Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-03-23

NM nlSnI L IOlu MIN 6l OilOC tAAo1
w mis- parents had called upon me.
Ny husband was not overly delighted.
IT don't like it, d." he told me. Il
think it's sort of mean of item to
come shopping to find out how we live
If they're not going to help you any!
You know. I'd have died of starvation
before I'd have asked dad for anything.
But now that you're Ill and need so
many things and the little chap is COM
ing along I'd be glad if he would lend
hand for your sake"
1 smiled ruefully.
We'll, dear heart" said, I'm afraid
I've spoiled your chances 1 told your
father and mother that 1 wouldn't go
live with them while they felt toward
ME as they do. If at any future date
they could learn to love me and loved
them, that would be different. But JRst
now, l told them, 1t was better for you
and 1 TO try to get on without them"
And you did just right. too, Dill! ex-
claimed Howard. Il wouldn't have the
old man think for the world that L came
crying to him the first bit of trouble L
got into! l tell you l have everything
want and l always will, while L have
you! But l do wish 1 could earn
little more money for your sake"
A few days passed and l began 10
think that maybe l had not only alien
al ed Mr.. and Mrs. Boyd's interest in us,
but that 1 had permanently offended
them. No word came. And then, just
when 1 was beginning to wonder how
much 1 actually had harmed my hus-
bands future, a letter which changed
and frightened our whole life came
from my father-in-law:
Dear DIANA liked your pluck the
other day. 1 think you were dead right
to refuse to come and live with us on
sort of sufferance. 1 wanted you to
think 1 was angry at your franknees.
1 thought ] would go away and wait
few days to see If you would weaken.
perceive now that you are not the
sort ow young person who does weaken.
The more / think Of IL the more l be-
gin to understand. Howard may have
done better for himself in marrying you
than he would if he had married some
skeleton in fox furs with her dresses
to her knees. At any rate. you two
have not been afraid ~ face life and
live it as a red-blooded man and girl
should live. 1 think it is fine of you to
be having your baby while you are
still so poor. l think it's finer yet that
you seem to be tickled to death over
it instead of scared. 1 don't know
whether 1 measure up as a father-in-
law to the sensible young woman you
seem to be, and although 1 think 1
would like you to come and live with
us first-rate. 1 am not going to ask you
just yet until L have earned some real
affection from you. Instead, I would
suggest that Howard and you come for
dinner with mother and me next Sunday
night. Come early in the afternoon be
cause l want to talk to that husband
of yours about a job with me If he
doesn't object to working with the old
man. 1 think 1 have an opening that
will pay him enough to give you the
comforts you ought to have at this time
1 wouldn't like my little grandson not
to have a comfortable cradle.
Mother joins me in all this. And
don't think it's generosity; It's our hap
piness and yours, and anyhow it's your
right Howard is my son. When all
is said and done. If he made me angry
he only did what 1 did before him
married the girl he loved"
/ read this letter over several times.
Naturally, a great relief swept over me.
It really was not for myself, but 1t
had panied me so much to feel that 1
had come between Howard and his peo-
pie Now it was all to be settled. I
Of my gown. And when my husband
came home that night 1 laid it before
him on our little center table beneath
the lamp, where he might read It,
/" For a few minutes aHter he had read
il there was only silence in the room.
Then my dear one raised his eyes to
mine. There were tears on his lashes.
Gee, Dill" he said. THE old boys
got the real stuff in him, hasn't he? I
certainly am glad to be friends again!"
I slipped my arms about my husband.
"I am glad for your sake, dear"
whispered. 80 II is settled and 1T looks
as though they were going to live hap
PLY ever after"
My husbands grasp upon me tight
ened.
"And yet" he said, and he looked
round our simple little room quite visit
FULLY. ITS been a good little home l
don't believe we'll ever be any happier
any place else"
Yes, we will" I said. and laid my
cheek against his. Wen be happiest
when the baby comes-wherever that
is"
THE END.