Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-03-13
TO.DAY'S INSTALLMENT.
chapter Fifty.six-continued

Chapter Fifty six-continued.
During these rugged salutations
saw that Alma, with the bad man
ners OF 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 a moment my father ad i
dressed himself to me.
We'll, gel" he said, taking me by
the shoulders, as he did, in Rome, you
must have cut dash in Egypt,
guess. Made the money fly, didn't
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
lan'D, and finally about Martin Con-
rad, whose great exploits had become
known even in his native country
Extra Extraordinary"
said my father. Il wouldn't have be-
lieved it of him, | wouldn't really.
Just neighbor lad without a penny
at him. And now the worlds trusting
him with fifty thousand pounds,
they're telling mel"
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 it
was interesting to see the awe with
which she looked upon everything
her voice dropping to a whisper in
the dining room, | remember, as II
the scene of carousing of the old
roysterers had been a sort of sane
tuary.
MY 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 l 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
,.vnY,ft IL
tried to tell him not to spend
money on the Castle If he intended to
do SO in expectation of an heir, but
my heart was in my mouth and what
| really said l do not know. | only
know that my father looked at me
for a moment as if perplexed, and
then burst into laughter
Il see! | see!" he said. IT'S a
doctor you want. l 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
coming
As we returned to the hall Betsy
Beauty whispered that she was sur
prised Mr.. Eastclhf had married, but
She heard from madame that we We're
to have a house party soon, and she
hoped | would not forget her.
Then Aunt Bridget, who had been
oyeing Alma darkly, asked me who
and what she was and where she
came from, whereupon l Crying &c
nut the best face on things) explained
that she was the daughter of ricf
New York banker After that Aunt
Budgets countenance cleared per-
ceptibly and she said:
"Ah, yes, of course! l thought she
had a quality toss with her.
The two motor cars had beer
drawn up to the door, and the tive
, parties had taken their seats in them
when my father, looking about him.
said to my husband;
Your garden is as rough as q
thornbrush, son-in-law. l must SEND
Tommy and Mate TO smarter 1t W
bit. So long! So long!"
AT the next moment they We're
gone and | was looking longingly
a fter them. God knows that the
house had never been more than a
stepmother's home to me, but for q
moment yearned to return to 1t ana
felt like a child who was being lel'
behind at school MT.
What had | gained by running
away from London? Nothing at all
Already | knew l had brought my
hopeless passion with me.
And now | was alone.