Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-03-13
TO,DAY's INSTAl.LMENT.
Chapter Fifty. six-continued

SHdPIST TiIky six SOFlki1ucus
During these rugged salutations
saw that Alma, with the bad man
ners of a certain type of society
woman, looked on with a slightly i'm
pertinent air of amused superiority,
until she encountered my fathers
masterful eyes, which nobody in the
world could withstand
After moment my father adj
dressed himself to me.
We'll, GEL he said, taking me by
the shoulders, as he did in Rome you
must have cut a dash in Egypt, /
guess. Made the money fly, didn't
you? No matter. My gold was as
good as anybody else's, and | didn't
grudge it. You'll clear me of that,
anyway"
Then there was some general talk
about our travels, about affairs on
the island (Mr. Curphy saying, with
a laugh and a glance in my direc-
ton, that things were going so well
with my father that if all his
schemes matured he would have no
need to wait for a descendant to be-
come the "uncrowned King of Ell
LAM, and finally about Martin Con-
rad, whose great exploits had become
known even in his native country.
lJNlt VI dilldi y lANNl ehOi ullidA
said my father. II wouldn't have be-
lieved it of him, | wouldn't really.
Just a neighbor lad without a penny
at him. And now the worlds trusting
him with fifty thousand pounds,
they're telling me-
well, many are called but few are
chosen" said Mr. Curphy with an
other laugh.
After that, and some broken con-
versation, Aunt Bridget expressed a
desire to see the house, as the even
ing was closing in and they must
soon be going back
Lady Margaret thereupon took her,
followed by the rest of us, over the
principal rooms of the Castle, and 1t
was interesting to see the awe with
which she looked upon everything
her voice dropping to whisper In
the dining room, | remember, as II
the scene of carousing OF the OLD
roysterers had been sort of sane
tuary.
NV father, less impressed, saw
nothing but home in bad repair,
and turning to my husband, who had
been obviously i'll at ease, he said:
Go on like this much longer, SON
in-law. and you'll be charging two
pence a head to look at your ruins.
Guess ] must send my architect over
to see what he can do for you
Then taking me aside he made his
loud voice as low as he could and
said:
whats this your Aunt Bridget
tells me? Nine months married ana
no sign yet? Tut, tut! That won't
do. gel, that won't do
| tried to tell him not to spend
money on the Castle if he intended TO
do so in expectation of an heir, put
my heart was in my mouth ana what
really said / do not know. | only
know that my father looked at me
for a moment as if perpleXed, ana
then burst into laughter.
~ see, l see!" he said ITS a
doctor YOU want. | must send Con
rad to put a sight on you. It'll be
all right, gel it'll be all right! Your
mother was like that when you were
AS we returned to the hall Betsy
Beauty whispered that she was sur
nrised Mr.. Eastcliff had married, but
| She heard from madame that we were
TO have a house party SOON ana she
hoped l would not forget her
Then Aunt Bridget, who had been
cveing Alma darkly, asked me who
and what she was and where she
| came from, whereupon ! Crying TO
nnt the hest face on things) explained
! that she was the daughter of a rlcn
New York banker, After that Aunt
BrIdgets countenance cleared per-
ceptibly and she said: ~
"Ah. YES. of course! ! thought she
had a quality toss with her.
The two motor cars naa peel'
drawn up to the door and the TWO
parties had taken their seats in them
when nv father. looking about him.
said to my husband;
Your garden is as roush as
thornbrush, son Law, ! must senu
Tommv and Mate to smarter 1t up
hi. So long! So long"
At the next moment they were
zone and l was looking longingly
sfter them. God knows that the
house had never been more than a
stenmother's home to me, but for a
moment yearned TO return to II anu sI
felt like a child who was being lelt
behind at school. ,,,,;,,s,
What had l gained by running
away from London? Nothing at an:
Already l knew I had brought my
homeless passion with me.
And now | was alone.