Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-08-07

kkTCALLED on Mrs. Lawson with
Myrtle today" 1 told Robert at
- dinner. but we found her out"
I'm glad you called. poor child, she's
had rather a raw deal. and any atten-
ton you can give her will be appre-
ciated-"
Myrtle said you asked her to call"
I commented
Yes. I met her the other day and
Mrs. Lawson was mentioned. 1 told
her il would be an act OF kindness 10
call. Phyllis. Mrs. Lawson. is very
sensitive"
/ had noted the use of her name.
Phyllis and his quick transition TO
-HIrs Lawson" So he called her BY
her first name. I wondered IL she called
him Robert? Then. how was to find
out7 1t certainly argued a certain In
timzcy when a man Of Roberts dispo-
sition called a woman by her name as
he had Just done. 1 almost said some
thing about il. and caught myself only
in time / would not let Robert know
that I cared. that / even suspected
not yet
1--WE have done our duty in the mat
ter / rejOined. 81 hope that IL ends
r."
why do you speak like that, Mar
raret7 Mrs Lawson will doubtless soon
return your call. and then 1 hope both
YOU and Myrtle will see that she is not
left alone"
mo one cared how much I was alone
for a long time" evaded-
That was different We were stran-
gers. and naturally the natives wanted
to try us out We all know and admire
Mrs. Lawson That she was unhappily
married is her misfortune. not her
fault. II Is the duty of her friends to
make her see this. She is so sensitive
she will not make any advances
II was on the tip OF my tongue 10
saw Neither will T." but I bit my lip
and kept still. There was no use quar-
reIinz with Robert even about Mrs Law
son. I always came off worsted IN any
sort of argument with him. But
made up my mind that would not know
PHYLLIS Lawson. that should not by
any sort of intimacy with her seem
to countenance my husbands friendship
for her.
But such things are on the knees Of
the gods. and willy-nilly We play our
part in their scheme
Suddenly little Bruce became very III.
Mrs Lawson. Roberts neglect, all were
forgotten in my anxiety for.my precious
boy. 1t was one Of those sudden at
lacks which leave one dazed and fright
ened One moment seemingly as well
As ever, the next his little body CULVER
ing with commissions The doctor came
Immediately, and remained nearly all
night Neither Robert nor thought OF
living down. and the faithful Martha
remained just within call the entire
night
In the morning my boy was quiet, but
there followed long weeks of anxious
watching. of despair and hope alternat-
ing. Robert Insisted that I go to bed
at night, as 1 tended hun during the
day, and that he was strong and needed
little sleep. We had a nurse after the
first few days. but Bruce seemed quieter
when I was beside him; SO rarely left
the room.
Perhaps I would never have quite
realized the great love and tender
ness Robert felt for his children had
IL not been for this terrible illness Of
our boy. Night after night he sat by
the little bed nearly the entire night
afte. attending to his business all day.
and never once in all that time did
ever hear him complain or speak i'm
patiently There had to be an opera
tion TO save Bruce from being Grip
pied. and he was the one who insisted
ION remaining with the surgeon while
II was performed; the one who lifted
his baby from the bed 70 the table.
and placed the little body back when
Il was over. In that hour Robert aged
years.
As Bruce rallied after the operation.
then gradually commenced to i'm
prove, he became very hard 70 care
for. II was necessary that he be kept
as quiet as possible. and his restless
ness increased with his bodily i'm
-provement until sometimes 1 was at
my wits end TO manage him. But
Robert never had any trouble He told
him stories-long. continued stories or
mis- own babyhood. or OF animals. And
then when Bruce would tire OF that
he would take him IN his arms and
walk I'D and own. grading the tiny.
emaciated form gently in his arms
until he slept
During his entire convalescence Rob-
ert slept on a couch in the sick room.
and insisted that I go 20 bed at a ra-
tfonal hour and get my rest I was so
tired that almost Immediately touched
the bed my eyes would close and y
would not walxen until called in the
morning.
Six weeks after our boy was taken
I'M he was carried downstairs for the
first time. I followed with all his IA
vorite toys. and do not think there ever
was a happier family than ours that
day. Our hearts were overlooking with
gratitude and Joy.
It has been said that one never real
ICES their friends until they have
trouble of some sort. I am sure we
did not know we had so many dear good
friends in Clearyille. Inquiries. nowers.