Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-01-23
CCORDINGLY, Mr.. Colby made

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A CCORDINGLY, Mr.. Colby made
II arrangements for me to lunch
\ three days later with him and
IN meet his sister, Mrs Henderson. or
Cora" as he called her. On the night
nat 7 had lined with him when we had
encountered June and his sister, he had
talked TO me as nobody ever had talked
before He had given me a glimpse or
myself as / really was-a cheap little
schemer trying to get all l could from
life N1tr as little payment as possible IN
return.
Cora is a wonder with girls" he said.
THEY adore her, and she's always able
to help them!
Thus came into my life an entirely
new type of woman. l had guessed from
Mr.. Colbys speech and manner he was
If that class which is called arlstocratlc'
[ knew. too. that he seemed to nave
money enough to buy what he wanted
even though he did not spend with the
layishness that characterized some OF
my younger admirers. /, therefore, eN-
rected to meet, on the day L went TO
lunch with him and his sister, richly
dressed woman, jewelled and elegant. l
must admit Mrs. Henderson, as she came
toward me in the lobby of the restau-
rant, was something of a disappointment
to me She wore a simple tailor mace
suit and a plain small hat trimmed with
one wing. When she took off her gloves
| noticed her wedding ring was her only
ornament
Rut also at once she made me feel
at ease. She did not stare at me. Yet
felt that she saw me and that she
knew instinctively what would please
NE and make me feel comfortable. she
chatted gaily to her brother until had
time to adjust myself mentally Then
she asked me little questions; referred
to me in just the way that / was best
able to respond to her.
Then, as we three sat at luncheon, and
the conversation drifted on, to my
amazement l found that this woman
seemed to worR as hard though she
were dependent upon her efforts for her
daily bread. She had committee meet
ings of girls clubs to attend; her mar
ketine to do; and to my complete aston
ishment | heard her tell her brother, Mr.
Colby, with great pride that by going
down to one of the city markets in the
lower part of the town, she had been
able to save several dollars each week.
| | had never heard anybody talk in this
frank yet Iight-hearted way. She be-
.yiIdered and enthralled me. Also, it
began to Tatter me enormously that
these two people should be interested
| in me at all | searched my mind for
a reason for It. Then l decided that
with me and that his sister knew
Mr.. Colby must be very much in love
and wished to be nice to me on his
account Toward the last of the lunch
con, therefore, when Mrs. Henderson
asked me if l would care to come out
| to her place in one of the smart suburbs
outside the city and stay for week.
| was not particularly surprised.
I'm just go over and meet your moth
| err" she told me carelessly, land I'm
sure she'll let me have you for a little
| time. You've been in the city too much,
my dear / can see you, have lot more
| color in your cheeks when you have had
enough fresh air. We have great barn
of an old place. Really, IT'S only camp
| ing, but We love it and we'd like to have
you with US very much"
There was but one phase of the Invi-
tation l did not like. l realized that it
would be most disastrous for Mrs. Hen
derson to meet my mother. They would
not like each other at all.
Mothers been awfully ill.," 1 lied
quickly, 81 don't think she can see any
one But l know she would let me go
with you, Mrs. Henderson That will be
all right if you'll tell me when you want
me-"
| Mrs Henderson smiled at me. Per-
haps she understood.
Gould you come about noon on Sat
urday?" she asked.
"Well, I must toddle on" she said as
she arose from her place at the table,
Il have a thousand things to do this
fternoon. Henry, call me a taxi will
you? I've just time to make my next
committee meeting. Can l drop you
! somewhere, my dear"
yunnld nrpfRFSed to sion and
| ak with Mr.. Colby. But l thought per-
haps it would be better for me to drive
little distance with this woman, my
new-found friend. So presently we found
ourselves in the taxi together, rolling
toward one of the big hotels At last
| | found courage to voice to her one
\ Of the questions that was bothering me.
will Mr.. Colby be out at your
! farm, while l am there" l asked.
Mrs. Henderson smiled pleasantly.
"Oh dear me, no, my dear. she said.
Henry only comes out occasionally for
week-ends He has to work awfully
hard, you know. He's just beginning
really, and he hasn't so much. Oh. no,
| indeed, I'm afraid you'll have to put up
with me and some other house guests l
have"
| [ tried not to let Mrs Henderson see
my chagrin. But certainly she had sent
two OF my dreams a-fying. I had imag-
ined that Mr.. Colby was affluena and
that he was very much in love with
me. Indeed, this invitation to visit his
sister seemed to me a step toward solv-
ing my entire future. I had told myself
that he wanted 20 marry me. Now I
gathered that not only did Mr.. Colby
have to work very hard for his living,
but also he was not even sufficiently
interesed in me to be at his sister S