Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-10-23
CHAPTER CVIII.

TT was September, and l remember
vet how hot it was. The days were
! Il sultry, with humidity, which made
everything damp. The nights were
breathless and still. Even the weight
of a sheet as covering was unbearable.
In that pitiless, lingering heat Bruce
wilted like some tropical flower, and L
wandered around helpless.
We took him down to the lake, but
he was not as well there as at nome,
so we hurried back. Every contriVance
that could be thought of to make MIN
comfortable had been put in the nur-
sery. and he missed the comfort OBJ
tanned through them, especially at
night.
With wonderful delicacy Harper
Carleton remained away through the
hot spell. But each day he sent me
flowers, books, and often ices Tor the
children. With them he WOULD seno
little notes of sympathy. He told me
that when it became cooler and that L
felt that 1 could receive, him to let MIN
know He always signed hlmsell'
your little friend" and 1 felt that ne
was my friend.
I was sure in my self-plty that L
needed a friend, just such one as
Harner was proving to be. / wonder
why we women never realize how DAN
gerous self pity is. 1t is one OF the
most insidious foes to our peace OF
mind 1t warps our judgment ana
causes us to do and say things we
would never think of doing or saying.
So when I had spent two long, hot
evenings alone. I called Harry Carleton
on the telephone. and asked him to
come up for awhile.
IT am lonely and depressed. 1t is so
hot I have no ambition to go out, and
| am too lazy to entertain. If 1t won't
bore you, come and chat with me a
bit"
Bore me. dear lady" he replied, 1T
is the one thing / should like to do,
He said it so heartily that I was glad
1 had called him, and l at once gave
AEortba orders to serve some iced
drinks to us on the piazza.
This is good of you" l said 10 him.
'T was selfish to ask you to come up
here in this heat But | was SO bored
with my own society, SO sick of my
thoughts that 1 could not help intIlct-
ing myself on the most generous per-
son 1 knew, and that person happened
to be Harper Carleton.
you flatter me-" he responded, but
Joking aside, I want TO thank you for
thinking of me. For if ever poor dew
IL was sick Of his own company L am
he. Come. now. what shall we do TO
forget this internal heat"
II sm absolutely barren of ideas,
I replied. What can you suggest? l
told Martha to serve Us some iced
drinks. and really that was all L was
capable of My mind refuses to work
when it's SO. hot.
"A cold drink is just the thing! 1
brought along some bonbons and
rev magazine. / thought perhaps We
could read aloud and forget to swell
ter"
That's a good idea" 1 told him,
but 1 choose to be lazy while you read
I couldn't exert myself sufficiently"
ct will read" he answered, just as
Martha came out with a frosted pitch
er Of some sort of fruit cup. He laid
the magazine on the table beside the
swing in which I was sitting.
While Martha fused around with the
glasses, etc, I picked it up and idly
turned the leaves. Alrrost ;ne nr<J
story l noticed was by Phyllis Lawson.
Tempted and Tried" was her caption.
A little pang of envy seized me, as
thought how very quickly her work had
received recognition. 1t probably made
Robert very proud of her. Then I won
dered if Harper too was interested in
her because of her success / was sur
prised that a little feeling of almost
jealousy accompanied the thought. But
realized in a moment that it was not
in the least jealousy of Harper, rather
of Phyllis Lawson's talent. and her pow
err to interest the two men most inti-
mately associated with me, my husband
and my friend
After Martha left US Harper arranged
my pillows and insisted 1 make myself