Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-12-22
No. eve Can't Be
Friends


y Although the devil may nd oc- y
= cupation for idle hands to do" y
= it is noticeable that the occupa- y
y ton is never in the form Of hon .
. est labor. .
Ae~~%~%%~~DA'>%- q >
II OR a few moments there was a
tableau. Lucy, her face very
white, sat in a frozen attitude
at the dinner table in her ooms, where,
few moments ago, we had taken our
places so happily. a man, a stranger
to me, stood in the doorway smiling at
us both comically. For myself / was
utterly at loss in the situation. l had
not the faintest idea who this person
was, nor why he had entered my friend
apartment with key, nor why his pres
ence should so deeply disturb her. After
all, it was Lucy's colored maid who
brought us to ourselves. She went to-
ward the strange man in i matter-of-
! fact way.
Take your hat and coat, Mr.. Dick?
she asked. Chilly out tonight, sir"
yes" said the gentleman. Then he
turned. We'll, you don't seem very glad
to see me- Lucy"
'You-you said you weren't coming to-
night, Dick" stammered my girl friend
as she rose from her place. II didn't
expect you. You startled me-"
And then, apparently regaining her
poise:
This is Diana--you remember L spoke
to you about her? This-this is Mr. Fell
loves. Diana"
l murmured something in response to
the introduction. Lucy's maid had taken
the mans overcoat and hat and stick,
and now he sank into a chair near US
apparently at home.
I've had my dinner, thanks, Lou"
he said, airily, and it crossed my mind
in amazemeent that nobody had asked
him whether he had or not You girls
go on and eat. I'll sit here and watch
YOU" Then over his shoulder careless
ly to the maid: Might bring me a cold
bottle of beer. I'm dry as fish out of
water"
He was good looking young man,
this Mr.. Fellowes, after his own fash
ion. was too young to know his fea-
lures were little coarse, though regu-
lar and not unpleasant. He was we'll
dressed and his ease of manner, al
though surprising to me under the cir
cumstances, could not but be attractive
to me. Had I been asked to describe
him l would have called him "a man of
the world"
But entirely unembarrassed as he
seemed to be, his presence had some
how completely put a damper on Lucy's
spirits and through her upon my own.
Though but a few moments before Mr..
FellOwes had entered the room, Lucy de-
clared she was Starving" she now push
ed her plate away from her with the
food upon it almost untouched. / could
feel that she was trying to amuse me;
put me at my ease and some instinct
told me it was an effort to do so. Now
and then my friend would address some
remark to Mr. Fellowes But he was
too comfortable with a cigar and a bot
tie of beer to make much of an effort
to help her out. l learned from him
that 'it had not been much of a day
downtown" lawfully uneven market"
stopped and had dinner with a couple
of the boys on his way uptown" 'felt
rather seedy after the dance last night"
The conversation languished and died.
There was an awkward pause. Then
Mr. Fellowes stretched himself comfort
ably and yawned.
Say, Lou" he said, guess I'll get my
smoking Jacket, if you don't mind" He
arose slowly and turned toward the 9TH
er room. Miss Diana won't mind if
make myself at homer
Again l saw the color recede from
Lucy's lips and cheeks. Again l felt
utterly at sea in the situation. Yet
somehow / felt that something was de-
manded of me, and strangely enough be-
meath all my own feelings was tucked
away a pity and a sympathy for Lucy.
| wanted to help her out" as l would
have phrased it,. Yet l had not the
faintest idea what was expected of me
nor what to do Perhaps after all 1 did
the best l could. l arose from my place
beside the dinner table.
do make yourself at home. Mr.. Eel
loves" l said. I'm sure Lucy doesn't
want to be left alone and have to go.
l promised my mother to be home
early"
"Oh, Diana!" exclaimed Lucy in a low
voice.
Promised mother eh?' repeated Mr..
FellOwes, with a hearty laugh as though
1 had said something clever. That's a
good one! Always keep your promises
to mother, little girl"
Don't Dick" said Lucy sharply.
She followed me silently to the room
where l had left my coat and hat. Nor
did she speak as / put them on before
her mirror. Then as l turned TO go:
1--WE had an awfully good time" l said
conventionally.
ooh, DIANA" whispered Lucy again
under her breath. I'm so sorry. l
thought we could be friends"
why, we can be-" l exclaimed. eve
are; aren't WEEP
And / leaned to kiss her.
She looked at me and shook her head.
NO" said Lucy. Not now. We can't
be friends after all"