Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-09-21
,O7e
NOH2aRS:
Story.
CHAPTER LXXXVII.


w Myrtle had told me. But not
so much what she had said as what
she had implied. She evidently thought
there was something for me TO worry
about because of Phyllis Lawson's visit
to New York while Robert was there.
/ flushed with shame as / remembered
that she and Miss Sloane had been dis
cussing me, my husbands admiration
of another woman, before L Joined them
wondered if had succeeded In con-
vincing them that 1 wasn't jealous OF
Mrs. Lawson. and if they believed my
little story: that Robert had known OF
her intention to go to New YORK ana
had told me of 1t?
smiled bitterly as l thought of my
friendship for Harper Carleton and OF
how careful L had been to keep him
from knowing that ! was aware of his
love for me. My lip curIed as 1 imag-
ined Robert telling Phyllis Lawson he
cared for her, neither knowing that
was cognizant of their-friendship
Even now. angry and hurt as ! was.
could not call it by any other name.
Acting on impulse / went to my desk
and wrote a telegram TO Robert:
Come home, am very i'll"
For long time l sat with the yell
/ send it? If / did and he came in re-
Spouse, and found l had deceived him
he would be very angry. l should have
10 pretend to be i'll, and Roberts eyes
were very keen. A train of thought is
hard to break, and as l sat there, I'M
decided, / found myself going over and
over what Myrtle and Miss Sloane had
said. recalling their expressions, and
/ the embarrassed manner so unusual
with them. OF one thing l was sure.
| No one should think | was fretting for
Roberts love if he had given it to an
other, and with a sob in my throat, al
l though my eyes were dry, 1 tore the
/ false telegram into pieces, then ran to
/ the telephone and called up Mrs. Null
/ hany.
I'm blue, if you will let me l am
/ coming over" 1 told her in response to
/ her CHEEKY greeting.
do. dear. and plan to stay to dinner"
/ she replied.
L had always made il a rule never TO
/ go out without telling Martha where |
could be found The children might be
/ taken i'll, or something happen that l
would be needed. So 1 dressed hurried
/ ly and then called Martha:
Il shall not be at home for dinner,
Martha, and shall perhaps be late"
I'm that glad you are a gOln'
ma'am," the girl replied. as she helped
me with my wraps, you look that
| white you most scared me-"
$50 l do" I laughed nervously, as
/ glanced in the mirror. Just hand me
that rouge. I'll soon remedy that" and
| dabbed my cheeks with color. then
| with powder. But my eyes looked 81
most sunken, and 1 was cold as ice.
| 7 had not given way to hystericll
| crying, but the control 1 had exercised
had left me with a nervous chill.
knew. however. | should be better as
soon as 1 was with Mrs. Mulhany,
so refused Martha's offer of a hot
drink.
AS 1 walked rapidly down the street
| thought of Mrs. Mulhany's happy
marriage, and of others 1 knew who
| also were, or seemed to be congenial.
/ Of course, knew that many marriages
were failures-like mine. But / fely
| that IL Robert and L were only really
happy together. good comrades and con-
fidential friends il would be the nearest
approach to heaven. on earth / could
expect. Then l asked myself in bitter
| ness:
why am I not as happy as other
| women? Is il my fault, or Robert ~
then came another thought, How do
| you htiON AASg orc any hdpplSI IMAM
| you are? They probably look at you
and think Robert and you one f the
happy married couples" And a great
disgust with myself came over me-
But when / reached Mrs. Mulhany's
her unaffected delight in my visit, and
her hearty greeting soon drove the blacE
devils away, and was enjoying myself
Her quaint philosophy, her clear out
look on life always did me good, and
made me wish l were like her.
Tim isn't coming home. so we'll have
n little party all by ourselves" she told
me. after answering the telephone.
"Oh, won't that be nice" I impulsive-
| " exclaimed, mot Mr.. Mulhany remain
ing away" 1 FASTENED to add, but that
l am with you" Yet in my heart