Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-12-29

" HE theater and supper parry
given by Howard Boyd was the
- beginning of a series of similar
entertainments for me. And although
that first party TO which l went passed
almost in a dream. so hewildered was
by unaccustomed sounds and sights, l
learned my way about rapidly in this,
to me, new world of pleasure And in
the beginning it was innocent enough
AS il turned out 1t was my good for
tune that Howard Boyd was a very de-
cent sort of young chap. His father was
one of the richest men in the city. But
Howard himself was comparatively un-
spoiled and naturally clean and whole
some in his tastes OF course, he was
having a good time" as he would have
phrased it, in his own way in taking
girls of Adelaide's and NelPs class TO
theatsrs and suppers.
And, after all, his attentions were not
pointedly or determinedly unpleasant,
as perhaps an older mans might have
been. And quite frankly he had what
Adelaide described as a crush on me.
Freely and frequently he told me he
loved me and he kissed me ardently
and often. Nor was l the least dis
posed to encourage these attentions. He
was very good looking and well bred
youth. when all was said and done, and
I found myself naturally growing very
fond of him. Also, when Howard found
how I loved to go to the theater ana
to dance afterward in one of the hotels
or restaurants and how genuinely |
enjoyed all the false glitter ad gayety
of such places, he arranged many parties
for me.
Sometimes there would be but AIDE
fafde and her sister Nell and two other
men. Once or twice / went with Howard
alone But thus far, perhaps because or
some good fortune, perhaps, as | have
said before, because of Towards innate
decency my new found delights re-
mained unspoiled by any unpleasant IN
cident If i had asked i would have
said unhesitatingly that certainly young
men of rich families took girls who
worked in shops to dinners and to thea
ter PARTIES, for motor rides and the
dansants with no less respectful thought
than they might give their sisters or
the girl friends of their own class. /
was to live and learn. The main result,
however lust now of all my gayetles
was to begin to tell upon my health.
Because Howard liked me so much he
was anxious for me to go here or there
almost every evening, and when was
not with him l was with some OF ms
friends or acquaintances motoring or al
kew CRATE in the door before 1880 or
in the morning. And if / were to be on
time for my work at Silberstelns II
was necessary for me to rise at 6:49.
AT first nv abundant health and vitality
withstood the inroads upon them Theh
gradually circles began to form beneath
my ewes, and the healthy color began
to leave my cheeks. Shortly my mother
noticed my appearance. 1t did not take
\ Ill 4
"Diana." she said, "you look five years
Older since you have been out so much
i'm the evening. 1t is beginning to tell
on your looks. You will either have to
give up work or not accept so many
invitations"'
"oh, mother" I protested, I'm having
such a good time"
'rweu. then" she answered, give up
YOUR silly work. You do not earn
enough to matter anyway, and you GER
tainly cannot go on staying out late
and getting up early in the morning"
I paused thoughtfully.
,'Rut 7 never would have had any
good times at ALL" said, IF l hadn't
gone to work and met Adelaide, in the
first place. It was she who introduced
me to Howard Boyd and all those other
boys"
''Diana," said my mother, zone of the
greatest weaknesses of woman is her
inability to drop a situation when she
has all the good out of it. Your work
has served it's purpose. Let 1t go. You
have a start now among young friends
that YOU like. That is enough for must
tell you again and again that nothing is
half so important to a girl as her looks.
If Won lose them you lose everything!
You must presp~ve them at any cost
glanced a. - reflection of my face
In the mirror er the mantel. L saw
that NV eyes had lost something OF
their brightness. My lips dropped In
tired line. -
.sPerhaps you are right, mother"
admitted.
(To be continued)