Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-07-24
CHAPTER Liz.

when the telephone rang. 1t was
- Robert calling.
What's the matter Margaret. why
aren't you here?" he asked.
81 felt too Ill to Dress" | parred.
What is the matter, why didn't you
send for me?"
1T was nothing but severe head
ache. 1t came on suddenly but is
about gone. I'm just going to bed, so
don't hurry on my account"
You are sure you don't need me-"
Sure" and. he rang off.
Why | should have been so anxious
that Robert shouldn't know my iden-
tity may seem strange. But l knew
Robert. / knew he would be angry,
would despise me for not telling him
that he was not talking to Phyllis
Lawson, but, to. me. l also knew that
l would never have a chance to learn
anything further il he mistrusted 1
had spied- upon him; and l had de-
termined to play the part of de-
tective. I must know.
1 realized that l had little to fear
from Mrs Lawson; he had really said
nothing to which he was apt again
to refer But all the rest of the night,
and until the cold gray dawn crept
into the windows, ] thought of Phyl-
lis Lawson. Thought of her as the
WOUldH IOSDOhN I'll ~
haps already loved.
l had gone Immediately to bed after
Roberts message, and when he came
in about or little after l pre-
tended to be asleep. He came into
the room. Then, as he so often did
when | was i'll, he tip-toed out again,
fearing to. waken me, and slept IN
the guest room
The next morning at breakfast Nhe
It, hat had been
unable to go to the dance, and scolded
me a little for not calling him imme-
diately l felt. i'll:
ut makes. me feel very selfish, Mar
raret. TO think I was enjoying myself
while you, who had SO planned on
going, were at home ill.
80 you really enjoyed yourself?
asked. ignoring his reference 10 me.
Yes, more than | have in a long,
time. 1t really was a very delightful
affair. Myrtle certainly excels as
Tell me who was there? 1t must
have been great sport when you uh-
masked
ait was. really we became quite
hilarious And as to who was tnere'
why, everybody you know in Clear
VILE, and many you do not Deslues
a number from out of town
MYRTLE has so many friends
sighed. ,
an" Robert returned, always brlght
and happy." Then, as though IT had
INST occurred to him: Don't you tnlnk
II is about time you gave an AFFAIR Oh
some sort, Margaret? We have enter
tanned very little considering the III
vitations we have accepted
was astonished that Robert should
nronose that I entertain Several times
lately when ] had proposed giving DIN
ner he had declared he could not come
home in time to dress, he was so pussy
Ma he have some motive in proposing
that 7 give some sort of an affair? Then
the thought of Phyllis Lawson nasnen
through my mind. Was II for her tnat
he wished me tocentertain? HAD ne ue-
termined that ! should help reha ,ll go
his divorceful client? If so, ne was
mistaken. For once / would defy him.
1 would give the party, but refuse TO IN
wife Phyllis Lawson.
What are you thinking so intently
about? ?" ne queried.
your suggestion. think 1t good
one. When would you like me to give
the party?" sage
, "Oh, any time in the next week or
two. Draw on me for what you need to
make it a success; | realize you cannot
do il on your allowance"
"I should say not" I exclaimed. 1T
is all | can do TO get by as 1T Is. Every
thing is terribly expensive"
We'll, don't scrimp your party.
don't believe in doing such things often,
but when we do them we'll do them
we'll" he said as the children came to
kiss daddy good morning and good-by.
Little Bruce almost worshipped his
father When Robert was in a hurry.
or for any reason did not Immediately
notice the little fellow, his lip would
culver and he would stand quietly wait
ing He never cried. but after Robert
left it would be some little time before
the disappointed look left his face and
he played naturally While, If Robert
either picked him up and sat him on his
knee a moment, or, better still, played
with him, Bruce was happy He had
always been rather serious for a child,
and played more quietly than most chill
dren. Already his little sister would
make more noise, get into more mischief
than would Bruce. He was like his IA
Their In looks and. disposition. We
always said that the baby took after my
madcap brother Philip, so strenuous was
she.
All the morning. while busy around
the house. I thought Of the party I was
TO give. wished to be original. If 1t
were only summer could give ii on the
lawn. but in cold weather what could I
arrange?"
Toward noon I called Myrtle up and
asked her to come over and have lunch
con with me.
II have something very important to
talk about" / told her.
I've notion not to come to pay you
for not showing up last night 1 was
terribly disappointed. I'll come of