Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-12-01

NEVERTHELESS my mother adj
m justed herself comparatively
- easily TO our changed circum-
stances. She had that strange firm
ness 10 resist work. so common among
women; but not that firmness which
drives onward to the task. Out IF a
clear sky the bolt had fallen upon us.
My father, who had lavished every
luxury upon my mother. had died
suddenly. Because he had spent his
all upon her in his lifetime he left
US now with nothing. There were
my mothers wonderful Jewels and
her clothes; the furnishings of her
house; that was all
AT first my mother had spoken
vaguely OF going on the stage again.
She had even made a half-hearted ef-
fort or two in that direction. But
she was not as young as in the days
when men had gone mad for the
touch Of her hand; the days when my
father had seen her. loved her, and
married her To take up the career
OF q dancer again would have meant
hardship. II would have written upon
her horizon the. word she loathed-
work" She cried little. She was
furious for months. Then she shrug-
ged her shoulders and resigned her
self to fate
I'VE shall take a large house and
furnish it. my little DIANA" she told
me, "and we shall rent the rooms. We
shall rent them to charming gentlemen
who shall pay US well. And we shall
keep half Of the house for ourselves.
The money we get from the other half
will pay our rent and clothe and feed
US. 1t is, what do you call it here In
America, the come-down socially; but,
Va hon ha a
keep ourselves with no effort, and if We
attract the right kind of men to the
house, who knows? You shall have
the chance, my little Diana, to make
the marriage that is BETTING your
beauty"
II do not look like my father?' 1
asked.
My mothers head went back on her
rounded throat and she laughed.
The good God forbid" she told me.
Then she gazed at me searchingly.
"No," she said. %You are like me.
You have the power to bend men
to your will. It's there in your face
and your body. Do you understand?
II you shall win. The world shall be
your oyster. But" and she shook her
finger at me, lit is all you have, that
face Of yoursi Don't give 1t away"
1 remember little enough of our NOV
ing. 1 remember only that in our new
quarters, smaller than our home had
been, the rooms seemed crowded; heavy
with elaborate furnishings that we had
brought with us. And now there were
portions of the house into which /
might not stray in my childish games.
There were rooms that must be kept
aired and orderly. awaiting occupants,
who should insure our livelihood for
us.
Ny mother, with a streak of practi-
cability, had placed advertisements of
our suites in all the papers. And so
for a week or more after We were set
tied our doorbell rang the whole day
long. NY mothers maid. who had re-
manned with US, was kept busy tramp
ing up and down the stairs followed
by strange men, who stared At the fur
niture which had once been part of
our own home; who shook their heads
or nodded and talked much of prices.
why are all these people who are
coming to live with us men, mother?"
1 asked. "Are there to be no little
girls to play with me?"
mo. my little DIANA" my mother
explained. I'VE are two women, you
and /, and since ii Is to men that We
must look for our livelihood and our
happiness why should we bother with
the women and children who can give
us nothing?"
"But il would make me happy to have
a little girl to play with 1 protested.
Youth. and what it thinks it needs,
like all else. passes" my mother told
me. with a shrug. ut is the want CT
money which always remains"