Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-04-05
American Sunday Monthly Magazine Section

came drifting to him. tie ClenChed his teeth
to suppress a sob. Just one kiss, at least, "
she said, emboldened by the dimness.
Suddenly he caught her to his breast.
You do love me now, don't you? he cried.
Don't you, my little Olga?"
81 do do, she murmured. "And no
matter what you did or what became of us,
I'd still love you"
He drew away in alarm. Then he realized
it could have been no more than some chance
fOreboding that made her put the situation
50 exactly into words. "No-you wouldn' t
you couldn't" he said. But you do love
me now" Under his BREATH At least |
did have her! They can kick me down to
hell, but they can t take that away from me. "
No matter what you did" she persisted
soemnly; and he knew her instinct had felt
some part of the truth. "I'll love you al
ways always Jack"
That's good" cried he, lightly He
hadn't the faintest temptation to tell her
Crowd EN-, cro7od 'em-that had ever been
his MOTTO He would hold up his hand,
would play it to the last card. He was sure
to lose; he had lost already. But he'd not
throw down his hand-not he He kissed
her again, tenderly, cheerfully. Good
night, kitten, he said.
She drew in her breath sharply-a kind of
childlke sob. "What is it?" he asked.
'I-I love you-So!" she murmured.
A knife thrust could not have caused a
keener pain. Good night" he muttered,
rushing into his own room. Every nerve in
his body was jumping. But, as if her eyes
were seeing, he flung off his evening clothes,
whistling softly, splashed careless about in
the bathroom, rolled into bed like man in a
hurry to get the sleep that is impatiently
awaiting him.
He lay until his nerves rebelled against the
restraint; then he rose closed the door be-
tween the bedrooms and with stealthy step
paced the door until, toward seven, he heard
her stirring. He began to Dress making a
great deal of noise about it. After shave,
cold plunge and fierce rundown, he felt bet
ter, so vigorous and dominating is body over
mind in youthful health and strength.
Crowd EN-! Crowd 'em!" he said with a
hopeful energy that was not altogether pre-
tense. And, though it was only by deter
mined effort that he kept the cheerful ex-
preston upon his features, the sight of his
apparently care-free countenance in the
glass gave him a further lift After all, it
was by no means the first time he had
dangled in the ragged, raveling edges of
ruin. Its only fear for her that's putting
my nerve on the bum," thought he.
Heretofore she had always come in her
dressing gown to watch him shave. He
wondered why the door between their bed
rooms remained closed, until he remembered
that he was rising much earlier than usual
She's gone back to bed he decided.
Maybe I'll get a chance to make a sneak
without having to face her again. With
out having to face her again. Why, prob
ably he never again would face her, would
see her, his saint, his light, his love. Weak
as a rag he dropped to a chair; and the
mscries of his plight tortured him like
swarm Of rats eating pinioned man alive.
A sound at the door between the bed
rooms; he sprang to his feet, changed his
expression, his whole mien When her eyes
found him, he was at the mirror, making a
bright scarf into a bow at his neck and gaily
whistling Champagne Charley" which
happened to be the barrel organ faVorite of
the moment GU feel better this morn
ing, don't you?" said she, the beautiful
light in her eyes that made him feel as if he
were hearing the music of the great organ
under the lofty arches.
Eyes, indeed, . cried he. He ventured a
look at her. And you?"
"Oh, I'm all right, " she assured him. But
he saw that she was not He didn't like
the heavincss of her cyclid5, the deep red of
the flush in her checks He went to her.
It's warm today" said she nervousy.
And feel a little Xhausted-that's all. !"
He took hold of her arms. Through her
night dress he could feel the fever. She
was i'll! III at last, as the result of worry