Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-07-10

and marvelled at Roberts extravaganza.
Yet, when / had spoken of ii he had
answered carelessly. as if it amounted
to but little in his scheme of things.
when shall you start to bufld?' l
asked
Almost Immediately! That is l shall
get an architect to work There can
be nothing done about the actual build
ing until the frost is out of the ground.
What architect shall you employ
"A man named Grerson. L nave
given him general idea of what 1
want. When the plans are drawn ne
will submit them to me-"
eff you are going to build home
Robert do let me have something 10
say about it. There are so many htIle
conveniences that a. woman KNOWS OF
and that can be put in at little or no
additional cost Then, too, we must plan
for the children. They are growing tasl'
and soon will need their own rooms.
"Of course. l intended to have you APP
prove the plans, dear. You do not sup
pose for an instant that ] would bullo
a home without consulting you? WhY'
am building it for you. The deed VIII
he in your name.
was speechless. This was so like
Roberts inconsistency. He would make
me perfectly miserable: then turn
around and do something big to make
things comfortable for me. If only ne
could have realized that woman DAILY
life is made up of the little thlngs' anu
that the doing of one big thing coulo
not make I'D for the constant misery
and unhappiness caused by his neglect
of me, and the small menities of Ire
"Aren't YOU pleased?' he finally asked.
"Of course I'm pleased" l answered
1n
to have a nice new house after living In
this old tumble-down place for so long
And, Robert, do let us cut away the
trees from in front the door. feel
smothered every time | look at these.
"You shall have them cut away just
as YOU wish For myself | should pre-
serve every old tree on the place. But
as 7 said IT will be your house, and
want you to be pleased
From that moment the new house took
up a great share of my thoughts. Robert
often laughed when upon coming nome
late he would find me bent over the table
drawing plans for my new house.
Trying to steal the architects job
Margaret" he laughed.
"No, but 7 believe l could plan a
house, all right"
80 have many others, both men and
women. only to find that had they en-
ployed a capable architect they would
not only have saved money, but would
have had a more satisfactory house. But
go ahead with your plans. Grierson
will be over in a few days to submit his.
Perhaps you may be of help to each
other"
l put my arms around Roberts neck
and kissed him. He returned my ca
ress.
I'm very glad you are pleased about
the house, Margaret, and I believe your
health has improved since your mind
has been occupied in planning for it.
You certainly look better and-younger."
The three years we had been mar
ried had made no perceptible change in
Robert. A man who lives according to
routine, and a certain grim idea of duty.
hardens into conformity with his mold,
rather than shrinking away from it. L
had grown older, much older, because of
the constant irritation of mind; an irri-
tation foreign to Robert under any cir
cumstances. Robert was still the in
domitably ambitious lawyer whom I had
married. He was just as anxious for
advancement, perhaps more so, as in
those first months of our married life
when he sat grim and determined for
long, lonely hours waiting for clients to
appear.
His success had brought him a certain
suave satisfaction with himself and had
justified his methods His idea of duty,
life had never changed. | wondered If
1t ever would His profession. his ambi-
lions. were first. The children and
came later.