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

nificant 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 undeE his
iron grey head | 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 ] daref
not noticed that his face bright
ened a t 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 were saying something tina
would be very gratefuD he told me
what ! knew already, and listened
with my head down and my face TO-
ward the fire.
He must have been disappointed al
the sad way received his news, foi
he proceeded to talk of my genera
health, saying the great thing in such
a case as mine was TO be cheerful 10
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
said Yes and Yes" knowing
only too we'll how impossible it all
was: and then his talk turned on gen
eral topics-my father, whose condi-
ton made his face very grave, ano
then his wife, Christian Ann, who's
name caused his gentle old eyes t
CLEAN with sunshine
She had charged him with a mes
sage to me
Tell her" she said. Il shall never
forget what she did for me in he au-
tumn. and whiles and whites I'm
thanking God for her"
That cut me o 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-
bics same as ourselves, poor things
and if she ever wants to rest her
sweet head in 2 poor Woman's bed
Mary O'Neilrs little room is always
waiting for her
God bless herr" | said--it was at
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 woman's heart in her
hour of sorest trial. knows why
VAS in such dread that he might do
SO. but sure | am that If he had men
toned Martin az that moment should
have screamed.
When he rose to go he repeated his
warnings
You'll remember what | said about
being bright and cheerful
I'm try"
And keep happy and agreeable
faces about YOU
Yes"
Hardly had he left the room when
Alma came sweeping into it full OF
her warmest and insincerest congrat T.
Ulations.
"There," she cried with all the bit
ter honey In her tongue Wasn't ]
right i'm sending for the doctor? Such
news. too, oh. happy, happy YOU.
But / must not keep you now, dear
est. Youll be Just crazy to write TO
your husband and tell him all about
it,"
Alma's mother was the next TO Wis
II me. The comfortable old soul
redolent Of perfume and glttering
with diamonds. began by congratu-
lating herself on her perspicacitN
~ knew H." she said when | saw
as how YOU we're SO and SO I said to
Alma as was sure YOU were 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 I'm bed in future. avoid =
ing tea. etc.-she told me how fortu
nate was to have Alma in the house
at such a moment
The doctor says you're 10 keer
bright and cheerful and she's such 9
happy heart. is Alma. So crazy about
vou. too! You wouldn't believe Il. bu'
she's actually talking Of staying with
YOU until the December sailing al
all 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. Aunt Bridget came, and
Z the bright glitter of the unusually
cold gray eyes behind her gold rim
med spectacles told me at a glance
that her visit was noe an unselhsf
one.
Te BE Continued To.merrow.