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

nifcant 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 grey head knew what Alma
hal 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 I noticed that his face bright
ened a. 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 saving something tina =
would be very GRATEFUL he told me
what ] knew already, and 1 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
IQliN 10 lne future.
You must have pleasant surround
ings and the society of agreeable peo-
pie-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 gem
eral topics-my father, whose condi-
ton made his face very grave ano
then his wife. Christian Ann, who's
name caused his gentle old eyes u
CLEAN with sunshine.
She had charged him with mes
sage to me
TEL her" she said, 81 shall never
forget what she did for me in the au-
tumn. and whites and whites 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 IL she ever wants to rest her
sweet head In a poor wNman's bed,
Mary O'Neill's little room is always
waiting for her
God bless her!" I said-it was all
could say-aud then, to my great
relief. he talked on other subjects.
The one thing | was afraid Of was
that ne might speak OF Martin.
Heaven alone. which looks into the
deep places Of a woman's heart i'm her
hour of sorest trial knows why |
was in such dread that he might do
so. but sure am that IL he had men
toned Martin AT that moment should
have screamed.
When he rose TO so he repeated his
warnings
you'll remember what ! said about
being bright and cheerful
I'm try"
And keep happy and agreeable
faces about YOU
Yes"
Hardly had he left the room when
Alma came sweeping into it, fun Of
her warmest and insincerest Congrat-
Ulatons.
eTharel" she cried with an the bit
ter honey IN her tongue Wasn't !
right I'm sending for the doctor2 such
news. too on. happy happy YOU.
But I must not keep YOU now, dear
est You'u be just crazy to write 10
ycur husband and tell him all about
H."
Alma's mother was the next to Wis
10 me. The comfortable old soul,
redolent Of perfume and ghttering
with diamonds. began by coneratu-
latng herself on her perspicacity
81 knew it" she said when saw
as how YOU were so and SO, I said 10
Alma as I was sure YOU We're that
way. Impossible said Alma but it's
us married women 10 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
1.-THE doctor says you're to keen
bright and cheerful and she's such
happy heart, Is Alma. So crazy about
YOU. tool You wouldn't believe It, bur
shes actually talking of staying with
You Until the December salling. at
an events
The prospect Of having Alma two
months longer 90 probe my secret
soul as with "a red-hot iron. seemed
enough TO destroy me hu, 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 spectac'es told me at "a glance
that her visit Was not an unseldsh
one
To Be Continued To morrow.