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

in our house After that night when
my mother had opened his door to
find me eating cake and having lemonade
with him, and had created a scene over
it, l never saw the man again. My
mother took care of that. Before me
she asked him to leave her house. AL
though she never discussed with me the
manner of his going, 1 was sent for a
walk with her maid three days later and
when 1 came back the suite on the ser
ond floor front was vacant The furni-
ture, which was my mothers, remained.
But the little intimate touches that
had made the room seem livable-a coat
across a chair; some room slippers be-
fore the fireplace, a ha1f-smoked pipe
upon the mantel-all had vanished.
1 wandered miserably through the
several rooms and cried silently but
copiously Perhaps it was my red and
swollen eyes that night at dinner thar
made my mother breach the subject
Mr.. Atkins name had not been men,
toned between us since the night
when she had driven me before heE
down the stairs from his suite. She
had told me then she never had dream
ed l was not in bed in my own room
until she had gone into it to get some
had found my bed unoccupied. At once
she had looked in my wardrobe, but my
hat and coat were there. She guessed
must be somewhere in the house
Quietly she had gone through the halls
until she had heard my voice coming
from the other side of Mr.. Atkins closed
door.
1 think, as 1 look back upon it now
that probably our gay tones had reassur-
ed her She had known in her own
heart even before her hand had touched
the knob that no very terrible scene
was to confront her eyes, However
according to my mothers lights, had
done something foolish. When he was
gone she did try to explain to me a lit
tie what 1 had done. Unfortunately,
was at the formative period of my life
1 was the twig which would be bent for
the tree to incline. My mothers queer
ly distorted philosophy of life / took
from her lips as gospel. 1 even began to
get some inkling of what it was all
about and tried to follow 1t.
ut is not so much, DIANA" she told
me. that you did anything really wrong
in taking supper with Mr.. Atkins. II
is more that you did something very
silly. 30 try to understand! Men only
value what they must pay for highly
The more you give the less they care
Listen and I'll prove it to you.
Did not Mr.. Atkins give you that
set of furs before ever he mad so mucn
as touched your hand? When you went
to his room and had supper with him.
when you let him kiss you-oh, do not
deny it am not a fool and 1 know
men! l am sure that he did kiss you,
l ask you, what did he give in return
for your kiss? Nothing"
But mother protested, "Mr. At
kins did send me those two lovely books
by Mark Twain
-Four dollars worth of books" my
mother replied cruelty. You are a
little silly head What is that? 1t IS
not as much as a really good box of
candies! 1 tell you, Diana, if you are
going to give away the only thing
you have-your prettiness and charm
for nothing. you will be bankrupt before
you are twenty
But mother" 1 said in very small
voice. It's so sweet to have any one
care for you"
With a quick. Spanish gesture my
mother snapped her fingers in my face.
"Pah" she said, 'lovei Can you
eat it? Can you wear it? Don't be a
fool, Diana"
(To be Continued)