Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-11-20
CHAPTER CxxvII.

O'CLOCK martina came up SIoiA7
anu announced Leonore Dorian.
Il couldn't wait" she called, as she
followed Martha to my room. Il have
some good news for yOu-such good
news"
What is it?" | asked returning her
embrace, but my voice was listess.
felt no particular interest. 1t seemed
as though l never should hear any
good news again.
We'll, l had a letter from Romeli,
yesterday. You remember him, OF
course, the orchestra leader, you met
at my house"
Yes very we'll
/ had dropped into Leonore's one
evening when Robert was out. and L
had been too respondent to stay alone
Signor Romeli was there. | had yield
ed to IGNORES persuasions and played
for him. | remember now that | never
had played better. But l had ALMOST
forgotten it; | surely had attached no
Importance to my chance meeting with
him.
We'll his pianist is ill. Her doctor
forbids her to play this season. Romeli
has written me asking me to offer you
the position. | am TO be the soloist you
know"
For a moment everything turned
black. My head swan. Here was my
opportunity.
''Have | to decide immediately" 1
asked, as soon os | could speak.
mo, but he must know by the first
of the MONTH
You must accept this offer, Mar
garet. 1t would be absolutely wicked
for you to let such a chance slip. I'll
write Romeli Immediately l get home.
He will be delighted. ! didn't tell you
all he said about your playing fear
ed you'd lose your head"
mo danger of that" ! returned, also
laughing. You may tell Signor Ro-
nell that ! will let him know before
the first of the month whether / can
accept the position or not"
But you don't act a bit excited. 1
thought you'd be terribly battered by
the offer"
k"Oh. l am, of course l replied as l
stood at the door. Then as / turned to
go in | thought that a neglected wife
longing for love was not unduly fiat
tered by praises of her abilities.
That night l did not hear Robert
when he came in. / had fallen asleep
Immediately / touched the bed; utterly
worn out with my emotions. In the
morning my mind was in such chaos
l had only spoken in nlonosyllables. He,
III MS pNPSA 90 1900
not noticed.
But all day the thought was with
me. that when night came I would tell
him of Romelis offer. and my inten-
tion to accept It. / would also tell
him why. ! would accuse him of be-
| ing in love with Phyllis Lawson.
would also tell him as soon as it could
be arranged he could free himself of
enc and the children.
| There my thought halted. The chill
| dren.-Bruce Would Robert give them
up to me? He must, decided. They
were mine! Mine more than his. OF
course l should not object to his see-
| ing them. / would arrange my house
| hold after Lenore Dorian's. I would
| hire only responsible women to care
for the children while 7 was away.
! Then came another distressing idea
Had Robert cared for Phyllis Lawson
when he built the house and had CIV
| en- it so unreservedly to me because
he knew that we would not be long
| together? Had he even so long ago
! fallen under her spell?
! 1t is almost ludicrous now. the man
ner in which 1 brushed all difficult
! ties aside. How easily I, in my tor
tured state OF mind, disposed OF my
own life. and the lives of my husband
| and children. But I was in such
mental condition, loving Robert and
sure he was forever lost to me, that
| was scarcely responsible.
Lenore had said she hoped Robert
wouldn't be disagreeable about my 60
ing on tour with RomeH.
! Disagreeable. / could have shouted
with laughter. What difference did
| his attitude make to me? No more than
mine to hin-save that ] knew il would
hurt his pride. He was in love with
another woman. was miserable. I'M
| happy: unable to endure longer the
tcrturing knowledge and remain where
| I saw him daily, where | was con-
stantIy reminded Of her. Perhaps with
atsence I should regain my poise. and
/ through my work. a modicum OF hap
plness.
I knew 7 should meet with opposi-
ton on all sides. That father, my
brothers. even Helen. would object
lttrenuously to the step l contempla ted.
! Philip had been right when he said
SO many years before that II 1t came
! TO a choice between me and Robert,
Bruce would side with Robert. Well,
/ should have to get along without their
approval.
! When thinking Of Robert, his rooted
objection TO a woman doing anything
outside Of her home unless compelled
by poverty; the irony of 1t all curled
my lips with scorn. The very woman
who had supplanted me was in sense