Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-06-15

WOH2aRS:
Story
CHAPTER XXXV.

II - wv
are looking very we'll, Margaret.
he said. giving me keen glance, "and
Bruce has grown such big boy" He
was pleased that Junior seemed to re-
member him.
He did not return to the office that
Afternoon, but remained at home with
me, listening to the news from home,
and helping me unpack. He laughed
heartily when / told him what Philip
said was i'm store for us when Junior
was a little older, and looked serious
when | explained that ] just had TO
come back to him, and-the reason.
Roberts tenderness was unfailing
through all the long months when l SO
needed il. but / was often alone.
When Junior was a little over two
years old his baby sister was born. l
often wonder how childless women eA-
dured their lonely lives. The woman
who misses the joy of motherhood fore
goes the most divine experience of life.
Junior was delighted with his BABY
sister. and brought her the wonderful
assortment of toys. including the drum
Philip had given him for her to play
with. When we told him IT would he
some time before she couid play his lit
the lip quivered, and we had hard work
comforting MIN.
What snail we name herr" Robert
asked one night as he stood looking
down at the tiny creature Graded on
my arm.
"Pd like to name her Elizabeth"-af-
ter the mother l had never seen-"and
we could call her Betty. It's such a
darling name for a baby" l replied.
Betty II is" Robert declared.
Roberts pride and JOY in his little
ri acsr1~a n ma
For months we were happy little fam
ily. 1t never occurred to me now to be
Jealous of Holland Lansing. 1 was sure
that Robert loved me, the mother of his
babies, too much to hurt me by caring
for any one else. He was often away
from me, but he was more often willing
to tell me why, even If curtly.
So happy was l that first three months
Of my baby girls life that / did not
even question whether 1T were perma-
nent. Now when 1 look back 1 wonder
did not think it too good to last. The
little bit of happiness which comes to
tighten our despair in deceptive often
times In my Joy 1 forgot that pain
often lurked unseen, and in my sorrow l
failed to remember my joy.
Myrtle Caldwell had been goodness
itself to me, and had spent many whole
days with me before / was able to go
out. so making Roberts absences less
depressing. Holland Lansing was away
on a visit. would not return until an
other month had passed, so 1 put her
and my jealousy from my mind, and de-
termined not to be foolish any longer.
Holland says your husbands man
agement of her affairs has been very
satisfactory" Myrtle remarked. "Gol
know her former lawyer wasn't-well
| ~ n
YOUR handsome brother would take &
notion 10 each other; but l guess there
was some one else with him. else now
could he have helped himself? Holland
certainly has everything a man could
wishAbeauty. money, education, and g
good family"
"I don't think Bruce is intereted-
seriously, j mean. in any one" l re
| turned wishing he would marry Hol
land and take her where Robert would
never see her again.
They'd make an ideal couple" she
replied. and the subject was dropped.
About this time Robert for the frs
| time was appointed to office. He wal
made assistant district attorney. 1 knew
nothing of it until after the appoint
ment He had not once mentioned The
subject to me. Whether II was becaus,
/ of his habit of never talking his affairs
over at home, or because he feared
/ would object and so make him uncom
/ Portable, 7 never knew. When he told
me ] felt hurt, shut out as 1 so Otter
did, but I would not let him see it. Ny
only question was:
How much does 1T pay your"
| | asked, not so much because 7 cared
as that l had to say something.
1.-The salary is very small and II will
mean less time to attend to my Office
business. In fact. think it will NEAR
less money for me. but the experienc,
/ will be invaluable"
But, Robert. 1 don't see with tive
/ babies how we can do With any less
Weren't you foolish to accept?"
| IF l had thought 1t foolish l should
rot have gone in for it."
AS usual / said nothing more, bu
felt chilled and fearful. Was this thu
/ entering wedge into politics, and. 4
/ so. where was my fancied security, m!
/ happiness? AS usual, thinking more o.
myself than of Roberts advancement.
As I look back ! think l tried to b,
as good a wife and mother as 1 wai
able. I think 1 succeeded as a mother
probably for the simple reason that M
| selhshness entered into my love for my
babies; and that I failed as a wife
failed either to be happy myself or t.
make Robert happy in his home life
/ because of that selfshness.