Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-04-08
TO.DAY'S INSTALLMENT.
Seventy. fourth chapter-COntinued.

Seventy fourth chapter-Continued.
"rhere now" she said you've got
to thank me for this Didn't ! give
you good advice when 1 told you to be
z little blind? It's the only way with
husbands. When Conrad came home
with the news / said, Betsy, must
get away to the poor girl straight To
he sure / had enough on my hands
already. but | couldn't leave you to
strangers, could ~
Hearing no response 10 this ques-
ton Aunt Bridget went on TO say
shat what was coming would be a
bond between me and my husband.
1T always is. II was in my case,
anyway The old colonel didn't be-
have very well after our marriage,
and times and times | was telling my r
self / had made rue bargain; but
when Betsy came ! thought, ! might
have done better. but might have
done worse We have n bond in our
offspring. anyway
Hearing no response to this either,
Aunt Bridget went to to talk of Alma
and her mother. Was not this the
woman ] suspected with my husband
the young one with the big eyes
and the quality toss with herr" Then
why did / have a person like that
about the house?
'gf YOU need bright and cheerful
company what's amiss with your
aunt and your first cousin? Some peo-
pie are selfish, but | thank the saints
| don't know what selfishness is, I'm
willing 10 do for you what ! did for
your poor mother, and ] can't say
more than that, can II"
must have made some kind Of re-
sponse for Aunt Bridget went on to
say it might be a sacrifice, but then
she wouldn't be sorry to leave the
Big House either.
I'm twenty years there. and now
Ian to be a servant to my own step
child. Dear heart knows IL can bear
It much longer. The way that Messy
is carrying on with your father IS
something shocking. / do believe
she'll marry the man some day"
To escape from a painful topic, I
asked after my fathers health.
Worse and worse, but Conrad's
news was like laughing gas to the
man He would have come with me
to-day, but tho doctor wouldn't hear
of It, He'll come soon, though, and
meantime he's talking and talking
about great entertainment"
Entertainments
ITO celebrate the forthcoming
event, Of course. though nobody is TO
know that except ourselves, II seems
Just house warming In honor OF
your coming home after your mar
rage that's all Its TO be on the out
side, anyway
made some cry OF pain, and Aunt
Bridget said
Shocked at Change.
"Oh. / know what you're going 20
say why doesn't ne wait? I'll tell
YOU why IL youVl promise not TO wills
per word to anyone Your father Is
a sick man, my dear Let him say
what he likes when Conrad talks
about cancer, he knows Deaths hand
il over him. And thinking il may
fall before your time has come he
wants to take time by the forelock
and see a sort OF fulhllment Of the
hope OF his nfe-and you know what
that is"
II was terrible. The position in
which I stood toward my father was
now so tragic that (wicked as II Isl
] prayed with all my heart that ]
might never look upon his face again.
was compelled to do SO. Three
DAYS after Aunt Bridgets visit my fa-
Their came 10 see me The day was
fine and ! was walking on the lawu
when his big car came rolling up The
drive
I was shocked to see the change in
him His face was CHASTITY white hts
lips were blue, his massive and pow
erful head seemed to have sunk into
his shoulders, and his limbs were SO
thin that his clothes seemed to hang
ON them but the stern mouth was
there still and so was tho masterful
lift Of the eyebrows
Coming over TO meet mo with an
uncertain step, he said.
cold Conrad was for keeping me n
bed, but ! couldn't take rest without
putting a sight on you"
After that. and some plain speech
out OF tho primitive man he always
was and will be (about it's being good
for a woman TO have children because
Il saved her from losing her stom-
ach" over imaginary grievances, ne
led me, with the same half-contempt-
nous tenderness which he used to
show 60 my mother, back 10 the house
and into the drawing room.
Alma and her mother were there
the one writing al q desk, the other
knitting on the Sofa and they rose as
my father entered. hat he waved them
back to their places
"Set down, ma am. Take your seat.
mother I'm only here FOR a minute
To talk TO my gel about her great re-
ceptiou.'
Reception said Alma
Hasn't she told YOU about it, he
said. and being answered that had
not he gave "a rough outline OF his
project, whereupon Alma, whose
former attitude toward my father
had changed TO one of flattery and
subservience, lifted her hands and
cried
How splendid Such an insp.ra-
ton only think my love. you were
TO be kept rls5t and cheerful. and
what could be better for chat pur-
pose?'
IN the torment OF my soul ! urged
one ohjeF ton after another-it would
be expensive we could not afford H.
who asks you 10 afford it2 It's
my affair isn't it, said my father
was unwell, and therefore un-
able 10 undertake the hard work ~
such an entertainment but that was
the worst Of excuses. for Alma
jumped iu with an offer OF assistance
my dearest child" She said. "you
know how happy I shall be 20 helr
you. In fact, I'll do all the work
and you shall have all the glory"
There you are, them cried my
father, slapping me on the shoulder
end then. turning 10 Alma. he told
her to set TO work without a days
delay