Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-12-05

T II seemed to me that Mr.. Atklhs
stood and stared at me for hours
The light from his rooms hau II
Illuminated the whole hall Wheh ne n''"
thrown omen his door. And there peloI :
him | stood, a frightened chllu WIN ~ NJ
hair down her back in single pralu' her
kinoono about her shoulders lrlsh-
.l,,od hind who little dreamed how her
actions might be construed. me -
gesture that Mr.. Atkins made wheh ne
realized the situation was quick anu
rougb Plainly il meant go! 30 even
after this terrible risk for ms SAKE the
risk of offending or annoying my moIh-
er. he was not going 10 listen 10 WIG" a
/ had to say. He would not near me
tell him that I was sorry l hau 80
when he had kissed me. L struggled
with the tears in my throat. Then III d
voice so small scarcely heard IL my
self, made my plea: 5000
please don't be angry" L begged
ooh please, PLEASE let me come IN
and tell you how sorry L am II nave
hurt youi 1 love the furs you gave me
1t was so kind and good of you TO THINK
of me. 1 don't know why l cried when
Won kissed me- Maybe a flash OF
something very like the truth came 10
me in the darkness of my Ignorance
"nnavbe" I said, IL cried because was
bappy. Maybe 1 was glad because L
thought you cared for me little On
Mr. Atkins, after father died there
never been anybody at all. Won't you
forgive me if 1 have done anything l
should not?'
MIR. Atkins had stood silent listening
to me. Now he put out his hand i'm
pulsively. Heegrasped my wrist.
Come in, child" he said. Come in.
You can't stand there like that lie
glanced nervously up and down the nali'
Suppose somebody should see you.
let myself be drawn into his room
and he closed the door after me. Now
I was really glad. Some of the color
came back into my face. SO he was
not going to condemn me unheard. He
would listen to what l had to say. A
little weak now, because my daring was
passinC. l sank into a chair. l raised
a grateful glance to meet Mr.. Atkins
eyes. Suddenly 1 saw him smile.
81 had gone to bed" L told him, but
1 could not sleep because I knew you
were angry with me. After heard
mother go to her room could not bear
il any longer. 1 came up to ask you
if YOU would not try to forgive me?'
Mr.. Atkins was pacing the floor nerv-
ously He returned to me and laid MS
hand lightly on my head.
"Why, kiddie," he said, IL wasn't an
gry. II thought you felt very much
as though were your ldlhel' uluh
you?"
"oh, yes" I said. Yes, I did. You
are so good"
well" continued Mr.. Atkins slowly,
81 wish / could make it plain to you,
but I'm afraid / can't. You see, the
trouble with you, Diana, is you are
much too pretty. However you may
feel, you are going to have a very hard
time to make men feel as though they
were your father. They will forget 1t,
my dear, if you let them kiss you. And,
since I'm not an utter scalawag, /
thought I'd not run the risk of kissing
YOU again. That's all. Now, then, my
dear. I'm not a bit angry, but you must
, go straight back to your own little
room"
"Oh, please, Mr.. Atkins" I cried, mot
yet! Not for a few moments! l don't
understand at all what you are saying
| but 1 want to be sure you are not angry
| with me-"
The man before me took long breath
He turned toward the table.
well, then" he said, ''if ] give you
something nice to eat and let you stay a
very few moments, will you believe
am not annoyed with your"
He came and stood before me.
81 think" he said very quietly, eve
can manage it this once, but you must
never do this again, Diana"