Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-02-02
Seeking a Hus-
band
BY CONSTANCE CLARKE.

"O-DAY was my birthday And Z
think things are so very strange
in this big, wonderful world.
Dick sent me a gift, actuaHy sent md
something | had been wanting for aged
too. and I debated such long tina
about keeping it after the way had
treated him
You see, Dick didn't know how he
was acting at the time A man is such
a funny thing and Dick has been
brought up to regard women as inferiors
He has always treated his mother and
sisters as though they could never de-
eide things for themselves, and I sup-
pose his wife will have the same thing
to look forward to. But I'm not going
to be his wife. although 1 did keep tho
pink coral set. I had It on when the
bell rang about 5 o'clock and I was
curled up In mothers room on the couch
with a bad headache when Mary cana
up and told me Dick was here 1 start-
ed up and my head throbbed warningly
and then l flew over to the mirror to
see II looked well enough to go down.
My cheeks were very pink, and my
eyes looked dark, due to the headache.
but, OF course, he would never know
that. I pulled the pink coral earrings
down a little lower, fuffed up my hair,
and then went down to the library aa
calmly as though Jack had run in to-
call. Jack had sent me five pounds OF
candied fruits and 1 think they had
something to do with my headache.
Dick was in one of the big leather
chairs and l came in so softly he didn't
hear me Then / said, Hello. Dick
Morris; weren't you nice to come and
see me on my birthday"
"Why. you have grown a mustache.''
l gasped, as he jumped up and turned
around. Just think how long it is
since I've seen you. Did you have a.
nice trip abroad?"
Yes, but | got home for your birth
day, Peggy, and l hoped you would
forgive me If 1 brought the corals.''
They're adorable" | conceded, but,
Dick, we never quarreled. so there's
really nothing to forgive. Let's forget
about It, and do tell me where you got
them"
There's a story attached to them"
he said. grinning. The incest thing
about Dick is his grin; there Is some
thing so sheepish about it, like little
boy caught stealing jam. l will insist
that men are all grown-up boys, and
the more boylsh they are the more
like them.
What kind of story?" I asked
eagerly, conscious of the fact that I
could see myself to advantage IN the
mirror opposite and wondering if Dick
noticed how the pink of the corals
around my throat and the tiny pink
drops in my ears brought out the faint
flush in my cheeks.
II bought them in Venice he said
slowly. and they belonged to a youn~
Italian girl OF very high lineage. Tho
story goes that they will bring great
luck to the one who wears them if"
well" / said, please go on"
IF they are put on by the one who
has purchased them"
THAT means that you must put them
on me YOURSELF" / queried, hastily slip
ping off the necklace and christening
Exactly" he said lightly And then
we both stood up under the big center
light, and | felt like a story book hero
inc.
throat, and then l pushed back the hair
from my ears for him to fasten on the
earrings. AS | stood with my back to
him for minute, happened to look
In the glass, and DICK was holding the
earrings against his mouth. l turned
quickly.
why did you do that?" l had never
known Dick to be the least bit senti-
mental
at belongs to the story" he said, a
little unsteadily.
well, why didn't you tell me so?''
j went on. II think it is a perfectly
fascinating idea. Then he fastened
them on. and his fingers trembled so
that ne bungled dreadfully
Dick has grown very serious since he
went abroad. Do you know, l don't be-
leve he told me the truth about those
corals!