Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-01-26

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| u 1 stood quivering with indigna-
ton, glazing at MIR. Adams. What
ever else L was, 1 also was pretty quick
witted. 1t had taken me but an instant
to realize that, after all, Mr.. Adam s
kisses were not compliments. L pushed
him from me violently. He did not seem
upset at my sudden change of manner.
Well" he said in his light, airy way.
whats the trouble? Don't you like
to be found out? You couldn't get
away with it long, you know"
/ ~ don't know what you mean" l
stammered furiously. Get away with
what? You've no right to kiss
me and talk to me like this!'
| Mr. Adams sank on a garden seat
that was near him.
"Oh, f1ddle-dee-dee, my dear" he said.
Don't be silly. That's all right with
some people, you know, but l wasn't born
yesterday You're a very sweet little
girl but he paused, you're bit out
of your element here, aren't you?" he
asked. You haven't known Cora Hen
derson very long, have your
'I've known Mrs. Henderson long
while!" L lied promptly. She is Mr..
Colby's sister. I've been out here a
whole week and l don't know what you're
talking about"'
SN~A-
Mr. Adams. Il know Henry Colby
pretty we'll" He looked at me shrewd-
Ily He's rather a fool about women"
| he said Il know his line of talk. Met
you and said you had possibilities; that
all you needed was chance Oh, he
does it every so often, my dear. Then
he calls in Cora to help him out. Once
in a while L will say for him, that 1t
does turn out all right. Now, come on.
tell me the truth for once and shame
the devil. Where have you been working
What shop / mean, or" and his eyes
narrowed as he looked at me, haven't
YOU been working at all?"
L felt as though this man were look
ing straight through me into the very
core of my mean little heart But
made a last grasp at my dignity.
81 live at home with my mother" l
told Mr.. Adams. And 1 think you're
perfectly horrible to talk to me as you
dor'
Mr.. Adams threw back his head and
laughed.
Did mother give you the dress you
have on?" he asked. Il gather you are
pretty we'll off, my dear"
1t was the very evening gown Mr..
Levy had given me. Mr.. Adams's'
question fairly made me writhe. Strug.
gle as might, 1 felt the hot blood surge
up my throat and over my face.
e L" 1 stammered.
Mr. Adams broke in upon me-
'Oh don't bother, my dear" he said.
Cant you see we can be perfectly good
friends if only you will stop acting?"
He arose from his place and came to-
ward me.
why" he said as his face ,came
closer. your lips are pretty enough TO
kiss any time, in spite of their fibs."
Again he kissed me and then drew me
down beside him on the bench.
Now" he said comfortably as he
held my hand, we're friends, aren't
we? Let's be honest with each other"
There was a pause. My mind was
working furiously. I was trying to sort
this incident and put it in its proper
place.
How did you know L asked,
How did you know the kind of girl I
ann
my dear" he told me, 81 really
couldn't explain exactly. It's a veneer,
a kind of look that girl who lives as
you do comes to have about her. II
isn't clothes You could take Cora Hen
derson's gown and hat and put them on
you and still you'd be stamped"
He was making me very miserable.
Why" 1 asked, and my throat felt
dry.
'Oh, if you want me to be very sem
timental," Mr.. Adams said, 81 suppose
it's really the quality of your soul that
can't be hidden. But it's a good enough
little soul to cuddle, so you should
worry"
But what can do?" asked
What can 1 do? 1 want to be nice
like other girls! ] don't like people
not to like mel"
We'll" said Mr.. Adams slowly.
that's easy Why don't you work for
what you get?'
Again that horrible word-''work'-.
the word my mother had told me pretty
woman should forget. Why did nj
these people want to make it so hard for
me to be nice? l arose abrutly from
where I had been sitting.
81 don't want to work. I cried and
stamped nv foot. I'll only get old
and ugly and worn out if I work! don't
want tor
well. don't do it them said Mr..
Adams soothingly. "Only, you can't
have your cake and eat 1T too. If you're
not willing to work you must not expect
people to treat you with the respect
they would tender to a worker.