Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-02-23
No. 75---False Friendship
Body and soul are so closely
linked that few of us know where
the one begins ana the other
ends.
Z MUST have caught a severe cold the

Z MUST have caught a severe cold the
night l went out to dine with June
- White. / awoke next morning with
bad headache and hot, tired feeling in
my throat. For two days | struggled
through my work at the office. Then
succumped. The third morning l simply
could not raise my dizzy head from the
pillow. l did not want anything to eat
and for hours lay there alone and with
out help. They were hours that gave
me time to think. To tell the truth. /
was rather frightened. l was now max
ing IS per week. Barely enough to pay
for my little furnished room and my
scant meals. Thus far L had not needed
any clothes, because 1 had been well
stocked when this new life of mine be-
gan. But, on the other hand, 1 would
have no money to buy them had l need
ed them Naturally on IS week saved
nothing.
Now realized as l put my hand to
my revered head, mat l might be in for
real illness. What would L do?
Thoughts of all those months of labor
going. for nothing came before me. Per-
haps l would have to give in and re-
turn to my home after all Well,
would put up fight for it.
That night Helen Flaharty,. the girl
who worked at the desk next to mine and
with whom l had become friends, stop
ped at my home to see if there were any
thing the matter with me. She took
glance and saw that was really i'll.
oil she exclaimed Haven't you
had a doctor? My dear, you're in for it!
81 haven't money for a doctor, Helen"
/ told her. And then because the day
had seemed very long and dreary to me,
L began to cry.
But, don't you worry, my dear"
soothed Helen. We'll have you fixed
up in no time. You wait-lm going
home and get Name to stay with you.
And then, when I'm sure you're all right,
G'll skip and get doctor. Say, what are
friends for, if it amt to help out when
you're ill?"
And thus a few hours later 1 found
myself in my bed, cooled and changed;
my fevered body rested by an olcohol
rub, which Helen herself had given me,
and medicine beside me ON a little ia
BILE which had been paid for by the same
kind person.
But, nevertheless, and in spite of all
the good care, it was ten days before
l could think of going back to work
again Ten long days, during which the
Flaharty family had waited upon me
in every moment they could call their
own and had contributed financially to
my support To all my protests and TO
all my thanks the answer was the same:
Wouldn't you do it for us, If you
had it, and we needed 1t? Well them
what's the difference?
And, shamefacedly. 1 had to admit to
myself that my understanding of this
generosity was a new growth in my
heart 1t. was on the Sunday before the
day L was to go back to work that,
white and little weak, l went for my
first walk after my illness, arm in arm
with Helen. She had come for me, in
sisting that it would not be right for me
to go out for the first time and straight
to the office / would have to get my
"sea legs" again, she told me, laugh
ingly. l had not dressed very carefully.
l still felt too i'll to care very much
for appearances. My hair was dragged
back from my face. 1 turned up my
coat collar to cover discrepancies in
nv blouse beneath it, And scarcely had
we walked two blocks before we met
June White! He stopped at once at
sight of us. / saw recognition dawn in
his glance and then something very like
appraisal $500, ,.souo
us 81 Just heard you'd been ill.,"
Miss Flaharty," l said, this is Mr..
White"
June scarcely glakced at this humble
friend who had been so good to me.
Gee. Dr. he said, and do not think
anybody could have heard pity in mis-
tone. You certainly look rotten!'
Helen's face flushed.
"Dlana's been pretty sick" she said.
"She ought not to be out now"
June stared at me.
well" he said, IT was coming to ask
you to dinner. but you certainly don't
look fit! So long See you when you
feel better"
He nodded carelessly to Helen and
turned on his heel and walked away.
Then / realized to the full how much
of worth there was in the regard of such
a one as he.
7