Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-04-09
seventy-sixth Chapter.

TIE was very pale The look Of
herdness, almost OF brutality,
which pierced his manner at
normal moments had deepened, and /
/ could see at a glance that he was
nervous. His monocle dropped of it.
self from his slow gray eyes, and the
white fat fingers which replaced it
uembled
Without shaking hands or offering
any other sort Of salutation, ne
plunged Immediately into the matter
that was uppermost in his mind.
II am still at a loss to account for
! this affair of your fathers he said.
/ "Of course, ! know what It Is sup
! posed to be-a reception in honor of
/ our home coming That explanation
may or may not be sufficient for these
/ stupid islanders, but it's rather too
! thin for me, Can you tell me what
| Your father means by it,
/ / knew he knew what my father
meant. so / said. trembling like a
sheep that walks up TO barking dog:
Hadn't YOU better ask that ques-
| ton Of my father HIMSELF
Perhaps ! should If he were here,
| but he isn't, so l ask YOU. Your faith
en- is strange man There's no
knowing what crude things he will
not do to crafty his primitive in
stiucts But he does not spend five
or ten thousand pounds for nothing.
He isn't a fool exactly"
Thank YOU" | said. could not
help #. II was forced out of me.
My husband fiinched and looked at
me Then the bully in him, which al
ways lay underneath. came upper
most
Look here. Mary" he said u
came for an explanation. and intend
To have ono. Your father may give
this affair what gloss he pleases, but
| YOU must know as wen as do what
! umor and report are saying, Is il the
fact that the doctor has made certain
| statements about your condition. and
that your father Is giving this enter
tainment because well, because
he is expecting an heir2"
70 my husbands Rstonishment
answered:
Yes"
$50 YOU admit it, Then perhaps
/ Nou'I be good enough to tell me how
/ chat condition came about
knowing he needed no explanation,
4 | made no answer
cant YOU speak" he said
BUT still ! remained silent
/ You know what our relations
/ have been since our marriage so
ask YOU again how does that condi-
I ton come aboutT"
/ was now trembling more than
! ever but kind OF forced courage
came TO me- and ] said
why do YOU ask? You seem 10
know already"
/ ~ know what anonymous letters
/ lave told me, II that's what YOU
mean But I'm your husband. and
! have a right to know from you. How
/ does Your condition come about !
/ ask YOU 90"
| ! can not say what impulse moved
me at that moment unless il was the
! desire to make q clean breast and an
/ end of everything, but, stepping to
my desk. I took out OF a drawer the
letter which Price had intercepted
and threw IL ON the table.
/ lie took IL up and read it, With the
/ air OF one 10 whom the contents were
not news. and then asked how ! came
I by IT,
/ III was taken out OF the hands o.
woman who was I'm the act OF post
I ing III" I said She confessed that 1t
was one OF a number of such letters
which had been inspired, II not writ
( ten, by your friend Alma
/ My friend Alma!"
YES your friend Alma
! His face assumed a frighuful ex-
/ preston. and he said
so that's how II is 10 be, is IL ,
4 In spite OF the admission YOU have
4 just made. YOU wish 10 imply that
this (holdiug our the letter. Els q
trumped up affair, and that Alma is
an the bottom Of &c. You're going 20
brazeu 10 out are YOU. and shelter
your condition under your position as
q married woman"
was so taken by surprise BY this
infamous suggestion that | could not
speak TO deny IL. and my husband
went on 20 say;
But it doesn't matter a rush to me-
who is az the bottom OF the accuse
tion contained in this letter There
only one thing of any consequence -
Is 30 true"'
To Be Continued To morrow.