Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-06-29
Ono
WOH2aRS:
Story
CHAPTER xiv.

Perhaps" / answered dolefully. Had
1 realized what a comfort. what a de-
pendable creature Norah was to be,
should have replied differently. but just
then l saw nothing but trouble ahead
She worshIpped children. She would
far rather romp with Bruce than wash
dishes or scrub. Nothing was a task
when done for them.
Have patience, Margaret" Robert
said when 1 complained, Rome wasn't
built in a day"
That Norah was adaptable l soon dis
covered. and without my scarcely re-
alizing 1t she soon began to take the re-
sponsibility Of the Homework and also
the marketing. The latter she did more
cheaply than 1 could, so let her man.
age the buying entirely. We lived bet
ter at less cost than before she came.
exclusive of wages, of course.
A few days after Norah was installed
Tod Freeman came unheralded to call
upon me. 1t had been a miserable morn
ing too bad for the children to go out.
and they had fretted at the unusual
confinement. ] felt forlorn and dreary,
and. in spite of the storm. was think
ing of going I'D on the hill to spend an
hour with Myrtle.
1 opened the door myself, glad of any
interruption. / only stood and stared,
so surprised was /.
May I come in, Margaret" he ask
ed smilingly, and suddenly 1 remembered
that the last time he had called l had
forbidden him to come and that brother
Bruce had made 1t very unpleasant for
me because Tod had disregarded my
wishes.
1 perhaps should have protested, but
was so glad to see him-or anyone
Yes, do. Where in the world did
you come from this stormy day."
II only got in this morning; n little
business brought me. But you're not
looking well. Margaret. Anything spe-
cial the matter? You haven't been Ill,
have your"
mo, indeed" / replied, but the COM
miserating tone and words were almost
more than l could bear. Robert says
1 am looking miserably. He had the
effrontry the other day to tell me how
old 1 looked"
"old! let's see how old are you, Mar
garet?"
twenty-five"
almost old enough to retire." he
teased. II can't realize that you are
the mother of two children"
Just then Bruce set up howl. and
baby Betty joined him. Excusing my
self I ran to see what caused the dis
turbance, and when 1 came back brought
Bruce with me.
What a little man he is" Tod ex-
claimed, as he urged him to sit on his
lap, offering the inducement every man
offers to a child-the privilege of hear
ing his watch tick.
Tod remained only a short time.
But his coming had broken the dull
ok haff sab n
task in a very different spirit. .-gs..
We women, 1t seems to me- could
be divided into two classes-those who
are strong enough to face pain, life,
and bear II If 1t cannot be conquered,
and those who, whenever hurt, turn
impatiently to the first panacea at
hand. belonged to the latter class.
If life were a cut and dried matter
in which one could be sure of meas
ure ingredientS-so much pain, so
much worry, so much Joy-one would
not be required to exert any particular
strength of character. II one could
consider life in a dispassionate way.
with nerves under control, learn to be
patient and wait, it would be the most
comfortable Characteristic we could ev-
er acquire.
Tod hadn't asked me any questions
but intuitively 1 knew he thought my
marriage an unhappy one. l had
brought myself to the point where l
felt l was very unfairly treated. This
state of mind justified me in my own
eyes In seeking consolation where l
could find IT. Hence l was not angry
that Tod Freeman should in a way
sympathize with me because of Rob-
erts failure to make me happy.
Tod had many faults. but he was a
man who never said more than he
meant, and who always meant fully as
much as he said. 1 was almost ready
TO make him my oonfidant, to ask him
TO help me find a way to take Robert
away from the two women who were
making me so miserable. But l shall
always be thankful l kept my own
counsel, that 1 said nothing OF my do
nestle matters. l had a feeling that
Robert would never forgive such a
breach of faith.
How I enVied Myrtle Caldwell her
sweet sane outlook on life!
whats the use of worrying, Mar
garet." she would say when 1 would
fret over something utterly beyond my
control, vet trifling in itself. Worry
never gets you anywhere, nor any
thing" One day she turned me around
and held me before the mirror. See,
Margaret, that's what worry does you
look worn out; old! Now stop it!' and
nv sunny-natured friend shook me
laughingly.
"Tn try, Myrtle. I must try! Rob-
ert, too, told me the other day how old
and plain I was getting"
I'm glad he did. It's time someone
woke you up"