Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-02-09


been bored upstairs in my room. Now
/ was diverted. My life had been too
irregular and unconventional for me
even to be particularly nervous because
/ was talking with a man who had not
been correctly presented to me.
Nor did l just then give my good in
tentions a second thought To be
sure, | had fled my house because l
wished to get away from the tempta-
tions which the admiration of my rich
young friend, June White, offered me.
/ had decided, since l was not strong
enough morally to face them and resist
them, l would do the next best thing.
l would fly from them.
We'll" said my companion. who said
his name was Mr.. Jeffries, II think you
just said you were alone. Are you stop
ping here?"
My worldly instinct told me it might
be as we'll not to answer truthfully this
question.
mo, indeed" I lied promptly, I've
just been upstairs to see some friends,
and now" rising, 81 must CO."
"Oh, why?' begged Mr.. Jeffries.
"Why can't you dine with me? I'm
stopping here. Don't you dance? On
the level, wouldn't you like good little
dinner and a dance or two?"
Would I! Why should L go to my
al
fe,r, wien here was the opportunity
for few hours forgetfulness? So l
did not hesitate.
Why, yes, would like III" / aCII..--
ted You mean we'll dine right here"
Apparently delighted. the man rose
and led the way to the restaurant, and
after we had ordered We talked some
more. From what he said and his man
ner | gathered Mr.. Jeffries was from
out of town. Probably, l thought to
myself, ne represented some clothing
concern. He had the air of plenty of
money to spend; also ne expressed him
self much more coarsely than the young
men with whom l was accustomed to
associate. He spoke of showing me a
good time" told me to order what l
liked, kid and informed me he was
some spender' Although it was not
his slang so much THAI classed him..
Goodness knows, June and Howard and
even Mr.. Colby were addicted TO con-
versational shortcuts. But somhow
their language was not of the brand
used by Mr.. Jeffries.
We dined and then danced several
times Ny friend was not a particular
~ good dancer. Although he tried all
the very newest steps, he seemed to
have no sense of rythm. Also l was be-
ginning to be bored by his conversation,
which incidentally became each mo-
mentamore personal He wanted to
know with whom L lived, where | lived,
what l had always done. what l intend
ed to do. Naturally 1 lied. And nat
urally. since my interest in him was
but half-hearted, 1 contradicted myself
several times and showed quite plainly
that / was lying. Thus when Mr.. JEFF
fries suggested that we go on to a
cabaret somewhere for more gayety L
jumped at the chance Anything for
. change!
Yes" / told him, do let's go on
some place else! l think it's sort Of
slow here, don't you? L tell you; Stan
Iey's is a good place."
Mr.. Jeffries leaned across the table
and regarded me fixedly for a moment.
Then he put his hand over mine.
"Surew he said, well go to STAN
ley's or any old place you like, if you'll
promise to come back here with me
afterward."
come back here with you after
ward?" l repeated blapkly.
Yes" he said and nodded. This time
1 could not mistake his meaning.
1t seemed to be it was another Diana
who spoke.
why, yes" ] heard my own voice
saying, but before we go to Stanley's
I'll have to straighten up bit. I'll be
right back. I'm just going to the dress
ing ROOM
The dressing room had two entrances
/ walked in one door, paused just long
enough to see the face of a scared and
quite white Diana peering back at me
from the mirrors, and then fled
through the other door and up to my
room. l flung my wrap on one chair
and my hat on another. In another
moment l was sitting my sobs in the
pillows of my bed. And for the first
time the tears that came were the kind
of tears that some day might wash
clean my mean little spirit. I was
weeping because 1 was weak and l
knew it.