Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-02-27

ToM FLAHARTY seemed to be

y word or action. y
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IN ON FLAHARTY seemed to be my
next problem. In my fondness
for his sister Helen, indeed for
his whole family, 1 realized 1 had been
drifting on in a way which would war
rant Tom in believing that 1 cared for
him more than = actually did. From
, the first he had SHOWN an interest in
me and fondness for me. Not in the
way of the young blades of the town
who formerly had been my admirerss, but
in n simple, whole-hearted manner that
was very sweet to me. Indeed, l hal
come more or less to lean upon Tom, to
await his judgment and to talk over my
problems with him.
Meanwhile 1 realized he was coming to
care for me very deeply. A year ago his
affection would only have. been a source
of gratifed pride to me. Now my con-
science was fast growing. 1 knew that
since 1 could never love Tom nor marry
him. ii was, unfair to let him go on be-
lieving 1 might. For several day l pom
dered upon the subject. AS matter of fact
Tom had never asked me point blank
to be his wife. l knew, of course, that
he had not done so because he feared as
yet to put his fate to the test. But l
knew just as we'll he was believing it
was only a matter of time before it
would be quite safe for him to do so. To
tell him before he asked me that 1 would
not marry him was too much of girls
problem for me. Yet | felt that some
thing of the kind should be done to save
pride. 1 could not avoid seeing Tom as
might some other, chap because Of my
intimacy with his family. Every time
dined with them, inevitably it was Tom
who walked home with me.
At last there came an opportunity. 1t
had been a warm evening and Tom and
1 had taken circuitous route through
one of the parks from the Flaharty fiat
back to my rooming house. We were
strolling with my hand on his arm in
the good d-fashioned way.
II saw June White the other night"
1 began.
Did you?" said Tom. in half in
terested way.
Tom loved me too much these days to
6istrust me. He knew, because 1 had
told him, that before / met him there
had been several rich young gallants in
my Nife. But he knew, too, that 1 no
longer saw them.
HE wanted me to go to dinner with
him. continued.
Guess you didn't go; did you?" haz-
arded Tom.
mo" 1 confirmed, land I don't think
he will ever ask me again. told him
what 7 really thought of him. 1 told
him that If he had showed an interest
in me while l was i'll l might have felt
some friendship for him but that L knew
and ne knew he only cared for me when
was we'll and looked my best so that
he could take me about to restaurants
and show me or"
That's the stuff" interpolated Tom.
II guess it's true, too
"Of course it is I answered. IT
was just sort of cabaret to him. Just
as your sister Helen told me girls were
to his kind of men. He would never real
ly care for me. He" l paused and
blushed a little in the shadow of the
darkened street, - "he would never
want to marry me-" | said.
well" replied Tom easily. You
wouldn't want to marry him, would
you? So, that's event.
/ took a long breath
NO" / said slowly, 81 wouldn't want
to marry him. But for the same reason
there's isn't anybody I'd want to marry
just now. I don't love anybody enough
for that Maybe I never will"
/ felt Toms arm stiffen beneath my
hand.
"Oh, Dir he said rather huskily. You
don't mean-you don't care for-any
one?'
Yes" I. answered steadily. II have
never met any one yet loved enough to
marry"
There was a long. miserable pause,
and then:
Gee, Dr." whispered Tom, its square
of you.t to say that! I'm no fool know
why you said it! I'm not going to give
UP, either but / want to tell you it's
blamed square Just the samen
My eyes filled with tears. 1t was the
first time in my life any one had called
me square"