Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-08-21
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WH2aRS;
Sowl!
CHAPTER LXNI.


The house was progressing finely. anC
/ became very interested watching it:
building I often walked over with Ma
tiIda and the children on pleasant morn
ings. and would spend a half hour or sc
looking on while the men worked.
on one OF these occasions Harper
Carleton passed and Joined me. We
discussed the house for some time
when he astonished me by remarking
Your new home will be very lovely
Margaret, but I'm afraid"
Afraid OF what?' l asked after
waiting in vain for him to finish, and
. flushing at his use OF my name which
ne appeared to- use unconsciously. II
was the first time ne had ever called
me Margaret"
afraid it will NIL your mind SO
completely that il will crowd out your
friends-rather your need Of them
he answered slowly
Nonsense" 1 exclaimed. what an
idea, as il wood and stone could ever
take the place OF human companion
ship
4 did not mean exactly that" he re-
piled. But when the min0 is full OF
something which interests it is easier
to forgst-and tO-forgive-"
Forgetting and forgiviug are a mat
ter Of temperament" l answered. While
! dimly sensed his meaning. ! did not
wieh him 20 think I understood. I Felt
that he referred TO the house max
Ing me forget him. and that the for
sfveness must refer TO Robert
Perhaps" he unused. then in his old
delightful manner he proposed We take
a walk
1T is 100 lovely a day to remain in
sur-
hill. and If You like we can stop and
call on Mrs. Caldwell on our return"
The idea appealed to me. and I at
once acduiesced- I sent Matilda back
with the children. telling her I was
going to see Mrs. Caldwell. / caught
an exuItant fash in Harper's eyes as
I spoke. and for the first time i won
dered If I were doing right to accept
this mans friendship. But I soon dis
missed the thought. and we strolled
along laughing and chatting like two
big children
The May flowers were all in bloom
along the way. and often we stopped
ard picked the blooms 7 pinned a
great bunch at my belt. then on my
pIain sailor hat. quite transforming IL.
When we reached the edge OF the
wood at the TOP OF a long hill we sat
down on log to rest For quite a
time neither Of US said anything. then
Harper reached over and took my
hand. which had been lying idly In
my lap
Little friend he said softly. "this
g GOOD. isn't it, 7 can imagine moth
with YOU. dear. and ] see so little Of
you-"
trfd 20 draw nv hand away. but he
held II the more firmly 7 was bit
frightened at his loverlike tones and
name. yet confess tt was also
thrilled. II had been so long, since
any6ue had spoken tn me in that way
that 7 could not help but feel pleased.
We women are like that. 7 think. We
absolutely must have the assurance
that some one needs. desires US, If we
are to be happy The love question
looms big in our lives. bigger than men
imagine And we are really satisfied
with so Iittle-s kiss, the simple II love
YOU" OF praise for what we do and
how we look. But rob US OF that little.
and an unrest results that is dangerous
to ourselves and 20 others.
Come. let US go on" I urged. "I
would like 70 see Myrtle and Il 3 such
2 wonderful day she may be out IF we
wait too long"
"Tt is wonderful day-for me. little
friend" Harpe- said as he released my
hand. then helped me to rise, "a red
letter day
raised ny eyes to his face to reply.
and something 7 saw there caused me
70 swiftly drop nv own 7 felt the
color flooding nv face. and namely re-
marked 20 hide nv confusion:
we will have many nice DAYS before
the summer Is over. 7 referred to the
weather.
shall We. dear? You will often walk
with me and will become better ac-
qusinted. better friends. and
"Oh. you misunderstood me-" 7 STAN
mered- I meant days Of lovely wealth
er. not" ] stopped, embarrassed.
Let me hope you meant both-lovely
weather and long, charming walks with
me- Come. we will get to Mrs. Cald-
wells just about luncheon time. IL we
hurry. and beg her 10 ask us TO stay"
an exchange for our luncheon" Har-
per laughingly declared. when he saw
me gathering bunch of wild flowers for
Myrtle.
eff YOU are as hungry as I am it will
he a poor exchange for Myrtle" I re-
torted
f''WeU. 7 think 7 am almost hungry
enough to eat you, so don't get too
near" he responded. and again 7 no.
ticed that exuItsnt look I'm his eyes. but
I simply laughed as 7 replied:
You'd find me horribly tough and in
digestible-" Yet as I said il ! had an
uneasy feeling that Harper Carleton
was making love 20 me: that he was
becoming disconnected with the simple
relations Of a friend.
CHAPTER Lxxu
II oBERT was elected district at
* torney- He had told me moth
- ing OF what led up to his &C
eeptancs Of the nomination: but when
] congratulated him on his election ]