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

10 see me. lHOuSul IL SlS -
nihcant 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 his
iron-gr head I 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 ! 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 If he were saying something tina :
would be very grateful he told me
what | knew already, and l 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 peo-
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 gen
eral toplcs-my father whose condt-
tion 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, q shall never
forget what she did for me in the au-
tumn, and whites and whtles 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-
bles same as ourselves. poor things,
and II she ever wants to rest her
sweet head in a poor woman's bed,
Mary O'Neilrs little room is always
waiting for her
Wood bless herr" I said-it was al
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
was in such dread that he might do
so. but sure I am that II he had men
toned Martin at that moment | should
have screamed.
When he rose to go he repeated his
warnings.
You'll remember what said about
being bright and cheerful
"rll try
And keep happy and agreeable
faces about you''
Yes"
Hardly had he left the room when
Alma came sweeping into il, 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 YOU!
But | must not keep you now. dear
est You'll be just crazy to write to
Your husband and tell him all about
It,"
Alma's mother was the next TO Wis
Il me. The comfortable old soul
redoent Of perfume and glittering
with diamonds, began by congratu-
lating herself on her perspicacity.
II knew H." she said When I saw
as how you we're so and so. I said to
Alma as I 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 In 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 to keeT
bright and cheerful and she's such a
happy heart is Alma. So crazy about
YOU, too. You wouldn't believe il. huI
she's actually talking of staying wits
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
/ the bright glitter of the unusually
cold gray eyes behind her gold rim.
med spectacles told me al a glance
| that her visit was not an upselfisf
! one.
To Re Contintsd Tasrnorro\.