Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-10-26

kkD UT, Harper 1 don't care Tor
~ you-not in that way" l at
~ last managed to say, shame
facedIy. II know 1 have let you think
liked you-and / do, as friend. your
very good friend, as you said long ago
But, why, Harper, | have husbano
anc children. You must go now ana
never come again. I can't bea angry Win
you for what you have done, because L
am more to blame than you are. nave
brought it upon myself"
Don't. dear; don't blame yourself.
But l thought"-his voice took on a
note of sadness mixed with wonder
ment---"I thought you cared. Then, dear,
you are so neglected, so much alone.
Don't you suppose 1 know how lonely
you have been, even though you have
been too proud to complain? Your hus-
band neglects you. Margaret You owe
him nothing"
HE is the father of my babies" l
protested. Then as L saw Harper was
not convinced, / abased myself still
more and told him the truth.
81 love my husband, Harper, and l
do not care for you; not that way. l
have wronged you more than you will
care to believe because l have allowed
you to be with me more to show Rob-
ert that you-somebody, cared, than be-
cause / wanted your society. | really
enjoyed your company, principally De-
cause you took me out of myself, away
from my miserable thoughts. l am
telling you this, Harper, so that it may
be easy for you to dismiss me from
your mind as too unworthy to even
think about. My punishment would be
harder if L thought L had made you
suffer more than l do
1T in Sf
dazed fashion.
'Is this true, Margaret? Have you
only cared for me in that way to show
| your husband-I can't believe it,
He bowed his head upon his hands
and 1 saw the slow tears oo2e between
his fingers.
at is true Harper, to my shame. But
| it should make 1t easy for you now that
| you know how unworthy 1 am" Rts-
ing I laid my hand on his arm, please
DON'T I begged, I'm not worth it"
With an effort he pulled himself to-
! gether and held out his hand:
! 1T is hard to believe, Margaret, that
| you feel as you do. | was sosureyou
! cared But you have convinced me. II
| makes no difference, however, in my love
| for YOU. 1t is too late. / shall not OBJ
! trude upon you again, but if you are
| ever in grave trouble and need truS
| friend you must turn to me at once
| Will you PROMISE"
| 1 bowed my head. I could not speak
Thank you, and don't forget" He
| took my hand. bowed over it, just brush
ing it with his lips, and then was gone
I flew to my room and for an hour
! I wept as Historically as ever did -
woman at whom l used to laugh. Their
l bathed my eyes and went out to my
| children, feeling humbled, ashamed al
| most to look them in the face because
! of what had happened. I knew that
! not only had lost true friend but my
own self-respect.
! mo matter what you do hereafter
! Robert" | thought as I tried to throw
i off the horror of the afternoons expert
i ence. 81 shall never again attempt e
get even One such lesson is enough
i The sudden opening of my eyes. thu
loss of my self-respect, upon which
dwelt. almost made me i'll. Robert ap
| peared frankly anxious about my health
and as l looked into the mirror I die
not wonder. I had not been able e
sleep, and my sunken eyes and pale face
made me look really i'll. l tried TO re
assure him by telling him I was only
tired. but he insisted that l needed
change, and urged me to go home for ;
month. But I refused to go away
| without him,
What has come over you, MargA
ret?' he asked a bit impatiently. 'It Il
J absolutely impossible for me to leav'
home, but you can go very well. Mar
tina will take good care of the children
| and III also keep an eye on them"
There is no use talking of it, Rob
,ert," I replied, unless you and Bruce
can 30 with me I shall not go"
Strangely enough. ever since Har
scr Carletons passionate ackuowledg
ment of his love for me, ! had beef
more jealous of Robert than before.
was obsessed with the idea that becaus