Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-09-14

4
own. Harper had ordered the dinner
over the telephone. so we had no long
/ disagreeable wait before IL was sreved
/ was proud of him as an escort. II
seemed that everything he did he did
well. II there is one thing that pleases
/ a woman more than another ii is the
/ fact that the man who escorts her Is
capable of making the rest Of the party
no matter who they may be-comfort'
able.
Dinner over, we danced for an hour
then started for home.
| IF you'd like to ride with the girls
Margaret. I'll go with Carleton" Mel
remarked as we stood on the porch walt
/ ing for the cars.
| "I promised to show Mrs. Drayton
just what my little car could do, Cald-
we'll" Harper said before / could reply
"AII right. I won't interfere" and
amid a great deal of good natured banter
and much laughter we started home.
As we SKINNED along the moonli'
road in silence my thoughts busy won
dered IL / was woman enough to face
my life without Robert. Harper was
driving fast. almost recklessly. but
never noticed until suddenly we crash
/ ed into a tree beside the road. I was
thrown out. and for a moment lost con-
sciousness.
I woke to a realization OF my posi-
/ ton when felt Harper's arms arouni
me as he raised me from the ground, and
heard his agonized. Darling, are you
hurtT'
81 knew that I had only tainted. that
fortunately 1 had fallen on the soft turf
at the side OF the road. But the knowl-
edge OF his feeling for me kept me
/ epeechless, daZed.
1 nNh L
have cried out, but we were absolutely
alone on a lonely country road. l must
pull myself together. Harper must new
er know that I had heard. So l Kept
my eyes carefully closed, and left my
self a dead weight as he lifted me in his
arms and placed me in the car. he how
/ cred over me- chatting my wrists, calling
me endearing names. and showing In
every word. every tone of his voice his
/ love for me.
Finally, unable to longer keep up the
deception, 1 sighed, and gradually LET
myself become normal again. Just as
Harper had asked If thought was able
/ 70 sit I'D so that he could drive, Ned
came up with his party.
| 'sYou get in the tonneau with Miss
! sloane. I'll ride with Carleton, HOW
ard Cutting said. and then / was lifted
| into Ned's car and taken home, where
after assuring themselves that 1 was all
right. they left me in Martha's care.
threw myself on my bed in a per
fec, agony OF shame. Harper Garlic
toms friendship had been but cloak
to hide his real feelings. I raised my
hands and cried out against all men
Those we loved-who neglected US, and
| those who professed friendship-to
hide their love for us.
I did not know that I was melo-
dramatic. knew only that l had re-
IUeved myself by the expression of my
feelings.
After 1 became calmer ] went straight
70 the nursery. And leaning over the
reas os nv darling babies II came to
me suddenly that 1 must be careful OF
The appearance Of evil because OF them.
became only the mother in the deep
81. sense OF the word. For once l for
r-t myself For once I did not think
tc- nv neglected condition. They were
nv children Roberts children, and !
| knew that I loved my husband as /
would never love another man, no mat
ter what he might do.
bit nv lips to steady them. If I
cried 1 might waken my darlings. ]
suppose ! felt n certain satisfaction in
my resolve to be good no matter what
Robert might do. In the midst of my
regrets I think ] stood off and admired
myself as being a good woman in spite
OF very present and tangible tempta-
/ lions I made n resolve to try and
win Robert by kindness and everything
else in my power He was my hus-
band and 1 would make him love me.
/ And as often before the little god of
love put his finger TO his nose and
l laughed aloud.
That night / slept badly. I dreamed
/ that I was riding in an automobile
which drove too close to the edge
I of a cliff and that l was thrown over.
1 Robert seemed to be with me. and as
looked up he stood grining at me,
/ and called TO me:
You went over of your own free
will, now come back the same way!'
/ I struggled to climb the steep as
cent, but, always. just as I thought
I had a footing I fell back. and had
1 to commence all over again. Just
as I was about to give up in despair
Harper Carleton came TO the edge of
the cliff and threw me a rope. But as
1 seized It Robert threw himself over
the cliff. and gathering me into his