Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-09-07
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NEA&1A II ~@-N-NA~N~
TT HE next day Harper Carleton
called in the afternoon bring
IN me flowers as usual After
a few moments conversation he pro-
posed that We take a walk:
1T is a wonderful day and it viii
40 YOU good. You are looking lit
tie pale" he told me.
/ was anxious TO see thow the house
was progressing aside from that too
nervous to remain QuieS, so l gladly &C
Qufesced.
As We crossed a tiny park between our
home and the ne<v house. a taxi came
toward US Just as we issued from the
entrance il passed US. and in IL were
Phyllis Lawson aud Robert When they
had passed. Harper touched my arm
lightly.
Come" he said you mustn't stop
like that"
Until he spoke I had no idea that
was standing still gazing after the
taxi. now some dista nee from US. I look
ed uo at my companion in a dazed sort
OF way and he ANSWERED my unspoken
question
Yes. I saw them. nay dear Mrs. Dray-
ton But please don't look so miserable
Many men and woTnen-1ave Friendships
as innocent as ours 1t really means
nothing. and
u
should have never mentioned il had you
not seen for yourself, This is only
one OF the things / have pretended not
4 don't know what has come over me
to see Then. realizing that 1 was tell
ing more than I 1rrs-ended, laughed,
rather hystericaIIS- Imagine. and said:
that talk 10 you IKE this. Robert has
a perfect right TO his friends-his
friendships-the same as have to mine.
- al my HE m "
own / am glad We met him. so don't
waste your sympathy"
As Harper made no answer. only look
ed strangely at me. / 0lUnoered on:
when I was first n2arried had all
sorts OF ideals about lOve-and mar
riage. You know the kind of stun 1
mean. Two souls W It'll but a single
thought: two hearts that beat as one,
and all that foolishness- Now I am
Older and know better Now / under
stand the rules OF the g.Lme-at least 10
a degree-and vii manage very differ
entity"
-sPeopIe have very diffe rent ideas about
marriage" he unused. Many look upon
il as simply a business proposition, 9TH
ers as a pleasant compan ionship. 9th
ers look for romance 1t has always
seemed to me that where people were
perfectly mated they simply looked for
each other and found their happiness
in each other"
Isn't il perfectly natur al TO want TO
be happy with the one with whom you
elect to spend your ife?' 1 asked
Perfectly natural, my dear little
lady. But from what I have seen and
known OF marriage it is n OF always the
state where the most happiness Is
found-mOre the pity"
Perhaps not" 1 agreed. but you see
I was sort of an idealist. as most
young girls are Now 1 have learned
more wisdom. but the learning has
been hard"
While talked 1 had not the slight
est feeling that I was doing wrong or
giving the man at my side closer in
sight into my Utmost life than was
either kind or wise. He was man or
the world, and as such / never dream
ed that my admission would affect him
in such way as 10 react on myself
although I knew he was my very dear
friend
That I had appealed to him from the
first / was not unaware, but l trusted
him-aud more fooIishly. myself
Il don't know just how 70 adjust my
SeIf-not vet / went on. but / GER
tainly am going 10 have all the happl-
ness coming 10 me-if 1 can get II,
/ added with q tremulOus laugh re-
nembered the expression on Roberts
face as the cab passed US. I don't in
tend to have my life spoiled because
had ideals no one could live up to
NOT even a saint They have nothing TO
do with my life from now on. mean
to Hve-and let live
.sParhaps-my friendship may bring
YOU a little happiness; l sincerely nope
So" he spoke softly
1 was silent until we reached the new