Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-09-25
CHAPTER XCI.

NE next morning AFTER breakfast
1 went down to the store and
bought Phyllis Lawson's book. On
the way thought that some day /
would prove that 1 could make money
from my music. L knew that now Rob-
ert regarded it only as an accomplish
ment and my desire to use it as a mere
within. 1t was not fair, 1 thought hotIy,
that he should admire something in an
other woman, then deny me the privi-
lege of doing the same thing.
A sudden sense of Indignation against
Robert swept over me. What right had
he, just because he was my husband.
to forbid me doing what he admired in
other women? Robert took altogether
too much for granted. He took every
thing for granted-his own right to do
as he pleased. my blind devotion, and
unquestioning acquiescence in his views.
The truth was that he did not care
enough about me to be at all interested
in me. He thought 1 was just wife
and mother-he took that for granted,
too
AS soon as 1 reached home / went to
my room and commenced to read At
first skeptical, I soon became absorbed.
When Martha called me to luncheon it
was with regret that laid aside the
book and Joined the children. Robert
did not come home, and as soon as 1
finished my luncheon 1 returned to my
book. IT interested me immensely.
As Myrtle had said, the story rang
true. 1t was a genuine human docu-
ment. / felt that 1t came right from the
heart of the writer, much as 1 disliked
to own it's fascination, even to myself;
chat only a woman who had known and
studied life intimately could have writ
ten 1t, and my jealousy of this woman's
genius flared anew.
The man in the story was a selfish,
ambitious creature, who flayed every
body that interfered with his ambition.
He was not unlike Robert in many
ways, and L wondered as 1 read if she
mad had my husband In mind when
she wrote. Yet how could she know
all TIE Little intimate details so like
Robert? 1t was mpossible-unless my
worst suspicious were true.
The man in the story. Kurtz Stevens,
she called him, was an absorbed busi-
ness man, so intent upon his own ad-
vancement that he had neither time nor
strength for anything else. He had
MANY temptations in the course of the
story, but did not yield to them, not
because he was so true, as because they
would interfere with his ambitious plans
for himself. At heart, too, she had
made him a fairly good man, and when
a fascinating society woman whom he
knew could help his advancement. he
argued with himself that he was wrong
ing no one, that no man could resist the
combination of beauty and influence,
and that soon-after he had accomplish
ed all he could with her help-he would
return to his old Flooding ways.
Again a mental picture of Robert
came to me- Would he. like the man in
the story, be unable to resist, and then
by and by expect to return to me?
| always was afraid of Holland Ian
sing. Her immense wealth and her I'M
disputed control Of it had always SEEM
ed n menace With Phyllis Lawson
there was no fear of that kind, but she
was more beautiful than Holland. and
now had proven herself a genius whom
Robert admired
OF one thing ] was certain. ! should
say nothing to Robert of this book. But
I would watch and walt I thought os
the closet in his office and of the time
had hidden there to listen. Ny cheeks
burned at the remembrance, but at the
same time / determined to do the same
III. ing again If necessary to satisfy my
self concerning the relations existing
between Robert and his talented client.
had been so busy with my thoughts
since flushing the book that time had
slipped by urnoticed I was surprised
and startled when Roberts voice broke
In upon my reverie:
"A penny for your thoughts, Mar
Garet You looked as solemn as an
owl. I've been watching you for some
minutes"
They weren't worth even a penny"