Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-06-26
CHAPTER NLI.

a LII day the snow had fallen in
~ dense. soft, smothering masses
Il - that meant discomfort on the
morrow. No wind drove it. 1t slid
down straight and silent on the busy
streets.
I threw back my head and breathed in
the spirit of the storm, while Myrtle ex-
claimed:
Isn't it lovely!'' Then. pulling ut
the rope of the sled upon which Bruce
sat triumphant, she added, Come on,
Margaret. let's give Bruce a good ride
and away she went flying up the street
as If she were sixteen.
How Bruce enjoyed it! He screamed
with joy and laughter. and when out
of breath she stopped for me to catch
up. he yelled in delight
100 do 1t. muvver. 90 do it, so l
grabbed the rope and again his baby
voice rang out in glee
For an hour Myrtle and I played with
the child until, exhausted. we refused to
do it, any more. Myrtle came in as
she often did and helped me put the
children to bed.
1--WE must have a big tree for them
Christmas, Margaret" she said, after we
had tucked them in. Bruce is old
enough to enjoy 1t. and the baby will
like the bright colors. I'll help trim
ii" So we planned, never thinking that
plans were vain oftentimes; fate did
with us what she willed.
As Myrtle went home she remarked:
81 don't believe Robert will be home
to dinner He was to attend to some
business for Holland tonight. 1 heard
her telling Ned about it,
DO you know what the business
was?"
mo: something about mortgages.
They are to meet some one who has
money to invest, or who wants money
or something" Myrtle explained as she
ran down the steps.
1t had stopped showing. and was n
beautifully clear night. I ate a little
dinner, then sat by the window in the
dark, trying to work out the problem
| felt was to be mine-to live without
Robert.
All night I sat there. Robert had
never remained out all night before
without sending me word. AS the gray
light Of morning pierced through the
nigth. I rose, and after taking a bath,
again sat down and waited.
About o'clock he came. I tried 70
act as usual. but in vain. My heart beat
loudly and almost feared to speak for
fear my voice would betray me- When
1 casually told Robert what Myrtle had
said he replied:
"She was right. I did have some
business to attend to for Holland. but
that wasn't what kept me out all night"
What was it then? Sometimes so
important you could not take time to
send me word?"
81 tried to get word to you, but 1T
was impossible I left town very sud
denly, and had no way of reaching you
without my whereabouts becoming
known to others"
II don't see why you cared who knew
you were away" it was not like Robert
to pay much attention to what others
thought of his movements
'I don't often; this time I did" he
replied shortly. then in a different tone
Il was attending to some business for
Mrs. Lawson, something which required
secrecy"
won't you tell me what it WASP"
mo, it is confidential"
We had a stormy interview, the kind
two people usually have when one of
the two either knows or imagines the
other has become Indifferent.
Neither spoke all through breakfast
But just as he was leaving for the of
fee after a bath and change of clothes
Robert turned to me and said. soberly:
'If we are ever to have any happiness
Margaret, you will have to learn that I
will not be questioned about my own
nor other peoples business. There are
very often things which come up IN a
lawyers practice which he cannot dis
cuss with any one. / am sorry that 1
could not reach you last night. more
than sorry if l caused you any anxiety.
but it was unavoidable. You may rest
assured | shall not remain out over
night unless ii is very necessary, and
that I will get word to you if possible
should it occur" With that explana-
ton, which was no explanation at all,
he left me.
All day l brooded over his absence
the night before. He had said it was
because of Mrs. Lawson. ! scanned the
papers for her name or some mention
of her divorce but found none. There
were nearly two columns of news from