it all
was. and then his talk turned on gem
eral topics-my father, whose condi-
ton made his face very grave, ano
then his wife. Christian Ann, WHOSE
name caused his gentle old eyes t.
CLEAN with sunshine
She had charged him with mes
sage to me
Tell her" she said. 81 shall never
forget what she did for me in the au-
tumn. and whites and whlles 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
hlcs same as ourselves, poor things
and If she ever wants TO rest her
sweet head in a poor woman's bed,
Mary O'Neiu's little room IS always
waiting for her.
God bless her!" | said-it was all
could say-and then, To my great
relief, he talked on other subjects.
The one thing | was afraid Of was
that he might speak OF Martin.
Heaven alone. which looks into the
deep places Of a womans heart in her
hour Of sorest trial. knows why I
was in such dread that he might dos
so, but sure | am that II he had men
toned Martin Mt that moment should
have screamed.
When he rose TO so he repeated his
warnings
you'll remember what I said about
being bright and cheerful
"Tll try"
And Keep happy and agreeable
faces about your
Yes"
Hardly had ne left the room when
Alma came sweeping into It, full OF
her warmest and insincerest congrat-
ulations.
"There!" she cried. with all the Bit
ter honey IN her tongue. Wasn't ]
right in sending for the doctor? Such
news. too Oh, happy happy youl J
But | must not keep YOU now, dear
est You'u he Just crazy to write to
year husband and tell him all about |
IT,"
Alma's mother was the next TO Wis
10 me The comfortable old soul !
redolent Of perfume and ghttering
with diamonds. began by eonsratu
latiug herself on her perspicacity
Il knew it," she said. when saw
as how YOU were so and SO, ! said to
Alma as ! was sure YOU We're that
way Impossible said Alma. but It's
us married women to know isn't it,
After that and some homely coun-
sci out Of her own eNperience-to take
my breakfast IN bed IN future. avoid
ing tea. etc-she told me how fortu
nate I was 70 have Alma in the house
at such a moment
The doctor SAYS you're TO keep
bright and cheerful. and she's such
happy heart. is Alma. So crazy about
YOU. too, You wouldn't believe it. but
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 a red-hot iron. seemed
enough to destroy me. but my mar
tyrdom had only begun
Next day. ant Bridget came, and
the bright glitter Of the unusually
cold gray eyes behind her gold rim
med spectac'es told me at glance
that her visit was not an unselfsh
one
To De Continued o.morrow.